Italy , Turkey, Greece, Egypt

A True Grand 17 day Mediterranean Tour

we show you the top sights in these historic countries in a
A 17 day grand tour- compare with the 14 day version
Compare with the United Arab Emirates Dubai Version

DAY 1 - Athens - Weekly on Fridays : March - Nov - All transfers are always on a private basis .
Our Athens representative will meet you at the Airport or Piraeus port if/when you arrive by boat/ship, assist you through customs and immigration, and escort you to Athens and your hotel: Stanley or similar, in the bustling city center. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. You're free to stroll, browse for curios and treasures. Add International air fare and a foray into Petra : Please click here.

DAY 2 - ATHENS (BL) - Private Tour - Saturday
Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur, private guide.
This morning you'll tour the high points of Athens, most notably the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. You'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards in colorful traditional outfits.
Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant. Your afternoon is free for further exploring or shopping, or you could well be drawn to return to the charm of the Plaka.

DAY 3 - ATHENS (B) Sunday
You'll plan your own day in Athens, with the help of your complimentary guidebook. Or we can help you explore beyond the city. Our optional tour to Argolis takes you across the historic Corinthian Canal to Mycenae, where you'll visit the Lion Gate and the tombs of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. After a seaside lunch in Nauplion, you'll visit the theater of Epidaurus and marvel at its perfect acoustics. Our optional Delphi excursion takes you through Thebes, Levadia, and Arachova. In Delphi, you'll see renowned classical bronzes, and visit the Temple of Apollo, the Athenian Treasure, and the Castalian spring.

DAY 4 - ISTANBUL Monday- All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always on a private basis (B)
Today we fly north and east across the Sea of Marmara and the deep blue of the Aegean to fabled Athens. International airfares are included between Istanbul, Athens & Cairo in the tour rates.) Upon arrival, our staff meets you and escorts you to your hotel: Aygun Plaza or similar , in the Turkish capital. The rest of the day is yours: Istanbul awaits you!

DAY 5 - ISTANBUL Tuesday- All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always on a private basis (B)
Welcome to the City of the Sultans! We visit the top sights in an all-day tour, including the Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum with its collection of priceless oriental carpets, and legendary Topkapi Palace Museum, the imperial residence of the sultans for centuries. Including the Harem section of the Palace:

DAY 6 - ISTANBUL - Wednesday- All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always on a private basis (BL)
Afternoon tour of Hagia Sophia, the greatest church in Christendom for a thousand years; and a walking tour of the famous "Grand bazaar" ; lunch is included at a local restaurant.

DAY 7- ANKARA CAPPADOCIA - Thursday - All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always on a private basis (BL)
Morning flight Ankara, air fare is always included , in economy class , tax included , continue to Sultanhani , the Seljuk Turkish Carvanserai before making the drive to Biblical Cappadocia and our hotel Perisia Hotel or similar.

DAY 8- CAPPADOCIA- Friday- All Touring and Transfers in Turkey are always on a private basis (BL)
We explore the "Moonscape" of Cappadoccia, visiting the painted churches in the Goereme and Zelve Valleys, the rock hewn dwellings in Ortahisar, the pottery making center of Avanos and the incredible underground city of Kaymakl or Derinkuyu.

DAY 9 - ISTANBUL Saturday (BD)
Fly back to Istanbul, remainder of the day at leisure. Evening farewell dinner with Turkish Belly dance.

DAY 10 - CAIRO Sunday (B)
Fly further south across the Mediterranean to Cairo .Our staff meets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel: Pyramids Park, Zeus , or Oases hotel l . visa will be issued on a complimentary basis for American, Australian, NZ, Western European, Canadian & Japanese citizens, your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival.
Room amenity : Mint Tea Pot & welcome "Egyptian Sweets " platter.

Visa will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

DAY 11 - CAIRO Monday (cBL)
We start with the best of Cairo: the Egyptian Museum, Manial Palace of the former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali, Citadel of Saladin and its Alabaster Mosque. After lunch , we walk the narrow streets of Old Cairo, once a Roman fort, later the Jewish Quarter, then the Coptic Christian Quarter. We visit the Coptic churches of Abu Serghius and Al Molaka, the Coptic Museum, and Ben Ezra synagogue. Finally, we wander through the alleys of Khan el-Khalili bazaar in search of souvenirs.

DAY 12 - CAIRO- Giza Pyramids - Dahshour - Home Hosted Dinner - Tuesday (cBL)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years , the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of Ancient Egypt.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant or at your hotel.

A complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! 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, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 13 - LUXOR Wednesday (cBLD)
Morning flight to Luxor the Ancient Capital of the first known "United Kingdom " of Egypt for 20 centuries.
In Luxor we cross the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch in Luxor, we tour the Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and visit the Sacred Lake . We have a quick look at the great temple of Amon Ra at Luxor on our way to the airport for our flight back to Cairo, and our hotel.

DAY 14 - Cairo / Rome - Thursday (B)
After breakfast, our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight to Rome , air fare is included in our rate in business class , tax included , ticket issued and delivered in Cairo .

Whatever it is about Rome that intrigues you, fascinates you, tempts you, or entertains you, you'll find it exactly, because your visit will be tailored exactly to your desires. Fascinated by the tastes of Roman cuisine? Your private guide will suggest the best restaurants. Drawn to the masterpieces of Michelangelo? We'll whisk you to the Vatican at the best time. Have your heart set on Italian footwear or daring designs in clothing? Talk it over with your guide-in your own language-and find out where to shop.

You'll arrive today at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, where your Roman host will be waiting to greet you in your preferred language, be it Spanish, Japanese, French, or English. After introductions, you'll be escorted in a private car to the hotel you've selected. You'll have a chance to discuss what you'll be doing over the next few days. Your host will make sure that you're settled in for the evening, after which you'll have a chance to make your own acquaintance with the Eternal City.
All Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis

DAY 15 - Friday - IMPERIAL ROME WALKING TOUR- All Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis (B)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, until your guide calls for you to begin your walking visit to glorious Rome of the empire. In just a few hours, you'll pass through centuries of history. You'll take in the Colosseum, completed in 72 A.D. by Emperor Vespasian, once the site of gladiatorial bouts and chariot races, and so solidly constructed that it still is largely intact. You'll continue to the Forum, the main public square of the ancient city, site of markets, public ceremonies, and religious rituals. You'll take in the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in the Piazza Venezia, and journey back across centuries again to the Piazza del Campidoglio, the masterpiece city hall square designed by Michelangelo. And you'll appreciate unforgettable hilltop views of all of Rome. Spend your afternoon as you choose. Your host will be pleased to call a taxi to take you to your hotel, or recommend a restaurant for lunch. Rome offers an endless array of temptations, and your only problem will be choosing among them: a stroll on the Via del Corso, shopping on the Via Condotti, browsing the Via delle Carrozze and the Via della Croce. Of course, there's nothing as Roman as stopping for a cappuccino at the Antico Caffč Greco in the heart of the Via Condotti. Indulge yourself! For dinner, we can recommend typically Roman restaurants near the Forum, the Colosseum, or in other parts of Rome. Your host will be happy to discuss your preferences and write down some suggestions, with full directions.

DAY 16 - Saturday - TREASURES OF THE VATICAN- All Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis (B)
Your Roman host will once again call for you after breakfast at your lodgings, to take you on a walking visit (or, as an option, by private car) to Rome's universal masterpieces of religious art and architecture. You'll travel together to the Vatican, and on the way, discuss the background of this unique city-state as patron of the arts, temporal power, and beacon of faith for millions worldwide. Your morning-and more, for there's so much to see-will be devoted to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. Count on four hours for the visit. Of course, you'll see the absolute musts for anyone visiting the Holy See, including Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, his Last Judgment over the altar, and masterpieces by Raphael. You'll continue to St. Peter's Basilica, the greatest church in the world by any measure, to view its grandeur as a whole, and its individual treasures, from the Pietą by Michelangelo to the Papal altar and Throne of St. Peter by Bernini. Afterward, a horse-drawn carriage will convey you into the heart of Rome, to view monuments and treasures from all eras, including Castle Sant'Angelo and the Pantheon of the ancient empire, and the beloved Fontana de Trevi and the Piazza di Spagna of more recent times. Once again, the remainder of the day will be yours to spend as you choose, shopping or enjoying the cuisine and street life of one of the world's most lively cities, with recommendations by your guide.

DAY 17 - Sunday - DEPARTURE . All Touring and Transfers in Rome are always on a private basis (B)
Your host will call for you after breakfast to arrange your onward travel from Rome. Are you continuing by rail? You'll be escorted to Rome's Termini station. Otherwise, you'll be accompanied to Fiumicino Airport to catch your flight.

Rates per person in USD $ :

Please add a % 20 supplement : Dec 15,through Jan 5

Rates include:

• Hotel accommodation in including tax, service charge and continental breakfast daily.
• Visa fee for Egypt
• Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as per itinerary, locally escorted in each country.
• All airport transfers, meet, greet and assist service.
• Air fare between Istanbul, Athens , Cairo and Rome .
• Domestic air fare within Turkey as well as within Egypt." Y " Class
• Lonely Planet Guide book for Turkey, Greece & Egypt.
• Meals as listed : BLD = Breakfast/lunch/dinner
• Italian airport taxes

Sample Hotels in Rome :
Three-star hotels include the Palladium Palace, Isa, Visconti Palace, and similar establishments.
Four-star hotels include the Capo D'Africa and Sofitel Roma.
Four-star deluxe hotels include the InterContinental De La Ville or comparable hotels.

• Airfare from/ To USA. (please contact us for the best airfares, or use your frequent flyer tickets.)
• Any sort of insurance .
• Tips
• Visa fee for Turkey : payable in cash upon arrival, or contact the nearest Turkish consulate.

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