Turkey and Egypt, 16 days

**Day 1 | Wednesday | ISTANBUL**

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST). After reception at the airport, we proceed to the hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul. Dinner not included.

**Day 2 | Thursday | ISTANBUL – ANKARA (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Departure to Ankara passing through the Bolu Mountains. Upon arrival, we will take a panoramic bus tour to get to know the capital of the Turkish Republic and the second most populous city in Turkey (Ankara), a modern and cosmopolitan city rich in history and ancient culture. Later, we will visit the Mausoleum of Anitkabir, a symbol of Ankara, as it is the resting place of the founder of the Turkish Republic. In the late afternoon, arrival at our hotel. Dinner included. Accommodation.

**Day 3 | Friday | ANKARA – CAPPADOCIA (Optional Jeep Safari in Cappadocia) (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Departure for Cappadocia. On the way, we will see the second largest lake in Turkey, Lake Tuz, and a caravanserai (medieval inn) from the 13th century. Arrival in Cappadocia. Optionally, you can hire a Jeep Safari tour of Cappadocia, one of the most exciting adventures in Cappadocia that will allow you to explore the region in an off-road vehicle, where you can reach unique landscapes of the formations and valleys of this region. Arrival in Cappadocia. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 4 | Saturday | CAPPADOCIA (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Visit this fascinating region and original landscape, formed by lava expelled by the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. We will visit the Göreme Valley, an incredible Byzantine monastic complex formed by churches carved into the rock with beautiful frescoes. Next, we will visit the Avcilar Valley and the Pasabagi and Gόvercinlik Valleys, where you can admire the best view of the volcanic formations called "fairy chimneys." We will visit typical carpet and onyx and turquoise stone workshops. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 5 | Sunday | CAPPADOCIA – KONYA – PAMUKKALE (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Early departure to Konya, capital of the Seljuk sultans. Where we will visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, a poet and philosopher who founded the mystical and religious sect of the Whirling Dervishes. Continuation of the trip to Pamukkale. Arrival and visit to Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city that is now in ruins. Visit the famous Cotton Castle, a natural wonder of gigantic white waterfalls, stalactites, and natural pools formed over the centuries by the passage of limestone-rich thermal spring waters. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 6 | Monday | PAMUKKALE – EPHESUS – IZMIR – FLIGHT – ISTANBUL (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. In the morning, departure for Ephesus, a Greco-Roman city, the ancient capital of Asia Minor and one of the best-preserved in antiquity, where we find the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Trajan, the Theater, and the Library of Celsus. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last years of her life. Continue to Izmir airport for a domestic flight to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 7 | Tuesday | ISTANBUL – SULEIMAN THE MAGNIFICENT – REST OF THE DAY FREE (Optional Historical Part Visit with Lunch) (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Departure to visit the Suleiman the Magnificent Mosque, located on the third hill of Istanbul, with one of the most famous panoramic views of the city. Built by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, it was designed by the famous imperial architect Sinán. After the visit, free time to discover the city on your own or optionally hire a full-day tour of the historical part of Istanbul, where you can visit the Hagia Sophia, the pinnacle of Byzantine art, and the Pearl of Istanbul, the famous Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans for four centuries, enjoy a typical lunch in a local restaurant in the Sultanahmet area, contemplate the Blue Mosque, a marvel of harmony, proportion, and elegance, and the Hippodrome that preserves the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Fountain of Emperor Wilhelm, and the Egyptian Obelisk. In the late afternoon, we will visit the famous Grand Bazaar where we will have free time to get lost among its 4,000 shops. Return to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 8 | Wednesday | ISTANBUL – BOSPHORUS CRUISE – SPICE BAZAAR (Optional Asian Part Visit with Lunch) (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Departure to do one of the most famous activities in Istanbul, a boat trip on the Bosphorus, a channel that separates Europe from Asia. During this trip, you will admire the Palaces of the Sultans, ancient and typical wooden houses and enjoy history in a different way. Next, we will make one of the star visits, the Spice Bazaar, founded by the Ottomans 5 centuries ago and used since then. Our included visit ends at the bazaar where you can enjoy its atmosphere and variety of shops. In the afternoon, you can optionally take a visit with lunch to the Asian part of the city, visiting the "Beylerbey" Palace located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus; former summer residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Also, we can see the famous Bosphorus Suspension Bridge that connects the European part with the Asian part of the city. After lunch, we will visit Camlica Hill located in the underrated Üsküdar neighborhood, on the Asian side, one of the seven hills of Istanbul and the highest point in the entire city. At 268 meters above sea level, Camlica Hill offers panoramic views of both sides of the city. Return to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 9 | Thursday | ISTANBUL – CAIRO (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Transfer to Istanbul Airport (IST) for a flight (not included) to Cairo. Arrival at Cairo Airport. Assistance at the airport by our representative. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in Cairo. Dinner not included.

**Day 10 | Friday | CAIRO**

Breakfast. Departure to visit the Three Pyramids of Giza: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Eternal Sphinx, and the Valley Temple of Khafre (does not include entry inside the Pyramids). Free afternoon, the possibility of an Optional visit to the Necropolis of Saqqara and the city of Memphis, the capital of the ancient empire. In the evening, the possibility of an Optional visit to the Sound and Light Show of

 the Pyramids. Accommodation in Cairo. Dinner not included.

**Day 11 | Saturday | CAIRO – LUXOR**

Breakfast. Free day or the possibility of flying directly to Luxor in the morning. Or the possibility of taking an Optional full-day tour of the city of Cairo, which includes: The Museum of Pharaonic Art, the Citadel of Saladin with its Alabaster Mosque, the Coptic Quarter, and the Khan El-Khalili Market. In the afternoon, transfer to Cairo airport for a flight to Luxor. Arrival and transfer to the ship. Accommodation on board. Dinner included.

**Day 12 | Sunday | LUXOR – ESNA – EDFU**

Breakfast. In the morning, visit the Necropolis of Thebes: The Valley of the Kings, the funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut known as The-Deir El-Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. In the afternoon, visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. At the scheduled time, we will sail to Esna. After crossing the Esna Lock, we will sail to Edfu. Accommodation on board. Lunch and dinner included.

**Day 13 | Monday | EDFU – KOM OMBO – ASWAN**

Breakfast. Arrival in Edfu and visit to the Temple of Edfu dedicated to the god Horus. Navigation to Kom Ombo and visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo, the only one dedicated to two deities: the crocodile-headed god Sobek and the falcon-headed god Haroeris. Navigation to Aswan. Accommodation on board. Lunch and dinner included.

**Day 14 | Tuesday | ASWAN**

Breakfast. Free day. Possibility of an Optional excursion to the famous Abu Simbel Temples. Next, we will visit the Aswan Dam and the Philae Temple. In addition, there will be a felucca ride along the Nile River (typical Egyptian sailboats) to admire, from the felucca, a panoramic view of the Agha Khan Mausoleum, Elephantine Island, and the Botanical Garden. Accommodation on board. Lunch and dinner included.

**Day 15 | Wednesday | ASWAN – CAIRO**

Breakfast on the boat and disembarkation. Flight back to Cairo. Arrival in Cairo. At night, the possibility of an Optional visit to the Nile River Buffet Dinner with Show on a Boat. Return to the hotel. Accommodation in Cairo. Dinner not included.

**Day 16 | Thursday | CAIRO**

Breakfast and, at the agreed time, transfer to Cairo Airport for the return flight.