And later in the month, the first package trip to Ireland will commence.

For the Middle East venture, 20 travelers are heading out on a 10-day excursion jointly offered by Shanghai International Travel Service, Shanghai China Travel Service and Spring International.

The tour includes some of the most famous destinations in Egypt and Jordan, such as the Temple of Karnak at Luxor, the Temple of Kom-Ombo, the Aswan High Dam, the ancient city of Petra and the Dead Sea.

"It will be the first time for local group tourists to view Petra, known as the 'rose red city,"' said Qin Yan of Spring International.

The city, settled in about 800 BC by the Nabataean tribe from northern Arabia, was once a fortress carved out of craggy rocks in an area that was nearly inaccessible.

The initial tour was priced at 14,000 yuan (US$1,687), 2,000 yuan cheaper than the route's regular price for subsequent excursions.

The discount was provided by the Qatar Airways, which will fly local tourists to Doha.

Separately, on April 19, the city's first tour group will set off to Ireland with 50 travelers.

The tour, which features three days in Ireland and eight days in the United Kingdom, is jointly organized by Shanghai CITS, Shanghai China Travel Service and Shanghai CYTS Tours and costs 18,500 yuan.

The stops include the Irish capital Dublin and Wicklow, considered the "garden of Ireland," as well as the country's second largest city, Cork.

(News: Shanghai Daily, Photo: sina)