Wonders of the Mediterranean & the Red Sea (Le Bellot)

Description

This 13-day itinerary combining history and archaeology will take you from Malta to Jordan. During your cruise, Le Bellot will visit several unmissable sites in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

Valletta, the capital of Malta, will be our departure point before heading straight to Crete. Your call in Heraklion will be the opportunity to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos, remembering the legend of the Minotaur.

Le Bellot will then reach Kusadasi, in Turkey. An old fishing village with history going back 5,000 years, not far from the Ephesus site, the town is now one of the country’s most famous seaside resorts.

In Rhodes, the largest of the Dodecanese islands, you will discover the medieval town, built by the Knights of St John, surrounded by ramparts.

From Beirut, the Lebanese capital, do not miss the visit to Byblos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inhabited since the Neolithic era, this is one of the oldest cities in the world. One can observe the many vestiges of an extremely rich past, marked by the dissemination of the Phoenician alphabet.

After sailing through the legendary Suez Canal, you will call at Ain Sukhna, the ideal starting point for a visit to the Egypt of the Pharaohs.

Conclude your journey by disembarking in Aqaba. After your cruise, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Wadi Rum desert, or the ancient caravan city of Petra, two must-see jewels of this fascinating country at the crossroads of history.

Trip Name

Wonders of the Mediterranean & the Red Sea (Le Bellot)

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 131 metres Passenger Capacity: 184 Built: 2019-2020 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Bellot will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts. PUBLIC AREAS Le Bellot has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 VALLETTA

The whole of the Maltese capital Valletta is UNESCO World Heritage listed and occupies a peninsula in the north-east of the island. From the fountain of Tritons to Saint-Elme fort, there are as many majestic streets as there are narrow staircase vennels to explore. The painted loggia and carved corbels on the tall houses will accompany you in your explorations, and you’ll rarely be bothered by traffic. You can visit the Grandmasters palace decorated with coats of arms and frescoes. Saint-John’s cathedral and the ramparts which have guarded the city since the 16th century are also among the most emblematic sites of the city. Arranged in terraces, the Barrakka Gardens will punctuate your promenade with a green and floral experience.

Day 2 - Day 2 AT SEA

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 3 - Day 3 HERAKLION, CRETE

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Day 4 - Day 4 KUSADASI

The attractive seaside resort of Kusadasi is located in a gulf on the western coast of Turkey. You can bathe there in clear waters or stroll along the coastal walk, in the shade of palms. In the historical district, you can take a mosey down the narrow streets and explore the colourful shops in the bazaar. Close by, the Ephesus archaeological site in the hillsides provides an opportunity to discover the ruins of one of the most famous cities of Antiquity.

Day 5 - Day 5 RHODES

With its particularly agreeable climate, the island of Rhodes invites you to walk its pathways and discover its immaculate villages and sumptuous medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the centre of the island the mountains are covered in forest and on the western slopes we find vineyards and crops. Rhodes also owes much of its charm and its character to the Knights of St John who reigned over the island from 1310 to 1522 and built impressive defensive walls punctuated with majestic gateways. Do not miss this delightful island with its peaceful beaches, its large walkways and its lively nightlife, perpetuating the myth of the famous Colossus, the legendary statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Day 6 - Day 6 AT SEA

Day 7 - Day 7 BEIRUT

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Day 8 - Day 8 PORT SAID

The city was born from an audacious but successful project: to link the Mediterranean with the Red Sea in the 19th Century and create a maritime route via a canal. The Suez Canal crosses the desert for 162 kilometres and was inaugurated in 1869 in the presence of Empress Eugenie, then nationalised by Nasser in 1956. In the city, to the rhythm of the colourful carts, you will admire the colonial houses with their large balconies, which give Port Said its cachet.

Day 9 - Day 9 CROSSING THE SUEZ CANAL

Without the waterway linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean this part of the world would be an arid sandy desert inhabited by a few nomads. The Suez Canal slices through 162 km of desert and was inaugurated in 1869 in the presence of Empress Eugenie, then nationalised by Nasser in 1956.

Day 10 - Day 10 AIN SUKHNA

Ain Sukhna, which means “hot spring,” is located in the Gulf of Suez, facing the Red Sea. Around fifty kilometres from the entrance to the Suez Canal, and less than two hours from the Egyptian capital, it is an elegant seaside town that is popular with wealthy families from Cairo. Ain Soukhna is an ideal base for discovering the marvels of Ancient Egypt.

Day 11 - Day 11 AT SEA

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Day 12 - Day 12 EILAT

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Day 13 - Day 13 AQABA

Located in the Red Sea within the eponymous gulf, Aqaba offers Jordan its only access to the sea. At the crossroads of the land and sea routes that linked Asia, Africa and Europe, the town is rich with more than 5,000 years of history. The warm waters of the Red Sea attract holidaymakers and divers to this seaside destination; the underwater sites home to coral and fishes are some of the most beautiful in the world. Aqaba is also the gateway to the magnificent desert of Wadi Rum and the marvellous site of Petra.

Day 14 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

A new itinerary between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, in the footsteps of ancient civilisations.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the historical sites of Ephesus (from Kusadasi), the medieval city of Rhodes, Byblos (from Beirut), the Pyramids of Gizeh (from Ain Sukhna).
The Minoan Palace of Knossos and the legend of the Minotaur from Heraklion (Crete).
Cross the Suez Canal.
Sail in the Red Sea.