Visiting Gallipoli is a must–see when visiting the fascinating country of Turkey and there will be no more amazing experience than the 100th centenary of the original landing at Gallipoli in 1915.

Insight Vacations will be operating a 21 day itinerary that is complete with exciting sightseeing inclusions. Visit Istanbul, Canakkale, Kusadasi, Gallipoli, Pamukkale, Cairo, Aswan Luxor & more! The tour also features the unforgettable Anzac Day dawn service to commemorate those that fought in battle at Anzac Cove in 1915.

PRE REGISTER YOU SEAT TODAY by contacting us on 1300 968 787 or email info@yourholidays.com.au

PLEASE NOTE: As planning isn’t finalized by the local authorities for the 100th centenary at Gallipoli, Insight Vacations is not able to guarantee how the commemorations will be operated. Therefore, their 2015 Anzac Day and Splendours of Egypt itinerary is subject to change until further information is received.

Enjoy These Included Tour Features

Insight’s Services & Cruising

* International economy class flights Istanbul/Cairo

* Egyptian economy domestic flight from Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo

* 4 Night Nile cruise on MS Medea or MS Sapphire (or similar) with all cruise boat gratuities included

* First Class hotels, or better, with all service charges, taxes and porterage

* Sightseeing by luxury air–conditioned coach accompanied by a Specialist Insight Tour Director in both Turkey & Egypt

* All arrival & departure transfers between Istanbul, Cairo, Luxor & Aswan airports and your Insight tour hotels

* Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack

Insight’s Excursions & Sights

* Attend the 2015 Anzac Day Dawn Sevice at Gallipoli

* Visit Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Basilica of St.Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Basilica Cistern

* View the huge reconstructed Trojan Horse in Troy

* Visit Pergamon’s Acropolis, Temple of Athena, library & Asklepion

* Visit the Virgin Mary’s House and the Archeological Museum in Selçuk

* View Pamukkale’s cascading white terraces and visit the ruins of Hierapolis

* Visit Konya’s famous Mevlana Tekke and see the Karatay Medrese & Ince Minaret

* Explore the amazing underground houses and rock carved churches of Göreme

* Tour the underground city of Kaymakli and see the cone of Uçhisar

* Visit the well preserved Agzikarahan Caravanserai

* Visit Ataturk’s Mausoleum and Hittite Museum in Ankara

* Embark on a superb cruise along the Bosphorus Waterway dividing the two continents

* See the Rameses II statue & Alabaster Sphinx

* See the Step Pyramid of Zozer in Sakkara

* Enjoy a guided tour of Giza to see the Sphinx and visit one of the Pyramids

* Enjoy a magical Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids of Giza

* Visit the National Museum, Roman Amphitheatre and Roman Catacombs in Alexandria

* Visit the War Cemeteries and the Military Museum in El–Alamein

* Visit the Coptic Monasteries at Wadi El Natrun (if open) our the temples of Luxor & Karnak

* See the Colossi of Memnon

* Visit the amazing Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings

* Visit the Temples at Edfu & Kom Ombo

* Visit the Aswan High Dam & see the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries

* Take a motorboat to the Temple of Isis on Philae Island

* Sail on a traditional ‘felucca’

* Views over Cairo from the Citadel & visit Mohamed

* Ali’s alabaster Mosque

* See Tutankhamun’s treasure in the Egyptian Museum

* Visit Khan El Khalili Bazaar

*Itinerary mentioned is a guide only. Itineraries, pricing and full terms and conditions will be available in 2014.

Day 1: Wed 22 Apr 15 — Arrive Istanbul. Welcome to Turkey – a land rich in archaeological sites, historic monuments, warm–hearted people and an enormous variety of spectacular scenery. On arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for your two–night stay. This evening, get together with your Turkish Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink.

Day 2: Thu 23 Apr 15 — Istanbul Sightseeing. Get your cameras ready today. Visit the Blue Mosque with its beautiful tiles and the Hippodrome where Roman chariot races were held, and visit St Sophia, at one time a cathedral and a mosque, and now a magnificent museum. Premium Highlight Move on to visit the fabulous Topkapi Palace, a walled city perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. We next visit the Basilica Cistern, also known as the “Sunken Palace”, the underground waterway constructed by Justinian in 532, which was used as a reservoir for water storage for the Great Palace and other buildings. Then it’s on to the famous Grand Bazaar where – all under cover – there are more than 4,000 shops, cafes and tea houses. Consider sampling some traditional apple tea, or spending the evening watching some belly–dancing. (BB)

Day 3: Fri 24 Apr 15 — Istanbul –Assos. Drive along the shores of the Sea of Marmara to the peninsula of Gelibolu, better known in the west as Gallipoli. Here are the battlefields where, for nine disastrous months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought unsuccessfully to gain control of the strategic Dardanelle Straits. Then, from Eceabat, we take a 30–minute sea crossing to Çanakkale takes you from one continent to another as you leave Europe for Asia. We then drive to Homer’s legendary city of Troy, where archaeological excavation has established nine levels of habitation. See an enormous reconstruction of the famous Trojan wooden horse. Then, continue to our hotel for an early night tonight, in preparation for our Anzac Day memorial service tomorrow. (BB,D)

Day 4: Sat 25 Apr 15 — Anzac Day Dawn Service. A very early start this morning, as we board a 1:00 am ferry to cross the Dardanelles Strait and travel to Anzac Cove, where we attend the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli. After the service, there is some time to visit Anzac Cove before we take a walk to Lone Pine Cemetery, the final resting place of soldiers who gave their lives over the entire Gallipoli campaign. Here we attend the Australian Memorial for Anzac Day. After the commemoration, we are transferred back to the ferry pier to travel back to Canakkale our hotel in Assos , where the remainder of the day is then free. *A boxed breakfast will be provided this day. (*BB,D)

Day 5: Sun 26 Apr 15 — Assos – Kusadasi. . Today we travel to Pergamon, the seat of an ancient kingdom. Visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena and the famous library, which is said to have contained 200,000 volumes. View the Red Courtyard and visit the ruins of the Asklepion, one of the most famous shrines and therapeutic centres in the ancient world. Continue to Ephesus, visit the archaeological museum at Selcuk where many of the excavated artifacts of Ephesus are displayed, and visit the House of the Virgin Mary, spectacularly situated above the Ephesus ruins. Premium Highlight Finally, tour Ephesus itself, one of the world’s finest archaeological sites. Visit the colonnaded Arcadian Way, the splendid façade of the Library of Celsus and see the Amphitheatre, the largest and most impressive structure to survive from Hellenistic Ephesus. Head to the lively coastal town of Kusadasi for an overnight stay. Your hotel is one of the newest and most luxurious in this resort town – relax with a cool drink and take advantage of the hotel’s indoor pool, Turkish bath and fitness centre. (BB,D)

Day 6: Mon 27 Apr 15 — Kusadasi – Pamukkale. Drive inland to Pamukkale, famous for its ‘Cotton Castle’, a dazzling chalk–white array of fantastically shaped limestone terraces. Premium Highlight Visit the ruins of ancient Hierapolis and the fairyland terraces and see the glistening pools and cascades in scallop–shell basins. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the blissfully warm thermal pools at the hotel. (BB,D)

Day 7: Tue 28 Apr 15 — Pamukkale – Cappadocia. Head to Konya, the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire, now Turkey’s most religious city and home to the mystic Whirling Dervish sect. Visit the Mevlana Tekke, a museum and national monument, with its beautiful fluted turquoise dome, which contains the tomb of the Whirling Dervishes’ founder. See the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret before driving on to the historic region of Nevsehir in Cappadocia. (BB,D)

Day 8: Wed 29 Apr 15 — Excursion to Goreme. Premium Highlight Enjoy an excursion to Göreme, a unique region of volcanic landscapes and rock–hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings, some of which you can see in the open–air museum. Continue to the Zelve Valley where the scenery is dotted with churches, caves and troglodyte dwellings. Tour the underground city Kaymakli, and see the cone of Uchisar. Local Dinner Enjoy dinner at the hotel followed by a colourful folklore show in an underground cave, featuring dances from different regions. (BB,HD)

Day 9: Thu 30 Apr 15 — Cappadocia – Ankara. Visit Agzikarahan, one of the best–preserved Seljuk caravanserais in Anatolia. Continue on to Ankara to visit the Hittite Museum and Anit Kabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, Turkey’s greatest modern leader. (BB,D)

Day 10: Fri 1 May 15 — Ankara – Istanbul. Leaving Ankara, take the highway for a scenic drive through the Turkish countryside to Istanbul. Upon arrival, embark on a superb Highlight cruise along the Bosphorus Waterway. Travelling towards the old city from close to the Black Sea, the scenery complements the grandeur of the Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses. Tonight, consider dinner at a colourful local restaurant. (BB)

Day 11: Sat 2 May 15 — Istanbul – Cairo. Today, you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Cairo. Egypt is a country rich in wonders and mysteries, many of which are revealed on this tour. Upon arrival at Cairo airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is then free for you to relax and settle in. (BB)

Day 12: Sun 3 May 15 — Cairo Sightseeing. After a warm welcome and detailed pre–tour briefing with your Egyptian Tour Director, commence your sightseeing in Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, where a colossal statue of Rameses II and a great alabaster sphinx awaits. Nearby at Sakkara, view the Step Pyramid of Zoser I; dating from 2686BC, it’s the oldest in the world. Premium Highlight Now enjoy a guided tour of Giza where you will see the enigmatic Sphinx and the magnificent Pyramids with a highlight visit inside one of these extraordinary creations! Later return for the magical Sound & Light Show which literally illuminates the ancient history of Giza! (BB)

Day 13: Mon 4 May 15 — Cairo Sightseeing. Visit the Citadel for a breath taking view of the city of Cairo. Salah El Din started the Citadel in the 12th century, but it owes its present outline to Mohammed Ali, whose great Mosque you will visit next. Premium Highlight Later, enjoy a highlight visit to the famous Egyptian Museum. Here, among the many thousands of artifacts on display, view Tutankhamun’s splendid treasures, including his splendid burial mask. Do you believe in the curse of the ‘boy king’? This afternoon we visit Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the biggest open–air market in the Middle East and try your luck at bargaining! (BB)

Day 14: Tue 5 May 15 — Cairo – Luxor – Cruising. Fly to Luxor, the former capital of the New Kingdom. In private moorings near the edge of town, your cruise boat awaits. Board in time for lunch and then visit Luxor Temple which provides an unforgettable introduction to ancient Thebes. Now continue to Karnak, the largest temple complex ever built by man, constructed over a time period of 1500 years. Walk through the avenue of Ram–headed sphinxes, past the statue of Rameses II, to stand in awe among the huge columns of the vast Hypostyle Hall. (BB,L,D)

Day 15: Wed 6 May 15 — Cruising – Edfu. After breakfast, cross to the west bank of the Nile and stop for a photo of the towering Colossi of Memnon. These two giant seated figures are all that is left of Amon–Ofis III mortuary temple. Premium Highlight Visit the amazing reconstructed Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, blending into the cliff face above. Continue to the Valley of the Kings, the burial place of many of the New Kingdom Pharaohs. After venturing inside some of the tombs, return to your cruise ship and drift upstream, past palm fringed villages and irrigated fields to Esna and Edfu. (BB,L,D)

Day 16: Thu 7 May 15 — Cruising – Kom Ombo. This morning visit the beautifully preserved Temple of Horus, (the Falcon God) possibly the most complete in Egypt. Get your cameras ready as you cruise to Kom Ombo. The temple, dedicated to both Horus the Elder and Sobek, the crocodile god, is a glorious sight from the river. Inside you will find some mummified remains of some small crocodiles. Premium Highlight Celebrate in true Egyptian style at an Oriental Dinner and Galabea Party. (BB,L,HD)

Day 17: Fri 8 May 15 Cruising — Aswan. Cruise to exotic Aswan in the cool of early morning. Visit the Aswan High Dam and also the ancient Granite Quarries to see the enormous unfinished obelisk. Take a Premium Highlight motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. Later, return to Aswan and sail in a traditional Nile felucca around Aswan’s Botanical Gardens. (BB,L,D)

Day 18: Sat 9 May 15 — Aswan – Cairo. This morning, why not join an optional excursion to the temples of Abu Simbel, carved out of the rock by Rameses II and later rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Otherwise, spend the morning in Aswan as you wish, before your transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. (BB)

Day 19: Sun 10 May 15 — Cairo – Alexandria. This morning after breakfast, board your coach and travel through the Nile Delta to Alexandria. Once home to legendary Queen Cleopatra and Alexander the Great. Upon arrival your sightseeing tour shows you the National Museum, Roman Amphitheatre and Roman Catacombs. Local Dinner Tonight, dinner is at a local restaurant. (BB,HD)

Day 20: Mon 11 May 15 — Alexandria – El Alamein – Cairo. This morning you depart Alexandria and drive into the Western Desert to the coastal town of El Alamein, the site of Montgomery’s famous victory over Rommel’s Afrika Korps. There is some time here to pay your respects at the War Cemeteries and visit the Military Museum. En route back to Cairo, make a stop at the Coptic Monasteries at Wadi El Natrun (if open). (BB)

Day 21: Tue 12 May 15 — Depart Cairo. Our memorable tour ends today after breakfast with a transfer to the airport and our onward flight. (BB)

The Art Of Touring In Style

There was a time when travellers expected and received the ultimate in personal service. Small, select groups enjoyed carefully planned, stylish itineraries, quality hotels in convenient locations and informed knowledge of their destinations. No detail was missed. Most travel providers have forgotten this superior approach; today Insight Vacations raises it to a fine art. Insight Vacation invites you to rediscover the Golden Age of Travel.

Insight Vacations, Europe’s premier escorted tour operator, provides premium escorted motorcoach vacations throughout Britain, Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia the Eastern Mediterranean and North America.

In 1978, its first year, the company had a handful of staff in London and carried just 5700 passengers. Today, Insight has a team of professionals throughout the world, plays host to over 100,000 guests per year and has offices in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore and the UK. The company has also appointed specialist agents in Argentina, Brazil, Mauritius, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan and China.

Insight has achieved many important Tour Operator ‘Firsts’ over the years including, in 1983, being the first scheduled tour operator to win ‘the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement’ from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

You will travel with companions from all over the English speaking world – England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and more. Relax and capture the spirit of Europe and North America while we take care of every detail. From Great Britain to the European continent, from Turkey to the wonders of Israel and Egypt and the breathtaking National Parks and exciting cities of America & Canada, we invite you to experience the Insight difference and travel in style and comfort

No other tour compares – that’s why over 30 years we’ve earned the right to call it ‘The Art of Touring in Style’

Discover the Insight Difference

Smaller Groups – More Legroom

Your personal space is precious, that’s why we make more of it. Travelling on an Insight Vacations luxury touring coach is a special experience like no other. Comfort is paramount so we allow only 40 guests on each tour, removing excess seats to create up to twice as much legroom as a typical touring coach. When it comes to giving your legs the extra inches they deserve, we go the extra mile. It’s like travelling Business Class.

Selected Hotels

We believe that nothing is more important than great quality hotels in fantastic locations. Not just here or there – but everywhere, and on every tour. Insight’s portfolio of hotels comprises both modern and traditional styles, mostly of First Class and Deluxe standard and with more central hotel addresses than any other operator in the business. You’ll also delight in our heritage hotels selected for their historic or architectural character; like a Castle, a Villa or Château.

Desirable Locations

When you visit cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Budapest and Venice’s historic islands for example, you can be sure you’ll be staying close to the vibrant city heart. In areas of outstanding natural beauty like the Norwegian Fjords, Provence and Switzerland, you can look forward to enjoying spectacular panoramas at our scenic hotels.

Insight’s new ‘Gold’ series features mainly luxury hotels. Each is perfectly situated and exudes elegance and style. You’ll dine in their renowned restaurants, receive exceptional service and enjoy free access to many superb facilities.

Leisurely Paced Itineraries

Insight doesn’t rush you around Europe. Our leisurely itineraries with more 2, 3 and 4 night stays allow you ample free time for optional sightseeing and complete flexibility.

More Included Sightseeing

Insight wants you to enjoy all the ‘must-see’, ‘must do’ excursions, so we include them in the price. Look out for our exclusive collection of valuable ‘Premium Highlights’ and revealing ‘Personal Insights’ that bring the magic of Europe to life and set Insight above and apart. When it comes to value and unforgettable sightseeing, Insight gets it uniquely right every time.

Delicious Dining

Your day begins in sumptuous style, with classic full-cooked breakfasts in Britain and Ireland; buffet spreads with hot dishes in the local style elsewhere. Evening meals are always an occasion. Our included three-course table d’hôte dinner menus and mouth-watering buffets feature delicious regional delights and always contain dessert and tea or coffee.

Insight also includes Dine-Around Evenings on almost every tour. You’ll dine like a local, taking your pick from several restaurants, each offering delightfully diverse cuisine and ambience with wine, beer or soft drinks included. Whether you reserve a table for two or dine with new friends, it’s sure to be a memorable evening – especially since Insight picks up the tab!

More Personalised Service

Your Tour Director will recognise your individuality, acting as your ‘Personal Concierge’. Insight Drivers have thousands of miles’ experience on Europe’s roads – something you’ll appreciate as we join the Paris rush-hour or negotiate a high Alpine pass.

In most major towns and cities, you’ll enjoy the services of Specialist Local Guides. They’re the best in their field and fully qualified of course but they’ll also give you that special insider viewpoint on city life that only comes from living there.

New for 2011

Insight is including occasional informal talks with knowledgeable and captivating Guest Lecturers who will cover a range of specialist topics – from the culture and conflict of the Balkans to Sicilian mafia folklore and superstitions. Attendance is entirely at your discretion but one thing is sure, you will leave stimulated and satisfied!

Why Travel with Tauck

The world and its many wonders take on a whole new dimension when seen through the eyes of a Tauck travel experience. With more than 100 intriguing choices to the most popular destinations around the globe, our creative itineraries find the unusual, the little known, the extraordinary – and bring them to life.

Creative Vision

Tauck’s mission is to offer enriching travel experiences that enhance people’s lives by broadening their knowledge and fulfilling their dreams. To that end, they work tirelessly to create unique and imaginative travel itineraries.

By conducting each Tauck vacation with pride and enthusiasm, they bring to our guests the best possible experience in every destination. It’s a difference that’s uniquely Tauck. Carefree Travel, Both Relaxed and Refined

An important benefit of “Tauck Style” is the freedom to relax and travel as an individual because your needs and expectations are anticipated. Tauck’s carefully designed and choreographed itineraries are a refreshing mix of sightseeing, leisure, adventure and culture. You’ll experience spectacular scenery and exciting events other travelers only dream about. Every detail is handled seamlessly. Imagine… luggage usually in your hotel room before you arrive and preferred seating at shows! Your time is truly your own to enjoy.

Free Time for Your Own Personal Discovery

Tauck build plenty of time at leisure into every Tauck itinerary, so you’re free to linger at the perfect sidewalk café in Paris, enjoy a hike in the Canadian Rockies – or indulge yourself at the hotel spa.

Insightful Tour Directors

During your travels, you have the pleasurable advantage of being with a Tauck Tour Director who is fully knowledgeable about the destination, its history and its culture. You can relax knowing that you are accompanied by a professional who manages the flow of events… a problem-solver (in the unlikely event a problem should arise)… an insider who saves you precious time… and a friend who will help transform your trip into a truly memorable journey.

Unique and Distinguished Hotels in the Best Locations

When you travel with Tauck, you enjoy some of the best rooms at the world’s finest hotels. With Tauck, you may stay in oceanfront rooms at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, lake-view rooms at Chateau Lake Louise, or along the Grand Canyon rim at Kachina Lodge. Many of our hotels, such as Le Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Paris, the Oberoi Amervilas in Agra, India, and the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in South Africa, are rated among the world’s finest.

Featured Dining

When you travel independently, dining is typically your biggest expense. When you travel with Tauck, most meals are included! You’ll savor a delectable assortment of classic dishes and regional specialties, selecting directly from menus or perhaps enjoying the innumerable delights of a delicious buffet.

Every Travel Expense is Included

When you travel with Tauck, you’ll save up to 40% on the cost of traveling the same itinerary on your own. What’s more, virtually every major travel expense is included: Along with most meals, your hotel accommodations, cruises, sightseeing, admissions to museums, galleries and theaters – even taxes and port charges – are built into the price of your trip. Guests are often delightfully surprised at how much is included. You can practically leave your wallet at home! A Tauck vacation offers you both superb quality and extraordinary value.

New for 2011! Alpine Adventure
8 days from $3,941 per person triple or quad, plus airfare

Riding to the top of one towering mountain aboard a cogwheel train and another one on a cable car… mastering the ropes at Switzerland’s largest suspension rope park or hopping aboard a toboggan to whiz down the longest summer toboggan run in the Swiss Alps… mountain biking to St. Moritz across a plateau high up in the mountains… traveling through the Alps on the famous Glacier Express… whitewater rafting at Europe’s biggest water park… experience all this and more with your family in the Alps of Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

New for 2011! The Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento
7 days from $3,214 per person quad, plus airfare

Take your time and have a really good look at all the amazing things in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel after-hours when the day’s crowds are gone… meet a centurion at the Colosseum and discover Imperial Rome at the Roman Forum before throwing a coin over your shoulder into Trevi Fountain and making a wish to come back some day… learn to read an ancient “secret language” deep under Rome… drive all over Capri in a convertible… find out what life might have been like in Pompeii on the day before Mt. Vesuvius ‘blew its top” in 79 AD… discover the secrets of making pizza and the best gelato… try a traditional dance inspired by a spider… from exploring centuries of history in Rome to enjoying all that you’ll do together on the Isle of Capri and along the Amalfi Coast, this is one sweet family vacation!

New for 2011! New York: Family Fun in the Big Apple
6 days from $2,765 per person triple, plus airfare

“East side, west side, all around the town…” Rockefeller Center and the “Top of the Rock”… stars at the Hayden Planetarium and everything from dinosaurs to diamonds at the American Museum of Natural History… Chinatown and Little Italy… meeting aspiring Broadway actors at a private theater workshop and later seeing aspirations become reality at a performance of a hit Broadway show… the World Trade Center site… Ellis Island, once America’s “front door” … sightseeing the bright lights of Manhattan by limousine at night… everything that’s really cool about the Big Apple is waiting for your family to discover it.

The APT Touring Philosophy

The McGeary family started APT based on a personal dream to offer unique and luxurious holidays to travellers who have a spirit of adventure and discovery.
82 Years Australian Family Owned

The essence of APT started in Australia in 1927 by Bill McGeary, and is still owned and run by the McGeary family, including the third generation, Rob and Lou.
Fully Inclusive Holidays and Guaranteed Prices

All our prices are fully inclusive and guaranteed, so you’ll know exactly where you stand.
APT Cultural Touring Experiences

With APT, we have a great mix of cultural touring experiences so you can discover the local culture first-hand.
APT’s Awards – Travel Industry Recognition

APT is proud to be consistently the most awarded touring company in Australia but what gives us greatest pleasure is the 98% satisfaction rating from APT travellers.
The APT Group – Global Vision

The APT Group recently embarked on a program of international growth, with the objective of positioning the company as a truly global tour and cruise operator and one of the world’s leading travel companies. In doing so, the company has embraced an efficient, goal-oriented business that nurtures and develops a culture of exceptional performance.We will continue to expand on our present commitment to touring in regions that include Europe, Scandinavia, the Americas and Asia.

As the number one tour operator in Australia and New Zealand, the company is committed to the continuation of its role as a fully integrated travel business by owning and operating its touring and cruising operations.

APT Group – Past and Present

Now, with a third generation of the family contributing to the APT Group’s success, the benefits of the company’s family-style culture are increasingly apparent. While vigorously pursuing a global vision, the unwavering focus is on delivering a life-enriching and memorable holiday experience for each and every individual.

2007 marked APT’s 80th anniversary. Such longevity in a competitive environment, coupled with a proven ability to meet the shifting expectations of the modern holidaymaker, is testament to the pioneering spirit upon which the company was founded, and upon which it continues to operate and flourish today.

APT Peace of Mind

We have established our Peace of Mind Guarantee to reassure our clients in these uncertain economic times.

The APT Peace of Mind Guarantee features:

* reduced deposits for Europe and Canada / Alaska from $2000 to $1000 per person
* APT Cancellation Cover that allows clients to cancel their holiday prior to the due date of final payment and retain a full credit of deposit paid. No cancellation charges are applicable provided a new booking is made within 2 years. Cost is $55 per person
* Price guarantee on all deposited bookings

* 98% customer satisfaction rating from our past travellers.

Trafalgar’s Philosophy

Operating since 1947, Trafalgar is now the world’s favourite touring company. Offering a wide range of holidays to Europe, Britain, Egypt, USA, Canada, South America, we’ve hosted over 2 million travellers worldwide and many return year after year.

Trafalgar is renowned and trusted for its outstanding quality, service, reliability and financial stability. With over 60 years of practice we’ve perfected the art of creating exceptional guided holidays. Every expertly designed travel experience includes transportation, via deluxe motor coach, rail or cruise ship, first class hotel accommodation, daily sightseeing and most meals and at savings of up to 30% off the cost of doing it “on your own”.

Trafalgar continuously strives to fulfill our guests’ needs and exceed their expectations – attention to detail ensures you will enjoy a totally hassle-free holiday. We provide the perfect balance between organised activities and free time for individual exploration and relaxation – all you have to do is Dream. Pack. And leave… the rest to us.

15 reasons why Trafalgar is the world’s favourite touring company:

* We have over 60 years of knowledge & expertise in designing wonderfully unforgettable touring holidays
* We are the world’s favourite for great-value guided tours
* We have over 200 worldwide itineraries so you are spoilt for choice
* You will enjoy a hassle-free holiday without car rental or accommodation worries
* We have the finest Tour Directors in the industry to help you make the most of every moment
* You will stay in quality hotels, carefully selected and monitored by our Quality Control team
* You will travel in modern and comfortable coaches
* Trains or ships you may travel in will be of the same high standard
* You will enjoy authentic cultural experiences
* Culinary treats and local gastronomic delights are offered
* You will experience all the ‘must-see’ attractions without the long lines
* We will share with you some amazing hidden treasures
* We offer great special offers and discounts
* We always have Last Minute Deals so keep you eye on the website
* We have a 98% satisfaction rating from past guests and many return, year after year

Make Great Savings with Trafalgar!

The early bird catches the worm, so book now – pay early – and save money!
The earlier you pay, the more you save! If you book and pay in full you’ll save up to 10% off the LAND-only portion of your tour.

Below are our Early Payment Saving options:

The earlier you pay – the more you save!

Pay (min) 12 months prior to departure Save up to 10%
Pay (min) 10 months prior to departure Save up to 7.5%
Pay (min) 6 months prior to departure Save up to 5%

Important: All tours must be booked and paid for in full for this discount to apply. This discount does not apply to our City Break Tours, train tours, any products in our Eastern Mediterranean section and extra night accommodation

Please note: Early Booking Discount requires payment of a per person deposit at the time of booking.

Travel with Family and Friends and save money

5 or more – Save 5%: If a group of 5-8 people travels together, a discount of 5% per person applies to the LAND-only portion of your tour. So it pays to get together with your family and friends!

9 or more: If 9 or more people travel together, we offer attractive group discounts based on how many people travel. In a group of 9 passengers, 1 traveller qualifies for a 50% discount off the LAND-only portion of the tour. In a group of 16 passengers, 1 traveller qualifies for 100% discount off the LAND-only portion of the tour.

Important: Space is limited to one group per motorcoach. These discounts are not combinable with our Travel Club Discount, any other rooming, young traveller or triple room discounts, and do not apply to our City Breaks, Greek Tours with Mediterranean cruises, Egypt, Israel, and extra night accommodation. All travelling passengers’ names must be advised to Trafalgar at the time of booking in order to qualify.

About Us

OVER 250 YEARS OF DISCOVERY

2008 marked the 250th anniversary of the foundation of Cox & Kings, the longest established travel company in the world.

The company’s history stretches back to the summer of 1758 when Richard Cox was appointed as regimental agent to the Foot Guards by his mentor, Lord Ligonier, the Commanding Officer of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

The role of agent included the arrangement of payment of officers and men, the provision of clothing, serving as a go-between for the buying and selling of officers’ commissions, and acting upon any special requests from the regimental adjutant.

Regimental agents did not have a very good reputation before Cox, but such was his honesty, reliability and organisational ability that he made it a respectable business and Cox & Co soon became the agent for the majority of British regiments. By the end of the 18th century the company served 14 cavalry, 64 infantry and 17 militia regiments. The company’s business grew hand in hand with the British Empire, becoming involved in banking and shipping in addition to its other agency activities.

In the late 19th century, Henry S. King & Co was a rival bank and shipping agency, started by Henry Samuel King and subsequently run for over 45 years by his son, Henry Seymour King, an MP and renowned mountaineer. The company had particularly strong links with India. After the First World War the two companies merged as Cox’s & King’s and moved into grand premises on Pall Mall, in the heart of London. In 1923 the business was sold to Lloyds Bank and whilst the banking arm stayed with Lloyds (becoming the Cox & Kings branch, as it is still known), the shipping agency became a separate company, running tours and organising the passage of people and their belongings around the world, notably to Egypt, India and South Asia.

In 1970, Cox & Kings Agency was bought by Grindlays Bank as part of a deal with the Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, to develop tourism into the country, and so the modern history of the company began.

Cox & Kings has built on the tradition of high quality service and attention to detail established by Richard Cox over 250 years ago and it now provides travel arrangements of the highest calibre in many of the most culturally and naturally fascinating parts of the world. The company is now privately owned and has extended its expertise to cover the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, Europe and Australia & New Zealand.

Enjoy savings made possible by travelling as part of a group of like-minded people on our escorted group tours. Group sizes are usually restricted to a maximum of 25 and a minimum of 10. Our escorted group tours benefit from the following features:

Tour Manager

Cox & Kings’ tour managers are carefully selected for their travel experience and organisational abilities. You will be met on arrival and your tour manager will escort you throughout the journey (unless otherwise specified).

Accommodation

The standard and style of accommodation varies from country to country and tour to tour; however, Cox & Kings generally uses first class 4 or 5 star hotels, lodges and camps or the best available, on all its tours. Where a holiday differs from that standard significantly, either because it is particularly luxurious or more ‘adventurous’ in emphasis, we have highlighted this fact by applying the terms Luxury Tour and Discovery Tour immediately below the tour title.

Excellent Value

Low Price Policy – Cox & Kings does not believe that you should pay a premium for excellent service and outstanding holidays. It is our policy to keep our prices as low as possible and, thereby, to make our holidays available to as many people as possible.

Buying Power – Cox & Kings low price policy is made possible through buying power established over many years and long-standing relationships in the travel industry generated by the network of associated Cox & Kings companies worldwide. As a result Cox & Kings is able to offer services at highly competitive rates.

Comparing Like With Like – By its nature, high quality long haul travel is not cheap, and when looking at the various holidays on the market it can seem as if there is a big difference in price between what on the surface are similar holidays. Therefore, when weighing up holiday options it is important to compare like with like and we are confident that our tours represent excellent value for money when the standard of accommodation and other services are taken into account.

Expert Local Guides

On most tours, in addition to the services of the Tour Manager, Cox & Kings’ Escorted Groups also benefit from the knowledge of local guides who accompany each excursion. In some cases, where appropriate, the Tour Manager will also act as the local guide. Where possible, your entrance fees are included in the holiday price.

Luxury Tours will feature 5 star de luxe accommodation throughout. On some tours we have designated particular departure dates as Luxury Departures. This means that on those departures we have upgraded the accommodation to the standard you would expect on a Luxury Tour. These tour include the phrase “Includes Luxury Departures” immediately below the tour title.

Discovery Tours will be more suitable to the more adventure-spirited traveller as tours will typically include some quite basic accommodation, possibly longer and rougher road journeys and in some cases more adventurous activities, such as trekking.

High Quality Service

Personal Service While Away – When you are part of a Cox & Kings Escorted Group tour you will be met at each airport, train station or quay along the way, transferred to and from your hotel and have the details of your itinerary explained to you. Most Cox & Kings groups also benefit from the services of a local English speaking Tour Manager who accompanies the group throughout your trip. All Cox & Kings travellers are in the capable hands of someone who can inform and, if necessary, smooth any wrinkles along the way.

Expert Local Guides – Cox & Kings uses the services of specially chosen local guides who really know their subject and can bring places to life. In addition to providing relevant background information, as detailed or general as your like, they can also explain the local way of life, customs and issues in a way that guide books never can.

Discovery Tours will be more suitable to the more adventure-spirited traveller as tours will typically include some quite basic accommodation, possibly longer and rougher road journeys and in some cases more adventurous activities, such as trekking.

Comfortable Land Travel

For road journeys, Cox & Kings uses air-conditioned buses of a size appropriate to the size of the group.

Worldwide Experts

Organising Travel Since 1758 – Our history gives us unrivalled experience at organising travel to some of the most challenging corners of the world.

Dedicated Team of Experts – Cox & Kings Tour Consultants have all travelled extensively around the world and offer you a vast collective bank of expert knowledge. You can travel with the reassurance that your itinerary will have been fully considered by a regional specialist.

The Best Representatives – Over the years Cox & Kings has sought out and developed working relationships with the very finest specialist local agents around the world. These are all companies who have a detailed knowledge of their own country, a comprehensive network of local representatives, an understanding of Cox & Kings’ standard and, not least, an appreciation of the expectations of those who travel with us.

A journey through China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos is more than a holiday. It’s an experience to be treasured, a journey of a lifetime, through fascinating countries which are as amazingly diverse as it is breathtakingly beautiful.
With almost 25 years experience specialising in Asia as a travel destination, they take great delight in welcoming you to yet another extensive program filled with exciting tours and activities which are as far reaching as the magnificent Great Wall itself.
2011-2012 program is no exception. In fact, the program has been expanded to include appealing new stopovers in bustling Hong Kong and magical Macau.
And to excite the ever-expanding group of ocean going fans, they have dedicated a section to luxury cruising along China’s coast – and beyond to Alaska – aboard the majestic Diamond Princess.
Urge you to check our “Unparalleled Highlights” inclusions, the quality accommodation we offer and the guaranteed balcony cabins as you sail along the Yangtze River. Each aspect represents real value for money . . . quality-plus.
Our passion for Asia – and the vast interesting mix of cultures, traditions, cuisine and landscape – speaks volumes for the knowledge, friendliness and general reputation of our staff both in Australia and China.
Let’s face it, you deserve the best when visiting China, Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos , and we proudly deliver that as we strive for perfection through a reputation built on quality, dedication, professionalism and personalised service.
Helen Wong Tours personally invite you to experience these fascinating destinations with Helen Wong’s Tours – a trusted and respected company that will ensure your holiday in Asia will be long remembered – a journey with more than a few surprises.

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QUALITY PLUS

*Own Office In China
*On-Ground Support Team
*Genuine Value For Money
*Established For Almost 25 Years
*Professional China Tour Directors
*Knowledgeable and Friendly Tour Guides
*Quality to Deluxe Accommodation
*World Class Evening Entertainment
*Small Groups up to 25 Passengers
*Balcony Cabins on Yangtze Cruises
*Luxury Staterooms on Princess Cruises
*Exclusive “Unparalleled Highlights” Inclusions

ASTUTE TOUR GUIDES

Through long association with China, they have assembled a team of experienced, friendly, responsible and astute bilingual tour guides who, over many years, have accompanied Helen Wong’s tours and efficiently handled day-to-day arrangements. They have a wealth of intimate knowledge and unequalled understanding of the local culture and customs in providing an invaluable service. All possess an appreciation of the high standards required to meet the demands and satisfaction of you, the traveller.

PRIDE AND PASSION

One of the main ingredients in transforming a good holiday into a great one is the PEOPLE. People at your destination, people you meet during your tour and the people behind the scenes totally dedicated to ensuring the journey is pleasurable and comfortable. Helen Wong’s staff take pride in professionalism and show great passion in showcasing such a fascinating destination.

Long term objective and commitment is to maintain a service of excellence by delivering a satisfying travel product rather than offering promises.

GENUINE “VALUE FOR MONEY”

Be Warned – don’t compromise your holiday enjoyment and satisfaction by settling for a tour that appears to have it all. Naturally, price plays an important role in determining your choice. BUT we recommend that you carefully compare all the tour components before making your final decision. Choose wisely and compare tour content, inclusions, standards of accommodation, quality of venues and number of nights that make up overnight train journeys in place of hotel stays. You need to be confident that your program provides genuine value. Be assured that arrangements will operate smoothly.

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What’s Included

Air Travel

Return economy class air fares from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth with Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific Airways (as applicable to the itinerary) including all airport taxes, fuel surcharges and security charges.

Accommodation

Share twin 4-5 star hotels, with private facilities as specified in the itinerary (in more remote regions, the best available accommodation will be provided). Single rooms by choice are subject to the supplementary cost as noted on each tour.

Due to limited availability, overnight accommodation on the Fanxipan Train to Sapa is likely to be 4 berth without private facilities.

(Please note: Glimpse of Vietnam and best of Vietnam tours are based on 3-4 star hotel Facilities.)

Transfers

Between Airports/pier/stations and hotels in each city from your day of arrival until day of departure.

Transportation

Between Vietnam, Cambodia, China, and Laos by air/boat/rail associated with the itinerary as specified.

Meals

Most tours include daily breakfast and lunches and one dinner in each city. Meals are as specified in the itinerary and noted as: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner.

Sightseeing

Daily sightseeing and entrance fees as specified in the itinerary. Please note Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum in Hanoi is closed Mondays and Fridays in October and November.

Tour Guide

Our friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and often entertaining professional English-speaking tour guides will be with you in every city you visit.

Visa Processing

The cost of your Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and China visa which is valid for 30 days for Australian passport holders. Please check requirements if you are holding passports of another country as an additional visa cost may be incurred.

Travel Kit and bag

Ticket wallet including detailed itinerary, maps and information booklets, pamphlets and a durable cabin bag.

National Guide

Subject to the minimum of 10 persons, a professional English – speaking National Tour Director will accompany the group throughout and attend to your daily travel arrangements. Your National guide will work in close association with your local city guide to ensure that your comfort and satisfaction exceeds your expectations.

Complimentary Refreshment

All group members will receive cold towels and bottled water during ground transportation and sightseeing in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Land content

From the arrival transfer at the start of your tour until the departure transfer at end of the tour. Excludes international flight.

Deposit per person: $440.00

Turkey, Land of Contrasts

2012 Prices From $4,595 plus on-tour air for 12 Days – Tauck World Discovery

Turkey is truly a land of contrasts, from the blending of east and west as Europe meets Asia in sophisticated Istanbul to people living in homes they’ve dug into the side of a bluff in the Göreme Valley, as you’ll learn on this latest of Tauck’s Turkey tours. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace tell stories from antiquity in Istanbul, magnificent Ephesus brings the Greeks and Romans into focus and the fanciful rock formations called the fairy chimneys have tales to tell about both ancient days and today. Glimpse modern daily life in the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, and imagine it when surrounded by ruins of shops dating back to the Romans and beyond in Perge and Sardis. Gain insights into the mysticism of the Whirling Dervishes and learn to make Turkish Delights. Mingle with schoolchildren who want to practice their English and explore an underground refuge of the early Christians in a single day! Float over eerie landscapes in a hot air balloon and visit the private home of a successful businessman. Discover the contrasts for yourself on these intriguing Turkey tours.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Istanbul

Meals D

Tauck’s new Turkey tours begin at 6:30 PM at the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. A transfer from Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport to the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul is included. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

Lodging

Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul

Day 2 Hagia Sofia & the Blue Mosque

Meals B, L

Begin your discovery of Istanbul with a walk through the Hippodrome and into history. Famous for its massive dome, considered by many to be the epitome of Byzantine architecture and said to have changed the history of architecture, Hagia Sophia was once the largest cathedral in the world for over 1,000 years, subsequently served as the primary mosque of Constantinople for over 500 years and is now a museum. Sightseeing continues in the Basilica Cistern, 52 steps underground, where any preconceived notions you might have of what a cistern looks like will float away forever; you may recognize it from a scene in From Russia With Love, which was filmed here. Located in front of Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, built in 1609 to out-do its neighbor, is regarded as a prime example of Turkish Islamic architecture; its six slender minarets and cascading domes dominate the city skyline. Remove your shoes before entering to look up and discover the tens-of-thousands of blue tiles from which it gets its name.

Lodging

Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul

Day 3 The many faces of Istanbul

Meals B, D

Step back into the lives of the Ottoman sultans who occupied it for 400 years when you visit Topkapi Palace this morning. Try to imagine what it was like to live here as you explore the Council Chamber, the Imperial Kitchens and the Harem. Then, enter another world in the Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in the world, a maze of lanes and alleys in which shoppers can find virtually anything they might be looking for at the over 4,000 shops. Most Turkey tours include the architectural wonders and famous sights that you’ve seen, but Tauck provides experiences other travelers don’t have. Board a boat and cruise across the Bosphorus to the private home of an artist and businessman for a tour and insights on life in Istanbul today. Dine at restaurant on the Bosphorus known for its seafood this evening.

Lodging

Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul

Day 4 Off to Izmir & Sardis

Meals B, L, D

After a morning flight to Izmir, visit Sardis, once one of the most important cities in the Persian Empire, home to many ruins from different time periods. Discover what were shops and the mammoth gymnasium dating from the second century AD as you explore the city. Alexander the Great liberated the city from the Persians; visit the Temple of Artemis, once the fourth-largest Ionic temple in the world, built by the Greeks in honor of the goddess of the hunt. Ancient Sardis also had a large and prosperous Jewish community, which built the largest ancient synagogue outside of ancient Palestine that you’ll explore today. It was also in Sardis that coins were used for the first time. Dine at your leisure at your hotel this evening.

Lodging

Swissotel Grand Efes, Izmir

Day 5 Ancient Ephesus

Meals B, L

Having seen the Harem in Istanbul, where the women of the sultans’ households lived, gain insights about the role of women in contemporary Turkey this morning before heading off to Ephesus, an ancient bastion of women’s rights and the site of the largest temple built to honor Artemis.  Once an important trade center as well as a religious center of early Christianity, the ruins at Ephesus are among the best preserved in the region. As you walk the 2,000-year-old marble and cobblestone streets, it isn’t hard to imagine what the city was like when tradition says that Paul was preaching to the Ephesians, perhaps in the Great Theater that could seat 24,000; dating from the 1st century AD, it is still used today for public theatre and musical performances. Explore the two-story Library of Celsus, the Scholastic Baths, the Arcadian Way and more. This splendid city is a highlight of Tauck’s Turkey tours.

Lodging

Swissotel Grand Efes, Izmir

Day 6 Antalya & the Ruins of Perge

Meals B, L, D

Arrive in the “resort capital” of the Turkish Mediterranean coast, Antalya, after a short flight from Istanbul. Following lunch, set off for the ruins of the Roman city of Perge. Pass through the unusual Hellenistic-Roman towers to an impressive colonnaded street line once lined with shops and statues that you’ll see tomorrow at the Antalya Museum. Your home for the next two nights, Kempinski Hotel The Dome, is set between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Dine at your leisure at the hotel this evening.

Lodging

Kempinski Hotel The Dome

Day 7 Archaeology in Antalya

Meals B, D

History and culture through the ages unfold at the Antalya Archeological Museum, one of the largest museums in Turkey with 13 exhibition halls showcasing art and artifacts of the area large and small from the Stone Age onward. Perhaps most impressive are the larger-than-life statues of 16 gods and goddesses as well as emperors and empresses found in Perge and Aspendos in the “Hall of the Gods.” After lunch on your own, explore the narrow streets of Antalya’s historic Old Town. This evening, attend a cooking demonstration featuring Turkish coffee as well as Turkish delight, a sweet treat on Turkey tours. When you’ve finished your coffee, look at the dregs left in the cup, which are said to foretell the future if you know how to read them.

Lodging

Kempinski Hotel The Dome

Day 8 Konya, Rumi’s Tomb & Catahulyuk

Meals B, L, D

A scenic drive through the mountains leads to Konya, final resting place of the Sufi poet Jelaleddin Rumi, considered by some to be one of the great spiritual teachers and thinkers the world has known, who founded the Whirling Dervishes over 800 years ago. While visiting the Mevlana complex, view his mausoleum, learn about the man and the mystical religious order he founded and see the oldest surviving copies of his work, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Later, discover Catal Huyuk, built about 6.500 BC and thought to be one of the world’s first towns. A guided tour reveals the ongoing archaeological work being done and what has been learned about the people who abandoned the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and formed a pueblo-style community here so long ago from the artifacts that have been found.

Lodging

Dedeman Konya Hotel

Day 9 Cappadocia & the Underground City

Meals B, L, D

Along the Silk Road, caravanserais traditionally provided stopping places for travelers in need of rest and refreshment and were spaced to accommodate a one-day camel trek. We’ll make a rest stop at one this morning, just as people have been doing for centuries. A visit with children at a local elementary school provides the opportunity to help them practice their English and for you to learn a bit about daily life here. After lunch at a local restaurant in Cappadocia, you’ll be invited into the modern home that a family has burrowed into the side of a bluff, just as their ancestors did, before walking along the bluff itself to view the famous “fairy chimneys” for which Cappadocia is known. As early as the days of the Hittites, locals created underground cities to protect them from assorted conquerors who invaded the area. Explore Kaymakli, originally an eight-story underground city that provided safety and refuge for up to 5,000 people; four stories are open to the public. Your home for the next two nights features comfortable cave suites constructed within five different cave formations that are a part of Cappadocia’s historical structure, and each one is unique.

Lodging

Anatolian Houses

Day 10 From Fairy Chimneys to Whirling Dervishes

Meals B, D

Drifting over the fairy chimneys of the Göreme Valley in a hot air balloon is a memorable experience on this newest of Tauck’s Turkey tours. Be sure to have your camera handy as the rising sun bathes the mountain bluffs and unique rock formations below in light! Breakfast is served among the fairy chimneys before visiting the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Resembling a huge monastic complex, the museum showcases eleven early Christian, rock-cut churches containing beautiful frescoes whose colors are still vibrant after countless centuries. The Whirling Dervishes belong to one branch of the Sufi tradition Islam whose followers are taught to love everything. By slowly whirling in a prescribed way, they undertake a spiritual journey seeking unity with the three components of human nature: the body, the heart and the mind. Witness this ancient ritual in a cave venue once part of an ancient monastery at a private dinner and performance.

Lodging

Anatolian Houses

Day 11 Meanwhile, back in Istanbul

Meals B, L, D

Arrive back in Istanbul by plane in time for lunch at the Hamdi Restaurant, called “Istanbul’s favorite Anatolian restaurant” by Travel + Leisure. Then the scents and sights of the Spice (or Egyptian) Bazaar beckon with an exotic bouquet of fragrances and a kaleidoscope of colors – and must-see-and-smell experience for foodies on Turkey tours. Join us for our farewell reception at the Pera Palace Hotel, once the terminus of the Orient Express and a coveted address for folks like Mata Hari and Agatha Christie.

Lodging

Pera Palace Hotel

Day 12 Homeward bound

Meals B

Tauck’s new Turkey tours end in Istanbul. A transfer from the Pera Palace Hotel to Atatürk International airport is included. Fly home anytime; please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.

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2012 Prices From $4,595 plus on-tour air for 12 Days

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Tauck Value Includes

•  A boat cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, which runs through the heart of Istanbul

•  Visits to the private home of an artist/businessman in Istanbul who shares his inside views on life in Turkey, and a traditional caravanserai (roadhouse inn) on the ancient Silk Road

•  A hot air balloon flight over the “fairy chimneys” of Göreme, with breakfast afterward among the famous rock formations

•  A performance by a company of Whirling Dervishes in the rock cave of an ancient monastery

•  Private lecture on the status of women in contemporary Turkish society

•  Visit to a family who lives in a modern “cave home” carved into a hillside in Capadoccia

•  A private cooking class teaching the art of making Turkish coffee

•  Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

•  27 meals (11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners); gratuities to local guides, taxes, service charges, admission fees and porterage

Egypt: Jewels Along the Nile

2012 Prices From From $5,300 plus on-tour air for 12 Days – Tauck World Discovery

Tauck’s expert Egyptologists invite you to join them on an Egypt tour to explore a fascinating civilization where architectural feats and antiquities still amaze thousands of years after their creation – an intriguing land of pyramids, temples, mummies, and hieroglyphs! Ride a camel and enjoy a sound & light show at the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza… take a sunset cocktail cruise aboard a traditional felucca… stay at Egypt’s best hotels, including Pyramid-view rooms at the Mena House Oberoi in Cairo… visit the temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, the Egyptian Museum and more, with your Egyptologist and Tauck Director leading the way! The finest Egypt tours include a Nile River cruise, and Tauck guests spend four nights aboard Nile Adventurer, sailing to Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Plus you’ll discover the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and a National Museum exhibit at the new Bibliotecha Alexandrina on an overnight in Alexandria, Egypt’s beacon of culture on the Mediterranean Sea.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Cairo

Meals (No Meals Included)

Tauck’s Eygpt tour begins at the Mena House Operoi. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to your hotel, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge. Your room looks out on to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza. Since most international flights arrive between 3:00 and 11:00 PM local time, you might want to consider traveling to Egypt a day early and arrange a pre-stay in Cairo to ease the effects of jet lag before the first day of sightseeing on your Egypt tour begins.

Lodging

Mena House Oberoi

Day 2 The Sphinx, the Great Pyramid, and a camel ride

Meals B, L, D

A visit to the Pyramids is on every world-traveler’s must-do list, and is an iconic image of your Egypt tour. After meeting Tauck’s local Egyptologist this morning, visit the Solar Boat Museum, whose main attraction is an ancient Egyptian cedarwood boat dating back 4,500 years. At Giza, see the Sphinx guarding the plateau, as it has for the same 4,500 years… and marvel at the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), a crowning architectural achievement and one of the most recognizable structures on Earth. Cap the day with a camel ride* at the Pyramids. Attend a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening.

Lodging

Mena House Oberoi

Day 3 Pyramids galore in Memphis, Sakkara and Dahshur

Meals B, L

Travel to the site of Memphis, first capital of ancient Egypt’s “Old Kingdom,” for a look at some of the country’s oldest antiquities; you’ll see the Alabaster Sphinx and an imposing statue of Ramesses II. Check out the progression of pyramid design over the centuries… first in Sakkara, where you’ll visit the Teti Pyramid and view the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world’s first monumental structure built of stone. Then continue off-the-beaten-path to the less-often visited necropolis at Dahshur for a look at the Royal Tombs, numerous pyramids and temples there, including a Tauck Exclusive – entry into the private tomb of one of the early mastabas at the site. This evening’s elaborate sound and light show at the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza is a spectacular way to end an unforgettable day.

Lodging

Mena House Oberoi

Day 4 Luxor’s treasures and a felucca cruise on the Nile

Meals B, L, D

Take our charter flight to Luxor, site of ancient Thebes, where your Egypt tour continues with a guided visit to the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archeological finds from the temples and tombs of Upper Egypt. Later, enjoy a sunset cocktail cruise on the Nile aboard a traditional felucca, followed by dinner at your hotel – where your room overlooks Egypt’s timeless river!

Lodging

Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor

Day 5 Valleys of the Kings & Queens, Luxor & your cruise

Meals B, L, D

On a major highlight of your Egypt tour, visit the Valley of the Kings, where at least 62 ornately decorated tombs for the pharaohs were hidden – and go inside some of them. Our Egyptologist accompanies your exploration of the Valley of the Queens, revealing 80 tombs of royal family members; see Medinet Habu. Board the Nile Adventurer in Luxor for the start of your 4-night cruise along the Nile. After settling into your cabin, go ashore and ride a horse-drawn carriage through the temple complex of Luxor – noted for its avenue of sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II, and spectacularly illuminated in the evening.  Back aboard the ship tonight, join us for a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner; later, belly dancers entertain.

Lodging

Aboard Nile Adventurer

Day 6 The Temple of Karnak & celebrating Egyptian culture

Meals B, L, D

You may choose to begin the day soaring over the Valleys of the Kings and Queens on an optional hot air balloon ride (available for an additional $175 per person). The largest complex of its kind on Earth, the vast Temple of Karnak in Luxor — covering some 200 acres — boggles the mind as you explore its massive walls, statuary and inscription-covered columns with your Egyptologist. Spend the rest of the day cruising the Nile, glimpsing life along the ancient river’s banks; enjoy a cooking demonstration and afternoon tea as you sail to Esna. Tonight, don local attire for an “Egyptian Night” evening of entertainment and dancing.

Lodging

Aboard Nile Adventurer

Day 7 Cruising to Edfu and discovering local life

Meals B, L, D

Continue your Egypt tour with visits to Esna’s Greco-Roman antiquities including the Temple of Khnum, constructed during the reign of Emperor Claudius; then cruise to Edfu to explore its remarkably well-preserved Temple of Horus, as well as a local bazaar. Nile Adventurer cruises to Kom Ombo this evening.

Lodging

Aboard Nile Adventurer

Day 8 Kom Ombo, Aswan and a shipboard farewell

Meals B, L, D

Discoveries abound on the last day of your unforgettable Nile cruise, as your Egypt tour takes you to see the unusual double temples of Kom Ombo, then on to Aswan for a motorboat ferry ride to the Philae Temple on Agilka Island; dedicated to Isis, it was moved to its present location to save it from the rising waters caused by the building of the Aswan Dam. Tonight, the Captain and crew of Nile Adventurer bid you farewell with cocktails in the lounge and a gala dinner.

Lodging

Aboard Nile Adventurer

Day 9 Across the desert to Abu Simbel; on to Alexandria

Meals B, L, D

After disembarking Nile Adventurer in Aswan, set out across a corner of the Sahara Desert for Abu Simbel, in what was once the ancient kingdom of Nubia. Marvel at the Great Temple honoring Ramesses II – carved out of a cliff, with four 67-foot-high seated statues of the pharaoh at the entrance – and the adjacent Temple of Hathor, dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. Fly to Alexandria by private charter for an overnight in Egypt’s bastion of culture on the Mediterranean, named for Alexander the Great; see Pompey’s Pillar and The Citadel on a brief city tour before exploring on your own. Enjoy dinner tonight in one of the restaurants in your hotel, where you’ll spend the night in a room overlooking the sea.

Lodging

Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria

Day 10 Alexandria’s catacombs & cultural treasures

Meals B, L, D

Now that you’ve explored Egypt’s wonders along the Nile, Tauck completes your Egypt experience with a day spent enjoying seaside Alexandria’s decidedly Mediterranean atmosphere. Once home to the greatest library and center of learning in the ancient world, Alexandria recently opened a spectacular new library for the 21st century – the Bibliotecha Alexandrina – where you’ll view an exhibit of treasures from the National Museum; also visit the fascinating Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. Return to Cairo by train for a final two-night stay in Nile-view rooms.

Lodging

Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo

Day 11 Cairo and the Egyptian Museum

Meals B, D

A lecture on modern Egypt – including insights on the sweeping political changes that occurred in 2011 – kicks off your day. Then you’ll join our Egyptologist on a special early-opening visit to the Egyptian Museum and its world-renowned collection of antiquities – many as much as 5,000 years old – for yet another memorable experience on Tauck’s Egypt tour. Behold treasures found in the tomb of the “Boy King,” Tutankhamun, including his golden funeral mask, solid gold coffin, carved throne, and jewelry. “Meet” ancient rulers, including the mighty Ramesses II, face-to-face in the Royal Mummy Room. Be sure to join us for a special farewell dinner tonight to share the amazing memories you’ve created with your fellow travelers as your extraordinary Egypt tour concludes.

Lodging

Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo

Day 12 Bound for home

Meals B

Tour ends in Cairo. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo to Cairo International Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.

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2012 Prices From From $5,300 plus on-tour air for 12 Days

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Tauck Value Includes

* 4-night Nile River cruise aboard the Nile Adventurer, with shore excursions to Egypt’s must-see sites along the river

* Special early-opening guided visit to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum

* Sightseeing of Egypt’s antiquities led by renowned Egyptologists

* Sunset cocktail cruise aboard a traditional felucca on the River Nile

* Private horse-drawn carriage ride through Luxor as the sun sets

* Camel ride and sound & light show at the Pyramids

* Guided visits to the Pyramids & Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Luxor Museum, Sakkara, Memphis and much more

* Exploration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Valleys of the Kings & Queens, Temple of Karnak and more

* Visits to Bibliotecha Alexandrina and catacombs in Alexandria

* Two private charter flights save you travel time within Egypt

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* Most meals – 29 (11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners); gratuities to local guides, service charges, taxes and porterage

Egypt & Jordan: Timeless Treasures, Ancient Lands

2012 Prices From From $5,775 plus on-tour air for 13 Days – Tauck World Discovery

The mysteries of ancient Egypt and Jordan unfold before you on this 13-day journey of discovery to revered temples, tombs and monuments that tell a story of 5,000 years of civilization. From hotels with incredible views, to a 3-night River Nile cruise, to behind-the-scenes insights by local experts, Tauck’s Egypt and Jordan tour is unlike any other in these historic lands.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Cairo

Meals (No Meals Included)

Your Egypt and Jordan tour begins at Mena House Oberoi. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to Mena House Oberoi, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge in the shadow of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Since most international flights arrive between 3:00 and 11:00 PM local time, you might want to consider traveling to Egypt a day early and arrange a pre-stay in Cairo to ease the effects of jet lag before the first day of sightseeing on your Egypt and Jordan tour begins.

Lodging

Mena House Oberoi

Day 2 The Sphinx, Great Pyramid, and a camel ride

Meals B, L, D

Meet Tauck’s expert Egyptologist as you prepare for a day of awe-inspiring wonders at the Pyramids and more! At Giza, see the Sphinx guarding the plateau, as it has for 4,500 years. Marvel at the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), a crowning architectural achievement, and smile for the camera as you ride a camel* at the Pyramids. You’ll also visit the Solar Boat Museum – whose main attraction is an ancient Egyptian cedarwood boat that was buried and preserved under the shifting sands for more than 4,000 years – and attend a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

Lodging

Mena House Oberoi

Day 3 Special Egyptian Museum visit & Tut’s treasures

Meals B, L

A lecture on the sweeping changes in Egypt by a local expert kicks off your day, followed by a special early-opening visit with our Egyptologist to the Egyptian Museum to explore its world-renowned collection of antiquities, many 5,000 years old – yet another memorable experience on Tauck’s Egypt & Jordan tour! Behold treasures found in the tomb of the “Boy King,” Tutankhamun, including his golden funeral mask, solid gold coffin, carved throne, and jewelry. “Meet” other ancient rulers, including the mighty Ramesses II, face-to-face in the Royal Mummy Room. Later, a walking tour of Old Cairo with a local guide visits a local mosque and includes time to wander through a local bazaar. This evening’s elaborate sound and light show at the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza is a spectacular way to end this unforgettable day.

Lodging

Mena House Oberoi

Day 4 Early antiquities at Memphis, Sakkara and Dahshur

Meals B, L, D

Travel to the site of ancient Egypt’s first capital, Memphis, for a look at some of Egypt’s oldest antiquities; you’ll see the Alabaster Sphinx and an imposing statue of Ramesses II. See firsthand how Egyptian pyramid design developed through the ages on visits to several ancient sites this afternoon. In Sakkara, visit the Teti Pyramid, and view the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world’s first monumental structure built of stone. Continue off-the-beaten path to the less-often visited necropolis at Dahshur for a look at the numerous pyramids, temples and royal tombs there.

Lodging

Mena House Oberoi

Day 5 Abu Simbel, Aswan and the start of Nile cruising

Meals B, L, D

Take a private charter flight to Abu Simbel, in what was once the ancient kingdom of Nubia. Marvel at the Great Temple honoring Ramesses II – carved out of a cliff, with four 67-foot-high seated statues of the pharaoh at the entrance – and the adjacent Temple of Hathor, dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. Cross part of the famous Sahara Desert to Aswan to visit the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1971. Embark the Nile Adventurer to start your cruise, then take a boat to the Philae Temple on Agilka Island; dedicated to Isis, it was moved to its present location to save it from the rising waters caused by the building of the new dam. Meet the Nile Adventurer’s officers at the Captain’s welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner tonight aboard ship.

Lodging

Aboard Nile Adventurer

Day 6 Nile cruising, Kom Ombo and Edfu

Meals B, L, D

Glimpse river life along the Nile while cruising aboard Nile Adventurer, a highlight of Tauck’s Egypt and Jordan tour. Stop to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple, and have tea at a replica of an ancient Nubian village. Then it’s on to the Temple of the Falcon God Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Return to the ship to attend a cooking demonstration and private galley tour before donning Egyptian garb for a festive Egyptian Night dinner featuring local cuisine and after-dinner music and dancing.

Lodging

Aboard Nile Adventurer

Day 7 Temples of Karnak and Luxor, a carriage ride and more

Meals B, L, D

Your Egypt and Jordan tour continues in Luxor, site of ancient Thebes, starting with a visit to the vast Temple of Karnak with our Egyptologist; built over a span of 1,300 years, it is one of the world’s largest temple complexes. Then tour the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archaeological finds from the region’s temples and tombs. Ride a private horse-drawn carriage this evening to the spectacularly illuminated Temple of Luxor, noted for its avenue of sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II.  Finally, the Captain and crew of Nile Adventurer bid you a fond farewell with cocktails, dinner and a folkloric show aboard ship tonight.

Lodging

Aboard Nile Adventurer

Day 8 Valleys of the Kings and Queens and a felucca ride

Meals B, L, D

If you wish, join us early this morning for an optional hot air balloon flight (available for an additional $175) over the dramatic Valleys of the Kings and Queens. Then disembark Nile Adventurer for a major highlight of your Egypt and Jordan tour – an overland visit to the Valley of the Kings, where at least 62 ornately decorated tombs of the pharaohs were hidden; step into another world as you enter King Tut’s tomb! Our Egyptologist accompanies your exploration of the Valley of the Queens, revealing 80 tombs of royal family members; see Medinet Habu. Later, enjoy wine, beer and snacks on a sunset cruise along the Nile aboard a traditional felucca, followed by dinner at your choice of restaurants at your Luxor hotel – where your room overlooks Egypt’s timeless river!

Lodging

Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor

Day 9 On to Jordan and Wadi Rum

Meals B, L, D

Fly via private charter to Aqaba, Jordan, where you’ll have lunch at a restaurant on the Red Sea before setting off for the next adventure on your Jordan tour – an excursion by four-wheel-drive vehicle through the stunning, lunar-like desert landscapes of Wadi Rum. Then continue through the desert to a two-night stay overlooking the dramatic Petra Valley, home of the amazing archaeological site, with its great sandstone facades thousands of years old.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort Petra

Day 10 Amazing Petra, a city carved from stone

Meals B, L, D

A short walk from your hotel lies the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites – the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs. Explore this incredible site’s tombs, temples and other structures by foot as well as by horse cart throughout most of the day. Later, enjoy dinner and traditional entertainment at Taybet Zaman, a restored 19th-century Bedouin village, now a resort.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort Petra

Day 11 In history’s footsteps along the King’s Highway

Meals B, L, D

Continue your Jordan tour amidst spectacular views of the Jordan Rift Valley as you wind your way along the 5,000-year-old King’s Highway, one of the oldest continuously used roads on Earth; visit sites where, thousands of years ago, biblical history was made. Stop at Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked out on the “Promised Land,” and visit a church dedicated to Moses that dates back to the 6th century. Continue on to Madaba, where you’ll enjoy a lunch of traditional Jordanian specialties, and check out a 6th-century mosaic map of Biblical sites at St. George’s Church. Your final destination today is your spa resort on the shores of the Dead Sea.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea

Day 12 Relax by the Dead Sea or explore Roman Jerash

Meals B, L, D

Take time to enjoy the amenities of your spa resort on the Dead Sea today, or set off to visit the site of Jerash in Jordan. Here you’ll see some of the best-preserved remains of Roman architecture in the Middle East, in what was once the city of Gerasa. Explore its Roman temples, theatres, arches, walls and baths before returning to the resort for tonight’s farewell reception and dinner – a festive conclusion to your unforgettable Egypt and Jordan tour.

Lodging

Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea

Day 13 Bound for home

Meals B

Tour ends: Jordan. A transfer is included from the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea to the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Most international flights depart in the early morning hours – you may want to rest and extend your Jordan tour with an extra night’s stay at your Dead Sea spa resort.

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2012 Prices From From $5,775 plus on-tour air for 13 Days

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Tauck Value Includes

Optional Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride – Add $175 per person (ask at booking)

* 3-night Nile River cruise aboard Nile Adventurer

* Sightseeing of Egypt’s antiquities led by renowned Egyptologists, with discoveries in Jordan guided by local experts & professional Tauck Directors

* Special early-opening guided visit to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum

* Tea at a replica of a Nubian village in Jordan

* Guided visits to the Pyramids of Giza, King Tut’s tomb, ancient Petra, Mount Nebo and more

* Traditional felucca cruise on the Nile River at sunset

* Private horse-drawn carriage ride to Temple of Luxor

* Camel ride and sound & light show at Giza

* Four-wheel-drive vehicle excursion to Wadi Rum

* Two private charter flights save you travel time

* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted

* 33 meals (12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners), gratuities for local guides, service charges, taxes and porterage