Three
Country Grand Tour
An
18-Day Adventure tour of
Turkey, Egypt , Israel and Palestine
We
show you the top sights in these three historic countries in an 18 day
grand tour.
Including the best of Egypt : a good look at Cairo, The Mighty Temples
of Abu Simbel and a 5-day cruise along the Nile
Compare with Greece
Edition . Add
Syria
DAY
1 - ISTANBUL - Saturday - 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- Sunday (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- Monday (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 - Tuesday (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" - Wednesday
(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 Cairo - Thursday (B)
Today we fly south and across the Mediterranean Sea and the
deep blue of the Aegean to fabled Cairo . International airfares
are included between Istanbul, Cairo & Tel Aviv in the tour rates.
If you prefer a shorter program
, please check-out the 11 day tour
In Cairo :
Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your
hotel. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo
Airport for : Australian, NZ, American,EU , Canadian, Singaporean &
Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order
valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.
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 : The Grand Hyatt or similar
DAY
7 - CAIRO - Friday (BL)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum ,
the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin,
and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster. Lunch is included
at the Mena House or Naguib Mahfouz Restaurant . This is a very full
day of touring
DAY
8 - LUXOR ! Saturday - M/S Monaco or M/S Mojito Nile Cruise
- Five Stars Deluxe (BLD)
We fly to LUXOR ( or Aswan) and
board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch.
Complimentary
welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin .The gigantic Great
Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor
are our goals in the afternoon. We'll return in time for the afternoon
tea served on deck. You'll have a chance to explore your ship before
dinner.
DAY
9 - LUXOR , EDFU - Sunday (BLD)
We
tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings
including Tut-Ank-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.
We sail in the afternoon we cruise to Esna to go through the
locks , and on to Edfu where we dock for the night. In the evening ,
we'll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias, the flowing
national costume, a galabya will be delivered to your cabin with
our compliments)
DAY
10 - EDFU, KOM OMBO - Monday (BLD)
We
moor in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop
through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved
temple. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we enjoy lunch as we sail
further south upriver .
We disembark downstream at Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples
of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, the continue
our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner with music& dance.
 DAY
11 - CAMEL CARAVAN, NUBIAN VILLAGE , ASWAN - Tuesday
(BLD)
First we tour Aswan dams, then on to the new Nubian Museum then the
awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete
with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to 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.
In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the
Nile.
For those who are interested : a short camel caravan & ride is included
( almost a half hour ride) to visit a local Nubian Village.
Our
farewell dinner this evening is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed
by a show featuring oriental performers, including of course a belly
dancer.
DAY
12 - ASWAN , Abu Simbel CAIRO - Wednesday (B)
Board a short flight to Abu Simbel:
Ramses the Great's huge desert temple at Abu Simbel marked
the southern border of the pharaoh's dominions. Rescued from the rising
waters of Lake Nasser by an international effort, it is a marvel of
sacred engineering. Twice a year ,and only then the sun penetrates to
the Holy of Holies, illuminating the stone figures of Ramses and Nefertari.
Group tour exploring the two huge temple, admire their ancient aura
and artistry.
Jacquie
Kennedy & Abu Simbel:
All Americans alive during the 1960s remember President John F Kennedy
and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most Americans from that
time also remember Abu Simbel, the dramatic, ancient Pharaonic temple
threatened by the rising waters blocked by the new Aswan High Dam. It's
worth remembering that it was Jacquie Kennedy who provided crucial support
for the mammoth rescue project. Without her help, Abu Simbel might have
been lost. Read More
Fly
back to Aswan and connect with your our return flight to Cairo
and your hotel.
DAY 13 - CAIRO- Departure for Tel Aviv- Thursday
(B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your Tel Aviv flight,
air fare is included 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
14 - 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 15 - 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 16 - 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 17 - ISRAEL ON YOUR OWN- Saturday (B)
Today is yours to plan as you like. Come with us on an optional excursion
(US$98) by Jeep into the Judean desert to see its wildlife, plant life,
and the age-old Mar Saba monastery; or plan your own adventure
within Jerusalem, to its suburbs, or to another city, perhaps nearby
Tel Aviv. The decision is yours.
DAY 18 - DEPARTURE Sunday (B)
Our staff escorts you to Lod airport near Tel Aviv for your flight home.
RATES per person in USD
| Tour
starts in Istanbul weekly |
| Triple |
US$
6010.00 |
| Double |
US$
6130.00 |
| Single |
US$
7550.00 |
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,Cairo & Tel Aviv.
- Lonely
Planet Guide books
- All
domestic airfares and tax within Egypt.
- Deluxe
Nile Cruise as listed , with all shore excursiones, meals on board
, Bottled water ( one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while
you are on board the cruise. Tea or coffee /bottled water with each
meal while on board the cruise .Complimentary welcome fruit basket
awaits you in your cabin .Complimentary galabya on board the cruise
for the costume party.
- Visa
fee for Egypt , visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport
for : American,EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible
for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond
the date of your arrival in Cairo.
- Preset
menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast)
L = Lunch, D = Dinner .
- All
guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees. On
board the Nile cruise you'll be part of an average 10-15 English speaking
group.
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
Sheraton Plaza Jerusalem |
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 |
|
