You don’t have to be particularly interested in history and archaeology to appreciate a trip to Egypt and Jordan, but it helps. You don’t just go to these places for the scenery. After a week or two, your head will be bursting with pharaohs, hieroglyphs, obelisks, hypostyles and cartouches. By the end of your tour it’s hard not to be in awe of the mighty accomplishments and perseverance of these ancient civilisations.

This spectacular photographic journey was taken in January 2009.