Mediterranean Fantasies Voyage Greece and Egypt Private Tour Boarding Luxor (14 Days)

Luxury Nile Cruise, The Greek Isle of Santorini and Crete
A Grand 14 – day Tour of Egypt and Greece
Boarding the Nile Cruise in Luxor

This 14-day private itinerary combines a Nile Cruise of Ancient Egypt with Classical Athens and the romance of the honeymoon Greek Isles of Santorini and Mykonos.

DAY 1 – Athens
Daily arrival in Athens, April – Oct (subject to the Nile cruise availability in Egypt). 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.

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 (cB)
Fly to Santorini. Luxuriate on the beach at Santorini, mecca for Honeymooners and the perfect romantic getaway. Remainder of the day at leisure, maybe visit on your own Thirassia Island (enjoy lunch on you own at a local restaurant /tavern) and watch sunset in Oia.

DAY 4 – Santorini (cB)
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, Crete (B)
We’ll rendezvous in time to take you to your flight to Crete, Heraklion and your hotel. Flights operate only on Thursday and Saturday, on other days, it will be the fast ferry which is 2 hours (business class), or flights via Athens (Supplement applies: $250.).

DAY 6 – Crete (B)
Enjoy your stay at the hotel or explore one of the beaches. Or explore on your own the Venetian part of the old town, see below more details on tours in Crete.

DAY 7 – Crete – 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 will greet you at the airport and whisk 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 and Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

Sample Deluxe Hotels: Ramses Hilton, Cairo Sheraton, Sonesta, Cairo Marriott, Cairo Conrad, Semiramis InterContinental Hotel or similar.

DAY 8 – CAIRO (BL)
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 a local restaurant.

DAY 9 – Fly To Luxor or Aswan, Board your Nile Cruise: (BLD)
We fly to Luxor (or Aswan) and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. Your cabin may not be ready early in the morning as other guests are still checking-out, yet you’ll have access to all the public areas on board the boat. Maybe you’ll wish to explore the water front and Luxor souks. Check-in around noon, in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. Cabin amenity: Local sweets platter. 2 large bottles of water. Evening horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor souks and waterfront.

DAY 10 – Luxor – Cruising The Nile (BLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon’s tomb and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut. We stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

Afterward, we’ll continue on Luxor’s west bank to 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. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon. We’ll return in time for the afternoon tea served on deck. You’ll have a chance to explore your ship before dinner. We cruise to Esna to go through the locks, and on to Edfu where we dock for the night. In the evening, we’ll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias, the flowing national costume, a galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments). Cabin amenity: Fruit basket- 2 large bottles of water

DAY 11 – EDFU, KOM OMBO – 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 on our Nile cruiser, we enjoy lunch as we sail further south upriver. We disembark downstream at Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, the continue our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner with music and dance.

DAY 12 – ASWAN – Cruising The Nile (BLD)
First we tour Aswan dams, then on to the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the Island temple of Philae, dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS.

The Mystery of Isis
Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

“I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled.”

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was
also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra! Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect
the world. Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt when you Travel in Style!

In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile. Evening Sound and Light show at Philae.

Our farewell dinner this evening is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by a show featuring oriental performers, including of course a belly dancer.

DAY 13- Nile Cruise – Aswan – Cairo (BD)
After breakfast, check out, fly back to Cairo. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping. In the evening get ready for dinner at Zeituni at the Four Seasons or similar.

DAY 14 – Cairo – Departure (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight.

RATES per person in USD (Apr – Oct)
Per person Sharing in:	Deluxe Hotel Deluxe Nile Cruise	First Class Hotels – Nile Cruises
Triple Occupancy	US$ 6970.00	US$ 6460.00
Double	US$ 7205.00	US$ 6620.00
Single	US$ 8770.00	US$ 7180.00

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…

• Greek Domestic airfare and Athens Cairo air fare all in economy class “Y” class, with tax.
• Greek Ferry ticket as per itinerary business class.
• As well as domestic air between Cairo and the Nile Cruise in “Y” class, with tax. Yet in BUSINESS class when you book Deluxe Hotel/Nile Cruise category.
• All transfers in Greece and Egypt always: Private transfers, private car/driver.
• Private touring in Athens, Cairo, private air-conditioned vehicle/private chauffeur driver.
• 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.
• Welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
• 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. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room in Cairo upon arrival with our compliments

Not included:

• Tips.
• Trip Cancellation/travel insurance.
• International air fare from/to USA, please ask for information on these fares or use your own free air miles.

 

Sample Deluxe Nile cruise: Sonesta Moon Goddess. Sonesta Nile Goddess or similar
Sample First Class Nile Cruise: M/S Monaco, M/S Lady Diana or similar
Sample deluxe hotels in Cairo: Hilton. Sheraton. Cairo Marriott. JW Marriott. Kempinski. Sonesta. InterContinental or similar.

Sample Hotel accommodation in Crete:

Heraklio / Hersonissos Area:

• Creta Maris (5 stars)
• Knossos Royal Village (5 stars)
• Royal Mare Village (5 Stars)
• Atlantis Hotel (5 stars – Town property)
• Aldemar Royal Mare (5 stars)

Heraklio /Amoudara Area:

• Candia Maris Hotel (5 stars)

Elounda Area:

• Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars):

Lasithi Area:

• Hotel Elounda Mare (5 stars): PRIVATE BUNGALOW with private pool: Supplement $ 300 Per person per night.

4 – Star Properties:

Heraklio Area:

•  Sylva Maris Bungalows hotel (4 stars)
• Galaxy Iraklio Hotel (Town property)
• Asotria Capsis Hotel (Town Hotel)
• Marina Beach in Gouves area
• Pantheon Palace in Gouves area

Lasithi Area:

• Miramar in Aghios Nikolaos
• Hersonissos Maris – pool sharing (4 stars)

Sample hotels in Athens:

• Deluxe: Divani Palace Caravelle.
• First Class:Titania. Stanley, or similar

We just wanted to let you know we made it back home after our weeklong detour through Italy. Athens was fantastic. The tours were very good, and short of heading out to the islands, I can’t think of a single thing we would have rather done while there.

Although we had an excellent time in Athens, Egypt was by far the highlight of our entire trip, including Italy. We just can’t say enough about Ahmed, Isis, Ashraf, and all our drivers. We simply could not have done the trip without their help. Ahmed was very professional, courteous, and helpful, and always went out of his way to make sure we were where we needed to be at the right time. Our Egyptologist guides, Isis and Ashraf, were both very knowledgeable and made our visit so much better with their endless supply of information. We wore out both days long before they did. We will definitely try to come back to Egypt when we have more time to spend.

Thank you so much for arranging the trip, allowing us to customize what we needed to, and putting us in touch with such good people. And please find attached pictures of us enjoying a camel ride.:-)

Adrian & Melina