Athens, Egypt & Turkey

DAY 01 ATHENS (ARRIVAL)
Arrival at Athens Airport, assistance, and transfer to the hotel by our correspondent from Travel Viajes®. Athens is the capital of Greece and was at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful empire and civilization. The city still features 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel with ancient buildings like the Parthenon temple. The Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum preserve sculptures, vases, jewelry, and more from Ancient Greece. Accommodation.

DAY 02 ATHENS
Breakfast. Departure for a half-day tour starting at the Parthenon, a classical symbol of architecture built entirely of white marble. The Parthenon is the largest temple erected in honor of the goddess Athena. Near the Parthenon is the small Erechtheion Temple with statues of beautiful maidens holding up the porch roof. The panoramic tour includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by soldiers in traditional attire, the Parliament, and the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held. Next, we visit the Library, the Academy, and the University, three representative buildings of 19th-century architecture mixed with classical influence. Free afternoon. Accommodation.

DAY 03 ATHENS
Breakfast. This cruise offers the opportunity to visit three islands in the Saronic Gulf, enjoying the Mediterranean atmosphere, Greek cuisine, and traditional entertainment by the boat's orchestra, singers, and dancers. Poros: A picturesque island near the Peloponnese, the smallest of the three but with exceptional beauty, a green paradise full of lemon trees and pines. Hydra: The queen of the Saronic Islands, favored by artists and the jet set. Its picturesque port impresses with its unique architecture. Aegina: The largest island in the Saronic Gulf, inhabited since the second millennium BC, with a notable historical heritage and a capital filled with neoclassical buildings. Return to Athens in the evening. Accommodation.

DAY 04 ATHENS - CAIRO
Breakfast. Transfer to Athens Airport by our correspondent from Travel Viajes® for the flight to Cairo. Arrival in Cairo and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

DAY 05 CAIRO
Breakfast. Optional: Full-day city tour with lunch at a local restaurant. The tour includes a brief visit to the Coptic Quarter, home to the Hanging Church of St. Mary, the Church of St. George, and the Church of St. Sergius. Continue to the Egyptian Museum of Art, housing the treasure of Pharaoh Tutankhamun; the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, also known as the Alabaster Mosque; the Citadel of Salah El Din (Saladin), a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and the Grand Bazaar of Khan el Khalili, where you can shop or enjoy tea at Fishawi Café or the Café of Mirrors. Accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 06 CAIRO - LUXOR - NILE CRUISE
Breakfast. Half-day visit to the famous pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure (entry to the inside of the pyramids not included), as well as the impressive Sphinx carved in rock. Visit to the Papyrus Institute to see the artisanal production of papyrus. In the afternoon, free time with the option to take an excursion to Memphis and Saqqara. Departure to Memphis, about 25 km south of Cairo, a center of worship for the god Ptah. Founded during the 1st dynasty, Memphis survived throughout Egyptian pharaonic history and became one of the greatest cities of antiquity, showcasing architectural and cultural marvels like the colossal statue of Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. West of Memphis lies the Great Necropolis of Saqqara, one of the oldest royal necropolises, featuring the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser. Transfer to the airport for a regular flight to Luxor. Arrival and transfer to the boat, embarkation procedures, and accommodation. Picnic-style dinner in your cabin. Overnight on board.

DAY 07 LUXOR - ESNA - EDFU - NILE CRUISE
Today, we cross the Nile to visit the Theban Necropolis, including the famous Valley of the Kings, where the principal pharaohs of the New Kingdom (18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties) were buried, including the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (entry not included). We also visit Deir El Bahari, known as the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and stop at the Colossi of Memnon, representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III. According to the Greek historian Strabo, the statues sang every morning at sunrise due to the evaporation of water causing a unique sound, a phenomenon that ceased after restoration by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in the 3rd century AD. On the eastern bank of the Nile, we visit the Karnak Temple complex, built by various pharaohs like Ramses III, Taharqa, Seti II, and more. Noteworthy is the hypostyle hall of the Amun Temple with 134 columns, 12 of which are 23 meters tall. After this fascinating visit, we head to Luxor Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979, dedicated to the god Amun and Amun Ra, with significant constructions by Amenhotep III and Ramses II. Return to the cruise and sail to Esna, crossing the Esna Lock, and continue to Edfu. Overnight on board.

DAY 08 EDFU - KOM OMBO - ASWAN - NILE CRUISE
Upon arriving in Edfu, we visit the Temple of Edfu dedicated to the god Horus, second in size only to Karnak and exceptionally well-preserved, dating back to the Hellenistic period between 237 and 57 BC. Continue sailing to Kom Ombo, visiting its temple dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris. The temple, built by Ptolemy VI Philometor (180-145 BC), was later expanded by Ptolemies VIII and XII. Continue sailing to Aswan. Overnight on board.

DAY 09 ASWAN - NILE CRUISE
Sail to Aswan. Optionally, visit the temples of Abu Simbel at dawn, located 280 km south of Aswan in ancient Nubia. The Great Temple was built by Pharaoh Ramses II in 1264 BC, also featuring a smaller temple for his favorite wife, Queen Nefertari. Abandoned for centuries, the temples were discovered in 1813 by Swiss explorer J. L. Burckhardt and entered by Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni in 1817. During the construction of the Aswan Dam in 1964, the temples were dismantled and moved to a higher location to avoid flooding. Enjoy a relaxing felucca ride (typical Egyptian sailboat) in the afternoon. Overnight on board.

DAY 10 ASWAN - CAIRO
Breakfast and disembarkation. Visit the beautiful and iconic Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Originally located on Philae Island, it was relocated to Agilkia Island due to flooding from the Aswan Dam, with UNESCO's help. Transfer to Aswan airport for the flight back to Cairo. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

DAY 11 CAIRO - ISTANBUL
Breakfast. Transfer to Cairo airport for the flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, meet our Travel Viajes® representative and transfer to the hotel. Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey, boasts the world's largest international airport. Free time to explore the city and its beautiful neighborhoods: Istiklal Street, Ortakoy, Kumkapi, Eminonu, etc. Accommodation.

DAY 12 ISTANBUL - ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast and morning departure to Ankara, passing through the Bolu Mountains. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, inaugurated in 1953, dedicated to the founder of modern Turkey. The mausoleum, a marble block with 40-ton columns, is reached via a long street flanked by lion statues, ending in a vast plaza. Lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to Cappadocia, stopping to visit Salt Lake en route. Arrival, dinner, and accommodation at the hotel.

DAY 13 CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast at the hotel. Explore this fascinating region with its unique landscape formed by volcanic lava from Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a Byzantine monastic complex with rock-carved churches featuring beautiful frescoes. Tour Avcilar and Güvercinlik Valleys, known for their spectacular "Fairy Chimneys. " Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Pasabag or Çavuşin Valley, visiting typical carpet, onyx, and turquoise workshops. Dinner and accommodation in Cappadocia. Option to attend a folk dance show in a traditional cave setting with unlimited regional drinks or take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.

DAY 14 CAPPADOCIA - KONYA - PAMUKKALE
Breakfast and departure for Pamukkale, passing through the Konya Plain. Visit a caravanserai, ancient rest stops along trade routes. Lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to Pamukkale, known for its high-calcium waters creating spectacular white cascades, stalactites, and natural pools. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. If time permits, enjoy the hotel's thermal baths.

DAY 15 PAMUKKALE - EPHESUS - IZMIR AREA
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city now in ruins. Visit the famous "Cotton Castle" with its white cascades and natural pools formed by mineral-rich thermal waters. Transfer to Selçuk for the Ephesus excursion, the best-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor, which flourished in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD with 250,000 inhabitants. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, Roman Baths, Library, Odeon, and Theater. Continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, followed by a visit to a leather workshop. Transfer to the Izmir area for dinner and accommodation.

DAY 16 IZMIR AREA - BURSA - ISTANBUL
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Bursa, visiting the Green Mosque (Yesil Camii), built in 1419 by Mehmet I Çelebi, and the nearby Green Mausoleum, possibly the most beautiful building in Bursa. Transfer to Istanbul. Accommodation.

DAY 17 ISTANBUL
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit to the Şehzade Mosque (Şehzade Camii), a prime example of classical Ottoman architecture. Followed by a boat tour on the Bosphorus, the strait separating Europe and Asia, viewing palaces, old wooden houses, and historical sites. End the day with a visit to the Spice Bazaar, established by the Ottomans 5 centuries ago. Free time to explore. End the visit at the Egyptian Bazaar.

DAY 18 18 ISTANBUL
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to explore the city with the option for a full-day excursion to the Jewels of Constantinople with lunch: visit the Byzantine-era Hippodrome, which hosted chariot races, gladiator combats, and imperial celebrations, featuring the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, and German Fountain. Continue to the Blue Mosque, built in 1609 with six minarets by Sultan Ahmet to surpass Hagia Sophia. Visit Topkapi Palace, the sultans' residence until the 19th century, showcasing valuable artifacts. End with a visit to Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of Byzantine art and one of humanity's greatest achievements. Transfer to the Grand Bazaar, a covered market built in 1660, resembling a small city with hundreds of domes, 4,000 shops, alleys, squares, and 18 gates. End the visit at the Grand Bazaar.

DAY 19 19 ISTANBUL
Breakfast. At the scheduled time, transfer to Istanbul airport with our Travel Viajes® representative for your departure flight. End of services.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
Transfer-In in Athens
Air ticket Athens - Cairo
Air ticket Cairo - Luxor
Air ticket Aswan - Cairo
Air ticket Cairo - Istanbul
Transfer-Out in Istanbul
3 nights accommodation in Athens
3 nights accommodation in Cairo
3 nights accommodation in the cruise
1 night accommodation in Aswan
5 nights accommodation in Istanbul
2 nights accommodation in Cappadocia
1 night accommodation in Pamukkale
1 night accommodation in Izmir
Meal according to the itinerary: 18 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 8 Dinners
All transfers in air-conditioned vehicles as per the itinerary
4 nights aboard the Nile River cruise ship
English-speaking guide
Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
International Flight Tickets.
Egypt Entry Visa.
Optional tour to Abu Simbel.
Any optional tours.
Services not mentioned in the program.
Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
Drinks with meals.
Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO
Please be advised that the order /sequence in which the daily tours occur within the above day-by-day package tour itinerary can be subject to change depending on the availability of domestic flight tickets per the itinerary, opening/closing of various historical sites, etc.

• Option #1
• Option #2
• Option #3