Anzac 2020 & Ancient Egypt - 16 days

21st April 2020. Welcome to Turkey and the start of an exciting ANZAC experience! Airport to hotel arrival transfer. Rest of the day free in Istanbul, a city that straddles both Europe and Asia. If you are arriving to Istanbul early, you may wish to consider joining our Optional Backstreets Of Istanbul Tour taking place today. The tour commences at 9am. For further details of the excursion, please see our tour Trip Notes.
Overnight: Istanbul

This morning we spend a couple of hours cruising the Bosphorus before embarking on a guided sightseeing tour of the old city, taking in the stunning Iznik tiled Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome area, the 6th century Hagia Sofia, the ancient Underground Cistern and more. This afternoon time is given for you to explore the mammoth Grand Bazaar and exotic Egyptian Spice Market, the latter is located opposite the ferry terminal. Afterwards, you can opt to stay and discover the old city by night or return to the hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Istanbul - Gallipoli - Canakkale/Ayvalik. Today we explore ANZAC Cove and the many memorials dotted across the WW1 battlefields. Our guided tour takes in sights including ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Bair Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.
Overnight: Ayvalik/ Canakkale   |  Breakfast

Ayvalik – Troy - Kilitbahir - Gallipoli. This morning we enjoy a short-guided tour of Troy. The legend of the lost city of Troy and Homer’s poetry was brought to life by its rediscovery in 1863. We then continue to the village of Kilitbahir, situated on the eastern shore of the Gallipoli peninsula, and dominated by the fortress of the same name. You'll have some free this afternoon before early this evening we make our way to Anzac Cove. Once we're in Anzac Cove you are free to visit the memorials and trenches that dot the area before taking our places amongst the many at the Dawn Service site for the atmosphere-charged ANZAC Eve vigil.
Overnight: Dawn Service Site (Anzac Cove)  |  Breakfast

Gallipoli - Istanbul. Today, the 25th April is the reason we came to Turkey and Gallipoli. Dawn and first light signals the commencement of the annual Dawn Service, attended by Australian, New Zealand and other foreign dignitaries, military personnel and a strong following of regular Australian and New Zealand folk. The poignant and emotive service commemorating this important and historical date allows us time to reflect. Lest we forget. The service lasts for an hour and public wreath laying at the ANZAC Memorial site is possible afterwards. Later this morning Australian’s have the opportunity to visit the Lone Pine Memorial Service. Our New Zealanders are invited to attend the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair later on in the morning Everyone will be picked up after the service at Chunuk Bair (exact time and location to be confirmed with your guide). We anticipate an early afternoon departure time from Gallipoli for onward travel to Istanbul. Crossing the Dardanelles by ferry we will arrive into Istanbul later this afternoon.
Overnight: Istanbul

26th April 2020. This morning the Turkish section of your tour comes to an end. You'll need to make your own way to the airport in order to catch your flight to Egypt. The flight to Cairo isn't included in the cost of the tour. Turkish Airlines offers open jaw flights between London, Cairo and Istanbul, check their 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.
Overnight: Cairo  |  Breakfast

Cairo - Luxor. We take a guided tour of the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza this morning. In this incredible 490,000 sq.m complex we'll discover a mind-boggling array of relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history, including the treasures of King Tutankhamun. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool at the hotel or independently explore before we board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor this evening.
Overnight: Sleeper Train   |  Breakfast

We arrive into Luxor this morning and drive to Dendera which is one of Egypt's best preserved temple complexes, located 60km north of Luxor. This vast complex covers 40,000 square meters and its temples, chapels and shrines were gradually built over thousands of years. Dendera's crowning glory is the 2000 year old Temple of Hathor with its exquisitely decorated ceiling. After our guided tour of this incredible site we return to Luxor where the afternoon if free to spend at leisure. Take a stroll around town or enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool and soak up the sunshine.

This evening there is an optional visit to view the beautiful Temple of Luxor at night. Book and pay locally.
Overnight: Luxor  |  Breakfast

4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its very best and this morning we visit Luxor’s famous West Bank. Our first stop is the famous Valley of the Kings, which is studded with beautifully decorated tombs, including the tombs of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and of course, King Tutankhamen. After exploring this incredible site we travel on to visit the beautiful limestone, colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut, who was one of only three Egyptian ruling queens. On the West Bank we'll also see the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which are all that remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III.

Returning to the East Bank we check-in on board a 5 star Nile cruiser which will be our home for the next four nights. Enjoy lunch and some rest and relaxation on board before we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak later this afternoon. More than a temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers.
Overnight: Nile Cruising  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nile cruising. Today we set sail downstream to Edfu. Relax on deck and go for a swim, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the views as we cruise the River Nile.
Overnight: Nile Cruising  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Consider the optional early morning excursion to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel today. Please see our Abu Simbel by Road add-on for more info. Alternatively, you can spend the morning at leisure.

This afternoon we take a short motorboat trip to Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC but the Ptolomies and the Romans up to 3rd century AD built most of the existing structures. In danger of being completely submerged by the rising water of Lake Nasser, in 1972 UNESCO stepped in and an 8-year rescue effort was undertaken to relocate the entire temple 20m higher on nearby Agilika Island. Upon returning to Aswan we visit a perfume oil emporium. The use of essential and perfumed oils in Egypt dates back to 2700BC. Perfumed oils were used by women, pharaohs and by temple priests for worship who offered a melange of 6 perfumes called Kyphi to the Sun God at dawn, noon and dusk.
Overnight: Nile Cruising  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Aswan - Cairo. Today offers free time for you to discover Aswan - your way. Consider a visit to the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote the novel Death on the Nile or opt for a visit to the well-curated Nubian Museum.

Late this afternoon, we board the overnight train (twin berth sleeper cabins provided) for our journey back to Cairo.
Overnight: Sleeper Train  |  Breakfast

Arriving into Cairo this morning, transfer to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities or you can opt to or join us for an optional tour visiting Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin (book locally).
Overnight: Cairo  |  Breakfast