Legends of the Greek Isles and The Nile
Including
Santorini and the Red Sea
A Grand 19 day Mediterranean Tour of Egypt and Greece : Greek cruise,
a Stay in Santorini , a Nile Cruise and a foray into the Egyptian
Riviera on the Red Sea and Sharm el-Sheik maybe for diving and snorkeling
. We have even included all the tips
AAAAH- Greece !!!
Tour
starts weekly in Athens Apr - Oct . 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. Transfers are always on a private basis.
DAY 2- ATHENS- Sunday- Group Tour (BLD)
Today in Athens we'll cover the high points of the city : 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- KUSADASI (Turkey) , PATMOS- Tuesday
(BLD)
We anchor early 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 5 -RHODES- Wednesday (BLD)
Our cruise ship arrives at the harbor, allowing a full day on the
Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect for exploring
on your own, or join the ship's optional group tour ( additional $$
) . 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.
DAY
6- HERAKLION (CRETE), SANTORINI- Thursday (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
.
Sunset Santorini
DAY
7 - SANTORINI- Friday (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 - Business Class- Saturday (B)
Fly back to Athens ( air ticket is in economy class within Greece
) and is included in our rate) , connect on your own in Athens to your
flight for Cairo ( air fare is included in our rate-
in Business Class , ticket issued & delivered in
Athens ) .
In Cairo our local staff whisks you through the excitement and hubbub
of the terminal, and onward through the desert to your hotel . Visa
fee is included, issued upon arrival for EU, NZ, , American, Japanese
and Australian citizens, passports must be valid for at least 6 month
beyond the date of arrival. You are responsible for your passport being
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.
sample deluxe hotels : Grand Hyatt. Cairo Marriott ( Zamalek ), J. W.
Marriott , Sonesta or similar
DAY
9- CAIRO- Sunday (BL)
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. Lunch is included
at Naguib Mahfouz, or the new Al-Azhar Park . In the afternoon we enjoy
a walk thru the Khan El Khalili Bazaar before we head for Old Cairo
: Time permitting ( today is a very full day : We may tour the Coptic
Museum , Al-Moalaka Church and Beni Ezra Synagogue.
DAY
10 - Giza - Monday (BL)
Today, we drive to the edge of Cairo and reach 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.
Lunch is included at the Mena House. Afternoon tour of Memphis and Sakkara
including the Step Pyramid and the Nobles Mastabas and tombs, on the
way back to Cairo , we stop at the Haraniya girls Kleem/ rugs village
DAY
11 - Cairo --AAAAAH - Finally a day at leisure ! Tuesday (B)
Today, we take a break, enjoy your hotel facilities, or go out for
some treasure hunting or join us on an adventure to go Whale watching
in the Fayoum Oases ( no kidding! , ask us for details)
DAY
12 - ASWAN- Kom Ombo - Wednesday- 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, today
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,
and on to Edfu where we overnight .
DAY
13 - Edfu- Thursday - On board your Nile cruise (BLD)
After breakfast on board, 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
14 - Luxor- Friday (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 we tour the Colossi
of Memnon.
DAY
15 - LUXOR- Saturday - Hurgada-
El Gouna (BLD)
Breakfast on board . Lunch box is prepared by your chef on board.
We'll visit the imposing Great Temple of Amon at Karnak and the great
Temple of Luxor , before heading to the Red Sea and Hurgada / El-Gouna.
Private air conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and your private
escort / tour director. For Deluxe Category : Hotel
in el-Gouna : Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh or similar.
DAY
16 - Hurgada- El Gouna- Sunday(B)
Breakfast is included daily . Sample Deluxe hotels : The Oberoi,
Sahl Hasheesh, or similar
A secluded haven on the Red Sea Coast, celebrating rare marine life,
nature’s fabulous colours and the timeless beauty of the sea.
Nature’s colours come to life at The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh with
white sand, aquamarine waters and vibrantly-hued marine life. In exotic
Egypt, this exclusive luxury resort on the Red Sea Coast is situated
on 48 acres with a private beach. The architecture of the resort reflects
the style of the region, resplendent with domes, arches and columns.
Peace and privacy pervade this all-suite resort, with private courtyards
complemented by soothing interiors and luxurious bathrooms.
DAY
17 - Hurgada- El Gouna- Monday (B)
Breakfast always included , days on your own in this Egyptian Riviera
, optional tours available , including day or night dives as well as
snorkeling .
For interested guests : Complimentary diving ( 2 dives ) with lunch
included , the diving equipments , lunch on board the boat , as well
as transfers : All must show certificates : ( no exceptions ). New
to diving : 2 Dives : 20 minutes
each ,
for the experienced diver :
2 Dives : 30 minutes each
DAY 18 - Hurgada- El Gouna/ Cairo- Tuesday (B)
After breakfast , check out , off to the airport to catch our flight
to Cairo, where our local rep. will be waiting for you to assist with
your transfer to your international flight or extend your stay in Cairo
and escort you to your hotel. Bon voyage.
If your flight is leaving very early AM from Cairo , then you may have
to fly back to Cairo the night before.
DAY
19 - Cairo- Wednesday (B)
After breakfast , check out , off to the airport to catch our flight
home - Bon Voyage .
RATES
per person in double occupancy in US$. Rates based on Greek (outside
Cabin B category) and Nile cruise in an outside standard cabin with
two lower beds.
| Rate
per person in $
|
Tourist
Class Hotels |
First
Class Hotels |
Deluxe
Hotel |
| Sharing
in Double |
US$
4820.00 |
US$
5210.00 |
US$
5920.00 |
| Or
in Single |
US$
6900.00 |
US$
7302.00 |
US$
8105.00 |
Rate
includes:
- All
tips to porters, drivers, guides etc.
- 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 in
business class tax included .
- Port
taxes.
-
Domestic air transportation in Egypt , in business
class .
- Egyptian
visa fee, available only for American, Canadian, Australian, NZ ,
EU & Japanese citizens. Must have a valid passport. Issued upon arrival
at Cairo airport.
- One-way
Santorini/Athens airfare in 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 : Titania . Tourist : Stanley , Electra Palace.
Enjoy your honeymoon in Santorini
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
More
choices :
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.
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