22 Days Greece, Turkey & Egypt Tour

Day 1: Athens – Arrival Day
Upon arrival in Athens, you will meet with our local representative at the airport and be transfered to your hotel. Once you settle in, you are free to stroll in the old Plaka district. Overnight in Athens.

Day 2: Athens – Half Day City Tour
(Breakfast included) After breakfast, we will start the tour of the city of Athens, visiting Syntagma Square – the center of modern Athens and view the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament building. On the way to Acropolis, we will have a stop to the Panathenaic Stadium-made of white marble- where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The impressive, work of Art, Stadium was the finish line of the Marathon Race of Athens 2004 Olympics. We will also see the Temple of Olympian Zeus – the largest Temple ever built in Greece. We will view the National Gardens, the Academy, the National Library, the University, and finally we will visit the most magnificent monument in the world – the Parthenon on the Acropolis. The Acropolis was formally proclaimed as the pre-eminent monument on the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments on 26 March 2007. The Acropolis is a flat-topped rock that rises 150 m (490 ft) above sea level in the city of Athens, with a surface area of about 3 hectares. It was also known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Cecrops, the first Athenian king. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you back to hotel and the rest of the day is yours to have a walk in Athens. Overnight in Athens.

Day 3: Athens – Daily Saronic Cruise
(Breakfast and lunch included) After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the pier to enjoy the day cruise to the Saronic Islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra. Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, 17. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era. The island, along with offshore islets, comprises the Municipality of Aegina in Piraeus Prefecture, a part of the Attica region. The capital is the town of Aegina situated at the northwestern end of the island. Due to its proximity to Athens, it is a popular quick getaway during the summer months, with quite a few Athenians owning second houses on the island. Poros is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, at a distance about 58 km south from Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a 200-metre wide sea channel, with the town of Galatas on the mainland across the strait. Its surface is about 31 square kilometres. The town of Poros has 4,102 of these inhabitants. The only other inhabited settlement is Agios. The ancient name of Poros was Pogon. Like other ports in the Saronic, it is a popular weekend destination for Athenian travellers. It is an island with rich vegetation as well. Much of the northern and far eastern/western sides of the island are bushy, whereas large areas of old pine forest are found in the south and center of the island. Hydra is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese by narrow strip of water. In ancient times, the island was known as Hydrea which was a reference to the springs on the island. Hydra is also a municipality and one of the few provinces in Greece to have two municipalities – which includes the island of Dokos – yet fewer than five communes. However, there are no municipal boundaries on the island and its smaller islands. Overnight in Athens.

Day 4: Athens – Olympia
(Breakfast included) After breakfast, we will depart for 4 Days Classical Tour. We drive towards the Corinth Canal where we will make our first stop. We will visit The Theatre of Epidaurus which was constructed in the late 4th century BC. Originally it had 34 rows and was used for dramatic performances. The Romans added another 21 rows. Even in ancient times, the theater was considered to have great acoustics. The actors can be perfectly heard by all 15,000 spectators without the sound having to be amplified. The limestone rows filter the low-frequency sounds – such as the murmur of the crowd – but amplify the sounds from the stage. It still is one of the most beautiful open-air theaters. The view behind the scene was and still is an integrated part of the theater. The theatre was discovered in 1970 and the excavation began in 1972. Supplementary excavations were needed to bring the entire theatre to light and to consolidate the building. Restoration work has been carried out so that the theatre can still be used safely. And then we keep passing through the town of Nafplio, it is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was the first capital of modern Greece, from 1829 to 1834. Mycenae, where we can discover the prehistoric Acropolis with the Lion Gate and Agamemnon’s tomb. The Lion Gate of Mycenae was the entrance to the city. Atop the gate, two lions rampant are carved in stone relief. Similar bas-reliefs of two lions rampant facing each other are found in a number of places in Phrygia in Asia Minor. At last we will keep on driving to Olympia. Overnight in Olympia.

Day 5: Olympia – Delphi
(Breakfast included) In the morning, after breakfast, we will visit the Olympic stadium, it was originally designed in 1979 and built in 1980-1982 it is a stadium which is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It is also known as the Athens Olympic Stadium and Spiridon “Spiros” Louis Stadium, named after the man to win the first (modern) Olympic marathon race in 1896. Afterwards we will visit to the Museum of Olympia. It is one of the great museums of Greece in Olympia, of the Elis Prefecture, and houses artifacts found in the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia. It was officially opened in 1982. One of the best known exhibits is the Nike of Paeonius, which is featured on the medals awarded during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. We will continue driving to Delphi afterwards. Upon arrival Delphi and check in to your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to explore the city. Overnight in Delphi.

Day 6: Delphi – Kalambaka
(Breakfast included) Today, after the breakfast, we will visit the local museum The Delphi Archaeological Museum which is well-known for The Charioteer of Delphi. The Charioteer of Delphi also known as Heniokhos (the rein-holder), is one of the best-known statues surviving from Ancient Greece, and is considered one of the finest examples of ancient bronze statues. The life-size statue of a chariot driver was found in 1896 at the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi. Afterward we will depart for Kalambaka which is a municipality in the Trikala Prefecture, Greece. Population 11,841 (2001). The famous Meteora monasteries are located in the municipality. Kalambaka is the northwestern terminal of the old Thessaly Railways, now part of OSE. Kalambaka was voted as one of the most beautiful places in Greece by the show of Skai TV, I LOVE GR. Overnight in Kalambaka.

Day 7: Meteora – Athens
(Breakfast included) Today is the end of our 4 Days Classical Tour. In the morning, after breakfast, we will drive and visit Meteora. Meteora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. We will visit the ageless monasteries and speciments of Byzantine art in Meteora as well. Early evening we will depart back to Athens. Upon arrival check in the hotel and you will be given your room key. Overnight in Athens.

Day 8: Athens – Istanbul
(Breakfast included) After your breakfast, check out from the hotel and we will arrange your transfer to Athens International airport for flight to Turkey. Meet with our Booking staff and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 9: Istanbul City Tour
(Breakfast included) Our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Today we discover the Byzantine and Ottoman treasures of Istanbul. We visit Hippodrome and the Obelisk brought from Egypt. Then our next visit is the Blue Mosque with its six minarets. Visit St. Sophia. This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. Afternoon we will visit the Topkapi Palace, which was the residence of the Ottoman sultans, with its fabulous treasure chambers. Lunch break at 13:00 pm. After the lunch, Murtis Tour will take you to the Grand Spice Bazaar, which is a unique atmosphere with reasonable prices for your shopping. Here you will find; Exotic Spices and Herbs, Turkish Baklava, Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, small souvenirs such as Ceramic Handicrafts, Evil Eyes totems, all naturel olive oil, soaps and many other goods in Souvenir Shops and stores. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Please Note: Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays, Topkapi Palace closed on Tuesdays. If your tour is on one of these days, we would offer you to visit Underground Cistern instead of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi palace museum.

Day 10: Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour and Domestic Flight to Izmir
(Breakfast included) After breakfast between 08:00 am and 09:30 am pick ups from hotel. Your tour consultant will give you final timing one day before. BOSPHORUS BY BOAT; a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion, you will see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from your boat. See Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists, gather every sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries. RUMELI FORTRESS (view from boat), Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect the infamous Bosporus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. BEYLERBEYI PALACE (view from boat), is the summer residence of Ottoman sultans exists in its original renovated glory featuring original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul. Lunch break at the Turkish restaurant. After the lunch we will then take you to the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths’ street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes. After the tour transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. After the tour we have a domestic flight to Izmir. UIpon arrival to Izmir transfer to your hotel in Kusadası. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 11: Kusadasi – Ephesus Tour – Turkish Village Sirince
(Breakfast and Dinner included) After breakfast at 08.30, we depart from hotel for fully guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world en-route, visiting the Temple of Artemis, Curetes street, famous Roman baths, Celsus Library, Grand theatre and House of the Virgin Mary. Lunch break around 13.00. After the lunch, we will visit a place, which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet-weaving center. After that, we will have a Turkish Village Tour. Sirince’s construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all original with their white paints. Sirince Village also has a fantastic reputation for making some of the best wines in Turkey – especially fruit wines. We will see the vineyards and it is time to learn how to make fruit wine with Turkish wine makers. In the evening, you will be tested about your knowledge of making fruit wine. On the way, we will visit one of the famous leather production centers of the region, where you will have the opportunity to get a good factory rate. On this guided tour, you will avoid the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 12: Kusadasi and Cappadocia
(Breakfast and Dinner included) After breakfast, the day is yours till your flight time. You will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival transfer and check into your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 13: Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and Dinner included) After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel at 09:30 for the second day in Cappadocia. We will drive you to Ozkonak Underground City, one of the best-preserved Underground cities in Cappadocia. You will visit: Red valley (4 kms hiking), Rose valley (visiting the churches), lunch in Pigeon valley and Ortahisar Castle. After the tour, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 14: Cappadocia Tour – Goreme Open Air Museum and Domestic Flight to Istanbul
(Breakfast included) Today, after breakfast, we will get to know the Cappadocia region, a volcanic area in which the geological formation started 10 million years ago. As a result of these formations phallic like pillars have come to life. The beautiful horse country Katpatuka, (as the Persians called her) is an unbelievable strip of land, enchanting and mysterious. Cappadocia region is also famous for its arts, including ceramic and carpets. You will be picked up approximately 09.30 from your hotel to join our regular tour. Tour starts with Uchisar Castle, the highest point of Cappadocia. After Uchisar, you visit Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating to 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks. Next stop is Cavusin which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses. After Cavusin, you go to the restaurant in Avanos to have lunch. After lunch, you visit a pottery work shop, to see how to make potteries. Then you go to Love Valley . Love Valley Cappadocia is a hidden valley with scenic formations to say the least. Despite the resemblance to man hood, these amazing rock formations are far from man-made. After Love Valley you visit another workshop to see Cappadocian handwoven carpets and kilims. Next stop is Devrent Valley which is also called Imagination Valley where you can see natural rock formations looking like animals. Then, you head to a wineshop in Urgup for wine tasting. Last stop is Three Beauties, three beautiful fairy chimneys with their hats which are the symbol of Cappadocia. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you to Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival transfer and check into your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 15: Istanbul – Cairo
(Breakfast included) After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and depart by international flight to Egypt. Upon arrival in Cairo International Airport, meet with your local representative and we will transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city, have a relax dinner in hotel and our tour will start tomorrow. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 16: Memphis – Sakkara – Pyramids of Giza Tour
(Breakfast included) After your breakfast, pick up from your hotel and shall start our tour today. Firstly, we will drive to the countryside to visit the first Capital of Egypt, Memphis. Memphis founded around 3,100 BC, is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Early on, Memphis was more likely a fortress from which Menes controlled the land and water routes between Upper Egypt and the Delta. Having probably originated in Upper Egypt, from Memphis he could control the conquered people of Lower Egypt. However, by the Third Dynasty, the building at Saqqara suggests that Memphis had become a sizable city. Afterwards, we will go to Sakkara, the large necropolis of Memphis to admire the step Pyramid of Zoser where the first Pyramid ever built. After a short stop, we will have our lunch at a typical Egyptian Restaurant in the area. After lunch, we shall continue our journey, we will visit the three Pyramids of Giza. It is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. Also it is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. Below the pyramids, you will visit the Mysterious Great sphinx and the valley temple of Khephren. At the end of the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 17: Egyptian Museum – Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque – Khan El Khalili Bazaars Tour
(Breakfast included) After breakfast, we will start our tour. Today we will visit the famous Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, it is a home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms. Also it stores housing the magnificent treasures of Tutankhamen. Then we will have our lunch break in a typical Egyptian Restaurant in the area before we continue our journey of today. After the lunch break, Murti’s Tour will lead you to visit Mohamed Ali Alabaster mosque, it located in the summit of the citadel, this Ottoman mosque, the largest to be built in the first half of the 19th century. With its animated silhouette and twin minarets, the most visible mosque in Cairo. The mosque was built in memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad Ali’s oldest son, who died in 1816. This mosque, along with the citadel, is one of the landmarks and tourist attractions of Cairo and is one of the first features to be seen when approaching the city from no matter which side. The last spots of today is the famous Khan El Khalili Bazaars which is the one of the most interesting bazaar in whole middle east. Lots of cafes, restaurants, shops, and large number of vendors and buyers constitute a dynamic panorama of the place. Drinking Hibiscus, Karakare, Helba, or any of the various typical Egyptian beverages, is a pleasant experience for visitors and guests to get a real taste experience. For smokers, there is the Shisha, or water pipe, to be tried. At the end of the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 18: Cairo – Aswan – 3 Nights Nile Cruise
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included) After breakfast, we will transfer you to airport for your flight to Aswan. Upon arrival Aswan Airport, we will arrange the transfer you to the port for embarkation to the cruise ship before lunch. We will have a stop and visit Philae Temple and High Dam. Philae Temple was dismantled and reassembled (on Agilika Island about 550 meters from its original home on Philae Island) in the wake of the High Dam. The temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, is in a beautiful setting which has been landscaped to match its original site. Lunch and dinner will be included on board. At last, the cruise ship will sail to Kom Ombo. Dinner and overnight onboard the cruise ship.

Day 19: Kom Ombo – Edfu – Luxor – 3 Nights Nile Cruise
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included) Today, after breakfast, we will have a tour to visit Kom Ombo Temple, the building is unique because its ‘double’ design meant that there were courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods. Then the cruise ship will be continue sail to Edfu where is the site of the Ptolemaic. Lunch will be served on board. Upon arrival Edfu, we will visit Horus Temple which is an ancient settlement. Afterwards, we shall continue our sail to Luxor via Esna Lock. As the site of the Ancient Egyptan city of Thebes, Luxor has frequently been characterized as the “world’s greatest open air museum”, as the ruins of the temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor stand within the modern city. During your day on cruise, there is a Galabia party, where you will be encouraged to get Egyptian outfits and wear the local Galabia. Dinner and overnight onboard the cruise ship.

Day 20: Luxor – 3 Nights Nile Cruise
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included) Today, after breakfast, we will arrive Luxor and we will visit the West bank of Luxor. Valley of the Kings was the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs. The only entrance to this place was a long narrow winding path. This was a secret place, where sentries were placed at the entrance of the Valley, as well as along the top of the hills, in the hopes of discouraging tomb robbers, who had in the past plundered all royal tombs, including the treasures of the Pyramids! Some thefts were probably carefully planned, but others were spur of the moment, as when an earlier tomb was accidentally discovered while cutting a new one and workmen took advantage of the opportunity. This may have happened when KV 46 was found during the cutting of KV 4 or KV 3 nearby. The tombs in the Valley range from a simple pit, to a tomb with over 121 chambers and corridors. Hatshepsut temple at Dier El Bahar is one of the most characteristic temples in the whole of Egypt, due to its design and decorations. It was built of limestone, not sandstone like most of the other funerary temples of the New Kingdom period. Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For the past 3400 years (since 1350 BC) they have stood in the Theban necropolis, across the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor. After lunch, we shall visit the East bank of Luxor. Karnak Temple is the largest Temple in the World! The complex contains a group of Temples such as the Great Temple of Amon Ra, The Temple of Khonso, The Ipt Temple, The Temple of Ptah, the Temple of Montho and the Temple of the God Osiris. A 20m high, mud brick enclosure wall, surrounded all of these buildings. Luxor Temple or The Temple of Luxor, is among the most beautiful Temples in Egypt. It was known in the New Kingdom period as Ipt-Rsyt, which means the southern shrine. This was to differentiate between this Temple and Karnak Temple, which was the northern house of Amon Ra. After the tour, we will back to the cruise ship and enjoy the dinner which is follow by belly dancer show. Dinner and overnight onboard the cruise ship.

Day 21: Luxor – Cairo Tour
(Breakfast included) After your breakfast which will be served on board, we will check out from the cruise and we will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival Cairo, transfer to your hotel and you will be given your room key. The rest of the day is leisure for you. Enjoy your last day in Egypt, do little shopping to buy some souvenirs for your friends and family. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Day 22: Cairo – End of the Tour
(Breakfast included) Today is the end of the tour, it’s time to say goodbye with you. Regarding your flight departure time, we will arrange your transfer to Cairo International Airport for your international flight back home. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in future in one of our tours again. Have a nice trip back home.