Best of Egypt & Turkey

Turkish Delights

• Tour Istanbul's magnificent Topkapi Palace, once home to the great Sultans and their families.
• Admire the interior walls of the unique Blue Mosque in Istanbul which are covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles.
• Walk across the Hippodrome, once the heart of Istanbul's political and sporting life.
• Visit the Underground Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, the largest surviving Byzantium Cistern.
• Enjoy some tastings of Turkey's unique flavours including coffee, turkish delights and baklava.
• Browse at will through the stalls, with the scents of hundreds of spices permeating the air of the Istanbul Spice Bazaar.
• Explore Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar. Built in 1457, it is one of the largest covered markets in the world.
• Visit the World War I battlefields famous for the ANZAC involvement in the Gallipoli Campaign.
• Stop in the town of Troy, one of the oldest discovered sites in Asia Minor.
• Tour the ancient city of Pergamum, a small settlement during the Archaic Period which developed in to the capital of the Hellenistic Attalid Dynasty.
• Watch a traditional turkish pide-making demonstration and taste this local treat!
• Explore Ephesus, the largest Roman city ever uncovered.
• Visit the House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed the Virgin Mary visited in her last days.
• See the beautiful city of Aphrodisias, one of the finest archaeological sites in Turkey.
• Visit the site of Hierapolis, meaning 'Sacred City', in Pamukkale.
• See the unique natural site of Pamukkale - white calcareous castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs, creating the unbelievable formation of stalactites, potholes and cataracts.
• See Catalhöyük, the largest and best-preserved Neolithic site with spectacular artworks and wall paintings, dating back to approximately 5,700 BC.
• Visit the Mevlana Museum and learn about the mystical religious order known as the Whirling Dervishes.
• Visit the hidden monastic valley of Paşabaği, with a large number of carved rock houses and churches.
• Travel to the fascinating Göreme Valley, with its amazing moon-like setting. Over thousands of years, the rain has eroded this landscape to give rise to strange rock formations known as 'Fairy Chimneys'.
• Visit one of Cappadocia's underground cities where, during the sixth century, the Christian inhabitants of this region began to tunnel into the large soft volcanic rock hills.
• Explore the village of Avanos, famous for hand-made pottery.
• Tour Istanbul's domed Basilica of St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia), which has inspired architects and religious leaders for almost 1,500 years.

Unlock the mysteries of Egypt's ancient civilisation

• Spend two full days exploring Cairo, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Mohammed Ali Mosque, Saladin Citadel of Cairo, the centuries-old Khan El Khalili bazaar and the Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamun's priceless treasures.
• Visit Memphis and the unique Step Pyramid of Sakkara.
• Discover the amazing temples of Karnak and Luxor which were once linked by a 3 kilometre long Avenue of Sphinxes.
• Spend 4 nights on board a luxury cruise ship and travel down the majestic Nile River.
• Tour the wonderfully preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu, Kom Ombo's beautiful riverside temples, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings.
• Visit the stunning temples of Ramses ll and Queen Nefertari at Abu Simbel.
• Experience a traditional galabeya party on board the Nile cruise.
• Explore Aswan on a half-day tour, including the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Isis on Philae Island.
• Spend a relaxing afternoon on a traditional felucca sail boat.
• Visit Dahshur to see the 'Bent' and 'Red' pyramids.

• Return economy-class flights from Australia to Europe & the Middle East. Taxes included
• 4 economy-class flights within Europe & the Middle East
• Airport transfers on the first and last day of tour
• All touring in air-conditioned vehicles
• Nile River cruise
• Tipping Made Easy, $345pp pre-paid
• Porterage included where available

• 16 nights in good quality hotels (4-5 star)
• 4 nights in an outside cabin on board a luxury Nile River cruise (5 star Egyptian standard)
• 20 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 11 dinners, including group welcome and farewell dinners

• English-speaking locally based Tour Director in Turkey
• English-speaking Egyptologist guides in Egypt

• Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
• Disruptions to itinerary may occur.