Three
Country Grand Tour
A
14-Day Adventure tour of
Turkey, Greece, Israel and Palestine
we show you the top sights in these three
historic countries in a 14 day grand tour.
Compare with Egypt
Edition
DAY
1 - ISTANBUL - Monday - Weekly : March - Nov
Our staff greets you at Istanbul's airport and escorts you to your hotel.
Marmara , Arena Boutique Hotel , Aygun Plaza or similar The rest of
the day is yours to explore the Turkish metropolis as you like.
DAY
2 - ISTANBUL- Tuesday (BL)
The center of ancient Constantinople and Istanbul was on Seraglio Point,
framed by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. We
visit the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet III to challenge
the architectural primacy of neighboring Sancta Sophia. We then
walk next door to compare achievements in Justinian's great Sancta Sophia.
Right behind Sancta Sophia is our next stop, sumptuous Topkapi Palace,
the sultans seraglio for centuries, filled with breathtaking exhibits
of priceless jewels, golden thrones, delicate colored tiles, and lavish
court costumes. After lunch in a local restaurant ,we finish up in the
bustling Grand Bazaar, where you can find jewelry, carpets, goat-hair
rugs, hand-painted ceramics, copper and brass in labyrinthine streets
holding nearly 4000 shops.
DAY
3 - BOSPHORUS- Wednesday (BL)
Istanbul's history was formed by the Bosphorus, the winding strait
that separates Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea
of Marmara. Now, as in ancient times, it is a maritime vital link between
the countries bordering the Black Sea and those in the rest of the world.
Today we take a leisurely cruise northward along this historic waterway.
Along its shores are ranged palaces great and small-Topkapi, Dolmabahçe,
Beylerbeyi, Küçüksu, Hünkar Iskelesi. Four
great fortresses rise on the hills, reminding us that to control the
Bosphorus was to control the destinies of nations. Our afternoon cruise
(morning cruise fro Oct-Apr season) of two continents, crossing from
Europe to Asia and back, includes visits to the Navy's Museum (showing
some magnificent boats used by the Ottoman Sultans), the Bosphorus Bridge,
Çamlica Hill lookout, and stupendous Dolmabahçe Palace.
Lunch
is included at a charming local restaurants .
Hotel
Room amenity : Complimentary
Turkish Lokoom pastries
DAY
4 - ISTANBUL - Thursday (B)
Istanbul is all yours, day at leisure, any way you like it.
Grab your Lonely Planet guidebook to Istanbul and stroll along the restored
19th-century thoroughfare of Istiklal Caddesi, once known as
the Grand Rue de Péra. Search for spices and folk remedies in the Egyptian
Bazaar. Admire the medieval mosaics in the city's many Byzantine
churches. Shop in the chic boutiques around Taksim Square. Climb
the Galata Tower, built by the Genoese six centuries ago, for
a panoramic view of Old Istanbul.
Day
5 - "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque" - Friday
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the
East:" (BL)
Morning walking tour : We start with our guide in Karaköy where
the foreign bankers and shipping companies had their headquarters, then
take the Tünel up to istiklal Caddesi; stop in the whirling dervish
tekke, and walk past the various old embassy buildings (now consulates),
and point out the architecture. Stop for tea (included) at the
famous Pera Palace Hotel.
Walk at least as far as Galatasaray Square, and have lunch in
the Çicek Pasaji (Flower Passage); then walk up to Taksim Square and
be picked up for the afternoon tour. In the afternoon the tour visit
Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri, a mini-palace south of Yildiz,
and finish up with a visit to the Military History Museum in Harbiye
in time to hear the "Mehter," or Ottoman military band (mid-afternoon).
DAY 6 - ISTANBUL & ATHENS - Saturday (B)
Today we fly south and west across the Sea of Marmara and the
deep blue of the Aegean to fabled Athens. International airfares
are included between Istanbul, Athens & Tel Aviv in the tour rates.)
Upon arrival, our staff meets you and escorts you to your hotel in the
Greek capital. The rest of the day is yours: Athens awaits you! If
you prefer a shorter program , please check-out the 10 day tour
DAY 7 - ATHENS- Sunday- Private Tour (BL)
A half-day private city tour shows you this great city's layout: we
visit Syntagma Square, the heart of Modern Athens, drive by the parliament,
and climb up to the Acropolis. Lunch is included at a local charming
Greek restaurant. The afternoon is yours to explore Athens as you like.
Take in some shopping, or relax at a real Athenian cafe in the Plaka.
DAY
8 - Athens Markets - Monday (cBL)
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 9 - GREEK ISLANDS CRUISE / Israel& Palestine - Tuesday
(BL)
We drive to the Marina Trocadero and board a boat for a tour of the
saronic Gulf and its islands Aegina, Poros and Hydra.
After our delightful day at sea, the evening brings us traditional Greek
dancing and entertainment, after which we drive to Athens airport for
our evening flight to Tel Aviv. (airfare is included in the rate
between Athens and Tel Aviv in economy class, tax included .
Upon arrival in Israel, we drive up into the Judean Hills to our Jerusalem
hotel.
Private air-conditioned vehicle and private chauffeur.
DAY
10 - Israel & Palestine : JERUSALEM & BETHLEHEM - Wednesday
(B)
The Holy City is at our feet: we visit the Western Wall, Temple Mount,
the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Roman Cardo,
fabled Mount Zion, and King David's Tomb, then drive to biblical Bethlehem
to visit Rachel's Tomb and the Church of the Nativity, returning to
our Jerusalem hotel in the evening. Private
air-conditioned vehicle and private chauffeur.
DAY 11 - JERUSALEM- Thursday (B)
Today fabled Jerusalem is yours to explore as you like on your own ,
guidebook in hand. Go at your own pace, fulfilling your own interests.
See the renowned Israel Museum, probe the labyrinth of the Old City
with its bazaars and scents of spices, or just relax in a cafe in modern
West Jerusalem-the choice is yours.
DAY 12 - DEAD SEA & QUMRAN - Friday (B)
We drive down below sea level to the Dead Sea for a visit to one of
its mineral spas. Try a swim in the Dead Sea's saline waters,
where you'll be as buoyant as a cork! On the drive back up to Jerusalem,
we stop at Qumran, the Essene community where the precious Dead
Sea Scrolls were discovered. Private
air-conditioned vehicle and private chauffeur.
DAY 13 - ISRAEL ON YOUR OWN- Saturday (B)
Today is yours to plan as you like. Come with us on an optional excursion
(US$98) by Jeep into the Judean desert to see its wildlife, plant life,
and the age-old Mar Saba monastery; or plan your own adventure
within Jerusalem, to its suburbs, or to another city, perhaps nearby
Tel Aviv. The decision is yours. Extend
your stay in Jerusalem ?
DAY 14 - DEPARTURE Sunday (B)
Our staff escorts you to Lod airport near Tel Aviv for your flight home.
RATES per person in USD
| Tour
starts in Istanbul weekly |
| Triple |
US$
5040.00 |
| Double |
US$
5170.00 |
| Single |
US$
6280.00 |
Rates
include:
- Hotel
accommodation
in first-class (four-star) hotels including tax, service charge and
continental breakfast daily.
- 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 & Tel Aviv.
- Lonely
Planet Guide books
- One
day Greek Cruise with lunch included.
Rates
do not include:
-
-
- Three
Country Grand Tour
: A
10-Day Adventure tour of : Turkey, Greece, Israel and Palestine, or
with an extended stay in Istanbul : 14 day version.
- Three
Country Grand Tour
: Turkey, Greece, Egypt : An 11 Day Edition
- Three
Country Grand Tour
: Turkey, Israel , Palestine and Egypt : An 18 Day Edition
| |
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 |
|
