Elegant Egyptian Treasures & Nile Cruise with Turkish Airlines for 8 Nights (FLY122)

We meet three hours before departure at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport. After baggage, ticket, and boarding procedures, we take our Turkish Airlines scheduled flight to Hurghada. Upon arrival, we meet our private bus waiting for us at the airport and transfer to our hotel. Accommodation on a soft all-inclusive basis. In the afternoon, at the meeting time determined by our guide, we will set off toward the magical atmosphere of the Sahara Desert. First, we will enjoy an exciting ATV ride across the vast and impressive desert terrain. Then we will continue our adrenaline-filled safari across different dunes with specially designed Spider cars. After the safari ride, we will visit a traditional Bedouin Village. Here, we will witness the local way of life and taste herbal tea served with Bedouin hospitality. Guests who wish may also ride a camel for a different experience. After getting to know Bedouin culture more closely, we will proceed to a special desert camp prepared for the evening. As the sun sets, we will enjoy our soft all-inclusive dinner in the open air, under the stars, in the atmosphere of the desert. During dinner, we will have the chance to watch a variety of colorful shows. First, a captivating belly dance performance, followed by the traditional Tennure (Tanoura) dance with its rhythmic spins, will take the stage. These lively and colorful performances will add a special energy to the desert night. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Hurghada and free time to relax. Accommodation at our hotel.

After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart for the Giftun Island Tour, one of the most beautiful spots in the Red Sea. After boarding our boat, we will enjoy a pleasant journey to the island and take in the breathtaking view of Hurghada’s coastline as we sail across the sea. Upon arrival at Giftun Island, we will have our open buffet lunch. After lunch, we will dive into the turquoise waters and enjoy swimming alongside colorful tropical fish. Our guides will accompany us at the snorkeling stops to ensure a safe experience and to help us discover the region’s underwater life. Guests who wish may relax and sunbathe on the white sandy beaches and enjoy the island’s peaceful atmosphere. Throughout the day, we will continue exploring the Red Sea’s unique coral reefs with swimming, snorkeling, and relaxation breaks. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Hurghada and free time to relax. Accommodation at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Luxor. Upon arrival, we proceed to our ship to complete check-in. After check-in, free time to rest. After having lunch on the ship, we depart for our Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple tours. Karnak Temple is one of the most magnificent worship complexes of Ancient Egypt. Dedicated to Amon-Ra, this massive complex is known as a sacred area to which every pharaoh added over the centuries. The 134 colossal columns in the Hypostyle Hall are among the temple’s most impressive features and reveal the power of Ancient Egyptian architecture. Luxor Temple is one of the important ceremonial sites of the New Kingdom period. The giant statues from the reigns of Ramses II and III, carved columns, and courtyards that hosted pharaonic processions will take us back thousands of years. After the tour, transfer to our ship and free time to relax. Dinner and accommodation on our ship.

After breakfast on the ship, we depart for the Valley of the Kings, our first stop of the day. As we walk through the Valley of the Kings, we descend toward the mysterious burial chambers of the pharaohs. We will witness ancient beliefs by examining the colorful wall paintings and thousand-year-old symbols. Then we proceed to the Hatshepsut Temple. After this visit, during which we admire the magnificent rock-cut architecture, we return to our ship. As our ship sails toward Esna, we will have a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with the ship. Lunch, tea time, and the ship’s special menus await you during free time. Guests who wish may join the Captain’s Welcome Party at dinner and enjoy pleasant moments. Dinner and accommodation on our ship.

After breakfast on our ship, we will visit the Edfu Temple, one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temples. Walking through this temple dedicated to Horus, with its high walls, we will feel as if we are in the middle of an ancient ritual. The legends told by our guide will give the temple a whole new meaning. After the visit, we return to the ship and depart for Kom Ombo. We will have lunch on the ship. After afternoon tea, we will disembark to visit Kom Ombo Temple. In this unique temple dedicated to both Sobek and Haroeris, we will learn interesting information about medicine, crocodiles, and ancient rituals. After the tour, transfer to our ship and free time to relax. Dinner and accommodation on our ship. 

After breakfast on our ship, we will depart to visit Philae Temple, one of Aswan’s most impressive structures. At this elegant temple dedicated to Isis, we will feel the mystical atmosphere of the Nile as we walk among the columns and reliefs rising above the water. After our visit to Philae, we continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, one of Aswan’s most important archaeological sites. By closely examining this massive obelisk, which has survived to the present day in the granite quarries, we will have the opportunity to learn striking details about the stone craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian masters. After our visits, we return to the ship and have lunch on board. Then we depart for our Nubian Village tour, where we will witness the colorful life along the Nile’s banks. In this village, with its traditional colorful houses, warm welcome, and local character, we will stop briefly and get to know Nubian culture more closely. After the village visit, we will set out on a Felucca tour, sailing on the calm waters of the Nile on traditional sailboats. Gliding over the Nile with the wind in our sails, we will enjoy the unique scenery. After the tour, transfer to our ship and free time to relax. Dinner and accommodation on our ship. 

After breakfast on the ship, once we have vacated our rooms, we head to Aswan Airport at the time specified by our guide for our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, we begin our panoramic city tour. First, we visit Salah El-Din Citadel, located on one of the highest points of the city and one of the most important structures of medieval Islamic architecture. During our visit to the citadel, we will see Muhammad Ali’s Alabaster Mosque, considered one of the most impressive works of the Ottoman period. With its majestic domes, spacious courtyard, and commanding view over Cairo, this mosque offers visitors a captivating historical and architectural atmosphere. After the citadel visit, we proceed to the Mummies Tour (Museum of Egyptian Civilization), which houses one of the world’s richest archaeological collections. We will have the opportunity to see golden artifacts, royal masks, statues, sarcophagi, unique historical objects, and the mummies of pharaohs. During our visit to the Egyptian Museum, we will have the chance to closely explore the thousands of years of Egyptian civilization. After the visit, we will take a short break with lunch at a local restaurant in the city. After lunch, we continue to Khan El Khalili Bazaar, one of the liveliest and most historic areas of Cairo. Famous for its narrow streets, scents of spices and incense, traditional handicrafts, and colorful shops, this historic market offers both shopping and an experience of local culture. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Cairo and free time to relax. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for the Giza Pyramids, one of the most impressive structures surviving from antiquity to the present day. Upon arrival, we will closely see the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure and witness the engineering genius of Ancient Egypt; in particular, we will learn that the Great Pyramid of Khufu is the only surviving wonder of the Ancient World’s Seven Wonders, standing for more than 4,500 years. Then we will visit the legendary guardian statue, the Sphinx, with a human head and lion body, and listen to information about the symbolic architecture of the Old Kingdom period. During the tour, we will take a short break for lunch at a local restaurant. Later, we will visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, one of the world’s largest archaeological complexes, and explore thousands of historical artifacts, including Tutankhamun’s treasure collection, discovering up close the thousands-year-long development of Egyptian civilization. After the tour, we depart for our dinner-cruise on the Nile. After the tour, transfer to our hotel in Cairo and free time to relax. Accommodation at our hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, once we have checked out of our rooms, we depart for Alexandria at the time indicated by our guide. After a 3-hour journey, we will begin by visiting the Kom El-Shogafa Catacombs, one of the most important underground burial complexes of the Roman period. This unique structure is a multi-level burial site notable for its blend of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman architectural styles. Then we will see Pompey’s Pillar, one of the city’s important landmarks, and learn about the significance of this massive granite monument during the Roman Empire. After visiting Pompey’s Pillar, we move to the Montaza Palace area, famous for its green gardens, historic buildings, and captivating seaside atmosphere. While walking through this elegant palace complex, which bears traces of the King Farouk era, we will learn interesting details about Alexandria’s royal past. Continuing our tour, we will visit Qaitbay Citadel, located on a magnificent spot on the Mediterranean coast; this 15th-century fortification was built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria and has an important place in the city’s history. After dinner at a local restaurant, transfer to Alexandria International Airport. 

After passport and luggage procedures, we depart for Istanbul Airport on Turkish Airlines’ scheduled flight. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, the tour and our services end.