Gallipoli & Giza - 12 days
Starts: 22nd April. Our Gallipoli and Giza is a ready made 12 day combo tour! Sightsee Istanbul and attend the ANZAC Day memorials at Gallipoli then onto sunny Egypt - for pyramids, a 2 night felucca cruise and more ancient relics than you can shake a stick at!
Day 1: 22 April - Istanbul
Sunday 22nd April 2012. Welcome to Turkey and the start of your awesome ANZAC experience! Choice of shuttle transfers to hotel. Rest of the day free in Istanbul – a city that straddles both Europe and Asia! Overnight - Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul old city
Enjoy a guided tour of the old city, taking in the stunning Iznik tiled Blue Mosque, Hippodrome area, Topkapi Palace, the 6th century Hagia Sofia (exterior only) and more. This afternoon, we spend a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. When the sun sets, why not enjoy our optional Istanbul by night bolt on! With dinner, belly dancers and entertainment at a great Istanbul venue. An entertaining evening and a great way to break the ice and meet fellow travellers (transport shuttle included). Overnight - Istanbul (B)
Gallipoli & Giza - 12 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Day 3: Gallipoli
Istanbul - Gallipoli. This morning we drive to the WW1 battlefields on Gallipoli Peninsular. This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour (subject to ANZAC Cove opening hours and traffic conditions) of the evocative war memorials that dot the region, for example; Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, Johnston’s Jolly, the trenches and Kabatepe - the modest ANZAC museum. Early this evening, we’ll relax at our exclusive ANZAC Eve Turkish BBQ before later taking our places amongst the many at the Dawn Service site for the atmosphere charged ANZAC Eve vigil. Overnight - Dawn Service site (ANZAC Cove) (B, L)
Day 4: ANZAC Day - Gallipoli
First light heralds a poignant bugle call and commencement of the Dawn Service. After the service and armed with your maps, you’ve a chance to independently explore many of the trenches and memorial sites as you head up to Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair for the Australian or New Zealand National services. Later this afternoon, we return to Istanbul, where upon our late evening arrival, we check into our hotel for a well-earned rest after such an emotion-filled day. (Timing on 25th April subject to coach traffic). Overnight - Istanbul
Day 5: Cairo
Thursday. Check out by 12 noon. Opt to visit the Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market (open today) before making your own way to Cairo where your Egyptian adventure begins.
Turkish Airlines offers open jaw flights between London, Istanbul and Cairo, check the THY website for more details or we can arrange flights on your behalf! If you provide us with your incoming flight details to Egypt we will be there to meet you at Cairo airport and transfer you to our hotel. Remainder of the day and evening at leisure Overnight - Cairo (B)
Day 6: Pyramids & Saqqara
Cairo - Aswan. Visit to the famous pyramids and lion-headed Sphinx at Giza Plateau. Sole survivors from the ancient Greek-listed Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the planet’s oldest tourist attraction! Gaze in awe at Cheops (Khufu) - the largest of the three great pyramids. Constructed from over 2.5 million limestone blocks it is thought to have taken more than 20 years to construct. Continuing to Saqqara, we can explore the myriad tombs and temples at this site and see Zhoser’s step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh’s chief architect in 27BC! We later enjoy a chance to freshen up then catch the overnight seater train to Aswan. Sleeper cabin upgrade available. Overnight - seater train (B)
Day 7: Aswan & Philae Temple
Aswan. Arrive and check into our hotel. A visit out of town takes us to the mighty High Dam – a modern feat of engineering - creating the world’s largest artificial lake, Lake Nasser! This afternoon's highlight is a leisurely boat trip to Agilika Island for Philae Temple for a guided tour of the romantic Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. As the sun sets, free time to shop in the colourful souqs and markets or simply relax and watch an amazing sunset in Egypt's southern most town straddling the River Nile.
Overnight - Aswan (B)
Days 8 - 9: Felucca Sailing
Aswan - Nile felucca cruising. Optional early morning air excursion to famous Abu Simbel. This afternoon, we board our Nile felucca for a 2 night cruise upstream toward Kom Ombo. Relax, top up your tan and chat with new friends as the felucca gently plies its route. Stops are made en route at local villages and at the waterside Temple of Kom Ombo. Overnight - Felucca Cruise (B:2, L:2, D:2)
Day 10: Kom Ombo Temple & Luxor
Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor. Disembarking in Daraw we drive to Kom Ombo to eplore the waterside temple dedicated to the crocodile headed god - Sobek. After we visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, before driving north to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at it’s best. Enjoy some rest and relaxation. Tonight, an optional visit is available to the Temple of Luxor, spectacularly illuminated at night. We travel to the temple by traditional horse and carriage with restaurant dinner afterwards. The excursion is payable locally. Rest of evening free to enjoy the facilities of our hotel. Overnight - Luxor (B)
Day 11: Valley of the Kings
Luxor - Cairo. An early start allows us to avoid some of the fierce midday heat as we venture to the tomb strewn Valley of the Kings. Consider opting to join our hot air ballooning excursion over ancient Thebes - fabulous at sunrise! Highlights of the visit include the Colossi of Memnon, a massive pair of statues that stand silent against the backdrop of history, the Valleys of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the awesome ramped and colonnaded Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.
The Valley of the Kings is studded with often highly decorated tombs, constructed to once house the regal sarcophagi enclosed mummies of the mighty pharaohs awaiting passage into the after-life. This afternoon after lunch and time to relax we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak. Lose yourself in the stone-columned Hypostle Hall and go crazy with your camera. This is ancient Egypt. Tonight, we return by overnight train to Cairo, 1st class recliner seats.
Overnight - seater train (B)
Day 12: 3rd May - Cairo
Thursday 3rd May 2012. Cairo. Arrival and included onward departure transfer to airport. If you would like to join us for our included afternoon tour of the Egyptian Museum, please book a flight departing Cairo after 6pm.
(B)
Bolt-on Abu Simbel
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Abu Simbel, possibly the most awe-inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with its gigantic rock–cut façade, was created to revere the mighty ruler Ramses II. Guarding the entrance to the temple, the 4 colossal statues of Ramses II sit majestically staring out across the desert, seemingly since time began. We offer an amazing excursion to visit the Temples of Abu Simbel on the morning of day 8.
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Tour Details
- Starts in: Istanbul / Ends in: Cairo
- Departs: Sun 22 April 2012
- No local payment required
- Breakfast:10, Lunch: 3, Dinner: 2
- Hotel Rating: 4 - 5 star
- Tour Guide: Yes
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