Egypt & Anzac Explorer - 17 day tour

Discover Egypt’s main attraction today as we visit the incredible Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The largest of the pyramids, Cheops, was the tallest man-made building on Earth for 3,800 years. Experts still can’t agree how the ancient Egyptians constructed the pyramids with their limited technology - it remains a mystery. We continue to the necropolis of Saqqara, home to the famous Pyramid of Djoser. This ancient monument dates back to around 2700BC and is surrounded by countless tombs and burial sites. After our tour, we return to Cairo for the evening.
Overnight: Cairo  |  Breakfast

Cairo - Aswan. Today we visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses a giant exhibition containing the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Many pieces on show are being displayed for the first time and artefacts have been brought together from across Egypt and the world to this one fantastic location. The museum also makes use of new technology including virtual reality. After our visit, the afternoon is free to relax at the hotel, before we board the night train to Aswan this evening.

Note: The Grand Egyptian Museum is set to open in 2020. An official date has yet to be released. If travelling prior to the opening of the new facility we'll visit the Egyptian Museum this morning.
Overnight: Sleeper Train  |  Breakfast

We arrive in Aswan and visit the beautiful Philae Temple this afternoon. Take a leisurely boat trip to Agilkia Island in the Nile and explore the site, which is dedicated to the goddess Isis. Upon returning to Aswan we visit a perfume oil emporium. Enjoy free time this evening to explore Aswan’s vibrant market and shop in the bustling souqs.
Overnight: Aswan  |  Breakfast

Nile felucca cruise - Kom Ombo. Relax and sunbathe on deck or go for a swim as our felucca sails to Kom Ombo. We’ll explore the famous symmetrical temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Horus before we return to the felucca and continue our journey downriver.
Overnight: Felucca Cruise  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kom Ombo - Luxor. This morning we disembark our felucca and drive to ancient Luxor, where the rest of today is at leisure. There's an optional excursion to Luxor Temple tonight, when the site is beautifully illuminated by hundreds of lights.
Overnight: Luxor  |  Breakfast

Luxor - Cairo. Today we visit the famous Valley of the Kings to explore some of the lavishly decorated tombs of important pharaohs. Our tour will also take us to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the giant Colossi of Memnon. Admire these two towering statues of King Amenhotep III before we continue to Karnak Temple this afternoon. Stroll down the Avenue of Sphinxes and marvel at the towering pillars of Hypostyle Hall as we explore this gigantic complex. The site took more than 1,500 years to complete and around 30 different pharaohs contributed to it in some way. This evening, we board the night train and return to Cairo.
Overnight: Sleeper Train  |  Breakfast

Cairo - Istanbul. 18th April 2020. This morning the Egyptian section of your tour comes to an end with included transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. The flight to Istanbul 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 Turkey we will be there to meet you at Istanbul airport and transfer you to our hotel.

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. Alternatively, spend the day independently exploring Istanbul – a city that straddles both Europe and Asia!
Overnight: Istanbul  |  Breakfast

Today we enjoy a guided tour of the old city, taking in the stunning Iznik tiled Blue Mosque, Hippodrome area, the 6th century Hagia Sofia, the ancient Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace and more. This afternoon, we take a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. You'll see waterside palaces framed by a modern city skyline dotted with expansive domed mosques and towering minarets of traditional Ottoman style. Afterwards time is given for you to explore the exotic Egyptian Spice Market, located opposite the cruise terminal. From here you can opt to stay and discover the old city by night or return with your guide to our hotel for a little R&R.
Overnight: Istanbul  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Istanbul - Pamukkale. This morning we drive to Pamukkale - home of the famous gleaming white calcium terraced pools. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they're a natural phenomena and gift from Mother Nature. Pamukkale was formed when warm, calcium rich mineral water cascaded over the cliff edge, cooling and depositing in the process. The calcium built natural shelves and pools on the cliffs are known as travertines.
Overnight: Pamukkale  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Pamukkale - Ephesus - Kusadasi. Famed for its unique cascades of natural mineral rich pools, Pammukale is home to some stunning natural mineral pools. Here we can paddle our feet in the warm water flowing over the terraces or perhaps opt for a swim at the Pamukkale Thermal Baths. Just beyond the thermal pools a stop is made at the Roman ruins of Hierapolis. This afternoon our journey continues to the legendary Roman ruins of Ephesus. Positively the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, Ephesus, under the Romans was a vast city with a population nearing 250,000. Rumoured to have been founded in the 13th century BC, it became the Roman capital of Asia Minor. It reveled in its prosperity from commerce and visiting pilgrims who came to see its great Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Exemplifying the finesse of Roman urban life, Ephesus boasts carefully restored elements within the huge archaeological area including the Great Theatre once capable of seating 25,000 spectators at one time, Curetes Way (one of the main thoroughfares) the Temple of Serapis, the elegant façades of the Temple of Hadrian and the awesome Library of Celsus. Off Curetes Way are ancient public toilets, a brothel, remains of fountains and various temples. We end our day at our hotel in Kusadasi.
Overnight: Kusadasi  |  Breakfast, Dinner

Kusadasi - Pergamum - Ayvalik. This morning we drive north, stopping at the Roman ruins of Pergamum and its impressive hillside amphitheatre. We also visit the neighbouring Asclepion - a Roman precursor to modern-day hospitals before continuing onto to Ayvalik.
Overnight: Ayvalik  |  Breakfast

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