Magic
of Istanbul and the Nile
A Grand 16- day tour of : Turkey, Istanbul
and a Nile Cruise
Add Abu
Simbel ?
Add
Sinai and St. Catherine Monastery .
Add Syria
,
or Rome
Departures
are weekly on: Thursdays & Fridays year round
Compare with the 12 day Version
, or the Grand Tour : Athens
, Istanbul and a Nile Cruise. Cruise
the Nile in the Privacy of your own Royal Cleopatra Sailing boat,click
for details.
DAY
1 - Thursday ( Arrive weekly in Istanbul on Thursday and Friday ) .
ISTANBUL (B)
Upon arrival at Istanbul , you're met at the airport by our representative,
who sees you to your hotel, and answers any questions you may have about
getting to know the city. As you ride into the great metropolis from
the airport, two thousand years of history are revealed: towering Roman
walls, ancient Byzantine churches, slender minarets framing the bulbous
domes of graceful mosques. These ancient monuments float on the skyline
of a bustling modern metropolis of ten million people. Private
air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur for all your transfers in
Turkey & Egypt.
DAY
2 - Friday . ISTANBUL (BL)
The center of ancient Constantinople and Istanbul
was on Seraglio Point, framed by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and
the Sea of Marmara. We visit the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet
III to challenge the architectural primacy of neighboring Sancta Sophia.
We then walk next door to compare achievements in Justinian's great
Sancta Sophia. Right behind Sancta Sophia is our next stop, sumptuous
Topkapi Palace, the sultans' seraglio for centuries, filled with
breathtaking exhibits of priceless jewels, golden thrones, delicate
colored tiles, and lavish court costumes. We finish up in the bustling
Grand Bazaar, where you can find jewelry, carpets, goat-hair rugs, hand-painted
ceramics, copper and brass in labyrinthine streets holding nearly 4000
shops. Private
air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur and private guide
DAY
3 - Saturday . ISTANBUL
- (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 vehicle , private chauffeur and private guide
DAY
4 - Sunday , ANKARA / CAPPADOCIA (BL)
Morning Flight to Ankara, air fare is included
in our rate in economy class, tax included , tour the Museum and Atatürk
Mausoleum , then proceed by private air-conditioned vehicle to Sultanhani
the Seljuk Turkish caravanserai before arriving to biblical Cappadocia
and your Hotel. Private
air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur and private guide.
Day
5 - Monday . CAPPADOCIA (B)
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
air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur and private guide
Day
6 - Tuesday . CAPPADOCIA / KAYSERI / IZMIR, EPHESUS (BL)
Proceed
by private car to Kayseri, board your flight on to Istanbul & connect
to Izmir , and your hotel. Air fare is included in our rate in economy
class, tax included . Remainder of the day at leisure. Private
air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur for all your transfers .
DAY
7 - Wednesday . Ephesus / ISTANBUL (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. Then fly back to Istanbul & our hotel, one last chance
for shopping spree in the legendary covered Bazaar. Istanbul is all
yours, any way you like it. Grab your Lonely Planet guidebook and stroll
along the restored 19th-century thoroughfare of Istiklal Caddesi, once
known as the Grand Rue, DE Péra. Search for spices and folk remedies
in the Egyptian Bazaar. Admire the medieval mosaics in the city's many
Byzantine churches. Shop in the chic boutiques around Taksim Square.
Climb the Galata Tower, built by the Genoese six centuries ago, for
a panoramic view of Old Istanbul. Private
air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur and private guide
DAY
8 - Thursday . ISTANBUL, CAIRO (B)
After breakfast our local representative will take you to the airport
to catch your flight for Cairo, air fare is included in economy class,
tax included , in Cairo , our local rep. whisks you through the excitement
and hubbub of the terminal, and onward through the desert to your hotel
. Visa may be issued upon arrival for EU , American, Australian , NZ
, Japanese and Australian citizens, please pay the $ 15 fee upon arrival
, 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 .
After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you
(private vehicle) to the hotel
DAY
9 - Friday . 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.
Evening departure on board the sleeper train -officially 4 stars , we
rate it : Modest 3 stars ( private compartment), dinner is served on
board.
If you prefer to fly , please add : $150 per person to any of the rates,
in which case you spend tonight in Cairo, and fly tomorrow morning to
Aswan.
DAY
10 - Saturday - ASWAN ( or Luxor
) - Board your Nile cruise (BLD)
Breakfast is served on board before you arrive 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. If you wish, try your hand at camel
riding! We'll take a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian villagers.
DAY
11 - Sunday . ASWAN, KOM OMBO - Nile Cruise (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, Sobek.
DAY 12 - Monday . EDFU, ESNA - Nile Cruise (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 -Tuesday . LUXOR - Nile Cruise (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.
Evening
Karnak Sound & Light Show
DAY
14 - Wednesday . 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
15 - DAHSOUR - HOME HOSTED MEAL - Thursday (BL)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious
Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. Those who are fit and adventurous enough
may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's
Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior
of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your
own choice! Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south
of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and
other structure: The "Discovery" of Dahshour: For almost half a century,
the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour,
25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined
within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including
the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's
pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid,
is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half.
All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have
lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is
still in place. Lunch is included at a local restaurant or at your hotel.
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 l! 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. Prefer
to extend your stay in Egypt or Turkey ? please click here.
DAY
16 - Friday . RETURN HOME (B)
Our
Cairo-based local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight home.
Departures
are weekly, year round, on Thursdays & Fridays.
RATES
per person in double occupancy in US$:
All cabins on the Nile cruise are outside cabins with two lower beds,
all with panoramic windows.
| |
Deluxe
Hotels |
First
Class
Hotels |
Tourist
Class
Hotels |
|
Sharing in Triple
Occupancy |
$
5780 |
$
5439 |
$
4919 |
| In
Double Occupancy |
$
5892 |
$
5559 |
$
5100 |
| In
Single Occupancy |
$
7069 |
$
6680 |
$
5910 |
-
Christmas/ New Years, Easter Weeks: Please add : 20 percent to the
rates.
- For
a private guide , private chauffeur , private air-conditioned vehicle
for for the cruise shore excursiones : Please add $ 250 per person,
while eon board the cruise you are part of a 10-15 English speaking
group, if you prefer another language please lets know in advance.
Sample Deluxe Nile Cruise:
M/S Mojito , M/S Monaco or M/S Monte
Carlo Nile Cruise, M/S Adonis ,
M/S Beau Soleil , M/S Florence .M/S
Tuya , M/S TIYI .
Sample
Suite on board the Ultra Deluxe M/S Amarco
(supplement applies for the suite)
For
Ultra Deluxe Cruise
Or the All Suites/ All with private balconies : Sonesta
M/S Moon Goddess
The All Suites M/S Amarco , Movenpick M/S Royal Lotus , Movenpick M/S
Royal Lily
please add % 20, to the deluxe
rate
Rate
includes:
- Lonely
Planet travel guides to Turkey and Egypt
- Air
fare in economy class : between Istanbul and Cairo , tax included.
-
Five day Nile cruise, including all meals and shore excursions.
- Guided
tours as listed , including all entrance fees.
- Hotel
accommodation as mentioned in Turkey 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 Istanbul and Cairo, economy class , tax
included .
- Port
taxes.
-
Domestic air & sleeper train ( private compartment) transportation
in Egypt .
- Complimentary
welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
- Complimentary
welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
- Large
bottle of water ( per person ) delivered to you cabin daily while
you are on board the Nile Cruise.
- Tea
or coffee an bottled water with each / every meal while you are on
board the Nile Cruise.
For
children : 2-10 years of age : 20 % discount will apply when sharing
with parents in a double room
Sample hotels ( Subject to change subject to availability at the time
you book ):
| |
Deluxe |
First
class Hotels |
| Istanbul |
Marmara
|
The
Arena
Armada
Blue House
Senator
|
| Cappadocia
|
Cave
Suites |
Lykia
Lodge |
| Kusadasi |
Korumar
|
Kismet |
| Cairo
|
Hilton.
Sheraton.
Sonesta |
Shepheards.
Oases
Novotel |
| Nile
Cruise |
M/S
Monaco,
M/S Mojito, M/S Queen of Hansa . M/S Royal Ruby .
M/S Beau Soleil |
M/S
Lady Diana
M/S Nile Dream
M/S Ruby |
Not
Included:
- Trip
interruption and cancellation insurance
- Turkish
Visa fee, you may contact the Turkish Consulate nearest to you to
secure your visa before you travel, or upon arrival at Istanbul in
this case cash only ,
- Additional
personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically mentioned
in the itinerary .
- International
air fare from/ to your home country
- Egyptian
Visa may be issued upon arrival for EU , American, Australian , NZ
, Japanese and Australian citizens, please pay the $ 15 fee upon arrival
, 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 . After exiting the terminal, our local
representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel
More
choices :
|
