Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo

Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo 37 Days

From $1106 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

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Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo
Oasis Caravan: Istanbul to Cairo

Overview
Itinerary
Nuts & Bolts
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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 37 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 0%
Style: Budget
Trip ID: 37033
Start Location: Sultanahmet, Turkey
End Location: Bab al Luq, Egypt

Guaranteed:
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Primary Activities: Urban Exploration, Walking Tour
Other Activities: Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Paragliding, Historical Sites, Mountaineering, Swimming, temple, egyptian pyramids, tubing, diving, sailing, Camping
Activity Level: Intermediate

Visit such famous cities & sights steeped in history as Constantinople, Ephesus, Cappadoccia, Petra, Luxor and Aswan. Stunning coastlines, ancient ruins, temples & pyramids are only but a few of the spectacles you will encounter on this epic journey.

Countries Visited: Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt

NOTE: Trips include local excursion add-ons, with separate payments.

Please note that our itineraries are not set in stone and can be subject to change.

Itinerary

Days 1 to 8: Our overland trip begins as we embark on a half day drive through olive groves and rural settlements to Gallipoli and the Straits of the Dardanelles. In World War I, on this blustery and exposed peninsula, ANZAC and British Forces struggled unsuccessfully for nine horrendous months to dislodge Turkish troops from the hills above the beaches. We attend the dawn service on ANZAC Day as well as the memorial services at Chanuk Bair and Lone Pine, where thousands of Australians and New Zealanders pay their respects to fellow countrymen who died here. It is a moving experience to visit the war graves and battlegrounds where so much suffering and unnecessary loss of life took place. From here we cross the Straits of the Dardenelles, leave Europe and enter the continent of Asia. We visit Troy on our way to Ephesus and spend the next 2 nights camping on the coast. Built by the Greeks a thousand years before Christ and then rebuilt by the Romans, this immense ancient city boasts an amphitheatre that can seat 24000 and a harbour with no water - still in good condition after all these years.

We then travel via either Pamukkale where you can swim in warm, mineral-rich water, or take the more visually scenic route towards Marmaris and camp in the mountains before arriving in Olu Deniz, where you can take boat trips, and go paragliding. Further down the Mediterranean coast we stop off at Saklikent Gorge where there is the opportunity to go river tubing on our way to Olympos where you can relax on the beach and hike up to the eternal flames.
Days 9 to 12: From here we travel inland and upwards for a day to the visually powerful, windswept landforms of Cappadoccia. In Cappadoccia over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded volcanic rock. The Goreme Valley provides us with an astonishing setting in which to spend a few days investigating the region. We will take you to one of the underground cities where you can explore alone or with a guide this ancient and mysterious area!
Days 13 to 16: Driving through stunning mountain scenery in the crisp clear days of summer, and ice and snow in winter, we wend our way to Syria. Syrians are among the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The country has a rich and varied history with the Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Persian Empires having all passed through here along with Jesus and his disciples! Our first stop in this fascinating country is the market town of Aleppo. Nearby we visit Crac de Chevaliers - an 800-year-old Crusader Castle - perched on top of a mountain. We then travel out to the oasis town of Palmyra where we really get into the desert proper. Sleeping out in this vast wilderness, untainted by artificial light is an experience not to be missed. The night sky dazzles with stars, satellites and shooting stars.
Days 17 to 18: Damascus - We spend some time in the oldest inhabited city in the world. Syrians are among the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The country has a rich and varied history with the Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Persian Empires having all passed through here along with Jesus and his disciples! From here, depending on the political and security situation in Lebanon, there is the option of taking a one day guided tour into Lebanon and Beirut, which includes a guided visit to Baalbek Roman Temple, an 'all you can eat' Lebanese lunch, city tour of Beirut as well as free time in this quickly regenerating city, fast recovering from the civil war of the 80's and 90's.
Days 19 to 24: A one day drive then takes us into Jordan and the Dead Sea. Here, therapeutic mud baths and not so therapeutic mud fights, are followed by an unusual swimming experience in this highly buoyant salt sea! We camp overnight on Mt Nebo which overlooks Israel, before visiting one of the main attractions in the Middle East - The Rose Red City of Petra. This stone carved city was only uncovered about 70 years ago after being forgotten for over 1000 years. Walking through an incredibly narrow, rocky defile brings you out to Petra's most famous site -The Treasury - The Nabataeans who carved this vast red city in 3rd Century BC controlled the spice and slave caravans from Asia on their way to Arabia. On our way to Aqaba we desert camp over night at Wadi Rum - the desert headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia! Here there is the option of taking a 4WD jeep safari deep into the desert with Bedouin guides. From Aqaba, we take the ferry across the Red Sea to the Sinai Desert in Egypt..
Days 25 to 30: Dahab is our base for the next few days. Here, you can snorkel or scuba dive to some of the best coral in the world or try your hand at various water sports or just relax on the beach. Dahab also has many beach cafes and quirky restaurants serving great seafood as well as traditional Arabic food. For the energetic you can take a one day camel safari and trek off road down the desert coast line with experienced Bedouin guides and camels you will reach areas few tourists ever see. Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery are nearby deep in the desert. It was here, that Moses received the Ten Commandments. It is a great place to camp the night and watch the sunrise. Leaving the Sinai we cross the Suez Canal for a long drive to Luxor Via Hurghada.
Days 31 to 36: In Luxor we use a campsite with a swimming pool as our base and we have two full days to explore. You will have time to visit Valley of the Kings, as well as the Valley of the Queens and Workers, Karnak Temple and its Sound and Light Show and Luxor Temple. The remarkably well preserved tombs of Ramses II and Tutankhamun have coloured paintings and hieroglyphics that still seem fresh after 3000 years. We then travel onto Aswan, arguably, the most attractive city on the Nile. Here you can walk along the Corniche with its riverside restaurants, some of them floating, as well as the tremendous views of the Nile cataracts. We spend two days here which gives you enough time to take a trip out to the stone monuments of Abu Simbel built by the greatest of all Pharaohs Ramses II. On the third day, you have the opportunity to enjoy the Nile River from a traditional felucca sail boat for a two day trip to Kom Ombo. Just lie back and watch Egypt glide by.
Day 37: Cairo - visit the Pyramids and Sphinx and the Egyptian History Museum - Egyptologist Guide and entrance fees included. With almost 20 million people this is a hectic, chaotic city. We include a visit to the Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza, with a local guide (this also includes a camel ride around the Pyramids), and a visit the Egyptian History Museum in the afternoon. Entry fees and Egyptologist guide are included.

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

Camel Ride at Pyramids
Egyptian History Museum entrance + guide
Entry to Pyramids & Sphinx + Egyptologist Guide
2 day Felucca sailing on Nile (inc all meals)
Train, Boat and Passenger Ferry in Egypt
Gallipoli Tour
Cappadoccia Region
Wadi Rum
Dead Sea
Mt Nebo
Mt Sinai
All accommodation during trip (approx 70% camping & 30% simple hotels/hostels)
Meals prepared by group (approx 50%)
Transport on Oasis Overland Truck
Camping and Cooking gear
Service of Oasis Crew

Trip Excludes

Visas (approx £50 - £90, depending on nationality most can be obtained en route)
Optional Excursions as listed in the pre-departure information
Approx. 50% of meals
Airport Taxes & Transfers
Travel Insurance
Flights
Drinks
Tips

Trip ID#: 37033

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

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