Egypt & Greece Highlights
Tour 26
15 Days/13 Nights
from $2,975
Tour Features
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Itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
Saturday Arrival: Day 1 CAIRO Arrival at Cairo International Airport where you will be welcomed by our staff and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 2 CAIRO (B) After breakfast, the excitement today begins with a full day Egyptologist guided tour. Visit the 4500 years old Giza pyramids, the only remaining wonders of the ancient world. Also see the Sphinx carved from a single stone representing a creature with pharaoh's head and a Lion s body. Then visit the Egyptian Museum famous for its antiquities from Egypt s Pharaonic period dating back 5,000 years & includes the fabulous treasure of the mysterious young king Tutankhamen. Visit the mummy's room. Continue to Kan El Khalili one of the oldest and most famous bazaars in old Cairo. Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day 3 CAIRO - LUXOR (Nile Cruise) (B,L,D) Check out after breakfast, then transfer to airport for your flight to Luxor. Upon arrival our staff will meet you and transfer for a visit to the East Bank: the Temples of Karnak and Luxor. The Hypostyle Hall with its 134 columns, the Obelisk of Queen Hatsepsut and the avenue of the Sphinxes are among the featured sites. Embarkation, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 4 LUXOR-WEST BANK-ESNA (B,L,D) After breakfast, cross the Nile by ferry boat to the powerful West Bank. Thebes sightseeing includes the mysterious Valley of the Kings, set in the Lybian Hills, where dynasties of Pharaos were buried. The Valley of the Queens, Queen’s Hatshepsut great Temple, the funerary Temple of Ramses III and the Colossi of Memnon at Medinet Habut. Tonight sail to Esna and Edfu. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 ESNA-EDFU-KOM OMBO (B,L,D) After breakfast, Visit the temple of Horus in Edfu, back to cruise for Lunch, Sail to Kom Ombo, visit the temple shared by the two Gods Sobek & Haroeris, sail to Aswan dinner and overnight.
Day 6 KOM OMBO-ASWAN (B,L,D) After breakfast visits the High Dam, Unfinished obelisk and temple of Philae. Lunch. In the evening enjoy your romantic felucca boat trip will cruise with you around the Elephantine Island and a view of the Agha Khan mausoleum as well as the botanical garden of Lord Kitchener. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 7 ASWAN-CAIRO (B) Disembark this morning after breakfast and visit the Old and High dams, the ancient Granite Quarries with the 170 ft. long Unfinished Obelisk, the Temple of Isis rising of the waters of lake Nasser on the Island of Philae.(Optional visit the temple of Abu Simbel by request only). Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Upon arrival you will be escorted to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for your own activities.
Day 8 CAIRO-ATHENS (B) After breakfast at the hotel you will be escorted to the Cairo airport for your departing flight to Athens. Upon arrival in Athens, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day at leisure in this lively city.
Day 9 ATHENS (B) A morning tour introduces you to Athens most important sites. Highlights include the Tomb of the unknown soldier, the Royal Palace, The Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Panathenian Stadium built to accommodate the first modern Olympic Games, the Acropolis and its Parthenon. The afternoon and evening are free to make your own discoveries. Hunt for souvenirs in Monastiraki flea market or wander through Plaka area with its elegant shops and charming tavernas.
Day 10 PIRAEUS (Cruising)-MYKONOS (B,L,D) This morning you will be transferred to Piraeus harbor to board your cruise ship for a four night cruise to the Greek islands and Turkey. Settle in and relax as you sail to Mykonos, our first port of call with its whitewashed houses, flower-filled streets and thatched-roof windmills.
Day 11 KUSADASI-PATMOS (B,L,D) Early today, drop anchor at the Turkish port of Kusadasi, getaway to Ephesus. An optional excursion takes you to the ruins of the ancient city where St. Paul once preached. Later in the day, cruise to Patmos the quiet and pretty island where St. John wrote the Book of Revelations. Do not miss the optional excursion to the monastery which houses an original manuscript of the gospel and the Grotto of St. John.
Day 12 RHODES (B,L,D) Early morning arrival in to the ancient walled harbor where Colossus once stood. Explore on your own the picturesque medieval town of Rhodes, relax on the beaches or take an optional excursion to the city and the lush hills and valleys en route to the picturesque town of Lindos with its own famous Acropolis.
Day 13 HERAKLION-SANTORINI (B,L,D) This morning first call at Heraklion Crete. The history of the island reaches back into the mists of legend; King Minos, the Minotaur, the Labyrinth, all come alive with an optional tour to the Palace of Knossos. Then sail to Santorini where a volcanic eruption in 1450 BC may have destroyed the Atlantis of legend. Take the cable car or an unforgettable donkey-back ride to the mountain-top village.
Day 14 PIRAEUS (B) Early morning arrival into the Piraeus harbor. Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your departing flight home.
NOTE: For departure dates between Nov. 1, 2012 - Feb. 28, 2013, the 4 days Greek islands cruise (not in operation) will be substituted with the 4-day Classical Tour and one extra day in Athens.
Itinerary as follows:
Days 1-9 Same as above.
Day 10 ARGOLIS (B,D) Journey into antiquity as you cross from Attica to Peloponnese. First a stop at the Corinth Canal. Then on to Mycenae to view the handsome Lion Gate and Beehive Tombs, remnants of a once great city. At Epidaurus, the perfect acoustics of the 4th century BC amphitheater will astonish you. Dinner and overnight at the picturesque town of Nafplion.
Day 11 OLYMPIA (B,D) From Nafplion the mountainous road winds to Olympia, site of the original Olympic games. The sightseeing explores the ruins of the great Doric Temple of Zeus, the Archaeological Museum of Olympia and the ancient stadium. Dinner and overnight in Olympia.
Day 12 DELPHI (B,D) Morning drive north through Patras to Delphi where the wild beauty and grandeur of the landscape are awe-inspiring. Visit the Sacred Way, Temple of Apollo, the Seat of the Oracle, Sanctuary of Athena, Castalia Spring and more. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.
Day 13 DELPHI-ATHENS (B) Continue your sightseeing in sacred Delphi, visit the Museum, which houses many masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture and the famous Bronze Charioteer. In the afternoon drive through the village of Arachova renowned for its colorful rugs en route back to Athens. Early evening arrival.
Day 14 ATHENS (B) Morning transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Rates
DATES: Saturdays
Jan* $2,975 Feb* $2,975 Mar $3,095 Apr $3,175 May $3,175 Jun $3,235 Jul $3,235 Aug $3,235 Sep $3,276 Oct $3,276 Nov* $3,276 Dec* $3,276* The Greek Island Cruise does not operate on these departure dates and is substituted with the 4-Day Classical tour.
Rates are per person, based on double occupancy.
Single Supplement: Aegean cruise option $925 / 4 day tour option $795, Triple reduction: Aegean cruise option $170 / 4 day tour option $100
Port taxes of $105 are not included. Shore excursions for the Greek Island cruise are optional and not included.
EXTEND YOUR STAY.
Double: $85/$77 Single: $140/$108 Triple: $78/$60. Rates are per night per person and include breakfast, hotel service charges and taxes.
