Mediterranean Fantasies Voyage Private Tour of Greece and a Luxurious Nile Cruise boarding Aswan (12 days)

Luxury Nile Cruise and The Greek Isle of Santorini

Finally at the top of the world – the Acropolis!!!
Photo by Ron Guay

This 12 – day itinerary combines a Nile Cruise of Ancient Egypt with Classical Athens and the romance of the Greek Isle of Santorini. Extend your stay in Egypt, compare with the 14-day version or extend your stay in the Greek Isles: Add Crete

DAY 1 – Athens
Arrive in Athens any day (subject to the Nile cruise availability in Egypt: Apr-Nov). Our local rep will meet you at Athens Airport and assist with your transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early morning from the USA on Olympic Airways then you’ll have time on your own to explore the Greek capital, browse for treasures and curios, and venture to a terrace cafe or a fine meal in the old Plaka district. Private air-conditioned Vehicle. Private Chauffeur.

DAY 2 – Athens-Private Tour (BL)
A half-day private morning guided city tour will orient you to the high points of Athens. This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Your expert private guide will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (short stop). Continue and pass by the Prime Minister’s residence (ex Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, and the Constitution Square (Syntagma). On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the Parthenon. Continue and visit the place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era: The new Acropolis museum. Lunch is included in a charming local restaurant , followed by a leisurely walking tour of the Plaka District. Return to your hotel late afternoon or early evening. Remainder of the day at leisure.

DAY 3 – Santorini (B)
Fly to Santorini. Luxuriate on the beach at Santorini, mecca for Honeymooners & the perfect romantic getaway. Remainder of the day at leisure, maybe visit on your own Thirassia Island (enjoy lunch on your own at a local restaurant /tavern) and watch sunset in Oia. Usually you return to your hotel/villa early evening.

DAY 4 – Santorini (B)
Enjoy your lovely hotel or venture out on your own to explore Akrotiri, reputedly the site of fabled Atlantis. Then maybe on to Athinios port to take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. You may have some free time to enjoy a swim in a hot spring!!

DAY 5 – Santorini – Athens – Cairo (B)
After breakfast, we escort you to the airport for your flight to Athens connecting same day to Cairo on Egyptair or Olympic Airways. Air fare in economy class is included in our rate with tax. VIP Meet & Greet upon arrival at Cairo Airport. Visa issued locally in Cairo (for a limited number of nationalities) no photos required. Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports, then you claim your luggage. After you clear the passport and customs formalities and exit the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

DAY 6 – CAIRO (BLD)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster. Lunch is included at the Mena House. Dinner is included at La Bodega restaurant. Private air-conditioned Vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Egyptologist.

DAY 7 – ASWAN (or Luxor), Board your Nile Cruise: Camel Caravan! (BLD)
We fly to Aswan (or Luxor) and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. Morning Tour of the Nubian Museum. In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile. Only for those who are interested: a short camel caravan and boat ride to visit a local Nubian Village. Cabin amenity: Local sweets platter and two large bottles of water. In the evening your guide will call on you for a private horse-drawn carriage ride to explore Aswan souks and water front.

DAY 8- ASWAN – KOM OMBO – Cruising The Nile  (BLD)
First we tour the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we sail downstream to Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples. Cabin amenity: Galabya.

DAY 9 – Edfu – Luxor – Cruising The Nile (BLD)
We moor in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt’s best-preserved temple. Re-embarking, we cruise to Esna and pass through the locks. Evening finds us in Luxor. Cabin amenity: Fruit basket and two large bottles of water.

DAY 10 – Luxor – Cruising The Nile (BLD)
Today’s tour includes the Ancient Workers Village at Deir El Medineh, the first known “Workers Village” these were the true creative heroes who built the temples & tombs for the mighty Pharaohs of the Nile Kingdom.

Deir El Medinah is on Luxor’s west bank you get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers’ settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we’ll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers’ paradise, we’ll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community.

Today’s tour include as well a visit to the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon’s tomb, temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, and Colossi of Memnon, returning to our Nile cruiser for lunch. Following lunch aboard, we visit the great Temple of Luxor, and the gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, returning to our vessel in time for tea. Evening Sound and Light show at Karnak, please bring a jacket with you.

DAY 11- LUXOR – CAIRO (B)
After breakfast, we fly back to Cairo. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals: This evening we’ll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread… right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo! You’ll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you’ll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they’re sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you’ll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, if you prefer, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions by letting us know your preferences. You may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (T shirt, small souvenirs of your home town).

DAY 12 – CAIRO/DEPARTURE (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight. If you wish to fly back to Athens, we will be happy to assist.

This tour starts daily in Athens (Apr-Oct), but subject to Nile Cruise availability.
All tour rates are subject to change without notice.

The tour includes…

• Airfare Athens Cairo, economy class, with tax
• Airfare Athens Santorini Athens in economy ” Y ” class, with tax
• As well as domestic air between Cairo & the Nile Cruise in economy class, with tax, or fly  in Business Class  within Egypt when you choose to book Deluxe Hotel/Nile Cruise category.
• All transfers in Greece and Egypt always on a private basis, private air-conditioned car/driver.
• Private touring in Cairo and Athens, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
• Hotel accommodations, including all taxes and service charges, based on the rate category you choose.
• Hotel accommodations, including all taxes and service charges, based on the rate category you choose.
  For Ultra Deluxe Upgrade: Cairo: Four Seasons Hotel Premiere room and Grande Bretagne Hotel in Athens, please add: Supplement of: %15 to the Deluxe rate.
• Nile cruise, including all meals, afternoon tea served on deck daily, and shore excursions.
• One large bottled water per person delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board the Nile Cruise, plus a small bottle of water with each & every meal on board the cruise
• Tea or coffee and water with each & every meal while you are on board the Nile cruise.
• Complimentary welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
• Pre-set menu meals as shown including B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
• Guided, escorted sightseeing tours in Athens, the Nile Cruise and Cairo as indicated in the itinerary, including all entry fees.
• VIP Meet & Greet At Cairo Airport
  Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport (photos are not required). Egyptian Visa will be issued for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports, then you claim your luggage. After you clear the passport and customs formalities and exit the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel.

Not included:

• Trip Cancellation/travel insurance.
• Tips
• International air fare from/to USA.

Sample Accommodation in Santorini:

• Dana Villas, in Firostefani with view of the volcano.
• Chromata Apartments, in Imerovigli with a view of the volcano.

Sample hotels in Athens:

• Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis.
• First: Titania, Stanley

Sample hotels in Cairo:

• Deluxe: Hilton. Sheraton. Sonesta. Kempinski. Semiramis InterContinental. Conrad Cairo Hotel or similar
• First: Helnan Shepheard’s. Oases or similar

Upgrade to a suite with a private pool in Santorini , Crete or Mykonos