Our voyage begins in the ancient city of Alexandria from where we sail the length of the North African Mediterranean coast and along the Atlantic shores of Morocco to Casablanca. The favourable desert influenced climate has been remarkably kind to the sites. They provide an unparalleled experience of life in classical times, and with the help of our knowledgeable guest speaker and local guides are brought vividly back to life.

Some two millennia ago this northern tip of Africa was a garden of vineyards, olive groves and fields of ripening grain. Here the great civilisations of Egypt and Carthage flourished, followed by colonists from Greece and empire builders from Rome. More latterly the Byzantines, Vandals and Arabs have all claimed this land as their own. It is therefore no wonder that the layers of history make this land unique and endlessly fascinating.

The highlight for many will be our days spent in Algeria and Libya with their remarkable Roman sites. Two thousand years ago many of these cities were abandoned yet still appear as if they were deserted in the recent past