Sunday - Day 1 - Istanbul
As we say in Turkey, HOS GELDINIZ! Welcome to Turkey. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short briefing about your tour you will have the afternoon free to rest and explore Istanbul on your own. Overnight in ISTANBUL.

Monday - Day 2 - (B/L) Istanbul
This will be a full day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), Mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish etc.
Bosporus Cruise, thorough the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia, with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residential of luxurious apartments.
After lunch we will continue on the tour and will visit
Topkapi Palace--The residence and leadership center of the Sultans during the Ottoman Empire. It was built in 1459-1465 shortly after the conquest of Constantinople. You will see the Treasury that includes the Topkapi Dagger, the 86 carat Spoon Maker’s Diamond, and the jewel encased bones of St. John the Baptist’s skull and arm bone.
Grand Bazaar and the Suleymaniye Mosque will be visited during the tour
After the tour we will return to your hotel. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Tuesday - Day 3 - (B/L) Istanbul
This will be a full day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.
Sites you’ll see today
Hagia Sophia was, for nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed space in the world, and still seen as one of the world's most important architectural monuments. It is one of Turkey's most popular attractions, drawn by the sheer spectacle of its size, architecture, mosaics and art. Built in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian.
Blue Mosque : This mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616 in the town carrying his name in Istanbul. It is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. Due to its magnificent hand-dyed blue, green and white tiles it has been named the "Blue Mosque" by Europeans. The central dome is 43 m in height and is 33.4 m in diameter. 260 windows surround the mosque
Hippodrome: The ancient Hippodrome, scene of chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life. Of the ornaments which once decorated it, only three remain: The Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.
Theodosius Obelisk is originally an Egyptian piece of art erected in 1547 BC and originally 60m tall. German fountain is also within the hippodrome area, constructed in Germany to mark German Emperor Wilhelm II's second visit to Istanbul, it was imported and officially opened on January 1 1901. The fountain's three domes are decorated with gold mosaics.
After the tour we will leave you at the grand Bazaar and give you free time to explore and some souvenir shopping. Overnight stay in Istanbul

Wednesday - Day 4 - (B/L/D) - Istanbul to Canakkale
In the early morning we will drive west, heading towards the Aegean Sea. We will visit Gallipoli on the way
*Gallipoli and The Dardanelles -- After our lunch we will stop to visit Gallipoli, a place of fierce World War 1 fighting between Allied forces and the Turks. At ANZAC Cove thousands lost their lives in one fateful dawn morning. We will also see other famous battle sites of World War 1 in this area, such as Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. From here we go to a ferry and cross the Dardanelles. For World War 1 buffs, you will know the Dardanelle Straits were a strategic crossing point for the allied armies to cross from Europe to Asia Minor.
*Canakkale will be our final destination for today and where we will spend the evening. After dinner, you might want to stroll the harbor walk and experience the local culture. Overnight in CANAKKALE. www.hotelakol.com

Thursday - Day 5 - (B/L/D) _Canakkale to Kusadasi
We continue our scenic drive along the Aegean, stopping for photo opportunities and perhaps to indulge the taste buds at one of the many farmer road side stands that sell olives, figs, seasonal fruit and pistachios. We then will head east towards our first site of the day.
Sites you’ll see today
*Troy --is the ancient site written about by Homer in the Iliad. It dates back as far as 3000 BC and has been the site of nine different cities through the thousands of years it has existed. As you enter the site a large wooden Trojan horse dominates your view. You will definitely want to climb up and get your picture taken!
After lunch you will depart from Canakkale, driving along the Aegean Sea down to Kusadasi, evening arrival in Kusadasi, Check in the hotel, Overnight stay. http://www.onderotel.com/

Friday - Day 6 - (B/L/D) Kusadasi to Pamukkale
We will visit Turkey’s most impressive Roman and Biblical site today, in what may well be one of your most memorable days in Turkey. We will also visit other significant sites of the area.
Sites you’ll see today
*Ephesus is one of the best preserved cities from Roman times. At the time St. Paul lived in Ephesus in the 60’s AD, it was at it’s Roman heyday with a population around 250,000. Ephesus was a great ancient city and much of it has been preserved for you to see. More than any other site, you can walk the streets, stand in the great theatre, wander in the library, see the ancient Roman toilets and baths, and feel that you are walking back into ancient history.
* Temple of Artemis Artemis was a Greek goddess, the virginal huntress and twin of Apollo, who supplanted the Titan Selene as goddess of the Moon.
*The House of The Virgin Mary is where it is believed St. Mary came to live with St. John in the last years of her life.
After the tour we will depart from Ephesus to Pamukkale, and after arrival we will check into our hotel and have a free day to relax and enjoy a nice dinner before we get a good night sleep. Overnight stay in Pamukkale. http://www.pamhotel.com/indexeng.htm

Saturday - Day 7 - (B/L) Pamukkale to Konya
After breakfast we will depart from Kusadasi to Pamukkale, as soon as we arrive we will continue onto guided tour of Pamukkale and Hiarapolis.
*Pammukale means cotton castle in Turkish. It is the result of limestone formations built over thousands of years. Warm calcium rich mineral water flowed over the cliffs and as it cooled it deposited the calcium into the formations that are seen today. Pammukale is now a world heritage site.
*Hierapolis was founded as a healing care center in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral
waters in the area. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centers of the Roman Empire.
After the tour we will provide a transfer to Konya, night time arrival in Konya, check in the hotel & Overnight stay. http://www.hotelani.com/

Sunday - Day 8 - (B) Konya to Cappadocia
After breakfast you will have a full free day to relax and explore Konya on your own;
Sites you can see today
*Mevlana Museum is a holy site for Muslims because it is the former lodging place for the whirling dervishes. The architecture and turquoise tiles are a beautiful site for all.
*Karatay Medrese houses an outstanding collection of ceramics and tiles. The eight- hundred year old building was once a Selcuk Islamic theological seminary.
( Note today is not a guided tour, you explore these sites on your own.
In the afternoon we will provide a transfer to Cappadocia, after arrival you will check in the hotel & have a free day to relax and explore Cappadocia on your own. Overnight stay in URGUP Cappadocia.

Monday - Day 9 - (B/L) - Cappadocia
Today will be spent walking through an underground city where ancient people once fled for their lives escaping the Arab invaders, wandering through Ihlara Gorge and spending time in an Anatolian village. As we will need to drive for awhile in order to reach our first destination, we will be starting out quite early this morning.
Sites you’ll see today
*Underground City of Derinkuyu--You will gradually stroll your way down into the depths of the earth in this ancient underground city that has 18-20 floors as deep as 40 meters below the ground. Don’t worry, you will only go down to the 8th floor. Cappadocia has around 36 underground cities. Archeologists date these back to the time of the Hittites which lived 4000 years ago.
*Ihlara Gorge will seem like an oasis in the middle of the Anatolian plain. Delve into the gorge and see the beautiful greenery as you follow the river. Around you will see ancient monasteries complete with pigeon holes cut into the cliffs by the monks. They used these pigeons as messengers to communicate with their monk friends!
*Traditional Anatolian villages--The head-scarved women out at work in the fields from sun up until sun-down, and the mustached, vest-wearing men hard at work playing cards in the coffee shops. You will get time to stroll in such a village and see the average Turkish villager at work...or play. Overnight in URGUP - Cappadocia

Tuesday - Day 10 - (B/L) Cappadocia
This day will be spent exploring the amazing sites of Cappadocia. (For those who have bought optional hot air ballooning tour of Cappadocia ) Very, very early in the morning we will wake up to take a hot air balloon ride over the area. After this we will come back to the hotel for breakfast and a rest before setting out in late morning to see the rest of the sites.
Sites you’ll see today
*The World Heritage Site of Goreme Open-Air Museum --This is a cluster of rock cut Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries which include some wonderful 11th and 12th century frescoes on the cave walls.
*Fairy Chimneys--These geological phenomenon have been shaped over millions of years. They were formed during volcanic eruptions in the region. Reaching at times 40 meters in height, they are conical in shape and have a "hat" top to them.
*Devrent Valley--This valley is know as "the pink valley" because of the color of it’s soil. This is a lovely place to wander around and look at the magical rock formations indicative to Cappadocia, including the Fairy Chimneys.
*Uchisar Castle--Also called a fortress, this is actually a formation of two gigantic rocks surrounded by smaller rocks that together form a natural fortress with towers. These formations were inhabited during both the Byzantine and Ottoman times.
*We will also get the chance to visit local craftspeople and learn how they make dolls and create traditional pottery. Overnight stay in Cappadocia


Wednesday - Day 11 (B) - Cappadocia to Istanbul then to Cairo
After breakfast we will provide a transfer to Nevsehir Airport and put you on a 1 hour flight back to Istanbul, After arrival, you will walk to International Airport and you will get on your international flight to Cairo
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Turkey to Egypt

MARHABAN ! Welcome to Egypt,
We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short briefing about your tour you will have the afternoon free to rest and explore Cairo on your own. Overnight Cairo.

Thursday - Day 12 – Exploring Cairo - (B)
After breakfast we will take you on a guided tour of in Cairo and the sites you will visit
Great pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus: The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering Cairo, and is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that survives substantially intact. It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for Fourth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC.
Sphinx : is a zoomorphic mythological figure which is depicted as a recumbent lion with a human head. It has its origins in sculpted figures of Old Kingdom Egypt, to which the ancient Greeks applied their own name for a male monster, the "strangler", an archaic figure of Greek mythology.
The Valley Temple : the Valley Temple was built by Chefren with this unique feature of core masonry of limestone dressed by granite facing stones.
After the tour we will bring you back to your hotel and you will spend the night in Cairo.

Friday - Day 13 – Exploring Cairo – (B)
After breakfast we will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and continue on the guided tour,
Today you will visit : Egyptian Museum and Old Cairo
Egyptian Museum : The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museums, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms.
The museum's Royal Mummy Room, containing 27 royal mummies from pharaonic times, was closed on the orders of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. It was reopened, with a slightly curtailed display of New Kingdom kings and queens in 1985. Today there are about 9 mummies displayed. One of them is the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatshepsut.
After visiting the Museum we will take you to Old Cairo and give you free time to walk and explore,
Old Cairo : Old Cairo contains the remnants of those cities which were capitals before Cairo, such as Fustat, as well as some other elements from the city's varied history. For example, it encompasses Coptic Cairo and its many old churches and ruins of Roman fortifications.
Then we will take you to your hotel and you will spend the night in Cairo.

Saturday - Day 14 - Cairo to Luxor - (B/L)
After breakfast we will provide a transfer to Cairo Airport and put you on a 1 hour flight to Luxor,
After arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your ship, after check in, we then will continue on the guided tour of this region.
Sites you will visit ;
The Valley of the Kings : is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the kings and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom. The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes (modern Luxor), within the heart of the Theban Necropolis. The wadi consists of two valleys, East Valley (where the majority of the royal tombs situated) and West Valley.
The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut : is situated beneath the cliffs at Deir el Bahari on the west bank of the Nile near the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Designed by the architect Senemut, the mortuary temple is dedicated to the sun god Amon-Ra and is located next to the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II, which served both as an inspiration, and later, a quarry. It is considered one of the "incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt."
The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For the past 3400 years (since 1350 BC) they have stood in the Theban necropolis, across the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor.
Luxor Temple : is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was founded in 1400 BC.
After the tour we will provide a transfer to your hotel, then you will have a free evening, Overnight on board.

Sunday - Day 15 - Luxor to Edfu - (On Board ) - (B/D)
In the morning you will have a free time to look around then after lunch time you will depart from Luxor to Edfu, Enjoy relaxing on this comfortable cruise, Overnight on board.

Monday - Day 16 - Edfu to Aswan - (B/D)
After breakfast you will visit Horus at Edfu then Temple of Sobek
Edfu is the site of the Ptolemaic Temple of Horus and an ancient settlement, About (3 miles) north of Edfu are remains of ancient pyramids. The structure was built from rough reddish sandstone and rises to a present height of 3.2 m. The pyramid has been loosely attributed to King Huni of the Third Dynasty.
The Temple of Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple built during the Ptolemaic dynasty in the Egyptian town of Kom Ombo. The building is unique because its 'double' design meant that there were courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods. The southern half of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world with Hathor and Khonsu. After visiting these sites, sailing for Aswan. Overnight on board.

Tuesday - Day 17 - Aswan - (B/D)
After breakfast you will start the exploring Sites in Aswan
Sites you will visit ;
Aswan High Dam , completed in 1970,The aim of these water projects were to regulate river flooding, provide storage of water for agriculture, and later, to generate electricity. The former cataract and the Old Aswan Dam are about (620 mi)
The unfinished obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt in Aswan It was ordered by Queen Hatshepsut commemorating her 16th anniversary on the throne. It is nearly one third larger than any ancient Egyptian obelisk ever erected.
Philae is an island in the Nile River and the previous site of an Ancient Egyptian temple complex in southern Egypt. The complex was dismantled and relocated to an nearby island when the building of the Aswan Dam threatened to flood the site.
The you can take a local felluce boat to around the Island. Overnight on Board.

Wednesday - Day 18 - Aswan to Sharm - (B/L)
In the morning we will provide a transfer to Luxor Airport and put you on a 45 minute flight to Sharm El Sheik, After arrival we will provide a transfer to your hotel and then
you will have a free day to relax and explore Sharm El Sheik on your own.
Overnight stay in Cairo.

We will provide 3 nights accommodation at in a sea side resort at Sharm El Sheik Town, you will have lots of fun relaxing and exploring this unique Place
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Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai.
Sharm el-Sheikh's long stretches of natural beaches. Its waters are clear and calm for most of the year and have become popular for various water sports, particularly recreational scuba diving and snorkeling which some consider to be among the best in the world. Coral reefs, under water and marine life offer a spectacular and dazzling time for divers. There is wide room for scientific tourism with diversity in marine life species; 250 different coral reefs and 1000 species of fish.
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Saturday - Day 21 - Sharm to Cairo - (B/L)
In the morning we will provide a transfer to Sharm Airport and put you on a 50 minute flight back to Cairo, After arrival we will provide a transfer to your hotel and then
you will have a free day to relax and explore Cairo on your own. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Sunday - Day 22 – Cairo to Home – (B)
MA AS SALAAMA – Good bye, It is time to go home. We will transfer you to the airport and wish you well, asking that you keep Egypt and all of us in your hearts, and hoping that our paths cross again in this life!

Total cost: 2785 Euro per person in a double room & 3885 Euros in a single room.

Price includes
* Flight tickets from Istanbul to Cairo
* All of the hotels ( Each of them individually chosen )
* All of the land transfers with comfortable vehicles
* All of the meal mentioned in the itinerary ( B-breakfast, L-lunch & D-dinner )
* Professional English speaking tour guides
* All of the TAX and service charges

For all information including hotel names, availability, and early booking discounts, please email any questions, and tell us the dates that suit your travel plans.

Contact us for all your questions