Four Country Grand
Tour
Italy
, Turkey, Greece, Egypt
A True Grand 17 day Mediterranean Tour
DAY
1 - Athens - Weekly on Fridays : March - Nov -
All transfers are always on a private basis .
Our Athens representative will meet you at the Airport or Piraeus port
if/when you arrive by boat/ship, assist you through customs and immigration,
and escort you to Athens and your hotel: Stanley or similar, in the
bustling city center. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish.
You're free to stroll, browse for curios and treasures.
Add International air fare and a foray into Petra : Please click here.
DAY 2 - ATHENS (BL) -
Private Tour - Saturday
Private
air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide.
This morning you'll tour the high points of Athens, most notably the
towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. You'll visit Syntagma Square,
at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards in
colorful traditional outfits.
Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant. Your afternoon is
free for further exploring or shopping, or you could well be drawn to
return to the charm of the Plaka.
DAY
3 - ATHENS
(B) Sunday
You'll plan your own day in Athens,
with the help of your complimentary guidebook. Or we can help you explore
beyond the city. 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 and marvel at its perfect acoustics.
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 Treasure, and the Castalian spring.
DAY
4 - ISTANBUL Monday- All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always
on a private basis (B)
Today we fly north and east across the Sea of Marmara and the
deep blue of the Aegean to fabled Athens. International airfares
are included between Istanbul, Athens & Cairo in the tour rates.)
Upon arrival, our staff meets you and escorts you to your hotel: Aygun
Plaza or similar , in the Turkish capital. The rest of the day is yours:
Istanbul awaits you!
DAY
5 - ISTANBUL Tuesday- All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always
on a private basis (B)
Welcome to the City of the Sultans! We visit the top sights in an all-day
tour, including the Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome, the Turkish
and Islamic Arts Museum with its collection of priceless oriental carpets,
and legendary Topkapi Palace Museum, the imperial residence of the
sultans for centuries. Including the Harem section of the Palace:
DAY
6 - ISTANBUL - Wednesday- All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always
on a private basis (BL)
Afternoon
tour of Hagia Sophia, the greatest church in Christendom for a thousand
years; and a walking tour of the famous "Grand bazaar" ; lunch
is included at a local restaurant.
DAY
7- ANKARA CAPPADOCIA - Thursday -
All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always on a private basis
(BL)
Morning flight Ankara, air fare is always included , in economy class
, tax included , continue to Sultanhani , the Seljuk Turkish Carvanserai
before making the drive to Biblical Cappadocia and our hotel Perisia
Hotel or similar.
DAY
8- CAPPADOCIA- Friday-
All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always on a private basis
(BL)
We explore the "Moonscape" of Cappadoccia, visiting the painted
churches in the Goereme and Zelve Valleys, the rock hewn dwellings in
Ortahisar, the pottery making center of Avanos and the incredible underground
city of Kaymakl or Derinkuyu.
DAY
9 - ISTANBUL Saturday (BD)
Fly back to Istanbul, remainder of the day at leisure. Evening farewell
dinner with Turkish Belly dance.
DAY
10 - CAIRO Sunday (B)
Fly further south across the Mediterranean to Cairo .Our staff meets
you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel: Pyramids Park, Zeus
, or Oases hotel l . visa will be issued on a complimentary basis for
American, Australian, NZ, Western European, Canadian & Japanese
citizens, your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the
date of arrival.
Room amenity : Mint Tea Pot & welcome "Egyptian Sweets "
platter.
Visa
will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some
stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops,
at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers.
There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding
a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp
from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport
officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport
as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist
you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting
the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle)
to the hotel
DAY
11 - CAIRO Monday (cBL)
We start with the best of Cairo: the Egyptian Museum, Manial Palace
of the former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali, Citadel of Saladin and its
Alabaster Mosque. After lunch , we walk the narrow streets of
Old Cairo, once a Roman fort, later the Jewish Quarter, then
the Coptic Christian Quarter. We visit the Coptic churches of
Abu Serghius and Al Molaka, the Coptic Museum, and Ben
Ezra synagogue. Finally, we wander through the alleys of Khan
el-Khalili bazaar in search of souvenirs.
DAY
12 - CAIRO- Giza Pyramids - Dahshour - Home Hosted Dinner - Tuesday
(cBL)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious
Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. The
museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the rectangular
pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years , the wooden
boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun god, Ra .
Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-metre (140-foot)
cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of
Ancient Egypt.
Those
who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart
of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included
with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking
a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!
Continue
to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We
visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:
The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the
desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits
to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were
many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru,
father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son
built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly
on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at
one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is
still in place.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant or at your hotel.
A
complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to
a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties,
you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way
of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your
new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background.
Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that
you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may
enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know
your preferences.
DAY
13 - LUXOR Wednesday (cBLD)
Morning flight to Luxor the Ancient Capital of the first known "United
Kingdom " of Egypt for 20 centuries.
In Luxor we cross the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings and
the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch in Luxor, we tour the
Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and visit the Sacred Lake
. We have a quick look at the great temple of Amon Ra at Luxor
on our way to the airport for our flight back to Cairo, and our hotel.
DAY
14 - Cairo / Rome - Thursday (B)
After breakfast, our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight
to Rome , air fare is included in our rate in business class , tax included
, ticket issued and delivered in Cairo .
Whatever
it is about Rome that intrigues you, fascinates you, tempts you, or
entertains you, you'll find it exactly, because your visit will be tailored
exactly to your desires. Fascinated by the tastes of Roman cuisine?
Your private guide will suggest the best restaurants. Drawn to the masterpieces
of Michelangelo? We'll whisk you to the Vatican at the best time. Have
your heart set on Italian footwear or daring designs in clothing? Talk
it over with your guide-in your own language-and find out where to shop.
You'll arrive today at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, where your Roman host
will be waiting to greet you in your preferred language, be it Spanish,
Japanese, French, or English. After introductions, you'll be escorted
in a private car to the hotel you've selected. You'll have a chance
to discuss what you'll be doing over the next few days. Your host will
make sure that you're settled in for the evening, after which you'll
have a chance to make your own acquaintance with the Eternal City.
All
Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis
DAY
15 - Friday - IMPERIAL ROME WALKING TOUR-
All Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis
(B)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, until your guide calls for
you to begin your walking visit to glorious Rome of the empire. In just
a few hours, you'll pass through centuries of history. You'll take in
the Colosseum, completed in 72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasian, once the site
of gladiatorial bouts and chariot races, and so solidly constructed
that it still is largely intact. You'll continue to the Forum, the main
public square of the ancient city, site of markets, public ceremonies,
and religious rituals. You'll take in the Monument to the Unknown Soldier
in the Piazza Venezia, and journey back across centuries again to the
Piazza del Campidoglio, the masterpiece city hall square designed by
Michelangelo. And you'll appreciate unforgettable hilltop views of all
of Rome. Spend your afternoon as you choose. Your host will be pleased
to call a taxi to take you to your hotel, or recommend a restaurant
for lunch. Rome offers an endless array of temptations, and your only
problem will be choosing among them: a stroll on the Via del Corso,
shopping on the Via Condotti, browsing the Via delle Carrozze and the
Via della Croce. Of course, there's nothing as Roman as stopping for
a cappuccino at the Antico Caffč Greco in the heart of the Via Condotti.
Indulge yourself! For dinner, we can recommend typically Roman restaurants
near the Forum, the Colosseum, or in other parts of Rome. Your host
will be happy to discuss your preferences and write down some suggestions,
with full directions.
DAY
16 - Saturday - TREASURES OF THE VATICAN-
All Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis
(B)
Your Roman host will once again call for you after breakfast at your
lodgings, to take you on a walking visit (or, as an option, by private
car) to Rome's universal masterpieces of religious art and architecture.
You'll travel together to the Vatican, and on the way, discuss the background
of this unique city-state as patron of the arts, temporal power, and
beacon of faith for millions worldwide. Your morning-and more, for there's
so much to see-will be devoted to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's
Basilica. Count on four hours for the visit. Of course, you'll see the
absolute musts for anyone visiting the Holy See, including Michelangelo's
ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, his Last Judgment over the altar,
and masterpieces by Raphael. You'll continue to St. Peter's Basilica,
the greatest church in the world by any measure, to view its grandeur
as a whole, and its individual treasures, from the Pietą by Michelangelo
to the Papal altar and Throne of St. Peter by Bernini. Afterward, a
horse-drawn carriage will convey you into the heart of Rome, to view
monuments and treasures from all eras, including Castle Sant'Angelo
and the Pantheon of the ancient empire, and the beloved Fontana de Trevi
and the Piazza di Spagna of more recent times. Once again, the remainder
of the day will be yours to spend as you choose, shopping or enjoying
the cuisine and street life of one of the world's most lively cities,
with recommendations by your guide.
DAY
17 - Sunday - DEPARTURE .
All Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis
(B)
Your host will call for you after breakfast to arrange your onward travel
from Rome. Are you continuing by rail? You'll be escorted to Rome's
Termini station. Otherwise, you'll be accompanied to Fiumicino Airport
to catch your flight.
Rates per person in USD
$ :
| |
Deluxe
|
First
Class |
Modest
Tourist Class
Hotels |
| Triple |
US$
7540 |
US$
6740 |
US$
6340 |
| Double |
US$
7635 |
US$
6835 |
US$
6435 |
| Single |
US$
8828 |
US$
7928 |
US$
7328 |
Please
add a % 20 supplement : Dec 15,through Jan 5
Rates
include:
-
Hotel accommodation
in including tax, service charge and continental breakfast daily.
- Visa
fee for Egypt
- Guided
sightseeing tours and entrance fees as per itinerary, locally escorted
in each country.
- All
airport transfers, meet, greet and assist service.
- Air
fare between Istanbul, Athens , Cairo and Rome .
- Domestic
air fare within Turkey as well as within Egypt." Y " Class
- Lonely
Planet Guide book for Turkey, Rome , Greece & Egypt.
- Meals
as listed : BLD = Breakfast/lunch/dinner
- Italian
airport taxes
Sample
Hotels in Rome ( or similar) :
Three-star hotels include the Palladium Palace, Isa, Visconti Palace,
and similar establishments.
Four-star hotels include the Capo D'Africa and Sofitel Roma.
Four-star deluxe hotels include the InterContinental De La Ville
or comparable hotels.
Rates
do not include:
- Airfare
from/ To USA. (please contact us for the best airfares, or use your
frequent flyer tickets.)
- Any
sort of insurance .
- Tips
- Visa
fee for Turkey : payable in cash upon arrival, or contact the nearest
Turkish consulate.
Please
read our Terms & Conditions. By sending your deposit, you confirm
that you have read and have accepted these conditions.
| |
Deluxe
Hotel & Cruise |
First
Class Hotels
First Class Nile Cruise |
| Ashkelon |
Dan
Gardens Hotel |
Dan
Gardens Hotel |
| Amman
|
Four
Seasons ( Supplement applies)
Sheraton Amman
Grand Hyatt
SAS Radisson |
Bristo
Hotel Amman
Amman West Hotel
Golden Tulip Hotel |
| Athens |
Divani
Palace
(Upgrade to King George or Grand Bretagne Supplement applies) |
Electra
Palace / Stanley |
| Cairo
|
Hilton
/ Sheraton/ Hyatt
Movenpick |
Shepheard's
/ Oases
Novotel |
Dead
Sea
( Jordan) |
Marriott
Jordan Dead Sea
Kempinski Ashtar Dead Sea Resort
Movenpick Resort Dead Sea |
|
| Istanbul
|
Hyatt
, Conrad , Divan |
Aygun
Plaza , Richmond, Arena |
| Aswan |
Mövenpick Aswan .
New Cataract Hotel
(upgrade to Old Cataract : $150 per per person night Nile View )
|
Basma
|
| Jerusalem
|
American
Colony Hotel |
Notre
Dame Hotel |
| Luxor
|
Sonesta
Luxor Hotel
Luxor Hilton Hotel
Luxor New Winter Palace Hotel
Sheraton Hotel Luxor
Sonesta Luxor
(upgrade to Old Winter : $150 P. Person P. Night ) |
Novotel
|
| Nile
Cruise |
Monaco
/ Monte Carlo / TiYi / Nile Vision / Mojito |
Nile
Dream / Ruby /
Presidential Nile Cruise |
| Tel
Aviv |
Dan
Panorama . King David ( Supplement applies |
Metropolitan
Hotel |
| Tiberias |
|
Nof
Ginnosar Kibbutz |
|
