Turkey – Egypt – Jordan 15 Days

Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check- in. Leisure afternoon. Overnight Istanbul.

Day 2 – Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul
Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. The Yerebatan underground Cistern. See the Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays).
*May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located. Overnight Istanbul

Day 3 – Bosphorus Cruise with Dolmabahce Palace
The tour starts with a visit to the exotic and aromatic Egyptian Spice Market. You may buy spices, caviar, and almost anything imaginable. Continue over the Galata Bridge and the Golden horn. We will visit the “Selamlik” chambers of the incredible 19th c. Dolmabahce Palace. We continue up the Bosphorus and cross over to Asia to Camlica Hill for a view of Istanbul. After lunch visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, with its well-organized archaeological and ethnographical sections. The Bosphorus cruise begins in the afternoon (ferry). We pass by the Rumeli Fortress and you will enjoy crossing from continent to continent traveling down the Bosphorus, which is lined with old Ottoman seaside mansions, marble palaces and small fishing villages.Overnight Istanbul

Day 4 – Istanbul- Cappadocia
Take the early morning flight at 06:30am by Onur Air from Istanbul Ataturk airport to Kayseri. Arrival and meeting at the airport just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name and transfer to Cappadocia.Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Drive to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos )- where we see Byzantine Period Mosaic Art & Archaeological excavation site. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the “table top” mountains, are spectacular. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides it’s frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer. Visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Continue with panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations, is in the heart of Cappadocia but away from the tourist crowd. Overnight Hotel Cappadocia.

Day 5 – Cappadocia
In the morning, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; walking in Pasabag near Zelve ; “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”. Lunch in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to the Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.Overnight Hotel Cappadocia.

Day 6 – Cappadocia- Ephesus
Take the morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (On Saturdays & Wednesday direct flights by Sunexpress Airlines departure at 09:25am, arrival 11:00am, Other days by Turkish airlines via Istanbul departure at 06:45am arrival 10:00am, Turkish air may cost extra). Arrival and meeting at the airport. Visit to the ancient city of Ephesus and first visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus was undoubtedly one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world. Impressive structures we will see include the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Theatre and Odeon. We also visit the House of the Virgin Mary and church of St. John. Overnight Sirince or Kusadasi near Ephesus.

Day 7 – Ephesus – Istanbul
Drive to Pamukkale, on the way, visit to Aphrodisias. Aphrodisias was primarily known as a center for the arts, specifically sculpture. The Aphrodisias School of Sculpture had a distinctive style and was very well circulated throughout the Greek and Roman world. Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): “pamuk” for cotton and “kale” for castle. Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters- transfer to airport for your flight to Istanbul and overnight . Overnight Istanbul

Day 8 - Istanbul – Cairo
Transfer to Ataturk airport and take the Turkish Airlines afternoon flight departure 15:10pm flight to Cairo by Turkish airlines departure. Arrival at 17:30pm. Onarrival meet for transfer to hotel with evening then at leisure. Arrival to Cairo Airport and meet for transfer on to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure (as per your flight arrival time). Overnight in Cairo.

Day 9 – Sightseing Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara and Memphis
Meet in hotel lobby with the tour guide to begin the sightseeing excursion with a visit to Memphis, ancient capital of Egypt dating from 3100 BC which contains the beautiful representation of King Ramsis II through his colossal statue. Then proceed to Sakkara to see the world-famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest known of Egypt’s 107 Pyramids. At the Pyramids area, visit the Three Pyramids built for Pharaohs Cheops, Chephren & Mycerinus on the Giza Plateau and the mysterious Sphinx. Return to Cairo with the evening at leisure. (Optional Nile Dinner Cruise can be included). Overnight in Cairo.

Day 10 - Tour to Citadel and Egyptian Museum
On todays tour visit the Egyptian Museum, then the Citadel Of Saladin with its Alabaster Mosque and the Tomb of Ottoman ruler Mohamed Ali. The excursion also includes touring around the Old Cairo area where you can find a mixture between the Islamic and Christian Monuments such as the Abu Serga Church, Al Mo’allaqa Church or Hanging Church which are dated back to the beginning of the 5th Century AD and are built as the basilica style. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 11 - Transfer to Cairo Airport
Breakfast, check out and transfer to take the afternoon flight from Cairo to Amman. On arrival meet for transfer to hotel with evening at leisure. Overnight in Amman.

Day 12 - Mount Nebo / Madaba / King’s Way / Kerak
First stop today is Mt. Nebo, the place where Prophet Moses gazed at the promised land before he died. Visit the old monastery and overlook the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and maybe Jerusalem. Then head to Madaba, famous for the mosaic 6th century map of Palestine in St. George’s Church. Afterwards drive to Kerak along the ancient biblical caravan route known as the King’s Way. Make a short stop in Wadi Al-Mujib, a great wide valley with magnificent geological formation. Kerak is well known for the famous crusader castle that was built in 1132/34 by King Baldwin the First of Jerusalem. Then head to Petra for check-in and overnight stay.

Day 13 - Petra
Morning start a full day tour to the red rose rock city of Petra, the most famous attraction of Jordan and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World! Petra was first established around the 6th century B.C. by the Nabataean Arabs, a nomadic tribe who settled in the area and laid the foundations of a commercial empire that extended into Syria. On horse back ride to the narrow canyon, the so-called Siq, then walk to the most beautiful monument: the Treasury. Further walk along the Street of Facades, see the Royal Tombs, Pharaoh’s Castle and after a break the impressing Monastery “El Deir“. Overnight in Petra.

Day 14 – Dead Sea and Amman City Tour
Leave Petra for the Dead Sea. The lowest point on earth (417m below sea level) and the largest “Natural Spa” in the world. Here you have an opportunity to float on the salty lake and experience the feeling of not sinking in the water or try the beauty benefits of the dark mud on its shores. Then drive back to Amman to enjoy a city tour of Jordan’s capital. Visit the Citadel with its Byzantine and Islamic remains, the Amphitheater, the downtown area and stroll in the Souq. Overnight in Amman.

Day 15 - International Departure
Breakfast, check out and as per your international flight time transfer on to Amman Airport.

Abbreviations

B = Breakfast L= Lunch D = Dinner (Lunch excluded on private tours)

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