Set your watch back a few thousand years as you sail to a land of Pharisees and pharaohs, sepulchers and sphinxes. Israel and Egypt are home to the most important convergence of history, religion and politics on the planet.

As the cradle of many major religions, Jerusalem hums with an intensity that can be felt from the Western Wall to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Walk among rabbis, imams, Armenian monks and Coptic priests along pathways once wandered by some of history's most important religious leaders - and where the fragrance of cardamom and freshly baked bread still fills the air.

The pyramids and ancient artifacts of Egypt are steeped in a rich cultural tapestry that dates back to the dawn of man. Even the sun-splashed shores of modern Cyprus bear remnants of a past influenced by Seljuk Turks and Christian Crusaders. Yet for all of the history and tradition you'll encounter here, your soul can be just as easily stirred by the cosmopolitan buzz of modern Tel Aviv and energetic Athens. Simply take your place in the time you prefer.