The Grand Tour of Turkey and Egypt

Your representative will meet you at Gate Number 8, assist you at Istanbul Airport, and then escort you to your hotel to start your Trip. Enjoy free to explore Istanbul.

Breakfast at the hotel. Get ready for a full-day tour of the city. In the morning we will visit the Hagia Sophia, one of the most identifiable sites in Istanbul, a beautiful architectural wonder. Next, we will visit the Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesdays), it is not a single structure, but an organic monumental complex made up of various kiosks, gardens, and areas spread out that are located in the neighborhood or historic center at the entrance to the Golden Horn. We continue to the Blue Mosque, admired for its six minarets, terraces, and domes that rise in the center of the building. Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon you will visit The Roman Hippodrome, where chariot races and circuses took place, which served as entertainment for the inhabitants of Constantinople for more than a thousand years. We end the day at the covered market, The Grand Bazaar, where you can enjoy free time (closed on Sundays and religious holidays). Return to the hotel.

Breakfast. In the morning, we will start with a visit to the Egyptian Bazaar, also known as the Spice Bazaar, built in the 17th century and located in the historic neighborhood of Eminönü. Next, we will board a public boat for a fascinating cruise along the Bosphorus, the waters that divide two continents. During the journey, we will enjoy spectacular panoramic views of palaces and fortresses adorning both shores, including the majestic Dolmabahçe Palace, the elegant Çırağan Palace, and the impressive Rumeli Fortress, among other historical landmarks.
We will then continue to the historic neighborhoods of Fener and Balat, perfect for wandering through their romantic cobblestone streets. Here, you’ll find charming themed cafés and have the chance to take photos of the famous colorful houses. This area is well-known as a filming location for many Turkish TV series, offering treasures full of history and glimpses into everyday Turkish life.
We will visit from outside the magnificent Bulgarian Orthodox Church of St. Stephen, made entirely of cast iron. During the tour, we’ll also see the Church of the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Balat district.
We will end our day at the famous Pierre Loti Café, a legendary spot once favored by the French writer Pierre Loti, offering stunning views of the Golden Horn. Transfer to your hotel.

Early departure by bus to Ankara, the capital of the Turkish Republic. Pass through the Bolu Mountains, arrive in Ankara, and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, awarded Best Museum in Europe in 1997 for its rich collection of finds from Asia Minor, especially Hittite artifacts. Continue to the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of the Republic. Proceed to Cappadocia, a region in Anatolia famous for its unique geological formations. In the afternoon, pass by the Salt Lake, arriving at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, embark on a full-day excursion. Visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum to see rock-hewn churches with frescoed interiors. Continue to the troglodyte village of Uçhisar and the Pigeon Valley. Admire the Love Valley, also known for its mushroom-shaped "fairy chimneys." Visit the pottery town of Avanos. In the afternoon, tour the underground city of Serhatlı (or Özkonak), which has multiple levels and was used by early Christians as a refuge against enemies during the 6th and 7th centuries. End with a visit to a carpet workshop to observe Turkish carpet weaving and a workshop showcasing onyx and jewelry craftsmanship. Return to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Breakfast and departure to Aksaray. Follow the Silk Road and visit the Sultanhan Caravanserai, a resting place for camel caravans. Arrive in Pamukkale, transfer to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Visit Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle” in Turkish, famous for its white cascades. These natural travertine pools are formations caused by thermal springs. Continue with a tour of the ancient city of Hierapolis, a Phrygian city that became an episcopal center during the Byzantine period. Proceed to Kusadasi. En route, visit the House of the Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus), where she spent her last years. During the journey, attend a fashion show featuring beautiful leather products. Visit Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor, which had a population of 250,000 during the 1st and 2nd centuries. See landmarks such as the Temple of Hadrian, the Roman Baths, the Library of Celsus, the Odeon, and the theater with a capacity of 24,500 spectators. Transfer to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Travel to Pergamon and visit the Asclepion, an ancient therapeutic center dedicated to Asclepius, the god of medicine. Here, the famous physician Galen once practiced. Continue to Troy, where you’ll visit the legendary city made famous by Homer’s The Iliad and the Trojan War. Transfer to the hotel in Çanakkale. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Depart for Istanbul via Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Bursa is renowned for its mosques, fountains, Turkish baths, and silk production. Visit the 14th-century Great Mosque, the Green Mosque, the Green Mausoleum, and the local silk bazaar. Continue the journey to Istanbul. Arrival at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel. You will have free time until transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Cairo.

Arrive at Cairo Airport, meet and assist by our representative, and transfer to your hotel in Cairo.

After enjoying a delicious wholesome breakfast at your hotel, your guide will take you to the Giza Plateau to start your journey by marveling at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Visit the iconic Sphinx and Valley Temple. After your pyramid visit, you’ll go for lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant and then head over to the New Grand Egyptian Museum, also known as the Giza Museum, which is an archaeological museum in Giza, Egypt, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Giza pyramid complex. The GEM Complex is now offering limited access to test site readiness and the visitor experience ahead of the official opening. Admission is currently limited to the Main Galleries, Grand Hall, Grand Staircase, commercial area, and exterior gardens. Return to your hotel.

Today, you will be leaving Cairo and heading out to the shining city of Aswan. You will meet your tour manager early in the morning at your hotel where he will accompany you to Cairo International Airport for your trip to Aswan. Upon landing in Aswan, you will be assisted and then enjoy visiting the awesome Philae temple, which is devoted to the two goddesses Isis and Hathor, and the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt, the Unfinished Obelisk. Transfer to your Nile Cruise for check-in and Lunch. Enjoy a free afternoon. Dinner on board.

Sail to Kom Ombo, have breakfast on board, and visit Kom Ombo Temple, a temple shared by two gods Sobek and Haeroris in Kom Ombo. Sail to Edfu, and lunch on board after that Visit the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt, Horus Temple in Edfu. Take afternoon tea during sailing to Esna. Dinner on board.

Sail to Luxor, have breakfast on board then Visit the West Bank, take an excursion to the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, Valley of the Kings, then to Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by the architects of the New Kingdom Pharaoh Hatshepsut approximately in the 15th century BC, at El-Deir El-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Lunch on board. Enjoy afternoon tea during sailing. Dinner on board.

Breakfast on board. Disembark from your Nile cruise after breakfast. Then, transfer to visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. In the afternoon, transfer to Luxor airport to take your flight to Cairo. Arrive in Cairo, meet your representative, and transfer to your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel - free time before your flight - check out and then transfer to Cairo International Airport for final departure.