11-Day Turkey and Egypt Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Transfer and Free Day

Arrive at any time. Upon your arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international arrivals area, holding a sign with your name. You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your leisure. Alternatively, you may choose to join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show (optional, at an additional cost). This experience offers a memorable evening on the Bosphorus, featuring live entertainment and a delicious dinner.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Istanbul Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour

After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman treasures.

First, you will visit the Grand Hagia Sophia, a majestic structure that originally served as a cathedral, later functioned as a mosque, and now stands as a museum. It showcases centuries of history, blending elements of both Christian and Islamic cultures.

Next, visit the iconic Blue Mosque, famous for its striking blue tiles and six towering minarets. This impressive building remains an active place of worship and a hallmark of Ottoman architecture.

From there, you’ll explore the Hippodrome, which was once the center of Byzantine public life and the venue for chariot races and other social events. Here, you’ll see important monuments, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain.

After visiting these key historical sites, you’ll enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant, where you can sample traditional Turkish cuisine and take a moment to relax.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the stunning Topkapi Palace, the lavish residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. You’ll explore the palace’s vast courtyards, jewel-filled treasuries, and, optionally, the Harem, the private quarters of the sultan’s family.

The final stop of the day will be at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With over 4,000 shops, the bazaar offers a wide range of goods, from spices and carpets to jewelry and ceramics, providing an exciting experience for both shoppers and culture enthusiasts.

At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel around 5:00 pm. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure, whether you choose to explore more of Istanbul on your own or simply relax.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise – Fly from Istanbul to Kayseri

After breakfast at around 8:30 am, you will join the Half-day Morning Bosphorus Cruise. The tour begins with a drive to the pier in Eminönü, where you will have a short visit to the historical Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar). Following this, you’ll board a shared boat and cruise along the Bosphorus, a narrow strait between the continents of Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

During the cruise, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of iconic landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the Bosphorus Bridge, along with centuries-old mansions, citadels, and the stunning European and Asian shorelines.

At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel around 12:15 pm to collect your luggage. You will then be transferred to Istanbul’s domestic airport for your evening flight to Kayseri, which is approximately 1.5 hours in duration. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. After check-in, the rest of the evening is free to relax.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Holiday Cave Hotel OR Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: North Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

Afterward, you will drive to the town of Avanos, known for its pottery and ceramics, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Zelve Open Air Museum. This museum offers an insightful look into the region’s monastic history, featuring carved caves and ancient churches.

Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have about 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry to the interior of the castle is not permitted.

After the tour ends at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the city at your own pace, or participate in optional activities.

For additional activities, you can choose a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show, where you can witness the mesmerizing Sufi tradition. Alternatively, you may opt for a Turkish Night show with dinner, which includes traditional Turkish music, folk dances, and a delicious meal. All these activities are available at an extra cost.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Holiday Cave Hotel OR Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: South Cappadocia Tour – Fly to Izmir

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your guide will brief you on the day’s activities. The tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley, where you will explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi).

Next, you will visit Cavusin Village, famous for its historic houses and churches of Christian clergymen. Afterward, you will take a break for lunch around noon.

Following lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon, you will visit either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge.

After the tour ends around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening flight to Izmir via Istanbul. Upon your arrival at Izmir Airport, a representative will be waiting, holding a sign with your name, to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

After breakfast, check out from your hotel. At around 7:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kuşadası and transferred to the meeting point in Selçuk, where the full group will gather. From there, the journey to Pamukkale will begin at approximately 8:30 am, with a drive of about 3 hours. A brief 10-minute restroom break will be provided halfway through the trip.

Upon arrival in Pamukkale around 11:45 am, the group will first enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, around 1:00 pm, your guided tour will begin with a professional licensed guide. You will explore the stunning Cotton Cliffs, a natural wonder formed by deposits of calcareous salts, as well as the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis. Key highlights include the theatre, and the Roman Baths.

At the end of the guided tour, you will have 1 hour of free time to explore the area at your own pace. During this time, if you wish, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (optional and at your own expense). Your tour guide will inform you of the exact meeting point and time.

At approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Denizli Airport for your late evening return flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: Fly from Istanbul to Cairo (Flight Not Included)

After breakfast, you will proceed to Istanbul International Airport to board your international flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and will be transferred to your Cairo hotel for check-in. The rest of the day will be free.

Please note that the cost of this package tour does not include international flight tickets from Istanbul to Cairo. Participants are responsible for booking and purchasing their own flights.

• Overnight in Cairo
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino OR Ramses Hilton OR Movenpick Hotel & Casino Cairo-Media City or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Coptic and Islamic Cairo & Khan El Khalili Tour

After breakfast, at around 8:00 am, you will be accompanied by your personal guide to Giza Plateau to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Pyramid of Chephren, and Pyramid of Menkaure, along with the famous Sphinx and Giza Valley Temple. Next, you will head out to the Egyptian Museum, where the treasures of the boy king Tutankhamen await you. You will then go to Coptic Cairo to visit the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue followed by a short drive to Islamic Cairo, where you will be able to explore Khan El Khalili Bazaar which is Cairo’s oldest and most alluring bazaar. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cairo.

• Overnight in Cairo
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino OR Ramses Hilton OR Movenpick Hotel & Casino Cairo-Media City or similar (Standard quality)

Day 9: Fly from Cairo to Luxor – Valley of the Kings Tour

After breakfast, you’ll check out from the hotel in the morning and then transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor, and then be taken to your hotel to check-in. You’ll proceed to visit the Royal Cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, the Valley of the Kings, then to mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by the architects of the New Kingdom during the 15th century BC. Travel on to the Colossi of Memnon. You’ll then transfer to your hotel in Luxor, where you’ll stay overnight.

Optional at an additional cost could be a trip to a Sound & Light Show at the Karnak Temples which can be added upon request. (Flight Time Approx: Cairo to Luxor 06:00 – 07:00).

• Overnight in Luxor
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Steigenberger Luxor Hotel OR Sheraton Luxor Resort or similar (Standard quality)

Day 10: Luxor Sightseeing – Fly back to Cairo

After breakfast, at around 8:00 am, you will be picked up to visit the towering Karnak Temples and the famed Luxor Temple. After your trip to the temples, you will be driven to the Luxor airport for your flight to Cairo. When you arrive in Cairo, you will be met and assisted at the airport and then transferred to your hotel in Cairo.

• Overnight in Cairo
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino OR Ramses Hilton OR Movenpick Hotel & Casino Cairo-Media City or similar (Standard quality)

Day 11: Departure from Cairo – End of Tour Service

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Cairo (hotel check-out is before 11:00 am) and will then be transferred to the Cairo International Airport according to your flight details or to join the tour in Jordan. This will be the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers within Turkey and Egypt.
• Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Kayseri, Kayseri to Denizli, and Denizli to Istanbul.
• Domestic flight tickets from Cairo to Luxor and Luxor to Cairo.
• Tours and activities as indicated in the itinerary.
• 3 nights in Istanbul at a special class or 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
• 3 nights in Cairo at a 5-star hotel, including breakfast.
• 1 night in Luxor at a 5-star hotel, including breakfast.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary as specified (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch).
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Flight ticket from Istanbul to Cairo.
• Entry visas to Turkey and Egypt.
• Tips & Personal Items.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with meals.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation.
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation.
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation.
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar are closed.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 5 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.