Saga : Titan Travel launches latest business class jet tour following the fabled Spice Route

6 December 2023: Titan Travel has launched its latest business class jet tour, this time from Aqaba to Venice following the famous Spice Route.

The new 17-day Titan tour is set to depart London Stansted's private terminal on 13 March 2025 to visit Jordan, Zanzibar, Madagascar, India, Oman and Italy, all from the comfort of a Boeing 767 business class jet at a cost of £34,995 per person.

The Spice Route follows the footsteps of ancient traders who brought exotic, sought-after spices like pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom to the western world, and the tour will reflect that with behind-the-scenes tours, meetings with the people still working in the spice trade today, and options to explore some of the route's most incredible architecture. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities to taste the unique dishes in each destination that have all been differently influenced by the movement of spices.

Andy Squirrell, Chief Commercial Officer of Titan Travel, said: "Our new Spice Route business class jet tour is an incredible opportunity to walk in the footsteps of those original spice traders following the trail from Jordan, through Zanzibar, Madagascar, India, Oman and Italy over the course of 17 adventure-filled days. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip with incredible experiences, and the true taste of the spice trail in one tour, all accompanied by our expert tour managers who will ensure every step of the trip is seamless."

This will be the third business class jet tour that Titan offers, having previously launched Captivating Cultures, the first of which has now taken place, while the next departs on 4 September 2024, and the brand's Round-the-World jet tour which takes-off on 21 November 2024.

Guests will arrive at the private jet terminal at Stansted airport by chauffeur service where they will be welcomed by their dedicated tour managers, operations director and cabin crew who will be looking after them throughout the tour.

The aircraft is a privately chartered, wide-body Boeing 767-300ER, with a business class configuration of six lie-flat seats per row and two aisles to make it easy to move around. For social travellers there's a bar and a small, relaxed club-style seating area. Landing at each airport, guests will be whisked to their hotel.

The tour in detail:

Jordan:

After departing London Stansted, the first stop will be the Kingdom of Jordan, where spices were offloaded in Aqaba to continue their journey overland to the Mediterranean coast. The spice trade brought immense wealth to the Nabateans, who charged taxes to the travelling caravans and built the Rose Red City of Petra. Guests can rise early to visit Wadi Rum, crossing the sands by 4WD to have lunch in the desert or take a guided walking tour of the Rose Red City of Petra with its palaces, temples, and tombs.

Zanzibar:

From Jordan the jet will fly direct to Zanzibar, the fabled 'Spice Island', where merchants traded exotic spices. There's a tour of Stone Town and a trip to the Darajani Market with traders haggling over their spice wares, and an opportunity to meet the CEO and founder of a fairtrade spice company, before heading to the fields to talk to the farmers who plant and grow authentic, organically produced spices to meet a growing global demand. In between, there's the opportunity to enjoy Zanzibar's beautiful beaches and dine on the region's incredible blend of flavours.

Madagascar:

On to Madagascar with its tropical rainforests, baobab trees and the most famous of all Madagascan exports: vanilla. The group will head into the forested, dappled hills of the northeast, where guests will learn how the vanilla orchard vines are grown, hand-pollinated and harvested. There's also an access-all-areas visit to Lemur's Park, a private reserve on the River Katsaoka where several different species roam free. Of course, there will be more incredible dishes and red carpet treatment in some of Madagascar's finest hotels and restaurants.

India:

The jet now flies to Kerala in India. This region changed the spice route forever when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at Kochi in 1498. Until then, spices had been transported from Asia to Europe by land, but his arrival opened up a new, direct trading route by sea, which radically changed the landscape of the industry. Guests will learn more about Kochi and its place in spice history on a tour of Fort Cochin, the oldest part of the city with its ancient mosques and synagogues and architecture. A tour of the north is followed by an exclusive event arranged just for Titan's guests: a snake boat regatta. The following day there is a visit to a local farm for a private tour and then the group will head out to Kerala's famous backwaters for a gentle afternoon on a traditional coir houseboat, sailing slowly past forests and paddy fields. That evening there is a specially prepared dinner of heritage dishes, followed by a performance of Kathakali, a centuries-old art where dancers in elaborate make-up and costumes act out myths and spiritual stories.

Oman:

Leaving Asia, the tour heads to the Middle East and Sultanate of Oman on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Oman linked northeast Africa and India on the old Spice Route, bringing flavours like ground cumin and coriander to the western world. The adventure here starts with a trip to Nizwa, the 'Pearl of Islam' and a tour of the curved and crenelated Fort with a local guide. From there, it's on to UNESCO-listed Bahla Fort and the finely sculpted Jabrin Fort and after lunch the group will head into the foothills of the Jebel Akhdar or Green Mountains, to walk through the atmospheric ruins of ancient Birkat Al Mauz village. The following day there's a trip to the beautiful Grand Mosque, and a private guided visit of the Royal Opera House. That evening guests will board a privately chartered wooden dhow to cruise the Malabar Coast at sunset.

Venice:

The last stop is Venice, where merchants in the Middle Ages made fortunes from the spices that had come all the way from Asia. Guests will be staying at a grand old Venetian hotel that was once a flourmill and offers beautiful views across the famous lagoon. There will be a tour of the flavours of Venetian street food with a local expert, and options to see Doges Palace or St Mark's Square and Basilica, visit a gondola workshop, join a gentle walk through the Dorsoduro neighbourhood with its picturesque palazzi and quieter canals, or take a walking tour of the history of fine art in Venice. The following day there's a boat to the island of Murano, where fine artisan glass has been produced since the 13^th century with a private tour to watch master craftsmen shape the molten glass and learn why Murano glass is still so prized today. For the final night there is a farewell banquet in one of Venice's finest palazzos.

For more information and to book visitSpice Route Journey - From Aqaba to Venice or call0808 239 2839.

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