Magic of Istanbul and the Nile


With a Foray into Sinai and St. Catherine . A grand 14 day Tour of these two gems of the Mediterranean - Private touring and includes a Nile Cruise

DAY 1 - ISTANBUL- Start weekly on Sundays in Istanbul - Year Round (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 and Egypt.

DAY 2 - ISTANBUL- Monday (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 - ISTANBUL- Tuesday (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- ISTANBUL- Wednesday (B)
Full day on your own in Istanbul , 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.

Visa fee for Egypt is included, issued upon arrival for EU , 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 & 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 . Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur for all your transfers in Egypt and Turkey .

DAY 6 - CAIRO- Friday (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. In Giza, on the edge of the desert, you'll gaze in awe at the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids. Private air-conditioned vehicle , private chauffeur and private guide

DAY 8 - ASWAN, KOM OMBO - Sunday (BLD)
First we tour new Nubian Museum then the dams at Aswan, including the High Dam, a modern wonder in this ancient land, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the the Island temple of Philae , rescued from rising waters it was moved to this island after building the High Dam. dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

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.

 
Honeymoon on the Nile - Enjoying a drink before sunset on deck :

DAY 9 - EDFU, ESNA- Monday (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 10 - LUXOR- Tuesday (BLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings , including Tutankaomn's tomb, and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

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.

DAY 12 - SHARM EL SHEIKH - Thursday (B)
Morning flight to Sharm El Sheikh . Relax! This is your day to absorb all that you've seen and experienced so far, not to mention the bright Egyptian sun and sparkling sea. Hotel : Deluxe : Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh , Sonesta or similar . First Class : Hilton . Tourist Class : Novotel , or similar

DAY 13 - SHARM / MOUNT SINAI & St. Catherine Monastery- Friday (BL)
Very early in the day, we leave by air conditioned private vehicle, with your private chauffeur and private guide heading for Mount Sinai:

In the cool before sunrise, we drive into the wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led his people to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine, built on the site of the  burning bush  at the base of Mount Sinai.

Only for guests who are fit physically and do not have a problem with heights, you may wish to climb Mount Sinai ( while we'll provide guide at no additional charge, you climb the mountain at your own risk ) , those who decide to ascend the mountain , you will reach the top usually just before sunrise and on a good day you 'll be able to see Saudia, the promised land and the rest of Sinai.

Otherwise we tour the monastery, rich in history, icons and sacred paintings, lunch box is included, returning to Sharm airport late in the afternoon , connect to Cairo and your hotel.

DAY 14 - RETURN HOME (B)
Our Cairo-based local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight home.

Rates per person in US$ :

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

For Ultra Deluxe Cruise M/S Tuya , M/S Tuya , M/S TI-YI .
Or the All Suites/ All with private balconies : Moon Goddess , or M/S Senator
The All Suites Amarco , please add % 20, to the deluxe rate

For Dec 20 - Jan 5 , Easter : Please add 20 % supplement to any of the rates

• Lonely Planet travel guides to Turkey and Egypt
  
  
  

• Five day Nile cruise, including all meals and shore excursions ..
  
  

• Guided tours as listed , including all entrance fees. Private Guide in Cairo, Istanbul & on board the cruise, for all the shore excursions.
  
  

• Private car/driver for all airport/hotel/cruise transfers.
  
  

• Hotel accommodation as mentioned , 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 with tax
  
  

• Domestic air flights within Egypt in economy class , tax included .
  
  

• Egyptian visa fee, available only for American, Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian, British & Japanese citizens. Must have a valid passport. Issued upon arrival at Cairo airport.

For children : 2-10 years of age : 25 % discount will apply when sharing with parents in a double room

Sample hotels ( Subject to change subject to availibility at the time you book ):

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

More choices :

• Compare with the 14 day version adding Athens tour.
  
• Compare wit 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 .
  
• Add the Arabian Gulf hottest destination : Dubai , the true 1001 Arabian Nights destination.
  
• Compare with the Santorini edition
  
• The 20-Days Grand Tour of the East Mediterranean including Cappadoccia
  
• Around the World : Athens , Istanbul and Tokyo, add Egypt
  
• Grand Tour ATHENS,ISTANBUL & NILE CRUISE