This East Mediterranean tour starts every week Year round!!!
A 26 days guided Tour in the countries: Turkey – (Byzantine Empire)
Israel the Holyland, The Wonder of Petra in Jordan and Egypt of the Pyramids & the Nile cruise.
you can short the tour in one day skip Gallipoly & Troy
Visit the old world of the Bible ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire and the historic Worlds Wonders among the colorful lively Mediterranean culture.
a unique journey in the history learning seeing touching and feeling the Bible time.
The Tour starts in Istanbul on Friday every week throughout the year. Ending after 26 days in Cairo on Tuesday.
Tour Route & Highlights
Visit Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Kaymakli
Pamukkal,Konya, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Troy , Gallipoly Bosphorus
Tel Aviv, Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Biat shean,Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, Cfarnaum, Golan heights, upper Galiee,Nazareth,kafar Cana , Akko, Carmel Ceasarea, Eilat, Red Sea, Petra, Mt. Sinai, Sharm el Sheikh, Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan, Cairo, the great Pyramids in Giza, and many other historic and holy sites on the way.
Customer Service
USA: +1-510-342-5714
Israel: +972-3-522-5253
Email us for more info and bookings
info@wonders-tours.com
FRIDAY
Istanbul Turkey
Arriving to the airport for a flight to Istanbul Turkey for overnight
SATURDAY
Istanbul City Tour
Visit the Topkapi Palace which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856). The Palace contains the Muslim holy relics of Muhammad’s cloak and sword, and a fabulous display of Ottoman treasure and jewelry, including the fourth largest diamond in the world featured in the famous 1965 film “TopKapi”. From there continue to the unique Blue Mosque, called for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior, nown for its six minarets. Then to the Roman Hippodrome Square and the Hagia Sophia, a former Orthodox
Christian basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum. Famous for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and served as a model for many other Ottoman mosques. We end the tour with a visit the world’s famuse Grand Bazaar with over 4,000 tiny shops
SUNDAY
Istanbul-Ankara-Cappadocia-Göreme
In the early morning drive to Ankara, the capital of Turkey and the country’s second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of 938 m. and a population of 4,500,000. The city tour will start from the airport and will include both the ancient and the modern parts of the town. Among the highlights is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. Completed in 1953, it is located on an imposing hill and constitutes an impressive fusion of ancient and modern architectural styles. To learn more about the history of Ankara we shall visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Situated at the entrance of Ankara Castle, it is an old “bedesten” (covered bazaar) that has been beautifully restored and now houses a unique collection of ancient Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian, and Roman treasures. By the way Ankara was formerly known as Angora, famous for its “Angora” cats and fine “Angora” wool.
From Ankara drive Cappadocia. Dinner & overnight.
MONDAY
Tour in Cappadocia- Kaymakli
Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, is a region of exceptional natural wonders, and a unique historical and cultural heritage. We shall explore the best and the most important.After breakfast , morning visit to the Kaymaklı Underground City consisting of houses constructed around the nearly one hundred underground tunnels. Kaymakli is one of several historical underground cities carved out of unusual geological formations formed via the eruptions of ancient volcanoes. The cities were initially inhabited by the Hittites, then later by early Christians as hiding places. From underground we go to the hill and Citadel of Uçhisar. After lunch continue to the Göreme valley, where the rocks have eroded into hundreds of spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms. The volcanic soft rocks have been carved out to form houses, churches and monasteries. The Göreme Open Air Museum, contains more than 30 rock-carved churches and chapels, some of them have superb frescoes inside, dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries. The tour continues to the Paşabağları valley with the highest concentration of fairy chimneys. Here, they have particularly sharp points and thick trunks. Finally, a visit to the old city of Avanos, with its superb view overlooking Turkey’s longest river the Kızılırmak (Red River). The town’s most famous historical feature, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery.Return to hotel for dinner & overnight.
TUESDAY
Cappadocia- Konya-Pamukkale
After breakfast early departure for Konya, passing on the way Seliukain Caravanserai Sultanhan from the 13th century . Visit Konya with the famous Mevlana museum and Dervishes Theological School of whirling after drive for dinner & overnight in Pamukkale. .
WEDNESDAY
Pamukkale-Kusadasi
Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, contains hot springs and terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. We shall visit the ancient city of Hierapolis which was built on top of the white “castle”. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years and formerly was a healing centre where doctors used the hot thermal springs as a treatment for their patients A Jewish congregation grew in Hierapolis with an estimated population as high as 50,000 in 62 BCE. Several sarcophagi in the vast adjacent necropolis attest to their presence. The area has been declared a world heritage site. The tour will include a visit to the Basilica and the impressive calcium cliffs. Drive to Aphrodisias the Greco-Roman settlement dedicated to the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite and also famous for its marbles. Drive to Kusadası, dinner and overnight.
THURSDAY
Kusadasi-Ephesus
Kuşadası is a resort town on Turkey’s Aegean coast. The area has been a centre of art and culture since the earliest times and has been settled by many civilizations. After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Meryemana The House of the Virgin. Some believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken to this stone house by Saint John and lived there until her Assumption. The site is venerated by Muslims as well as Christians, and pilgrims drink from a spring under the house which is believed to have healing properties. Continue to Ephesus, an ancient Greek city, and during the Roman period for many years the second largest city of the Roman Empire. Ephesus contains the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean that give some idea of the city’s original splendor. We shall visit the most important: The Library of Celsus, built c. 125 AD which once held nearly 12,000 scrolls. The Basilica of St. John, built in the 6th century AD, over the supposed site of the apostle’s tomb. The Odeon, a small roofed theater seating about 1,500 people as a “small” salon for plays and concerts. The Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, unfortunately represented only by one inconspicuous column. The Temple of Hadrian dating from the 2nd century that has been re-erected from the surviving architectural fragments. The Temple of Domitian, one of the largest temples on the city. The Theater with 44,000 seating capacity was the largest outdoor theater in the ancient world. Two Agoras, one for commercial and one for state business. ovenight in a locale hotel.
FRIDAY
Kusadasi-Troy – Caakkale
After breakfast drive for Bergama and visit to the Asclepion and Acropol with the well preserved remains. In the afternoon continue on to Troy, the place where the legendary Trojan War took place as described in the historical work of Homer of Smyrna. After visiting the site with nine inhabitation levels covering a period of 3000 years, drive to Canakkale for overnight.
SATURDAY
Caakkale-Gallipoli-Istanbull
After breakfast sail to the other side of Dardanelles by a ferryboat and drive to Istanbul with visit to Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many battles particularly involving the Allied Forces including Australians and New Zealanders during World War I
sites like Kabatepe museum, Brighton beach, beach cemetery, Anzac cove, Ariburnu cemetery, Anzac commemoration site, Lone Pine Australian memorial, Johnston’s Jolly, The Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. Drive to Istanbul transfer to the hotel.
SUNDAY
Istanbul- Bosphorus Tour
Take a cruise on the Bosporus which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea, and divides the city between the two continents of Europe and Asia making Istanbul the only bi-continental city in the world. On the way we shall have the opportunity of photographing marvellous marbles; ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residential and luxury apartments. We stop to visit Beylerbeyi Palace, built in the 19th century and used by the Ottoman Sultans as a summer residence and a place to entertain visiting heads of state and Camlıca Hill that presents the best panoramic view of Istanbul and the Bosporu
MONDAY
Tel Aviv – Beersheva – Arad – Massada – Jerusalem
Leave Tel Aviv to – Beersheba. for a short visit to the Negev capital and the site of Abrahams well. Then via Arad to Massada. Mountain which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Ascend by cable car to the fortress, Visit the excavations, Herod’s palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse, etc. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea.
Descend to the Dead Sea the lowest place on earth. Take a break near Ein Gedi for a short Swim or float in the salty minerals water.
Proceed to Jerusalem for overnight.
TUESDAY
Jerusalem – sightseeing of the new city
Drive to Mt. Scopus for a panoramic view of Jerusalem.
Then to the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of the Agony.
Visit the tomb of King David on Mt. Zion, the Room of the Last Supper and Dormition Abbey. Visit the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls,Drive by the Supreme Court bldg & Mt. Herzl.
visit in “Yad Vashem” (the memorial for the millions who were killed in the Holocaust). visit the model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Afternoon visit of the Hadassah medical center in the synagogue with Marc Chagall stained glass windows, then drive thrue the old village of Ein Karem (the birth place of John the Baptist) to the Hotel for overnight.
WEDNESDAY
Jerusalem (Old City) and Bethlehem*
Walk through one of the Gates to the walled Old City: the renewed Jewish Quarter;
visit the Temple area, the last standing Western Wall or the Wailling wall, walk the Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Walk out of the old city of Jerusalem via the colorful bazaars; and drive to Bethlehem* to visit Rachel Tomb and the Church of the Nativity and return to Jerusalem for overnight.
THURSDAY
Jericho* – Jordan river – Tiberius – Galilee
Leave Jerusalem, driving via Bethany and Jericho*, the oldest city in the world. continue northward via Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit Shean. After a short visit stop in Yardenit when you can walk into the Jordan river , proceed to Tiberius the old center of Jewish learning. Drive along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue. Continue to a Kibbutz hotel for overnight.
FRIDAY
Upper Galilee – Golan Heights – Nazareth
Drive to the Golan Heights. Visit the former Syrian fortifications, Birkat Ram, and the Druze villages, Via Banias, source of the Jordan River. Proceed via Kiryat Shmone and the Hula Valley to Safed, city of the Kabala, to visit synagogue and the artists colony and then to Nazareth to visit the Christian Holy Sites. Return to the Kibbutz hotel for overnight.
SATURDAY
Acre – Haifa -Carmel – Eilat
After Breakfast drive west to Acre for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications. Continue to Haifa, sightseeing tour of Haifa, including the Bahai Shrine, Persian Garden and Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city. Proceed southwards to Caesarea to visit the Roman theater and the Crusader fortress. Continue south for a short city tour of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and and take a take a short flight to Eilat for overnight.
SUNDAY
crossing to Jordan:
Eilat – Petra – Aqaba – Eilat
After Breakfast and Leave Eilat-Israel, cross the Arava border and drive to Petra, through the scenic Jordanian desert, past the Wadi Rum area, where Lawrence of Arabia once lived and fought with the bedouin.
Enter the Red City of Petra through the Siq, by horse or by foot (optimal cerrigge )
This is a narrow passage through the mountains which has inspired people for centuries.Suddenly the impressive Treasury wonder appears at the end of the gorge, leaving the visitors breath-taken by it’s size, color and beauty. Continue into the heart of this ancient city carved into the mountains, passing hundreds of tombs and monuments and a spectacular Amphitheatre. Stop for a traditional lunch, followed by a visit to Moses Spring. Drive to Aqaba for a short city return to Eilat for overnight.
MONDAY:
Egypt:
Eilat -Mount Sinai – Sharm el Sheikh
Early morning pick up and drive to Taba border. Cross the border into Egypt and drive through the magnificent Sinai desert. Arrive at Mount Sinai According to Jewish and Christian tradition where Moses received the Ten Commandments. visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. Catherine is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. Visit the chamber of skullsand the site of the burning bush. Then drive to Sharm el Sheikh on the coast of the Red Sea at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula overnight.
TUESDAY
Sharm el Sheikh – Luxor
After breakfast flight to Luxor and transfer to a 5 stars Nile Cruise. Lunch on ship. In the afternoon visit the temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor. a vast open air museum of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amen. Dinner and overnight on cruise boat.
We are using luxury Nile cruise boats,operating on European standards that have acquired an excellent eputation with our travelers. Our staff are available throughoutt the cruise and will guide you on the land tours.
WEDNESDAY
Luxor – Esna – Edfu
Immediately opposite Luxor, across the River Nile, lie the monuments, temples and tombs of the Theban Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. The archaeological remains of Thebes offer a striking testimony to Egyptian civilization at its height. Among others we shall view the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, a famous female Pharaoh who during her 22 year long reign became known for her extensive expeditions and fostering of trade relations. From Luxor we sail to Esna. Two barrage bridges straddle the Nile at this point: one built by the British in 1906, and the “Electricity Bridge” built in the 1990s. If time permits we will visit the temple of Esna and the market of Esna. Our boat will negotiate its way through the lock system and sail on the Nile to Edfu for overnight.
THURSDAY
Edfu – Kom Ombo – Aswan
Edfu is known for the major Ptolemaic temple, built between 237 BCE and 57 BCE. The Temple of Horus also known as Apollonopolis Magna, after the chief god Horus-Apollo, is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak and one of the best preserved. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth, and religion during the Greco-Roman period in ancient Egypt.
We continue our sail on the Nile to the town of Kom Ombo to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple built during the Ptolemaic dynasty. The building is unique because everything is perfectly symmetrical along the main axis and there were courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods. The southern half of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world. The northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon god Horus the Elder, A few of the three-hundred crocodile mummies discovered in the vicinity are displayed inside the temple.Sail on the Nile to Aswan for overnight.
FRIDAY
Aswan
The busy market townAswan stands on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract. In antiquity the city of Swenet, was Egypt’s southern frontier town. It is one of the driest inhabited places in the world; as on January 2011 the last rainfall was a thunderstorm on May, 2006. In surrounding Nubian settlements, they generally do not bother to roof all the rooms in their houses.
Visit to the Aswan High Dam is truly spectacular. It is one of the largest dams ever built and formed the Nasser Lake.Then sail on a Felucca, the traditional wooden sailing boat that has plied the Nile for thousands of years, to enjoy a quiet and calm view of the regions Botanical Gardens. Return to the Nile cruise boat for overnight.
SATURDAY
Aswan – Cairo
After breakfast, disembark and at leisure in Aswan evening travel by a Sleeper Train to Cairo. Dinner and breakfast on Train.
Optional: Abu Simble Tour to the preserved Great Temple of Abu Simble – rescued by UNESCO from the rising waters of the Dam. Abu Simbel Great Temple was preserved by relocating 22 monuments and architectural complexes to the shores of Lake Nasser. Other monuments were relocated to countries that helped with the rescue works. The best way to get to Abu Simbel is by 45 minutes flight with a Boeing or by tour bus that takes 3+ hours each way.
SUNDAY
Cairo – Memphis – Saqqara – Great Pyramid of Giza
We begin our day with a tour of the ancient city of Memphis that lies some 12 miles south of Cairo. The ancient city is now an open air museum testifying to the magnificence of its four thousand years history. Serving Memphis lies the necropolis Saqqara a vast, ancient burial ground, featuring numerous pyramids, including the world famous Step pyramid of Djoser.
We then proceed to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx located on the Giza Plateau. The Great Pyramids of Cheops or Khufu; of Khafre or Chephren; and of Menkaure have always loomed large as emblems of ancient Egypt and were listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Valley Temples surrounding the pyramids provide an insight to dominating religious motives of the era.Return to hotel for overnight.
MONDAY
Cairo city tour
start the Cairo city tour by visiting the Egyptian Museum, with its fantastic display of ancient civilization; the Mosque of Mohammad Ali’s Citadel; the old city; the Ben Ezra – Geniza Synagogue. its store room – Geniza – was found to contain over 2000 medieval, manuscripts, a collection known as the Cairo Geniza. The El Mullakah Church ( Hanging Church) one of the oldest and most famous Coptic Churches in Egypt.. Continue to the City of the Dead a four mile long grid of tombs and mausoleums where people live and work amongst their dead and ancestors. Many residents live here because they were forced from more crowded areas in Cairo or immigrated from countryside. End at Bazaar of Kahn Khalili and return for overnight at the hotel.
TUESDAY
Cairo
Airport transfer
Optional extension tours:
Mount Sinai St. Catharine day visit on the way
Tour in Cyprus The Aphrodite's Island needs extra day or two
Jordan Jerash Amman Nebo & Madaba extra 2 days
3* hotels
4* hotels
5* hotels
Per Person in a double room w/breakfast
$3950
$4550
$5950
Optional Dinners Supp.
$550
$650
$950
Single room Supp.
$1650
$1950
$2950
you can book this tour online or over the phone and pay with a credit card or money transfer
The Tour Package includes:
– 26 days 25 nights
– Airport Pick up and transfers
– Guided tours, hotels with breakfast, site entrance fees.
– Flights: Instanbul -Ankara, Izmir -Instambul, Tel Aviv -Eilat , Sharm / Cairo- Luxor
NOT INCLUDED:
International flights including the Instanbul -Tel Aviv (when you book your flights it easy to add it or we can book it for you)
Visa to Israel Jordan and Turkey& Border tax.
” Tips and all other extra expenses.
(It’s recommended to tip guides, drivers etc.)
Notes:
– In security situation if Sites won’t be permitted
alternate sites will be visited.
– Tour itinerary may change due to operational needs.
– prices can change with out notice due to currency, fuel price, hotels and others.
Item Number: 26 Days Tour of Turkey Israel Jordan Egypt
USA: +1-510-342-5714
Australia: +61-2-8007-4465
Israel: +972-3-522-5253
Email us for more info and bookings
info@wonders-tours.com