Modern Singapore is a fascinating mélange of cultures. Browse the shop-houses of Little India, perfumed with fragrant spices and flowers. Have tea in Chinatown where medicine shops and calligraphers line the narrow streets. Meander through the worlds largest collection of orchids in the Botanic Garden, and walk through Raffles Landing, the old colonial district with its restored British-style buildings.

A landscape draped in greenery, stunning beaches, great wildlife refuges and the ruins of an ancient civilisation beckon visitors to Sri Lanka, an island inhabited by man for perhaps half a billion years. The sights of Colombo are many, a combination of British colonial architecture, historical museums, fine restaurants and shopping – especially for sapphires and rubies. Take a tour to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the last stronghold of Sinhalese kings, passing villages, rice paddies and ox carts along the way.

The UAE’s capital is a dynamic and fascinating city to explore. A Miami-like mix of salt-white sand and reflective skyscrapers, Abu Dhabi offers world-class art museums, innovative Middle Eastern cuisine, and countless opportunities to shop. Your guide to Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi City occupies its own island and it’s here that visitors arriving by sea will step ashore. Capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi takes its name from the Arabian Gazelle that once roamed here, long before the discovery of oil kick-started the area’s metamorphosis. Consequently, Abu Dhabi is today a futuristic metropolis populated by glass skyscrapers and fringed by salt-white beaches. From a destination billed previously as ‘one to watch’ Abu Dhabi is now officially ‘one to experience’ with world-class hotels, serious shopping, outstanding attractions, incredible restaurants and some of the world’s finest art museums.

Dubai is a place of fascinating contrasts, a distinctive blend of East and West, of old and new. You can venture across vast, dunes, climb rugged mountains, play on sandy beaches, explore dusty villages and shop in an ultra-modern mall – all in the same day. Since earliest times, Dubai has been known as “the city of merchants”, welcoming traders from distant lands with a tradition of courtesy and hospitality that still lives on today.

Dubai is a place of fascinating contrasts, a distinctive blend of East and West, of old and new. You can venture across vast, dunes, climb rugged mountains, play on sandy beaches, explore dusty villages and shop in an ultra-modern mall – all in the same day. Since earliest times, Dubai has been known as “the city of merchants”, welcoming traders from distant lands with a tradition of courtesy and hospitality that still lives on today.

In this low-rise gem between the Arabian Gulf and scenic mountains, your first impression will likely be from the Sultanate of Oman’s beautiful main palace, but there is a great deal more to Muscat. Your guide to Muscat. Perched on the Gulf of Oman, Muscat has long enjoyed a history as a continental crossroads – its ancient capital enticing visitors from all corners of the world. Where other cities have altered with time, Muscat honours its ancestral roots. Traditional sugar-white houses and yellowed forts stretch from the Arabian Sea to the foothills of Western Hajar. Bulbous domes and minarets erupt from rooftops, and the masts of dhows sway in the citys harbours. Even Muscat’s newer buildings exude special character. Add in sumptuous food, decadent markets and sweeping gardens, and you’re certain to fall in love with this exuberant city of charm and splendour.

Safaga is our gateway to the magnificent antiquities of Luxor and Karnak, considered by many to be the grandest of all Pharoanic temples. Known as Thebes, Luxor has a rich history going back to 2,000 BC and reached its height of glory during the 18th and 19th dynasties. Marvel at the massive statues and structures. Stroll down the Avenue of the Sphinxes to the grand ceremonial gateway of the Temple of Amun-Ra. Cross the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, sacred burial ground of Egypts most powerful pharaohs; it was here King Tuts tomb was discovered.

Safaga is our gateway to the magnificent antiquities of Luxor and Karnak, considered by many to be the grandest of all Pharoanic temples. Known as Thebes, Luxor has a rich history going back to 2,000 BC and reached its height of glory during the 18th and 19th dynasties. Marvel at the massive statues and structures. Stroll down the Avenue of the Sphinxes to the grand ceremonial gateway of the Temple of Amun-Ra. Cross the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, sacred burial ground of Egypts most powerful pharaohs; it was here King Tuts tomb was discovered.

Take in the impressive picture of the grand ships waiting to enter the Suez Canal at the southern entrance on the Red Sea. Suez is a primary hub for those wanting to visit Egypts historical wonders.

Take in the impressive picture of the grand ships waiting to enter the Suez Canal at the southern entrance on the Red Sea. Suez is a primary hub for those wanting to visit Egypts historical wonders.

Welcome to the “Birthplace of Modern Democracy”, a city whose architectural, art and political triumphs are a universal legacy. Dominating the skyline, the ancient Acropolis is a monument to Western civilization. Discover its perfectly proportioned Parthenon, built during the Golden Age of Peracles, and the Ereichtheon with its maiden columns. Stroll through the ancient columns of the Stoa, where Plato once lectured. Then for lighter fare, come explore the twisting lanes and lively tavernas of the Plaka.

Step aboard in Southampton & straight into that holiday feeling. No flights, no hassle. Just the excitement of the days ahead and the promise of memorable moment. So, relax and raise a toast as the UK drifts from sight. Before you know it, youll be watching your destination come into view. But where will it be ?