Istanbul and Egypt with Nile cruise 11 Days 10 Nights – 2×1

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure to visit the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. Then, we will enjoy one of Istanbul’s most famous activities: a boat ride on the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe and Asia. Along this journey, we’ll see the Sultans’ Palace, old wooden houses, and experience history from a unique perspective.  We’ll end our day with one of the highlights of the trip: a visit to the Spice Bazaar, built by the Ottomans five centuries ago and still in use today. Free time to explore. End of the visit at the Egyptian Bazaar. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to explore the city with the optional possibility (for an additional cost) of a full-day excursion: The Jewels of Constantinople, including lunch.  Visits include: 

• The Ancient Hippodrome from the Byzantine era, which was the center of civil activity in the country. It hosted chariot races, gladiator fights, and celebrations in honor of the Emperor. Today it preserves the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the German Fountain. 

• The Blue Mosque, built in 1609 during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I, who aimed to surpass the Hagia Sophia with this mosque, constructing it with six minarets. 

• Visit to Topkapi Palace, the residence of the sultans until the 19th century, where most of the valuable objects of the Ottoman sultans are preserved. 

• Visit to Hagia Sophia, the most complete example of Byzantine art and one of the greatest achievements of humanity. 

• Finally, visit to the Grand Bazaar, a covered market built in 1660, considered a small city under domes with 4,000 shops, narrow alleys, plazas, and 18 access gates. 

End of visit at the Grand Bazaar. 

Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. 
Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. 

Breakfast at the hotel and tour in Cairo:  At the scheduled time, departure for a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World: 

• The Pyramids of Giza: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure 

• The Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh 

• The Valley Temple 

Lunch at a local restaurant. Optional stop to visit a papyrus factory along the way. Return to the hotel and overnight stay. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day with the optional possibility of a full-day tour of Cairo, available for an additional fee.  Tour includes: 

• Visit to the Egyptian Museum, located in Tahrir Square, containing the largest collection of pharaonic monuments, and a hall displaying the treasures of Tutankhamun 

• Visit to the Citadel of Saladin, built by Salah El Din in 1138 A.D. on Mokattam Mountain to defend Cairo from the Crusades 

• Visit to the Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali, designed by Yosef Boushnaq, a Turkish architect from Istanbul, built for King Mohamed Ali, who ruled Egypt for over 45 years (1805–1849) 

• Visit to Old Cairo, including the Hanging Church, Church of Saint Barbara, Church of Saint Sergius, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue 

• Lunch during the visits. 

Return to the hotel. Overnight stay. 

Breakfast. At the scheduled time, transfer to Cairo Airport for the flight to Aswan. Depending on arrival time, direct transfer to the visits or to the cruise ship. Visit to the Philae Temple (Temple of the goddess Isis), the High Dam, and a felucca ride on the legendary Nile for a panoramic view of Elephantine Island.  Dinner and overnight on board. 

Breakfast. Optional visit (with additional cost) to the stunning Temples of Abu Simbel, by land or air.  Sailing to Kom Ombo. Visit to the Temple of Sobek, an unusual and completely symmetrical building with two entrances, two hypostyle halls, and two sanctuaries. It is dedicated to two gods: 

• The left side to the falcon god Haroeris (Horus the Elder) 

• The right side to Sobek, a local deity with a crocodile head 

Continue sailing to Edfu. Dinner and overnight on board. 

Breakfast on board. Transfer by carriage to visit the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus (the falcon-headed god). It was once partially covered by silt from the Nile's seasonal floods. After restoration, it became one of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples of the Ptolemaic era.  Sailing toward Luxor, crossing the Esna Lock. Arrival in Luxor in the afternoon. Visit to the Luxor Temple, built during the New Kingdom, connected to Karnak Temple by an avenue lined with sphinxes (dromos). It was built mainly by Amenhotep III and finished by Ramses II.  Overnight on board. 

Breakfast on board. Disembarkation.  TOUR IN LUXOR: 

• Visit to the Valley of the Kings, burial site of pharaohs from the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties, as well as some queens, princes, nobles, and even animals 

• Visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the most prestigious and unique monument in the valley and Egypt. 

• Visit to the Colossi of Memnon 

• Visit to the Karnak Temple, the most influential religious center in Ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom, mainly dedicated to Amun, but also to other deities 

At the scheduled time, transfer to Luxor Airport for the return flight to Cairo. Arrival, assistance, and transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay. 

Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, transfer to Cairo International Airport, accompanied by our staff, for your return flight.  END OF OUR SERVICES HAVE A NICE TRIP