Legends
of Turkey , Greece Egypt and the Nile
The Ultra Deluxe Private Touring Edition
A Grand 17 days Mediterranean Dream Vacation
Exploring "Imperial Constantinople "
Istanbul , Greece ;
Athens and Mykonos (
or Santorini ) Cairo , an Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise in Egypt
All Business class air between Istanbul , Athens and Cairo
Private Egyptologist. Private Transfers
compare
with the 20-Days Grand Tour of the East Mediterranean
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 .
DAY
1 -- Arrive ISTANBUL Any day year round - Private Transfer
Tour starts daily in Istanbul. Private transfers
Our staff meets your flight and escorts you to your hotel ; The Inter.Continental
or Ciragan Palace Kempinski 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 - Private Guide. Private Car & Driver (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. Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner and fold show .
DAY
3 -- ISTANBUL - Private Guide. Private Car & Driver (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.
DAY
4 - Istanbul / Athens - Private Transfers . Private Car & Driver(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 Istanbul
Air fare is included Istanbul Athens in Business Class .
Hotel in Athens : King George or Grand Bretagne Hotel .
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. In the evening, we'll take in a dinner with traditional Greek
entertainment.
DAY
5 - ATHENS Private
Guide. Private Car and Driver (BL)
On your first morning in Athens we show you the top sights: the Acropolis
and its museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Theater
of Dionysus, and more.
The afternoon at leisure or plunge into the city as you like for sightseeing
and shopping. Car & driver is at your disposal at no additional
charge un till 6 PM . Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant
DAY
6 - Athens Markets or BYZANTINE
Churches - Classy Subways !!
Private
Car and Driver
- (BL)
Ride the new Athens Subway alongside the locals today ( always escorted
with your English speaking Guide) ! We take pride in affording you this
experience, some by public transportation, and some with a private car
/driver with orientation always by our English-speaking representative.
You'll get to tour Athens fascinating vegetable and fruit markets by
subway and/ or private car .
Enjoy lunch at a charming local restaurant ( included ) 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.
After
lunch we
will tour the Athens cathedral (Mitropolis)
at Mitropoleos,then visit the Jewelry museum (LALAOUNIS) before breaking
for lunch.
DAY 7 - ATHENS, MYKONOS-
(B)
In the morning , we'll call for you and see you to the airport for your
flight to the island of Mykonos, economy class . We'll have a representative
on hand to meet you, and check you in to your hotel. Relax!
DAY 8 - MYKONOS (B)
The day is totally yours. There's no need to venture beyond the grounds
of your lovely hotel. But on the other hand, there's plenty of reason
to do so, starting with 350 whitewashed churches and chapels, dramatic
cliffs, blue seas, and secluded beaches.
DAY
9 - MYKONOS (B)
Maybe this will be your day to stay put. Or maybe you'll mix relaxation
with walks to photograph the famed windmills of Mykonos, or to watch
fishermen at work along the sea.
DAY 10 - ATHENS , CAIRO - Private Transfers (B)
Morning flight back to Athens . Our local rep. will always be on
hand to assist with your private transfers. Subject to the departure
time, if needed a day use room will be booked at the Sofitel at the
Airport . Our Athens-based personnel will take you to the airport to
catch your flight for Cairo, Business class , tax included . In Cairo
our local staff whisks you through the excitement and hubbub of Cairo
Traffic , and onward to your hotel Four Seasons Hotel standard
room , or similar
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 :
Private chauffeur, private air conditioned vehicle for all your
airport transfers .
DAY
11 - CAIRO - Private Egyptologist -Private Car & Driver (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
Cruise and folk show is included on board the Hyatt boat or similar
DAY
12 - ASWAN ( Or Luxor ) - Board Your Nile Cruise
Private Egyptologist -Private Car and Driver (BLD)
Our Cairo local rep. will escort you to the airport to board your
flight to Aswan in Upper Egypt.
Lunch will be served 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.
DAY
13- Private Egyptologist -Private Car & Driver
-
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
14 - Private Egyptologist -Private Car & Driver
-
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
15 - Private Egyptologist -Private Car and Driver -
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
16 -Private Egyptologist -Private Car & Driver
- 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.
A
complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Cairo ! You'll be invited to
a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties,
you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way
of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your
new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background.
Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that
you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may
enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know
your preferences. All
transfers and tours are always on a private basis . Four
Seasons Hotel standard room , or the Grand Hyatt or Conrad Hotel - Club
Level rooms .
DAY
17 -Private Car & Driver - Departure from Cairo (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$: $ 8240
RATES
are per person in triple occupancy in US$: $ 8120
Rate
includes:
- Travel
guide books for Istanbul ,Greece and Egypt
- Five
day ultra Nile cruise, including all meals , afternoon tea served
on deck daily , and shore excursions. M/S Amarco ( suite ) , M/S Moon
Goddess : state room with private balcony . Movenpick Royal Lotus
( suite) . or suite on M/S Mojito or M/S Monaco
- 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 . private Transportation between airports,
hotels, and port.
-
One-way air transportation from Istanbul to Athens to Cairo
" C " business Class .
- All
hotel ,and Nile Cruise taxes.
-
Domestic air transportation in Egypt " C" business class
Not
Included:
- Trip
interruption and cancellation insurance
- International
air fare.
- Turkish
and Egyptian 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.
- Tips
- 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 .
More
choices :
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