The Ancient World of
Greece and Egypt

This 17 -day tour with a 3 day Greek Cruise and a 5 day Nile Cruise , an extended stay in Athens and Classical Greece, then onward to view the highlights of ancient Cairo & a glorious 5 day on a Nile Cruise - . Tour starts weekly in Athens every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday : March through November

Compare with the 11 day or 12 day version , add a Nile Cruise or extend to Italy

DAY 1- ATHENS - Wednesday -Click here for the Tuesday Edition
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. Welcome fruit basket awaits you in your room with our compliments.

DAY 2 - ATHENS (B) Thu
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 / CRUISE TO MYKONOS (cBLD) Fri
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 4 - RHODES (BLD) Sat
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 5 - KUSADASI (Turkey), PATMOS (cBD) Sun
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 6 - ATHENS / Delphi (BL) Monday
You'll sail into Piraeus early in the morning. Our Athens-based personnel will take you to the tour terminal in Athens for the full day Delphi excursion takes which will take 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. Lunch is included enroute.

DAY 7 - ATHENS / Argolis / Cairo (BL) Tuesday
Full day tour to Argolis or Delphi. Driving 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 Airport in the evening, after seeing the museum and Askelpeion. And connect to your evening Cairo bound flight.
Your hotel room in Cairo for tonight is included in our rate to allow you to check-in immediately as soon as you land in Cairo .

Air fare is included Athens/Cairo, in economy class , in Cairo our local rep will meet you and whisks you through the excitement and hubbub of the terminal, and onward to your hotel . Complimentary visa for Egypt, will be 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). A complimentary welcome fruit basket and a warm pot of coffee or tea will be delivered to your room upon arrival.

DAY 8 - CAIRO (BLD) Wednesday
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.

Egypt , the Nile Valley- Nile View with the Felucca Sailing boats in the Background

DAY 9 - CAIRO (B) Thursday
Today, you'll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Capital on your own , or ask us for assistance with a local optional tour.,

DAY 10 - CAIRO /LUXOR ( or Aswan) (BLD) Friday
After an early breakfast at the hotel, our local rep will escort you to Cairo Airport , board your flight to Luxor ( air ticket is included, issued & delivered in Cairo ). In Luxor , we 'll meet you & escort you
to your luxury cruiser . After lunch, we visit the great temples of Luxor and Karnak, then return to our Nile cruiser in time for afternoon tea.

DAY 11 - VALLEY OF THE KINGS- Saturday (BLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including Tut-Ankh-Amon's tomb, and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

Afterward, we'll continue on Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

DAY 12 - EDFU & KOM OMBO - Sunday (cBLD)
We cruise by Esna to Edfu, where we board horse-drawn carriages for the ride to the Temple of Horus. Returning to our ship, we set sail for Kom Ombo. In the evening, there's a jolly galabia party aboard.

DAY 13 - KOM OMBO & ASWAN - Monday (cBLD)
We explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek at Kom Ombo, then sail south to Aswan. After lunch we board a graceful felucca and cruise among the islands, returning to our ship in time for tea.

DAY 14 - ASWAN - Nubian Museum, Camel Caravan, Nubian Village, - Tuesday (cB)
After breakfast we check out, visit the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk, the Nubian Museum ,then board a motor launch to visit the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS

Be our guest if you wish on a complimentary short camel caravan to a near by Nubian Village for tea with the locals, returning to Aswan Airport and fly back to Cairo and your hotel, flights & transfers are always included in our rate.

DAY 15 - Cairo / Athens - Wednesday (B)
You'll enjoy an early breakfast before we escort you to the airport for your flight to Athens ( air fare is included in our rate), in Athens, our local rep meets you & escort you to your hotel . Then on to ride the new Athens Subway alongside the locals today ( always escorted with your English speaking Guide) ! We take pride in affording you this experience, entirely by public transportation, with orientation by our English-speaking representative. You'll get to tour Athens fascinating vegetable & fruit markets by subway and/ or taxi. Enjoy lunch at a charming local restaurant before we head back to the hotel . Markets days/dates are subject to change, we may have to change your program in Athens to accommodate such changes.

DAY 16 - Athens Markets - Thursday (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning leisure.
Cape Sounion ( Afternoon- Group Tour) :
Drive along the coastal road, past the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza to the most Southern point of Attica, CAPE SOUNION, where the white marble pillars of the temple Poseidon stand. On the way you have a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf and the little islands...... After visiting the Temple of Poseidon, you have time to walk at leisure on the rocky promontory of Sounion.

DAY 17 - Athens - Departure - Friday (B)
You'll enjoy an early breakfast before we escort you to the airport for your flight home.

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.
  
  
• Five day , four nights Nile Cruise inclusive of all meals on board , and all shore excursions, inclusive of all entrance fees
  
  
• International Air Fare ATHENS / CAIRO / ATHENS , round-trip" Y" class , economy class including tax.
  
  
• Egyptian domestic air fare : Cairo /Luxor - Aswan / Cairo , economy class, tax included.
  
  
• Hotel accommodation in each of Cairo & Athens as listed .
  
  
• Athens , Argolis , Delphi & Cairo sightseeing tour as per itinerary including English speaking guide & entrance fees.
  
  
• Athens & Cairo 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 on board the Greek cruise.
  
  
• 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).
  

Not included:

• Shore excursions during the Greek cruise.
• International airfare from/to your home country .
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically listed.
• Trip Cancellation Insurance/Travel Insurance (Please ask us for the flyer

Sample deluxe cruises: Adonis , Beau Soleil ,Monaco / Monte Carlo / Lady Diana


Upgrade : 20 % Supplement applies:
Radamis ( Movenpick ), Queen TiYi , Nile Vision , Liberty , Moon Goddess , Amarco

Luxury on the Nile - The All Suites : Amarco