Ancient civilisations of the world

MESOPOTAMIA: Sumer, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia

Grand civilisations began in 4000 BC
Fertile lands along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers gave birth to the world’s earliest known civilisation: Sumer. Assyria and Babylon followed, in the geographies of modern day Iraq and Syria. At its peak around 500 BC, the Persian empire spanned from Northern Africa to India.
_{Photograph by Paul Biris}

ANCIENT EGYPT along the Nile

Dynastic timeline from 2686 BC
An epic journey with expert Egyptology guides and hosts from King Tut treasures to the Great Pyramids. Winter is the best time to visit and our itinerary is the perfect balance of domestic flights and road trips.

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Ancient cities of PERU

Timeline from around 3000 BC
Caral-Supe is the oldest known civilisation in the Americas, flourishing the same time as Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Then various Andean mountain civilisations thrived in succession until the 15th century Inca empire was defeated the Spanish.

GREECE: Crete. Peloponnese. Ancient Athens

Timeline from around 2000 BC
In the Aegean Sea, a different sort of civilisation was brewing. Crete island’s Minoan King Minos and his labyrinth are stuff of legends. About 1700 years later, Alexander The Great‘s military empire reached Persia and Egypt. But perhaps it the Ancient Greek philosophers – from Socrates to Hippocrates – who are still lauded today.

JORDAN and SAUDI ARABIA

Ancient Nabataean from 400 BC
Carved into rose-red canyons, the timeless beauty of this ancient civilisation is worth the journey. A night visit of Petra’s Treasury offers another enchanting perspective under the silvery light of the full moon (and hundreds of candles along the walking path).

ANCIENT CHINA

Dynastic timeline from 1600 BC
Treat yourself to idyllic landscapes and ancient villages where time seems to have stood still. GT Journey special: Be one of the morning firsts at the Great Wall before the crowds! This as well as the Xi’an Terracota Army bear testament to the Qin dynasty in 220 BC.

UZBEKISTAN & KAZAKHSTAN

Riches of the Silk Road
Discover the legacy in thriving cities filled with Silk Road storied past. A myriad of flavours await, including fragrant spices and sumptuous fruits still traded today. For art lovers, we can arrange an appointment with an internationally acclaimed pottery maker.

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Old Kingdoms of SOUTHEAST ASIA

Hindu-Buddhist Empires along the Spice Route
The emblematic archeological wonders are none other than Khmer empire’s Angkor and Mataram’s Borobudur. The former was captured twice by Siamese Ayutthaya. This region was dynamic with rise and fall of kingdoms that drew wealth from the historical Spice Route.

MESOAMERICA: Jungle and coastal civilisations

Timeline from 1200 BC
Mesoamerica refers to the Central American region that was the cradle of civilisations such as the Maya and Aztec. Characterised by shared traits of maize cultivation, cosmology and complex calendar systems. Discover another side of Mexico with our favourite archeologist with a penchant for animated storytelling!