DAY 1 -- ISTANBUL - Start Weekly on : Wednesday - March - Nov
Tour starts weekly in Istanbul. Our staff meets your flight and escorts you to your hotel.
Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your transfers while you are in Greece, Turkey and Egypt with us

This tour starts weekly 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- Thursday (BL)
Private air-conditioned vehicel, private chauffeur, private guide.
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. Breakfast, Lunch ,

DAY 3 -- ISTANBUL - Friday (BL)
ISTANBUL- "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the East:"

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). Then go on a shopping spree at the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar.
Breakfast, Lunch. Private air-conditioned vehicel, private chauffeur, private guide.

DAY 4 - 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 . Air fare is included in our rate Istanbul Athens in economy , tax included .
Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your transfers while you are in Greece, Turkey and Egypt with us
In Athens 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, especially the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum.

DAY 5 - Sunday- Private Tour of ATHENS (BL)
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, such as an afternoon visit to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, with spectacular sunset view.

DAY 6 - 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 . Tourist class : Victoria or similar

DAY 7 - 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 . Tourist class : Ilis or similar

DAY 8 - 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 9 - 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 10 - Friday - ATHENS, CAIRO (B)
You'll sail into Piraeus early in the morning. Our Athens-based personnel will take you to the airport to catch your flight for Cairo, air fare is included in our rate Athens Cairo in economy class , tax included
In Cairo our local staff whisks you through the excitement and hubbub of the terminal, and onward through the desert to your hotel .

Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your transfers while you are in Greece, Turkey and Egypt with us

Visa fee is included, issued upon arrival for (EU , American, Japanese and Australian, NZ citizens, passports must be valid and 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 11 - Saturday - CAIRO (BLD)
Private air-conditioned vehicel, private chauffeur, private guide.
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

DAY 13-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!.

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. 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.

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 16 -Thursday - LUXOR , CAIRO (BD)
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.
Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your transfers while you are with us .
Dinner is included at the hotel

DAY 17 - Fayoum Oases (BL) Friday
On Desert Safari for the Day - Fayoum Oases - And you thought the Pyramids were old !

We leave Cairo by sunrise ( private air conditioned car/driver/guide): Full day to the Biblical Fayoum Oases including: Hawara Pyramid, El Lahoun Pyramid, Ruins of Karanis, drive by Lake Qarun, lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Fayoum irrigation system and the Oasis was said to be designed by Joseph after the Pharaoh entrusted Egypt's fate to him in facing the 7 years of abundance that are followed by 7 years of drought.

The wilds of the desert begin right on the outskirts of Cairo, and continue for hundreds of miles to the east and west, through sands, rock, mountains, oases, and a surprising variety of scenery and inhabitants.

Join us for a day ranging across the desert like modern nomads. In place of camels, we’ll travel in comfortable, reliable four-by-four Toyota Land Cruisers. Your guide and drivers will meet you at your hotel, and soon you’ll leave bustling Cairo behind as you undertake the drive toward the Oasis of El Fayoum, 150 kilometers to the southwest. Hard as it is to believe, a great inland sea once covered these sands. It was a holy reserve of sacred crocodiles, symbolized by the god Sobek.

We’ll visit the temple of Kom Oshim, drive over ancient lake beds, and alongside the waters of today’s Fayoum Lake to reach the fishermen’s village of Chak Chouk. There we’ll stop for a lunch of fish caught fresh that morning. There will be time to wander the village lanes and discreetly watch the everyday activities of baking flatbread, irrigating crops from the lake’s waters, and bringing in the catch. We’ll also include the craft and pottery museum where the best works of local artisans are on display.

Then it’s into our four-by-fours again, for an off-road adventure! We’ll head alongside and across desert washes, between dunes, and over ancient lake beds for 35 kilometers to the Valley of the Whales ( In Arabic : Wadi-El-Hitan) . Incredibly, these great mammals once thrived - almost forty million years ago- in waters surrounded by sands. We’ll stop and gaze in amazement at their fossilized remains alongside smaller sea creatures that remain in stone.
This valley was discovered in 1936 , by the German geologist George Schweinfurth in the northwestern corner of Wadi El-Rayan.

The valley provides evidence of one of the major changes in this mammal evolution has been declared by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. It is believed that these land based whales once had feet that may have helped them somewhat while ashore . A team from the University of Michigan discovered in the late 80's that these Zeuglodon whales did have rudimentary feet , this was a startling discovery , suggesting that whales of Wadi -El-Hitan had recently started living in water as well , these whales were not related to any of the whales we have today , rather a more slender body and may grow up to 75 feet long. Several skeletons of whales are exposed in the sand. George Schweinfurth named this extinct specie the Zeuglodon Isis Whales .

In the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in Cairo. Land transportation in air-conditioned four-wheel-drive Toyota Land Cruiser with the services of driver and English-speaking driver. Lunch is included

DAY 18 - Saturday - Cairo - Dubai (B)
Our Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport and your flight to Dubai . Air fare is included in business class , tax included , upon arrival in Dubai , we will meet you once again, with a private air conditioned vehicle, and private chauffeur.

DUBAI : WE fly to Dubai as we fly across the Arabian Peninsula to reach this charming Emirate on the Arabian Gulf. ( Click here to read more on Arabia' s early history). A taste of Arabia with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Air fare is included one way Cairo Dubai in business class , tax included . In Dubai you'll find year round sunshine, un-crowded, clean sandy beaches.

In this crime-free society you 'll find a very warm & welcoming team & society awaits you in Dubai. While shopping may not be high on your list, yet Dubai’s tax free markets means bargains galore. Attractive traditional Middle Eastern gifts - coffee pots, rugs, silverware, jewelry, brass, and one of the world’s greatest gold trading centers offering unbeatable value. Hong Kong is no longer able to compete with Dubai with the wide selection of low - priced international brand name products - audio equipment, VCRs, cameras, watches, fashions, perfumes and more , do not forget : the award-winning Dubai Duty Free at the airport.
Upon arrival , our local rep will meet you and escort you to your hotel.

DAY 19 - DUBAI - Sunday (BLD)
Private Half Day Dubai City Tour :
Sample the historic sites and vibrant cosmopolitan life of Dubai on this comprehensive tour. The Tour begins in Jumeira, the picturesque palace and residential area of Dubai, also home to the famous Jumeira Mosque. The next stop is Sheikh Saeed House (former residence of ruling family). The Tour then continues to Al Bastakiya, the old part of Dubai, to reach the museum located in Al Fahidi Fort. All guests board the Abra (water taxi) to cross the Creek to the spice souk . Before savoring the sights and sounds of the fish, fruit and vegetable market, there is time to shop in the most famous landmark of Dubai – the Gold souk.
Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant

Evening Dhow Cruise Dinner:
For a fabulous relaxing evening join our fully fitted Arabian dhow for an evening’s cruise on the Creek. Enjoy a sumptuous feast of Arabic and Western cuisine while gently gliding past illuminated souks, banks and palaces.

DAY 20- Desert Safari with dinner in the Arabian Desert - DUBAI - Monday (BD)
Half  Day  Desert Safari (4 Wheel Drive ):
Morning at leisure , enjoy beach activities. This tour departs in the afternoon across the desert of Dubai with several photo-stops during an exciting dune drive to the first destination a camel farm. The drive continues across the desert. We stop to watch the beautiful sunset before reaching our campsite where you have the opportunity to do camel riding .

After working up an appetite enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner and a shisha (the most famous Arabic Water pipe). We conclude the evening with a true 1001 Arabian Nights tradition and With a belly dancer performing her dance around the campfire before we head back to your hotel in Dubai or Sharja.

DAY 21 - DUBAI - Departure - Tuesday (B)
Our 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)

Rate Per person in double in USD $

• Lonely Planet travel guide books to Istanbul,Greece and Egypt
  
• All tips to portesr, drivers, guides etc
  
• A 5-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 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 / Athens / Cairo in economy class with tax included.
  
• One way air fare Cairo to Dubai , in business class with tax ,
  
• Port taxes.
  
• Domestic air transportation in Egypt " Y " class , please add $ 150 to upgrade to business class in Egypt.
  
• Egyptian visa fee, available for American, Canadian, EU, NZ, Singaporean & Japanese citizens.
  Must have a valid passport. Issued upon arrival at Cairo airport.
  
  
  

Extend your stay to Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa

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

More choices :

• Compare with the 14 day : Including a foray into one of the Egytian Oases and Valley of the Whales
  

• or add snorkling and diving in the Red Sea Riviera : Hurgada , el-Gouna and Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh

• The 14 day Tour of Egypt and Greece including a Mediterranean Greek cruise and a Nile Cruise
  

• Compare with the 14 day version adding Athens tour.
  
• Compare with the 16 day Santorini Version , or a foray into Istanbul .
  
• Touring Greece by land rather than by cruise - 15 day Edition .
  
• Grand Tour ATHENS, ISTANBUL & NILE CRUISE .
  
• Compare with the Ultra Deluxe Version including Istanbul.
  
• Compare with Egypt , Palestine and Israel version .
  
• Compare with the Santorini edition .
  
• Add the Arabian Gulf hottest destination : Dubai , the true 1001 Arabian Nights destination.
  
• The 20-Days Grand Tour of the East Mediterranean including Cappadoccia
  
• Around the World : Athens , Istanbul and Tokyo, add Egypt