Grand Middle East Adventure
An adventure as epic as the land it encompasses. Explore the heady hubbub of Istanbul and the ancient ruins of Ephesus and Troy, before sailing across the Dardanelles to wander and reflect at the war graves of Gallipoli. Stroll through Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and take in the great Greco-Roman ruins at Palmyra in the desert of northern Syria. Visit the stunning crusader castle of Krak des Chevalier and the ancient wonders of Allepo. In Jordan, experience the red granite and sandstone oasis of Wadi Rum and the astounding archaeology and architecture of Petra. Enter the Holy Land and discover Jerusalem, a city of enormous significance to Christians and Muslims alike, and visit legendary Bethlehem, Jericho, Masada and the Dead Sea, before flying to the enchanting metropolis of Cairo. In Egypt, take in the Pyramids, the Cairo Museum, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, and a leisurely cruise down the Nile to Aswan.
Itinerary
| Day Number(s) | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Sun) Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to hotel. |
| 2 | City tour, including Blue Mosque and Aya Sophia. Time to explore Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. |
| 3 | Fly to Izmir. Explore Ephesus. Overnight Selcuk. |
| 4 | Visit ancient Troy and drive to Canakkale. |
| 5 | Cross the Dardanelles and visit Gallipoli. Return to Istanbul. Fly to Damascus. |
| 6 | Explore the old city, including the souk, Omayyad Mosque and various bazaars. |
| 7 | Free morning. Drive to Palmyra. |
| 8-9 | Visit Palmyra ruins, crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers and ancient Aleppo including St Simeon's Monastery. |
| 10 | Drive to Damascus. |
| 11 | Drive to Amman visiting the Roman city of Jerash. |
| 12-13 | Visit Madaba, Dana Village and Shobak castle en route to overnight in Petra. Full-day exploration of ancient Petra. |
| 14 | Drive to Amman, stopping for a jeep safari in spectacular Wadi Rum. Overnight Amman. |
| 15-17 | Enter Israel. Visit the Old City of Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem, Masada and the Dead Sea. Overnights in Jerusalem. |
| 18 | Morning visit to the Holocaust Museum. Flight to Cairo. |
| 19 | Full-day exploration of Cairo, including the Great Pyramid and Egyptian Museum. |
| 20 | Fly Cairo to Luxor. Visit Karnak Temple. Afternoon free. |
| 21 | Visit Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon. Overnight on cruise boat. |
| 22 | Visit Edfu and Komombo Temples. Overnight on cruiseboat. |
| 23 | Arrive in Aswan, visit Temple of Isis, Aswan high dam and sunset felucca sail. |
| 24 | Early flight to visit temple complex at Abu Simbel, free afternoon exploring Aswan. |
| 25 | Fly to Cairo. Visit Gayer-Anderson Museum, Ibn Tulun Mosque and Khan al-Khalili Bazaar. |
| 26 | Trip ends in Cairo after breakfast (Thu). |
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