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Legends
of Turkey , Greece
Egypt and the Nile
A 20- day Mediterranean
Fantasy tour, visiting : Egypt, Turkey and Greece
Exploring "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
Istanbul , Ephesus
Cappadoccia , Greece and a Nile Cruise in Egypt
Add Rome
Tour
starts weekly in Istanbul : March through Nov
You may add extra days pre or post . Among the most treasured memories
of many travelers are a trip to Istanbul , the Greek Isles and a journey
on a Nile steamer
In this trip you will experience them all
. Compare with the Four Seasons Ultra Deluxe Edition .Grand
Tour Athens , Istanbul & Nile Cruise ,or compare
with Egypt & Israel version , or
Santorini edition.Add
a Greek Cruise ?
DAY
1 -- ISTANBUL - Sunday Tour
starts weekly in Istanbul : March through Nov
Our staff meets your flight and escorts you to your hotel.
Welcome fruit basket at your room, with our compliments.
This
tour starts daily in Istanbul, yet please keep in mind that we keep
the right to substitute some site based on the following: Topkapi Palace
is closed on Tuesday. Ayasofia is closed on Monday. Kariye Museum is
closed on Wednesdays. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
DAY
2 -- ISTANBUL- Monday (BLD)
We dive right into this fascinating city with visits to its top sights:
Topkapi, the palace of the Sultans for centuries; Hagia Sophia,
the greatest church in Christendom for a thousand years; the Blue
Mosque, with its exquisite blue tiles; the Byzantine Hippodrome,
scene of chariot races and gladiator combat; and the eerie Sunken Palace
cistern beneath it. Then a drive through modern neighborhoods brings
us to the ancient city walls and the Kariye Museum (Chora Church),
filled with brilliant Byzantine mosaics. Lunch is included at a charming
local restaurant . Dinner with folk show included tonight .
Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner . Private
chauffeur, private guide private air conditioned vehicle for all your
touring today.
DAY
3 - ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA -Tuesday (BL)
Morning Flight to Ankara, tour the Museum and Atatürk Mausoleum
, lunch is included at a charming local restaurant , then proceed by
private air-conditioned vehicle to Sultanhani the Seljuk Turkish caravanserai
before arriving to biblical Cappadocia and your Hotel.
Day
4 - CAPPADOCIA - Wednesday (BL)
We explore the "moonscape" of Cappadocia, visiting the painted churches
in the Göreme and Zelve Valleys, the rockhewn dwellings in Ortahisar,
the pottery-making center of Avanos, and the incredible underground
city of Kaymakl (or Derinkuyu). Private
chauffeur, private guide private air conditioned vehicle for all your
touring today.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant.
Day
5 - CAPPADOCIA / KAYSERI / IZMIR - Thursday (B)
Proceed by private car to Kayseri,
board your flight on to Istanbul & connect to Izmir , and your hotel.
Remainder of the day at leisure.
DAY
6 - Ephesus - Friday (B)
We proceed to time capsule & the gem of ancient cities of the Greco
Roman world: Ephesus, the capital of Roman Asia Minor, we spend most
of the day in Ephesus and touring the Basilica of St. John, said to
mark his tomb. Private
chauffeur, private guide private air conditioned vehicle for all your
touring today.
DAY
7 -
Istanbul
/ Athens - Saturday (B)
Our local rep will assist you with the transfer to Istanbul airport
for your flight to Athens . Breakfast is included at the hotel .
In Athens Our local personnel meets you at the airport and escorts
you to your hotel. Sample
Athens hotels :
Deluxe: Divani
Palace Acropolis. First : Titania . Electra Palace
. Tourist : Stanley
Athens is yours and you may wish to cover on your own the high
points of the city, especially the towering Acropolis and the adjacent
museum. In the evening, we'll take in a dinner with traditional Greek
entertainment.
DAY
8 - Sunday- ATHENS- Private Tour (BLD)
On your first morning in Athens we show you the top sights: private
air-conditioned vehicle , private guide, private driver : the Acropolis
and its museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Theater
of Dionysus, and more. In the afternoon, plunge into the city as you
like for sightseeing and shopping.
Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant. Dinner is included
at a typical Greek Taverna .
Private chauffeur, private guide private air conditioned vehicle for
all your touring today.
DAY
9 - Monday - MYCENAE, EPIDAURUS - NAUPLIA- Group Tour (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
10 - Tuesday - OLYMPIA- Group Tour
(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
11 - Wednesday - DELPHI- Group Tour (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 .
DAY
12 - Thursday - DELPHI - ATHENS- Group Tour (BD)
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. Dinner
is included at the hotel
DAY 13 - Friday - ATHENS, CAIRO -
(B)
You'll sail into Piraeus early in the morning. Our
Athens-based local rep. will take you to the airport to catch your flight
for Cairo . Air fare is included in economy class Athens Cairo with
tax included .
Our
local representative greets you at Cairo Airport and whisks you to your
hotel. Visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited
number of citizens such as : American, EU , Canadian , EU Singaporean
and Japanese citizens. For Americans , please pay the $ 15 USD fee in
cash upon arrival . You are responsible for having your passport in
order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in
Cairo. Our local rep. meets with a sign that carries your name you after
you clear the passport and customs formalities . After exiting the terminal,
our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel
:
Sample Deluxe Hotels :
Ramses Hilton , Nile Hilton , J. W. Marriott, Cairo Conrad , Grand Hyatt
or similar .
Sample First Class Hotel : Sonesta Hotel or similar
Sample Tourist Class Hotel : Novotel or similar
Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your
airport transfers while you are in Greece and / or Egypt with us .
DAY
14 - Saturday - 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.
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.
Dinner
is included at the hotel. Private
chauffeur, private guide private air conditioned vehicle for all your
touring today.
DAY
15 - Sunday - ASWAN
( or Luxor)-
Camel Caravan
Nubian Village -Board your Nile Cruise (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. Sample
Nile Cruise : Deluxe : M/S Monaco . M/S Mojito or similar . Sample First
Class : M/S Nile Dream. M/S Ruby , these same First Class cruise will
be used for the Tourist class rate as well.
DAY 16-Monday - 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, 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.
Isis
is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the
meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images
show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world.
Isis,
the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt
when you Travel in Style!
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
17 - Tuesday- 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
18 -Wednesday - 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.
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.
All
transfers and tours are always on a private basis .
Evening
farewell dinner & a belly dance show: Complimentary Galabya
will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.
DAY
19 -Thursday - LUXOR, CAIRO (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.
DAY
20 -Friday - RETURN HOME (B)
Our Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport
for your flight home. Bon Voyage.
RATES are per person in double occupancy in US$:
Rates
are based on an outside standard cabin with two lower beds. ( for other
preference , please do let us know) Honeymooners will get free upgrade
to a Junior suite on board the cruise subject to availability
Rate
Per person in double in USD $
| |
Tourist
Class Hotels |
First
Class Hotels |
Deluxe
Hotels |
| In
Triple |
US$
5910 |
US$
6430 |
US$
7130 |
| In
Double |
US$
6000 |
US$
6550 |
US$
7270 |
| In
Single |
US$
7030 |
US$
7470 |
US$
8620 |
Rate
includes:
- A
5-day Nile cruise, including all meals , afternoon tea served on deck
daily , and shore excursions.
- Lonely
Planet travel guide books to Istanbul,Greece and Egypt
- 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 Istanbul , Greece, 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 Istanbul to Athens to Cairo "
Y " Class .
- Port
taxes.
-
Domestic air transportation in Turkey and Egypt in " Y "
class , with tax included .
Not
Included:
- Trip
interruption and cancellation insurance
- International
air fare.
- Turkish
Visa fee, please secure in your home country or upon arrival in Istanbul
( Cash only) , please check with the Turkish consulate near you.
- Additional
personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically mentioned
in the itinerary
- All
tips to drivers, guides etc
- Visa
for Egypt may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited
number of citizens such as : American, EU , Canadian , EU Singaporean
and Japanese citizens. For Americans , please pay the $ 15 USD fee
in cash upon arrival . You are responsible for having your passport
in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival
in Cairo. Our local rep. meets with a sign that carries your name
you after you clear the passport and customs formalities .
You
will never sacrifice comfort when you travel with us
More
choices :
--------
Original Message --------
From: "Adrian"
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2:04 PM
To: omar@travelinstyle.com>, > Subject: We're Back!
We just wanted to let you know we made it back home after our weeklong
detour through Italy. Athens was fantastic. The tours were very good,
and short of heading out to the islands, I can't think of a single thing
we would have rather done while there.
Although we had an excellent time in Athens, Egypt was by far the highlight
of our entire trip, including Italy. We just can't say enough about
Ahmed, Isis, Ashraf, and all our drivers. We simply could not have done
the trip without their help. Ahmed was very professional, courteous,
and helpful, and always went out of his way to make sure we were where
we needed to be at the right time. Our Egyptologist guides, Isis and
Ashraf, were both very knowledgeable and made our visit so much better
with their endless supply of information. We wore out both days
long before they did. We will definitely try to come back to Egypt when
we have more time to spend.
Thank you so much for arranging the trip, allowing us to customize what
we needed to, and putting us in touch with such good people. And please
find attached pictures of us enjoying a camel ride. :-)
Adrian & Melina
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