Egyptian Greek Odyssey
Full Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Cairo where you will be met by our Egypt Tours and Travel tour manager who will assist you with your arrival. Later, you will be transferred to your hotel, the luxurious and historical Marriott Mena House Hotel. Pyramid view room. Overnight.
Day 2
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Drive to Memphis on the edge of the Western Desert, the capital of the ancient kingdom, one of the most important cities throughout the history of ancient Egypt. Continue with a drive to Sakkara, the vast necropolis of ancient Memphis. In the afternoon, drive to the Pyramids of Giza. Cheop's Pyramids, the largest of the three, was built in the 4th Dynasty about 2690 BC and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Enjoy a camel ride in the Pyramids area if you wish. In front of the Pyramids of Chephren, you'll see the Sphinx carved from a single piece of stone. It is a lion with a pharaoh's head thought to be a portrait of the Pharaoh Chephren. Continue your tour to visit the Solar Boat Museum where a dismantled river barge of King Cheops (Khufu) was found and has been beautifully reassembled. Return to your hotel. In the evening, you will be met by your Egypt Tours tour manager and transferred to the Giza Plateau, to attend the magnificent Sound and Light show. Later, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Start your tour by visiting the Gayer Anderson Museum (Bayt Al-Kiridlyyah): two houses, one of the 16th century, the other of the 17th, each comfortable by their own standards at the time, have been delightfully joined together, both filled with antique furniture from all over the Middle East. Continue the tour to visit the Manial Palace, which was built in 1826 and conceals an ottoman-Baroque fantasy: an immense marble basin with a marble island in its center. The Palace was built by Prince Mohammed Ali, the cousin of King Faruq, and includes a Museum exhibiting King Faruq's trophies and the prince's residence with its furnishings and a large collection of the family memorabilia. In the afternoon, visit the Ibn Tulun Mosque, one of the architectural glories of the Muslim world, completed in the year 879 and covers 8.5 acres of land and is designed in the classical courtyard style. It is well known for its pointed arches, beautifully carved stucco, and Koranic inscriptions in sycamore wood. Continue the tour to visit the Islamic Museum that has Islamic art from Egypt, Turkey, and Persia dating from the 7th to 19th centuries. Then visit the Coptic Museum, built on the site of the Roman fortress of Babylon, constructed about 30 BC inside you will find some of the richest collections of Coptic art in the world. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
You will be met by your Egypt Tours tour manager and transferred to Cairo Airport for your early flight to Luxor. Upon arrival at Luxor Airport, you will be met and transferred to your deluxe hotel, the Movenpick Hotel for check-in. Later begin your tour by crossing the West Bank of the Nile by ferry, visit the Valley of the Queens which lies hidden in the foothills of the Mountains of Gourma. See the dramatic temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a masterpiece of graceful proportions, then visit the famous Valley of the Kings where the royal tomb of Seti I, King Tut, and Ramses are located. See the elaborate reliefs and wall paintings depicting events of the past, and marvel at the exquisite colors, excellently preserved for thousands of years. Return to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
You will be met by your tour guide to visit the Valley of the Nobles and the Workers' Village. Continue to visit Medinet Habu which contains Ramses III (1194 BC - 1163 BC). This is the largest building in a complex surrounded by a massive mudbrick girdle wall. Late afternoon, visit the Luxor Museum. Transfer back to your hotel. In the evening, You will attend the magnificent sound and light show at Karnak temple. Later, return to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Start your day by visiting the tomb of Nefertari, a fabulous tomb that has the most vivid colors of any tomb in the Valley of the Queens. A major highlight of your trip. Continue your tour to visit the temple of Karnak with its giant columns; the ruins of Greece and Rome are dwarfed beside them! Continue the tour to visit the temple of Luxor which was started by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. In the evening, you will be met by your tour manager and transferred to Luxor Airport for your flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, you will be met by your Egypt Tours tour manager and transferred to your hotel, the Ramses Hilton. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
Meet with your Egypt Tours tour guide. Start your tour by visiting the Egyptian Museum famous for its antiquities from Egypt's Pharaonic period, dating back some 50 centuries and including the fabulous treasures of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. In the afternoon, take an excursion to Old Cairo, visiting the very Old Coptic Churches and the oldest Jewish Synagogue of Beni Ezra. Continue your visit to the Citadel of Salah El-Din and the Mohammed Ali Mosque and the Medieval Bazaars of Khan-El-Khalili, where you can bargain for your jewelry and hand-tooled leather items. Return to your hotel. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8
You will be met by your Egypt Tours tour manager and transferred to Cairo Airport, where you will be helped with your check-in for your departure flight to Athens. Once you arrive in Athens you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel, the Grande Bretagne Luxury. Enjoy a leisure day. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9
Start your half-day tour of Athens sightseeing tour. This tour allows you to explore the striking contrasts that make Athens a fascinating city. See the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Royal Palace among the many other points of interest, and the world-renowned Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Acropolis Museum. Later transfer back to your hotel. Enjoy a leisure day. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10
Breakfast and a free day to explore Athens on your own or we recommend a visit to the Plaka area, with ceramic tiled roofs, whitewashed or pastel-colored walls, Neoclassic buildings, and ornate wrought-iron balconies. This Plaka Village has been extensively renovated for over 25-years. There, you will find many quaint cafes, restaurants, and shops. Overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11
You will be met and transferred to the Port of Piraeus, embark on your Royal Olympic cruise for a 4-day Aegean Venture Cruise. All meals, shore excursions, port taxes, and charges are included in your package and your accommodation is based on a superior outside cabin. The ship sails from Piraeus at 11:00 A.M. that morning. Arrive on the island of Mykonos at 5:30 P.M. This island offers beautiful sandy beaches, winding streets, and chic boutiques. Stroll at leisure through the white-washed, flower-decked alleyways to the sculpture-like church of Paraportiani. Visit the windmills for which Mykonos is famous. At the foot of the windmills is the section known as "Little Venice" which is a replica of Venice in Italy. Enjoy the sunset while sipping a cocktail at one of the cafes here. Set sail for Heraklion, Crete at 9:30 p.m. Overnight at sea.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12
Arrive in Heraklion, Crete at 7:00 A.M. You may choose to visit the famous site Knossos. Knossos is the ancient city of the Minoan Civilization; visit the Labyrinth, where the legendary Minotaur was said to be kept and the Minoan relics displayed in the Heraklion Museum. Depart Crete for the island of Santorini at 11:30 A.M. Be sure to be on deck as you approach Santorini, one of the highlights of the itinerary. Arrive Santorini at 4:30 P. M. Santorini is thought by many to be the lost city of Atlantis. You may choose to reach the city of Fira by riding a donkey or a cable car. Stroll through the narrow streets of this white-washed village and enjoy the breathtaking view of the caldera and the volcano while sipping a glass of the famous Santorini wine at an outdoor cafe. The island also boasts archaeological sights that are similar to that of Pompeii - Akrotiri, a lost city that was covered in pumice and ash when the volcano erupted. This city also dates back to Minoan times. Depart Santorini at 9:00 P.M. Overnight at sea.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13
At 8:00 A.M. you will arrive at the Island of Rhodes, known as the "Island of Roses". The capital of Rhodes has modern and medieval overtones. Upon entering the yacht harbor (Mandraki), the most picturesque of the three ports of the city, one is welcomed by two bronze deer, which have become the modern emblem of the town. Visit the New Market (Nea Agora), a polygonal building with an internal courtyard, the Archbishop's Palace, and the Evangelismos (Annunciation) Church. Look out for the famous Rhodian umbrellas, available in a variety of shapes and colors in most of the souvenir shops. The medieval section is fortified within the walls that once protected the city. Enjoy a fascinating walk along the cobblestone lanes and through the arches and vaults of the 15th-century buildings. Visit the Archaeological Museum which is housed in the building of the Knight's Hospital. On display are collections of coins, pots, and sculptures from the Mycenaean up to the Roman era. Also, follow the Knight's Road, which is the official road of the old city, to the Palace of the Grand Masters (the Knights' Palace), the fortress which dominates the old town. Within the old city is a shopper's paradise where one can find leather goods, unique jewelry, and a wide variety of souvenirs. Also, a variety of cafes and restaurants can be found within this town which seems lost in time. Set sail from Rhodes at 7:00 P.M. Overnight at sea.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14
Arrive Kusadasi, Turkey at 7:00 A.M. Kusadasi is the seaport for ancient Ephesus, one of the world's greatest archaeological sites, where Marc Antony and Cleopatra once strolled, and view architectural masterpieces such as the great Amphitheater, the Magnesian Gate, the Library of Celsus, and the Thermal Baths of Scholastica. Set sail for Patmos at Noon. Arrive at Patmos at 3:30 P.M. Patmos, known as the Jerusalem of the Aegean, is a beautifully austere and rocky island. It was here in a cave that the exiled St. John the Divine received the mystical Revelation which forms the last book of the New Testament. Visit the Monastery dedicated to the memory of St. John. View priceless religious relics, rare manuscripts, icons, jewelry, and embroidery. View the murals and the wonderful temple of the church within the monastery as well as the murals in the chapel of the Madonna. Depart Patmos at 6:30 P.M. Overnight at sea.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15
Arrive at the Port of Piraeus at 6:00 A.M. Disembark your cruise ship, clear customs, then you will be met by our representative you will transfer you to your hotel, the Grande Bretagne, for an overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 16
You will be met by our representative and transferred to Athens Airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Also Included: Domestic Airfare in Egypt & Athens. All taxes, service charges, port charges, and entrance fees to sights mentioned included as well. All transfers, meeting, and assistance, and baggage handling are also included.
Extensions & Optional Tours: Extra days and optional tours to sites are available upon request.
Pricing
$7549
Egyptian Greek Odyssey
$1189
Single Supplement
**Please keep in mind that if you are traveling alone, you are single occupancy.
