14-Day Tour of Turkey and Egypt

This tour starts with your pickup upon arrival in Istanbul and ends in Cairo, Egypt.

Day 1:  Arrive in Istanbul

Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport(IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport(SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international line of the Airport, holding a sign with your name written on it. After which, you will be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure. Alternatively, you can join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show.

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

Day 2: Istanbul Old City Tour

After your breakfast, around 8:30 am, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin a full-day tour of this magnificent city. It includes an official English-speaking guide, tickets, lunch at a central city restaurant, and a visit to the most resplendent monuments that the Ottoman, Byzantine, and Roman empires have handed down to future generations: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), Topkapi Palace and Historical Grand Bazaar, which houses more than 4000 stores. After the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel around 5:00 pm. The rest of the day will be at leisure.

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

Day 3: Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Istanbul – North Cappadocia Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to the airport to catch your early morning flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to Cappadocia where you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day North Cappadocia Tour. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in.

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

Day 4: South Cappadocia Tour – Fly to Izmir

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

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 tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour. After the tour, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your flight to Izmir through Istanbul. Upon your arrival at the Izmir airport, a representative will be present holding your name sign 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 5: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour

After breakfast around 7:30 am, you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk where the full group will first meet. You will then begin the Pamukkale tour with a drive from Selcuk starting at 8:30 am to Pamukkale which will be around 3 hours. En route to Pamukkale after 1.5 hours, there will be a 10-minute stop for a restroom break. Upon arrival around 11:45 am the group will be first taken to have lunch and after lunch, at around 1:00 pm you will begin your guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a professional licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also, you will visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theatre, and Roman Baths. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the area on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time. The tour guide will inform you about the exact meeting point and time. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi at around 7:00 pm.

• 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: Ephesus Tour

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus. You will visit the ruins of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became an important centre of this time. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater, and Trajan Fountain. After lunch, let’s visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last years. We will pass by the Temple of Artemis; there is little to see of this that was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, you will visit the Isa Bey Mosque. Next, you will be taken to the Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm.

• 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 7: Fly from Izmir to Cairo (Flight Not Included)

After breakfast, you will proceed to Izmir 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.

Kindly note that the international airfare from Izmir to Cairo is not covered in this tour package. Arranging and purchasing this flight is your responsibility.

• Overnight in Cairo
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo OR Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino OR Hilton Cairo Heliopolis 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: Hotel Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo OR Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino OR Hilton Cairo Heliopolis or similar (Standard quality)

Day 9: Cairo – Luxor & Nile Cruise (Cruise Every Monday Or Thursday)

Today you will be transferred to Cairo Airport to take the flight to Luxor. At Luxor Airport, your representative will be waiting for you. He will be holding a sign with your name on it. After get your luggage and transferred to your Nile cruise ship. After check in you will visit the East & West Bank Firstly arrive at the East Bank to visit the Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple. Karnak Temple is most beautiful and biggest temple. Then you will cross to the West Bank to discover the Necropolis of Thebes, Valley of the Kings, There are 62 found tombs. You will visit three of them: the most colorfull one, the unfinished one and the first found one. There are another 60 tombs to be find here. Then you will visit the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut is the only Queen and her statues made with beard and very strong. She is the first Queen who made trade. You will visit also Alabaster Company. This is a chance to see The light marble vases. You will be visited the Colossi of Memnon.

• Overnight on-board ship
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Luxor

After breakfast, you will sail to Esna and cross the lock in the afternoon. On way to Esna, you will see shopping boats near your cruise. This is a different shopping experience. They will sail near your cruise. Esna Temple is the smallest one. After lunch time you will sail to Edfu.

• Overnight on-board ship
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Edfu – Kom Ombo

After breakfast you will visit the Horus Temple; Edfu Temple. After lunch, visit Kom Ombo Temple. This temple is the only Temple which is made for two God, Sobek and Horus. Sobek is the crocodile God.

• Overnight on-board ship
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Aswan

After breakfast, you will visit the Philae Temple. This Temple is Isis’s Temple, The Beauty Goddess. In a small boat, you will be taken to Philae Temple. Then enjoy a felucca ride around Elephantine Island and the Botanical Gardens. After lunch, visit the High Dam and pass by the Old Dam.

• Overnight on-board ship
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13: Fly back to Cairo

After breakfast, disembark. Check out and transfer to the airport for your Cairo flight. Arrive in Cairo, transfer to hotel.

• Overnight in Cairo
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo OR Pyramisa Suites Hotel and Casino OR Hilton Cairo Heliopolis or similar (Standard quality)

Day 14: Departure from Cairo – End of Tour Service

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Cairo (hotel check-out is before 12:00 noon) and will then be transferred to the Cairo International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Meet and Greet service by our representatives upon arrival & departure.
• Domestic flight within Turkey (Istanbul – Kayseri – Izmir).
• Domestic flight within Egypt (Cairo – Luxor – Aswan – Cairo).
• Accommodation for 2 nights in Istanbul including breakfast.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Cappadocia including breakfast.
• Accommodation for 3 nights in Kusadasi including breakfast.
• Accommodation for 3 nights in Cairo including breakfast.
• Accommodation for 4 nights on 5-star Superior Nile Cruise on a full board basis.
• Entrance fees to all sites in Turkey and Egypt as indicated in the itinerary.
• Professional English-speaking guiding services throughout your trip.
• Meals in hotels, cruise, and during your tours in Egypt & Turkey as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

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

IMPORTANT INFO:

• 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.
• Please be advised that the order /sequence in which the daily tours occur within the above day-by-day package tour itinerary can be subject to change depending on the availability of domestic flight tickets per the itinerary, opening/closing of various historical sites, etc.
• Please advise us on your arrival details at the time of booking.
• 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.