This 14 -day tour with a 3 day Greek Cruise and a 4 day Nile cruise takes you to Athens and Classical Greece, then onward to view the highlights of ancient Cairo then on to a Nile Cruise . This tour starts weekly in Athens every Tuesday, From April thru Nov . Compare with the 11 day or 12 day version or extend to Italy

DAY 1- ATHENS Tuesday - Weekly : Apr - Nov
Our local personnel meets you at the airport and escorts you to your accommodations. You'll have time on your own to explore the Greek capital, browse for treasures and curios, and venture to a terrace cafe or a fine meal in the old Plaka district.

DAY 2 - ATHENS (B) Wednesday
A half-day city tour will orient you to the high points of Athens. We'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city; the Parliament; Hadrian's Arch; and culminate with the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Your afternoon is free for further exploring, shopping, or, perhaps, another visit to the Plaka.

DAY 3 - ATHENS (B) Thursday
You'll set your own program today from the many choices available. We've even given you a guidebook to assist you. Get together with new friends for cafe-sitting and people-watching in the Plaka. Prowl the many shops, or return to the Acropolis. We suggest an optional tour to Argolis or Delphi. Our optional tour to Argolis takes you across the historic Corinthian Canal to Mycenae, where you'll visit the Lion Gate and the tombs of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. After a seaside lunch in Nauplion, you'll visit the theater of Epidaurus, known for its perfect acoustics. You'll return to Athens in the evening, after seeing the museum and Askelpeion. Our optional Delphi excursion takes you through Thebes, Levadia, and Arachova. In Delphi, you'll see renowned classical bronzes, and visit the Temple of Apollo, the Athenian Treasury, and Castalian spring.

DAY 4 - ATHENS / CRUISE TO MYKONOS (BLD) Friday
Our staff will escort you to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to embark on your three-day cruise. You'll sail into the Aegean, and by sunset, reach the jet-set isle of Mykonos. Stroll at your own pace along lanes lined with whitewashed houses, up to the Church of Paraportiani, or along the shore to the island's signature windmills. Enjoy an ouzo or a glass of retsina at a waterside cafe. Re-embark for a nighttime sailing.

DAY 5 - RHODES (BLD) Saturday
Our cruise ship arrives early at the harbor, allowing a full day on the Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect for exploring on your own. You'll want to visit the Palace of the Knights of St. John, take a look at the wares in the boutiques, and spend some time in a seaside cafe. We also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies. Spend a restful night on board as we sail to our next destination.

DAY 6 - KUSADASI (Turkey), PATMOS (BD) Sunday
We anchor at 7 a.m. your ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written.
You'll re-board in time for a late morning sailing. In the late afternoon, we reach Kusadasi, on the Turkish mainland, gateway to ancient Ephesus. Stroll the streets and stop in at shops filled with leather goods and bargains in gold. Our optional tour takes you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world.

DAY 7 - ATHENS / CAIRO (B) Monday
You'll sail into Piraeus early in the morning. Our Athens-based personnel will take you to the airport to catch your flight for Cairo ( air fare is included Athens/Cairo) , where our local staff whisks you through the excitement and hubbub of the terminal, and onward to your hotel . Complimentary visa for Egypt, issued upon arrival for American Canadian, Australian, NZ, EU, Singaporean & Japanese citizens (your passport must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival). Welcome fruit basket and a warm pot of coffee or tea will be delivered to your room upon arrival.

DAY 8 - CAIRO (BLD) Tuesday
Today, you'll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals. Travelers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on the sights, but your day has just started. You'll lunch at a charming local Restaurant, then depart to Giza for an afternoon visit to the mysterious Sphinx, the Pyramids, and the Valley Temple. Taking a camel ride is entirely your own choice! Conclude a memorable day as we host you on a Nile dinner cruise complete with exotic Egyptian entertainment.

DAY 9 - Nile Cruise (BLD) Wednesday - CAIRO / ASWAN & KOM OMBO
Transfer is included from your hotel to the airport.
Domestic air fare between Cairo & the cruise is included, issued & delivered in Cairo . Add $ 150 for upgrade to business class ( subject to availability) , upon arrival in Aswan ,our local rep will assist with you transfer from the airport to your luxury Nile Cruise.
Check in on our luxury cruiser in the morning, then visit the Aswan High Dam, the red granite quarries of the ancient pharaohs, Nubian Museum, and the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

The Mystery of Isis

Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

After a shipboard lunch, we set sail for Kom Ombo, where we explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek. We continue our cruise to Edfu, where we dock for the night.

DAY 10 - EDFU & LUXOR Thursday (cBLD)
We board horse-drawn carriages (or motor vans) for the ride to Edfu's Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved Ancient Egyptian temples on the Nile. After lunch , we continue our cruise down the Nile to Luxor. Afternoon tea is served on the sun -deck. Dinner & entertainment on board.

DAY 11 - LUXOR & THEBES - Friday (cBLD)
Today we tour the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple of El Deir El Bahari , and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch, the afternoon is free for shopping. Afternoon tea is served on deck. Dinner & folk dance show on board.

DAY 12 - LUXOR & KARNAK - CAIRO - Saturday (cB)
We tour the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak , the "mother" of all temples, and the smaller yet charming Temple of Luxor, checking out of our cruise vessel before lunch.

Transfer is included back to Aswan airport . Domestic air fare is included as well back to Cairo .
In Cairo , we meet you at the airport & escort you back to your hotel .

DAY 13 - On Desert Safari for the Day - Fayoum Oases - And you thought the Pyramids were old
Sunday (BL)
We leave Cairo by sunrise ( private air conditioned car/driver/guide): Full day Fayoum Oases including:
Hawara Pyramid, El Lahoun Pyramid, Ruins of Karanis, drive by Lake Qarun, lunch is included at a local restaurant.

The wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains, oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.

Join us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel, and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest. Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands. It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.

We’ll visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local artisans are on display.

Then it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure! We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes, and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales ( In Arabic : Wadi-El-Hitan) . Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived - almost forty million years ago- in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone.
This valley was discovered in 1936 , by the German geologist George Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.

The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have helped them somewhat while ashore . A team from the University of Michigan discovered in the late 80's that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary feet , this was a startling discovery , suggesting that whales of Wadi -El-Hitan had recently started living in water as well , these whales were not related to any of the whales we have today , rather a more slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct specie the Zeuglodon Isis Whales .

In the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included

DAY 14 - DEPARTURE (B) Monday
You'll enjoy breakfast before we escort you to the airport for your flight home. This tour departs every Tuesday, from March through November . Cruise itinerary may vary according to ship and cruise line selected .
Add an extra day in Cairo . Bon Voyage

Rates per person in US$, Double Occupancy outside Cabins with 2 lower beds, or Upper & lower

Rate includes:

• Three -day cruise to Greek Islands and Turkey.
• International Air Fare ATHENS / CAIRO one way " Y" economy class , including tax
• Domestic air fare in Egypt , " Y" economy class , including tax .
• Hotel accommodation in each of Cairo & Athens as listed .
• Four day , 3 nights Nile cruise INCLUDING all shore excursions & all meals ( always outside cabin)
• Athens & Cairo & Nile Cruise sightseeing tour as per itinerary including English speaking guide & entrance fees.
• Breakfast daily at the hotel. And a dinner cruise on the Nile in Cairo.
• All meals during the Greek & Nile cruises.
• Greeting and assistance on arrival, and transport to hotel (Cairo & Athens) , to cruise ship, and back to airport ( Athens & Piraeus).
• Hotel service charges, taxes, and hospitality services .
• Port taxes .
• Lonely Planet guide books.
• Complimentary visa for Egypt, issued upon arrival for American Canadian, Australian, NZ, EU, Singaporean & Japanese citizens (your passport must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of arrival).
  

Sample deluxe cruises: M/S Adonis  M/S Beau Soleil. M/S Monaco / M/S Mojito , M/S Monte Carlo , M/S Lady Diana

Supplement for the Ultra Deluxe %20 :
The M/S Tuya . M/S TI-YI . Mövenpick M/S Royal Lily , Movenpick M/S Royal Lotus , Movenpick M/S Radamis II , M/S Amarco , M/S Nile Vision

Luxury on the Nile - The All Suites : Amarco

Not included:

• Shore excursions on the Greek Cruise .
• International airfare from/to your home country .
• Gratuities Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed.
• Trip Cancellation Insurance/Travel Insurance