Legends of the Greek Isles
and
the Nile .... The Santorini Edition
A Grand 15 day Mediterranean Tour of Egypt and Greece
:
Greek cruise, a Stay in Santorini and of course a Nile Cruise
AAAAH- Greece !!! - A true Mediterranean Paradise
Tour
starts weekly in Athens on : March through November . You may add extra
days pre or post
Among the most treasured memories of many travellers are a cruise to
the Greek Isles and a journey on a Nile steamer. You'll experience both,
along with the high points of Classical Greece, on this tour.
If you prefer a land tour
of Greece rather than by cruise Please Click here for the 15 day Edition
Grand Tour ATHENS, ISTANBUL &
NILE CRUISE- Add
an extra day in Egypt to see fayoum
Compare with Egypt , Palestine and Israel
version .
DAY
1 - ATHENS - Saturday - Weekly : March - Nov
Our local personnel meets you at the airport and escorts you to
your hotel. Welcome fruit basket awaits you at your hotel, with our
compliments . Sample
Athens hotels :
Deluxe: Divani
Palace Acropolis. First : Titania . Electra Palace
. Tourist : Stanley
DAY 2- ATHENS- Sunday- Private Tour (BLD)
Today in Athens we'll cover the high points of the city :Private
Tour , private air-conditioned vehicle, private guide, private chauffeur
: the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. You'll visit Syntagma
Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards
in colorful traditional outfits. After lunch at a local restaurant,
we return to the hotel with the remainder of the afternoon is free for
further exploring or shopping, or you could well be drawn back by the
charm of 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. In the evening, we'll take in our dinner
with traditional Greek entertainment.
DAY
3- CRUISE TO MYKONOS- Monday (BLD)
Our staff will escort you to Piraeus, the port of Athens, where
you'll embark on your three-day cruise to the Greek Isles. You'll sail
into the Aegean, and by sunset, reach the jet-set isle of Mykonos. Stroll
at your own pace along lanes lined with whitewashed houses, up to the
Church of Paraportiani, or along the shore to the island's signature
windmills. Enjoy an ouzo or a glass of retsina at a waterside cafe.
Re-embark for a nighttime sailing.
DAY 4- RHODES (BLD)
Our cruise ship arrives early at the harbor, allowing a full day
on the Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect
for exploring on your own. You'll want to visit the Palace of the Knights
of St. John, take a look at the wares in the boutiques, and spend some
time in a seaside cafe. Or discover a hill-fringed beach a short walk
or taxi ride from town. We also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis
of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies. Spend a restful night on
board as we sail to our next destination.
DAY 5 - KUSADASI (Turkey), PATMOS (BLD)
We anchor at 7 a.m. in Kusadasi, on the Turkish mainland, gateway
to ancient Ephesus. Stroll the streets and stop in at shops filled with
leather goods and bargains in gold. Our optional tour takes you to Ephesus,
one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. You'll
reboard in time for an afternoon sailing. In the late afternoon, your
ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery
of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written.
DAY
6- HERAKLION (CRETE), SANTORINI (BLD)
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore
the old Venetian section of town on your own, or take an optional excursion
to the 5000-year-old Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological
museum. We sail at midday. In a few hours, we'll reach Santorini, where
the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. Enjoy outdoor cafes and
wander the lanes of Thira, lined with craft and clothing shops and bakeries
and cafes. Ride the funicular to the cliff top, or be adventurous, and
do it on mule-back! Either way, you'll be rewarded with a spectacular
sunset over the Aegean.
Where
the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. You'll disembark for your
stay in your apartment/villa/or hotel.
Sample
optional tours available based on Private arrangement or Local Group
tour
.
DAY
7 - SANTORINI (B)
You'll take a leisurely breakfast on your private terrace. An optional
tour to the archaeological site of Akrotiri is offered. Or, you can
spend the day relaxing, and take in breathtaking views of the volcano
and caldera. You might take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and
ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Or savor a soak
in hot sulphur springs.
DAY 8 - ATHENS, CAIRO (B)
Fly back to Athens ( air ticket is in economy class and is included
in our rate) , connect onward to Cairo , air ticket is included in our
rate
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
9- 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 fro entry to
the King's chamber inside the Pyramid, you must be physically fit to
be able to climb. Dinner
is included at the hotel
DAY
10 - ASWAN- 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. We'll have the opportunity to experience Egypt
at its most authentic, as we sail the Nile in a graceful felucca. 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
11 - 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, Saber.
DAY
12 - 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.
DAY
13 - 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, on the way back to
the ferry landing, the Colossi of Memnon.
DAY
14 - LUXOR, CAIRO - HOME HOSTED
FAMILY DINNER (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. 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 dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions, by letting
us know your preferences.
DAY
15 - RETURN HOME (B)
Our
Cairo-based staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Bon
Voyage.
- RATES
per person in double occupancy in US$:
- Rates
based on Greek (outside Cabin B category) & Nile cruise in an outside
standard cabin with two lower beds.
| Rate
per person in $
|
First
Class Hotels |
Deluxe
Hotel |
| Sharing
in Double |
US$
5010 |
US$
5920 |
| Or
in Single |
US$
6602 |
US$
7505 |
Rate
includes:
- Lonely
Planet travel guides to Greece and Egypt
- A
3-day cruise to Greek Isles and Turkey, including meals. Royal Olympic
Cruises, or Golden Sun, we'll confirm the specific ship before you
send us your deposit. Outside cabin Category B or similar with 2 lower
beds
- 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 coffle 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 , Santorini 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 .
- Port
taxes.
-
Domestic air transportation in Egypt , economy class .
- Villa
accommodation in Santorini, sample villas that are used:
For First Class , 4 stars accommodation:
Villa style, " Sun Rocks " in Firostefani" , "Astra
Apartments", " On The Rocks" in Imerovigli, or
Chromata , "Grotto Villas" in Firostefani in a 1 or
2 bed-room apartment.
- Sample
Athens hotels :
Deluxe: Divani Palace
Acropolis. First : Electra Palace.
Not
Included:
- Trip
interruption and cancellation insurance
- Shore
excursions from Greek cruise ships (Please note that the Egyptian
Nile Cruise does include all shore excursions as part of our service
s& rate).
- International
air fare.
- Additional
personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically mentioned
in the itinerary
- All
tips to drivers, guides etc.
-
Egyptian
visa may be issued upon arrival for a limited number of nationalities
such as for American, Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian & Japanese
citizens etc. , Please pay the $ 15 USD in cash upon arrival in
Cairo , your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond
the date of arrival
. After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort
you (private vehicle) to the hotel
More
choices :
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