DAY
1 - Friday -ATHENS - Weekly March thru
end of Nov
Our local personnel meets you at the airport and escorts you to
your hotel.
Athens is yours and you may wish to cover on your own the high
points of the city.
Click for Saturday
arrival .
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Istanbul ? Please click here
Private
chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for your transfers between
airports and hotels
DAY
2 - Saturday- Private Tour of ATHENS (BLD)
A half-day private city tour will orient you to the high points of Athens.
You'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city; the Parliament;
Hadrian's Arch; and culminate with the Acropolis and its museum. Private
chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle, private guide.
Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant.
Your afternoon is free for further exploring, shopping, or, perhaps,
another visit to the Plaka. Or take advantage of one of our optional
tours. Dinner is included tonight at a typical Greek Taverna
DAY
3 - Sunday -
Athens - Private Guide Escorting you Today
Markets or BYZANTINE
Churches (BLD)
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.
Or
if you prefer you may choose instead to tour one of the following tours:
BYZANTINE CHURCHES
Russian Orthodox Church at Filellinon & Amalias
Athens cathedral (Mitropolis) at Mitropoleos
Kapnikarea at Ermou
Saint Theodore at Klafthmonos
They then visited the Jewelry museum (LALAOUNIS) before breaking for
lunch.
They used the metro 3 times (because they wanted to).
HISTORICAL INTEREST- Museum Tour :
BENAKI MUSEUM - (closed on Tuesdays)
Covering the history of Greece from Paleolithic (pre-historic, 60000
B.C.) till present. Can easily spend over 4 hours in there. There is
also a cafeteria for breaks.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST
Temple of Olympian Zeus / Dionissos Theatre/ Ancient Agora/ Roman Agora
Guests who have been on the organized tour (the day before) can use
the same entrance ticket to all the archaeological sites mentioned above.
Above are only suggestions , you may discuss with the guide and modify
(add/subtract) according to what you are most interested in. The guide
will advise you on what is feasible to cover in a half-day. Or add another
half day : additional $$$ apply
Dinner
is included at the hotel
DAY
4 - Monday - Group Tour - MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS - NAUPLIA (BD)
We set forth from Athens to tour classical Greece, passing Corinth and
its steep-walled canal as we go. We stop at Mycenae, center of ancient
Mycenaean civilization (2800-1100 BC); and Epidaurus, site of the temple
of Asclepius. We spend the night in Nauplia.
First class hotels : Amalia or similar .
DAY
5 - Tuesday - Group Tour - OLYMPIA (BD)
We pass by Tripolis and Megalopolis on our way to Olympia, ancient site
of the Olympic games. We visit the great Temple of Zeus, one of the
Wonders of the Ancient World, and tour the museum. First class
hotels : Europa or similar .
DAY
6 - Wednesday - Group - Tour - DELPHI (BD)
We drive through Rion, Antirion and Nafpaktos and along the Corinthian
coast on our way to Delphi, site of the famed oracle, at the foot of
Mount Parnassus. First class hotels : Amalia or similar . Tourist
class : Hermes or similar
DAY
7 - Thursday - Group Tour - DELPHI & ATHENS (B)
We tour the ruins of Delphi and its oracle, sacred to Apollo and Dionysus.
In the afternoon, we drive via the lovely village of Arachova to the
Byzantine monastery of Ossios Loucas, then on to Athens.
DAY 8- Friday - ATHENS, CAIRO (B)
Our Athens-based personnel will take you to the airport to catch
your flight for Cairo, where our local staff whisks you through the
excitement and hubbub of the terminal, and onward through the desert
to your hotel . Air fare is included in economy class Athens Cairo with
tax included
Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your
airport transfers while you are in Greece and / or Egypt with us .
Egyptian visa fee is included, issued upon arrival for EU , American,
Japanese and Australian, NZ citizens, passports must be valid for at
least 6 month beyond the date of arrival. You are responsible for your
passport being valid & in order.
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
9 - Saturday - ASWAN- Camel Caravan - Nubian Village (BLD)
Our Cairo personnel will escort you to the airport to board your
flight to Aswan in Upper Egypt. You'll arrive in time to take lunch
aboard your Nile cruiser. Welcome fruit basket awaits you on board.
We'll have the opportunity to experience Egypt at its most authentic,
as we sail the Nile in a graceful felucca. If you wish, try your hand
at camel riding! We'll take a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with
Nubian villagers. Private
chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your airport transfers
while you are in Greece and / or Egypt with us .
Wish
to add a true Ancient Wonder of the World: Abu
Simbel Temples ?
DAY 10 -Sunday - ASWAN, KOM OMBO (BLD)
After breakfast on board, we'll visit the dams at Aswan,
including the High Dam, a modern wonder in this ancient land. At the
ancient granite quarry, we'll see an obelisk left unfinished, then board
a launch on Lake Nasser to visit the Temples of Philae, rescued from
rising waters. Back aboard our cruiser, we'll sail northward down the
Nile at a stately pace, disembarking for a visit to Kom Ombo, the twin
temple dedicated to the crocodile river god, Sobek. Cabin
amenity : 2 Large bottled water.
DAY
11 - Monday- EDFU, ESNA (BLD)
Horse-drawn carriages or vans meet us at riverside to take us through
Edfu to the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Later,
we'll cruise to Esna, and by evening, we'll be in fabled Luxor.
Cabin
amenity: Egyptian Sweets platter.
DAY
12- Tuesday - LUXOR (BLD)
We'll cross the Nile to view an array of ancient splendors: the
tomb chambers of the Valley of the Kings; the imposing tomb-temple of
Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens; and the Colossi of Memnon.
Evening
farewell dinner & a belly dance show: Complimentary Galabya
will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.
DAY
13 -Wednesday - LUXOR, CAIRO, Home Hosted Dinner
(B)
We'll visit the imposing Great Temple of Amon at Karnak and the
great Temple of Luxor before heading to the airport to catch our flight
to Cairo. After we settle you into your hotel, you'll have your last
opportunity to experience the excitement of this great city and, of
course, do some last-minute shopping.
Tonight you are invited to meet the local, and enjoy dinner with our
compliments , you'll be honored guests at a local family home, if you
prefer to have a quite evening on your own , please do let's know.
Private
chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your airport transfers
while you are in Greece and / or Egypt with us .
DAY
14 - Thursday - Private Tour - CAIRO (BLD)
Today, you'll explore the wonders of the Egyptian Museum, with its
treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones
and metals. Travellers have long come to Cairo just to gaze on these
sights, but your day has just started. You'll also see the Citadel of
Saladin and the alabaster mosque of Mohammed Ali. In Giza, on the edge
of the desert, you'll gaze in awe at the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids
, for those interested a complimentary ticket is included for entry
to the King's chamber inside the Pyramid, you must be physically fit
to be able to climb. Private
chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle and private Egyptologist
. Dinner
is included at the hotel.
The
Great Pyramid of Cheops . . . Are You Up to the Adventure?
A journey into the heart of the Great Pyramid
is a real-life Indiana Jones adventure. But it can also be a taxing
and frightening one.
You'll follow claustrophobic passages cut into the heart of the pyramid,
feel the pull of the mass of stone directly above. For better or worse,
you have placed yourself in the hands of the engineering expertise of
the ancients.
As
you continue along the unventilated passages, the oxygen becomes depleted,
the air becomes noticeably warmer and more pungent. The ascent of steep
stairways consumes more energy than you imagined, and you find yourself
short of breath. Lighting is dim, every footstep must be carefully calculated.
Low passageways repeatedly oblige you to advance while bent down, and
your muscles protest. Where walls disappear into the dark above, you
feel wedged into a shaft. Despite warnings, and your own resolve, claustrophobic
feelings are hard to suppress.
Finally,
you behold the King's Chamber at the heart of the Great Pyramid. The
effort to reach it has made the reward more exhilarating than you imagined.
If only you can face the return.
Is
the King's Chamber for you? If you're not used to bending and regular
exercise, you might find the challenge beyond your capabilities. Turning
back is more difficult the farther you go, and the experience could
leave you aching for days afterwards.
Be
realistic about yourself, your abilities, and your disposition. And
remember that there are many other rewarding sights and adventures at
Giza, without the physical challenge and risks of the King's Chamber.
The
decision is up to you.
DAY
15 -Friday - RETURN HOME (B)
Our
Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Bon
Voyage.
Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your airport
transfers while you are in Greece and / or Egypt with us .
- Start
in Athens weekly . Cruise itinerary may vary
according to ship and line selected.
- RATES
are per person in double occupancy in US$:
- Rates
are based on an outside standard cabin with two lower beds. ( for
other preference ,
Rate
Per person in double in USD $
Tourist
Class |
First Class |
Deluxe
Hotels |
$
3475.00 |
US$
4060.00 |
US$
4730.00 |
Rate
includes:
- Lonely
Planet travel guides to Greece and Egypt
- A
five day Nile cruise, including all meals , afternoon tea served on
deck daily , and shore excursions.
- One
large bottled water per person delivered to your cabin daily while
you are on board the Nile Cruise . Plus a small bottle of water with
each & every meal on board the cruise
- Tea
or coffee and water with each & every meal while you are on board
the Nile cruise.
- Complimentary
welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
- Complimentary
welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
- Hotel
accommodation as mentioned in Athens and Cairo, including tax and
service charges, and breakfast daily.
- Meals
as indicated, with preset menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
- Airport
greeting and assistance. Transportation between airports, hotels,
and port.
-
One-way air transportation from Athens to Cairo in economy class,
tax included .
- Port
taxes.
-
Domestic air transportation in Egypt " Y " class , tax included
- Egyptian
visa fee, available for American, Canadian, EU, NZ, Singaporean &
Japanese citizens.
Must have a valid passport. Issued upon arrival at Cairo airport.
Not
Included:
- Trip
interruption and cancellation insurance
- International
air fare.
- Additional
personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically mentioned
in the itinerary
More
choices :
