Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and get picked up at the airport by your English-speaking assistant for a private transfer to your hotel. After checking in and getting your trip details and local insights, the rest of the day is open for you to relax or explore at your own pace. If you're interested, there's an optional night cruise on the Bosphorus available, or you can spend an hour at the Hamam Cimberlitas hammam for a traditional Turkish bath experience.
- Start point
- İstanbul Airport, İstanbul Airport Turkey, Istanbul, 34275, Türkiye (ISTANBUL AIRPORT)
Optional Activities
- Night Cruise on the Bosphorus
- Hamam Cimberlitas (hour of pampering)
- Day 2
Istanbul to Ankara to Cappadocia
Your assistant picks you up this morning for the drive to Istanbul airport and your flight to Ankara. Once you arrive, you'll head to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to explore the region's history, then pay respects at the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk. From there, the drive continues toward Cappadocia with a stop at one of the region's largest underground cities. You'll reach your hotel, have dinner, and settle in for the night as you prepare for the following days.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Explore Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk
- Stop at underground city en route
Landmarks Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk - Day 3
Cappadocia
After breakfast, you'll spend the full day exploring Cappadocia's unique landscapes. Start in Üçhisar visiting troglodyte villages and the Underground City of Kaymakli with its intricate tunnel network. Then head to Göreme Valley to check out an open-air museum with churches carved into rock and decorated with frescoes. In the afternoon, you'll explore Pasabag Valley's cave dwellings and the famous fairy chimneys, then stop in Avanos to see pottery factories and the newly revealed three-floor underground city. Return to your hotel for dinner and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Underground City of Kaymakli
- Visit Göreme Valley Open-Air Museum
- Explore Pasabag Valley and fairy chimneys
- Visit Avanos pottery factories and underground city
Landmarks Underground City of Kaymakli Göreme Valley Open-Air Museum Pasabag Valley Avanos - Day 4
Cappadocia to Pamukkale
After breakfast, you'll travel toward Pamukkale (cotton castle). On the way, there's a stop at the Old Palace and Medieval Fort of Caravanserai, a historic trading post from the ancient Persia route where merchants once rested and resupplied. You'll arrive in Pamukkale with plenty of time to walk through and see the white travertine terraces created by hot thermal springs. Later, you'll have dinner at your hotel and settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Old Palace and Medieval Fort of Caravanserai
- Explore Pamukkale travertine terraces
Landmarks Caravanserai Pamukkale - Day 5
Pamukkale to Ephesus via Hierapolis and Meryamana
You'll start with breakfast and explore Hierapolis, a World Heritage ancient Hellenistic city, seeing the Necropolis, Roman baths, and the natural Cotton Castle with its thermal springs. During lunch you'll have free time for a meal, then visit the pilgrimage site of Meryamana, believed to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. After that, you'll continue to Ephesus, the ancient Roman capital of Asia Minor, walking the streets where Cleopatra, Marc Antony, and Saint Paul once walked. You'll explore well-preserved ruins including the Library of Celsus, theaters, and temples. By late afternoon, you'll transfer to your hotel in Ephesus for check-in, dinner, and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Hierapolis ruins including Necropolis and Roman baths
- Visit Meryamana pilgrimage site
- Explore Ephesus archaeological site including Library of Celsus, Odeon, Arch of Hercules, Greco-Roman Theater, Agora, and Basilica of Saint John
Landmarks Hierapolis Meryamana Library of Celsus Ephesus Basilica of Saint John - Day 6
Ephesus to Istanbul
After breakfast, you'll drive to Izmir to catch your flight back to Istanbul. Once you arrive, a transfer will take you to your hotel and the rest of the day is yours to explore the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 7
Istanbul
After breakfast, your guide picks you up for a full-day Istanbul adventure with an English-speaking guide. All entrance tickets are included, and you'll have lunch at a central city restaurant. You'll explore landmarks from the Ottoman, Byzantine, and Roman empires including Hagia Sophia, the historic Constantinople Racecourse, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar with over 4,000 stores. When the tour ends, you're welcome to spend more time in the old city before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a fantastic central city restaurant)
Included Activities
- Full-day Istanbul city tour with English-speaking guide
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Constantinople Racecourse
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Topkapi Palace
- Explore Grand Bazaar
Landmarks Hagia Sophia Constantinople Racecourse Blue Mosque Topkapi Palace Grand Bazaar - Day 8
Istanbul to Cairo
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your flight to Cairo. When you arrive, your English-speaking assistant will help with visa procedures and provide trip details. A private air-conditioned vehicle will take you to your hotel where you'll settle in. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the hotel.
- Day 9
Cairo to Luxor
You'll start with hotel breakfast and have a free day in Cairo. There's an optional full-day tour visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see Tutankhamun's treasures and mummies, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage historic district with caliphs' mosques and the Citadel of Saladin, browsing Khan el Khalili bazaar, and visiting the Coptic neighborhood including the Hanging Church, Saints Sergius and Wachus Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. At the designated time, you'll transfer to Cairo Airport for your domestic flight to Luxor. After arrival, you'll board a cruise ship for your journey along the Nile River with accommodation and dinner onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner onboard)
Optional Activities
- Full-day Cairo tour including Metropolitan Museum of Art, historic Cairo district, Khan el Khalili bazaar, Coptic neighborhood (Hanging Church, Saints Sergius and Wachus Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue)
Landmarks Metropolitan Museum of Art Citadel of Saladin Khan el Khalili Hanging Church Saints Sergius and Wachus Church Ben Ezra Synagogue - Day 10
Luxor
After breakfast, you'll join your guide to visit the temples of Luxor and Karnak, dedicated to gods Amun and Ra. You'll walk among the line of sphinxes connecting the temples and hear stories about the pharaohs. Crossing the Nile, you'll explore the Necropolis of Thebes and the Valley of the Kings with 62 pharaonic tombs including Tutankhamun and Ramses IV. You'll see the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir El Bahari), Medinat Habu temple of Ramses III, and the Colossi of Memnon. Back on the cruise ship, you'll sail toward Esna, passing through the Esna Lock toward Edfu in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Luxor Temple
- Visit Karnak Temple
- Explore Valley of the Kings
- View Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir El Bahari)
- Visit Medinat Habu temple
- View Colossi of Memnon
Landmarks Luxor Temple Karnak Temple Valley of the Kings Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Medinat Habu Colossi of Memnon - Day 11
Edfu to Aswan
You'll catch a sunrise in Edfu after breakfast onboard, then enjoy a carriage ride to the Temple of Horus, the best-preserved Egyptian temple that was buried under sand for centuries until Auguste Mariette discovered it. After returning to the cruise ship for lunch, you'll sail to Kom Ombo to visit the temple dedicated to Haroeris (falcon god) and Sobek (crocodile god). You'll explore an exhibition of preserved mummified crocodiles, then have dinner onboard before sailing toward Aswan.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Carriage ride to Temple of Horus
- Visit Temple of Horus
- Visit Kom Ombo temple
- Explore mummified crocodiles exhibition
Landmarks Temple of Horus Kom Ombo - Day 12
Aswan
You'll have a leisurely breakfast and relaxing morning. There's an optional visit to the temples of Abu Simbel in Nubia (southern Egypt), part of the Nubia and Aswan Open-Air Museum. These rock-cut temples were relocated piece by piece to protect them from Nile flooding caused by the Aswan Dam. Built by Ramses II over 20 years, the main temple features four large statues on its facade, and there's also a temple dedicated to his wife Nefertari. In the afternoon after lunch onboard, you can optionally take a felucca ride on an authentic Egyptian wooden boat past scenic islands including Elephantine Island and Kitchener Island with its botanical garden. You'll visit the Aswan Dam and explore the relocated Philae temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, then return to the cruise ship for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Activities
- Full-day optional visit to Abu Simbel temples in Nubia
- Optional felucca ride on the Nile past Elephantine Island and Kitchener Island
- Optional visit to Aswan Dam
- Optional visit to Philae temple
Landmarks Abu Simbel Elephantine Island Kitchener Island Agha Khan Mausoleum Aswan Dam Philae Temple - Day 13
Aswan to Cairo
After breakfast onboard, you'll disembark and transfer to Aswan airport for your domestic flight to Cairo. When you arrive, your team will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Cairo (Giza and Saqqara)
You'll begin with a typical Egyptian breakfast, then explore Cairo's most significant landmarks. Start at the Pyramids of Giza with your English-speaking guide to see the Great Sphinx, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, and the only remaining Seven Wonder of the ancient world. You'll view the pyramids from the main esplanade and up close. There's an optional excursion to the Necropolis of Saqqara, a World Heritage Site featuring the funerary complex and Pyramid of Djoser, the first stone pyramid in Egypt. In the evening, you can optionally hire a light show at the Giza Pyramids or enjoy a unique dinner show in a floating restaurant on the Nile.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with typical Egyptian food)
Included Activities
- Visit Pyramids of Giza including Great Sphinx and Great Pyramid of Khufu
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Necropolis of Saqqara including Pyramid of Djoser
- Optional light show on Giza Pyramids
- Optional dinner show in floating restaurant on the Nile
Landmarks Pyramids of Giza Great Sphinx of Giza Great Pyramid of Khufu Necropolis of Saqqara Pyramid of Djoser 
- Day 15
Cairo
At the indicated time, a vehicle will transfer you to Cairo International Airport to check in your luggage and process any tax refunds on tax-free purchases if needed.
- End point
- Cairo International Airport (CAI), Airport Rd, Al Shorouk, Cairo 11, Egypt (Cairo international airport)
