On The Go Tours Turkey & Tutankhamun with Cruise - 16 days

Overview

From Ottoman Istanbul, the battlefields of Gallipoli, Roman ruins, the Aegean Coast and the stunning mineral pools of Pamukkale, to the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and Nile Cruising in Egypt. Take in the best of Egypt and Turkey in 16 days.

Highlights

• Istanbul - Sultanahmet, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Hagia Sofia and Basilica Underground Cistern
• Gallipoli - ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials and trenches
• Roman ruins of Pergamum and Ephesus
• Pamukkale - Thermal pools and Roman Hierapolis
• Carpet weaving demonstration and leather house visit
• Cairo - Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza Plateau, Necropolis of Saqqara and the Egyptian Museum
• Aswan - High Dam, Philae Temple and River Nile
• Nile cruise - Cruising the Nile from Aswan to Luxor
• Temple of Kom Ombo
• Luxor - Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon and the mesmerizing Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Itinerary

• Day 1 Istanbul

  Saturday. Hello Turkey! Arrive Istanbul and transfer to our hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure consider heading out to explore the city.

  Meals:

  Accommodation:

• Day 2 Istanbul

  Guided tour of the city that spans Europe and Asia. Tour the Hippodrome area, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Underground Cistern.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 3 Canakkale

  Istanbul – Gallipoli. Our first destination is Gallipoli where we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the historical battlefields, carefully tended cemeteries, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, and of course – ANZAC Cove.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 4 Troy and Coastal Kusadasi

  Gallipoli – Kusadasi. Heading south, we enjoy a guided tour of Homer’s Troy, famed for the Trojan wooden horse and fabled Helen. Continuing to the Roman acropolis of Pergamum - the cultural and political capital of its time, we tour the impressive temple ruins, library and medical facilities. Afterwards we visit a local leather emporium for a spot of shopping, en route to coastal Kusadasi. Enjoy the hotel facilities.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 5 Legendary Ephesus

  Today, we explore legendary Ephesus and see the ruins of the great Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Afterward, we stop by a local carpet manufacturing house.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 6 Pamukkale

  Kusadasi - Pamukkale - Istanbul. Tour the ancient town of Hierapolis and the magnificent white calcium terraces of Pamukkale. You can walk barefoot along the terraces allowing the mineral rich waters to wash over your feet or opt for a dip in the hot springs renowned for their therapeutic powers since roman times. Continue to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 7 Cairo

  Friday. Pamukkale - Istanbul - Cairo. After breakfast and hotel check out we make our way to Denizli airport for our onward flight to Istanbul arriving at approx 8:50am where our representative will be waiting to meet you.
  
  You need to independently book your flight from Istanbul to Cairo, as it is not included in the cost of this tour. Please only book a flight departing Istanbul later than 1pm. Turkish Airlines and Egyptair offer flights between Istanbul and Cairo, check the THY or Egyptair websites for more details.
  
  Upon arrival at Cairo Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. At 7pm meet your Egyptian guide at the Welcome Meeting.

  Meals:

  Accommodation:

• Day 8 Pyramids of Giza

  This morning we visit Egypt's most iconic site - the awe-inspiring pyramids and huge Sphinx at the Giza Plateau. You can also opt to enter Chephren or Mycerinus pyramids, depending upon which is open on the day. After, we visit a government supervised papyrus emporium before traveling onto the necropolis of Saqqara - a myriad of ancient tombs and temples. the highlight is Zhoser’s step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh’s chief architect in 2700 BC!

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 9 Cairo

  Cairo - Aswan. This morning we visit the Egyptian Museum for an informative guided tour. A mind-boggling array of relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history are housed in the museum, making it one of the foremost in the world. Arguably the most famous exhibit is the solid gold funerary mask of King Tutankhamen. Opt to see also the Royal Mummies, if you wish. Note: the new Grand Egyptian Museum is set to open in 2020 (exact date yet to be released). Once open it will be visited in place of the current Egyptian Museum.
  
  We return to our hotel for free time, you may wish to have dinner or a swim in the pool before this evening's overnight train to Aswan.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation: Sleeper train

• Day 10 Aswan

  Arrive into Aswan this morning and board your 5 star Nile Cruiser where you will spend the next three nights. In the afternoon enjoy a leisurely boat trip to Agilika Island for a guided tour of the romantic Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. Upon returning to Aswan we visit a perfume oil emporium. The use of essential and perfumed oils in Egypt dates back to 2700BC. Perfumed oils were used by women, pharaohs and by temple priests for worship who offered a melange of 6 perfumes called Kyphi to the Sun God at dawn, noon and dusk.
  
  As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt's southern most town straddling the River Nile.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast 1 Lunch 1 Dinner

  Accommodation: Nile Cruiser

• Day 11-12 Nile Cruising

  Aswan - Nile cruise - Luxor. Optional early morning drive to Abu Simbel, the famous the rock-cut temple of King Ramses II. In the afternoon our Nile Cruiser departs Aswan and we cruise the River Nile to Kom Ombo where we disembark to visit the temple which is dedicated to the crocodile headed god - Sobek before returning to the cruiser.
  
  The following day relax, enjoy a swim in the pool and chill out in the sun on deck. Let your troubles melt away as we cruise the River Nile to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its best. Arriving into Luxor in the afternoon the rest of the day is free to explore the city before we spend our final night aboard the cruiser.

  Meals: 2 Breakfast 2 Lunch 2 Dinner

  Accommodation: Nile Cruiser (2)

• Day 13 Luxor

  This morning we disembark and check into our 5 star Luxor hotel. The day is free to relax and explore. Tonight, an optional visit is available to the Temple of Luxor.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 14 Luxor

  Luxor - Cairo. Today we tour West Bank, visiting the Colossi of Memnon, Valleys of the Kings and the colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut. After time for lunch, we explore the giant Temple of Karnak - a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers. Tonight we return to Cairo by sleeper train.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation: Sleeper Train

• Day 15 Cairo

  Cairo. After arriving to Cairo this morning the day offers free time for you to relax, shop and explore. You may wish to join us on an optional visit Khan el-Khalili bazaar to pick up some last minute souvenirs.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

• Day 16 Cairo

  Sunday - Cairo. Hotel check out and included onward departure transfer to airport.

  Meals: 1 Breakfast

  Accommodation:

*Prices on this page may be out of date. For the most up to date price click on the Departure Date

Inclusions

• Breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
• 6 nights 4 star hotels in Turkey, 4 nights 4-5 star hotels in Egypt. 3 nights aboard a five star Nile cruiser
• 2 nights overnight trains from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo (Private 2 berth sleeper cabin)
• Guided sightseeing in Turkey - Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus, Pergamum and Pamukkale Hierapolis
• Guided sightseeing in Egypt - Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Aswan and Luxor
• Escorted by degree qualified tour guides in Turkey and Egypt
• Economy flight from Denizli (Pamukkale) to Istanbul
• Turkey - Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure shuttle on day 8 at 11am and 1:30pm to Istanbul Airport
• Cairo - Airport arrival transfer on day 8 and departure transfer on day 16
• All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles

Accommodation

4 and 5 star

• Ramada Old City, Istanbul - 4 Star Hotel
• Iris Hotel, Canakkale - 4 Star Hotel
• Richmond Ephesus Resort Hotel, Kusadasi - 5 Star Hotel
• Carina Hotel, Kusadasi - 4 Star Hotel
• Colossae Thermal Spa Hotel, Pamukkale - 4 Star Hotel
• Holiday Inn Cairo Maadi, Cairo - 5 Star Hotel
• M/S Medea, Nile Cruising - 5 star cruise boat
• M/S La Traviata, Nile Cruising - 5 star cruise boat
• Steigenberger Nile Palace, Luxor - 5 Star Deluxe Hotel
• Sonesta St. George Hotel, Luxor - 5 Star Deluxe Hotel
• Le Meridien Heliopolis, Cairo - 5 Star Hotel
• Steigenberger Hotel el Tahrir, Cairo - 4 Star Hotel

Exclusions

• International flights and visa
• International flight between Istanbul and Cairo is not included and needs to be booked separately by the traveller - refer to the Trip Notes, on day 7 for details
• Tip for Nile Cruise staff. Tip for your tour guides in Turkey and Egypt - we recommend you allow USD$5 - 7 per day, per traveller for your guides. For your driver in Turkey we recommend USD$2 per traveller per day. Tipping is an entirely personal gesture
• Entrance Fees: USD$160-180pp, paid in local currency

Map

Notes

Age Policy

Pricing Information

"Guaranteed" refers to departures that are confirmed for departure. Pricing is Per Person.