14-Day Best of Turkey & Egypt with Nile Cruise: From Istanbul to Luxor

Arrive in Istanbul at any time. Upon your arrival at Istanbul New 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 on it. You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the city at your leisure. Alternatively, you can choose to join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show at an additional cost. This optional activity offers a magical evening on the Bosphorus, featuring a delightful dinner, live entertainment, and stunning views of Istanbul’s illuminated landmarks. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s most iconic Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks.

First, visit Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece that served as a cathedral, mosque, and now a museum, showcasing centuries of Christian and Islamic heritage.

Next, head to Blue Mosque, celebrated for its stunning blue Iznik tiles and six towering minarets, a hallmark of Ottoman architecture.

Continue with a stop at Hippodrome, once the heart of Byzantine social life. Here, admire the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain, each steeped in historical significance.

After these explorations, enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant and savor traditional Turkish cuisine.

In the afternoon, discover Topkapi Palace, the former residence of Ottoman sultans. Walk through its grand courtyards and treasuries, and optionally visit the Harem, the private quarters of the sultan and his family.

Conclude your day at the vibrant Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Explore its lively atmosphere and browse through an array of goods, from spices and carpets to jewelry and ceramics.

At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel around 5:00 pm. The rest of the evening is yours to relax or explore more of Istanbul at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

You will be picked up from your hotel around 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir, departing between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Cappadocia, where you’ll meet your guide and begin your full-day North Cappadocia Tour.

Today’s first stop will be Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys and rock formations. Next, you’ll explore Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), home to stunning mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After enjoying these natural wonders, you’ll head to Avanos, a town renowned for its traditional pottery making.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, where you will explore ancient rock-cut churches and caves, providing a glimpse into the monastic history of the region. Towards the end of the day, you will stop at Uchisar Castle for panoramic photos. While entry into the castle itself is not permitted, the surrounding area offers beautiful views of the landscape.

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

For extra activities, you can choose one from the following options: a Traditional Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through the valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Please note that all activities are available at an additional cost, and you can join only one due to time constraints. Overnight in Cappadocia.

For an optional extra, 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 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 guide will brief you on the day’s activities.

Start the day 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).

Continue to Cavusin Village, renowned for its historic houses and churches of Christian clergymen. Afterward, enjoy a break for lunch around noon.

Following lunch, head to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), where you can admire the stunning views and learn about its historical significance. Later in the afternoon, visit either the Kaymakli Underground City or the Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge from persecution.

After the tour ends around 3:30 pm, transfer 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.

After breakfast at around 7:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi and transferred to a meeting point in Selcuk, where the group will gather. From there, the journey to Pamukkale begins at approximately 8:30 am, with a drive of about 3 hours, including a brief 10-minute stop for a restroom break midway.

Upon arriving in Pamukkale around 11:45 am, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, at approximately 1:00 pm, your guided tour will begin with a professional licensed guide. Explore the spectacular Cotton Cliffs, a breathtaking natural wonder formed by calcareous salt deposits, and the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis. Key highlights include the Theatre and the Roman Baths.

After the guided tour, enjoy 1 hour of free time to explore at your leisure. During this time, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (optional, and at your own expense). Your tour guide will provide details about the exact meeting point and time.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi. The return journey is expected to take around 3.5 hours, with arrival in Kusadasi around 7:30 pm. Overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel around 8:30 am. Begin an enriching full-day tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities, once a major Greek port and cultural center.

Start your journey with a walk along Curetes Street, the main avenue of Ephesus, leading to some of its most remarkable sites. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, a beautifully preserved structure featuring intricate reliefs depicting the city’s founding myths. Continue to the Great Theater, a magnificent structure that could seat up to 25,000 people and remains famous for its acoustics. Your guide will share insights into the theater’s role in hosting gatherings, dramas, and gladiatorial contests.

Next, stop at the Trajan Fountain to admire its detailed carvings and learn about its role in Ephesus’s water supply system.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, a sacred hillside site believed to be where Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final years. This modest stone house remains a pilgrimage site and a place of quiet reflection.

From there, visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Though only a few columns remain, the site holds great historical and symbolic significance.

Your final stop will be the Isa Bey Mosque, a stunning example of 14th-century Seljuk architecture, showcasing intricate tile work and serene courtyards that reflect the cultural fusion of the region.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, transfer to Izmir airport for your late evening flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for an overnight stay. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, you will be transferred from your hotel to Istanbul International Airport at a time appropriate for your international flight to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, our representative will meet you at the airport and assist with your transfer to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Cairo

Note: The international flight from Istanbul to Cairo is not included in the tour package. Guests are responsible for arranging and purchasing this flight independently.

After breakfast, at around 8:00 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel and accompanied by your personal guide to the Giza Plateau to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Great Pyramid of Cheops, as well as the Pyramids of Chephren and Menkaure. You will also visit the iconic Great Sphinx of Giza and the Giza Valley Temple, architectural marvels of ancient Egypt.

Following your visit to the pyramids, enjoy lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant, where you’ll experience the authentic flavors of traditional cuisine.

Next, continue to the Egyptian Museum, home to a vast collection of ancient artifacts, including the world-renowned treasures of King Tutankhamen.

In the afternoon, you’ll head to Coptic Cairo, where you will visit the historic Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, sites rich in Christian and Jewish heritage.

Your final stop will be Islamic Cairo, where you’ll explore the bustling and atmospheric Khan El Khalili Bazaar, Cairo’s oldest and most famous marketplace.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at around 5:00 PM. The rest of the evening is free for you to relax or enjoy the city at your own pace. Overnight in Cairo.

Early in the morning, you will be transferred to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor. Upon arrival at Luxor Airport, your local representative will greet you, holding a sign with your name. After collecting your luggage, you will be transferred directly to your Nile cruise ship. Once checked in and settled into your cabin, your guided exploration of Luxor begins.

Your tour starts on the East Bank of Luxor, where you will visit the magnificent Luxor Temple and the expansive Karnak Temple, considered one of the largest and most impressive temple complexes in the world.

Next, you will cross the Nile to the West Bank to explore the Necropolis of Thebes. Here, you will visit the Valley of the Kings, where 62 tombs have been uncovered. Your visit includes access to three tombs—each selected for their historical or artistic significance: one richly decorated, one unfinished, and the first tomb ever discovered in the valley.

You will then proceed to the stunning Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a uniquely designed mortuary temple dedicated to Egypt’s first female pharaoh. The temple’s statues famously depict Hatshepsut with a ceremonial beard to emphasize her strength and authority.

Your final visit of the day will be to the Colossi of Memnon—two imposing statues that have stood for millennia, guarding the western entrance to the Theban Necropolis.

After your full day of exploration, return to the cruise ship where you can relax and enjoy your evening onboard.

After breakfast onboard, your Nile cruise will begin its journey south, sailing toward Esna. In the afternoon, you will experience crossing the Esna Lock, a unique part of river navigation on the Nile.

During the sail, you may notice local shopping boats approaching your cruise ship—offering a one-of-a-kind shopping experience directly from the water. These vendors sell textiles, souvenirs, and local goods by tossing them up to the deck in a colorful, lively exchange.

In Esna, you’ll pass by the Temple of Esna, known as one of the smaller temples along the Nile but notable for its well-preserved hypostyle hall adorned with Roman-era carvings and inscriptions.

After lunch, your cruise will continue sailing toward Edfu, where the next day’s explorations await.

After breakfast, disembark to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt. This magnificent Ptolemaic structure is dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god. As you explore the temple, you’ll be captivated by its massive columns, towering walls, and intricate carvings that vividly depict scenes from ancient Egyptian mythology.

Return to the cruise ship for lunch as the journey continues southward along the Nile.

Upon arrival in Kom Ombo, visit the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, the only temple in Egypt dedicated to two gods: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. The temple’s symmetrical layout—featuring twin entrances, halls, and sanctuaries—reflects its dual devotion. Learn about the role of crocodiles in ancient Egyptian religion and see the mummified crocodiles on display at the nearby Crocodile Museum.

After breakfast, disembark to explore the magnificent Philae Temple, dedicated to Goddess Isis, revered in ancient Egypt as the deity of beauty, magic, and motherhood. The temple is situated on an island and reached by small boat, offering a peaceful and scenic approach across the calm Nile waters.

Next, enjoy a felucca ride around Elephantine Island and the lush Botanical Gardens on Kitchener’s Island. This relaxing sail provides panoramic views and a tranquil break amid palm trees and exotic plants.

After lunch onboard, visit the iconic Aswan High Dam, one of the 20th century’s greatest feats of engineering. You will also pass by the historic Old Dam of Aswan, offering a perspective on Egypt’s early efforts to control the life-giving waters of the Nile.

Today marks the end of your Nile River cruise. After enjoying a hearty breakfast onboard, you will proceed with check-out and disembarkation. One of our local representatives will meet you at the port and accompany you to Aswan Airport, where you will board your domestic flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be transferred to your hotel and have the remainder of the day free.

Note: This morning, you have the optional opportunity to join a guided group tour to the Abu Simbel Temples, one of Egypt’s most iconic and awe-inspiring ancient sites. Carved into solid rock and dedicated to Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, these temples are a marvel of ancient engineering and royal power. The tour departs early—pickup is around 3:40 AM—and the cost is EUR 150 per person, payable separately. Advance booking is highly recommended. Overnight in Cairo.

After breakfast, check-out will be completed at your hotel in Cairo (standard check-out time is before 12:00 noon). You will then be transferred to Cairo International Airport in accordance with your flight schedule.

This day officially ends your tour program through Turkey and Egypt. We thank you for traveling with us and wish you a safe and comfortable journey onward.