It was a tour showcasing the diverse beauty of Turkey's cities. The hotels we stayed in were really comfortable and had a great atmosphere. The guides spoke great English and had a lot of knowledge about the places we visited. The tour provided reliable and convenient transportation. Our driver, Mehmet, was clearly passionate about his work and did an excellent job.
This comprehensive Classical Israel tour will take you on a journey that will have you experiencing the country’s rich history - past and present, as well as its people and diverse cultures.
On this tour you’ll have the chance to witness iconic sites of country, such as Jerusalem’s Old City, Nazareth and Bethlehem – ride the cable car to the fortress of Masada and float at the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea – and more.
In the north of the country, visit the serene Galilee and the Golan Heights. Other key sites visited on the tour include Haifa, Caesarea, the crusader fortress of Acre, Tel Aviv and the ancient port of Jaffa.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to continued unrest we have temporarily suspended this tour in Israel. Reservations are still being accepted for later travel dates. Should the situation continue, we will contact you approximately 8 weeks prior to departure to discuss new dates/cancellation options (though you can be assured of a full refund if we are unable to operate the tour).
Experience the best of Turkey on this 14-day adventure from Istanbul to Cappadocia and back. Discover the historic wonders of Istanbul’s Old City, pay tribute at Gallipoli, and walk through the legendary ruins of Troy and Ephesus. Soak in the thermal terraces of Pamukkale, cruise to Turtle Beach, and relax on the Turquoise Coast in Fethiye. Marvel at Antalya’s old town charm and delve into mystical Konya. In Cappadocia, explore surreal valleys and ancient cave dwellings, with the chance for a hot air balloon ride. The tour ends with time in the Ottoman gem of Safranbolu and a final stroll through Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.
The itinerary was spot on, giving us the chance to see the best of Turkey. Our guide, Mehmet, was really knowledgeable and engaging, while Ahmet, our driver, was always reliable. The hotels were very comfortable, and the traditional Turkish meals were a treat. I'd highly recommend Eskapas Travel!
What can I say...this tour was amazing. Never thought I'd see the sights I saw on this trip, never thought any of this would be possible in my lifetime. Egypt seemed too far, too exotic, too expensive. As soon as I saw the listing for this tour, it suddenly seemed like it might be possible.
We had reservations about going for sure. We have kids, 10 and 13. There's a war in Israel. It's summer in a very hot part of the world. Do we need Yellow Fever vaccines? Will the food make us sick? Americans kept telling us it would be too dangerous to go.
None of that turned out to be a problem. Egypt was very very safe. There are police and military personnel on the streets and at cultural sites. I saw no crime, no people sleeping on the streets. No people panhandling. Going to ATMs to get cash was very safe and easy. We went everywhere from big tourist sites to small neighborhoods. Food was great and we never got sick. We didn't drink the tap water, but bottled water and soft drinks are everywhere. It was hot, but air conditioning, pools, and headscarves manage this.
I'll say this again, because I have heard a lot about this:
Egypt is safe.
It's kind.
It's welcoming.
People are excited that you're visiting from America.
The food is great, and safe.
The hotels were amazing:
Steigenberger in Giza is clean, beautiful, has a nice restaurant with free breakfast, and has a view of the pyramids, which is pretty wild.
Movenpick in Aswan is spectacular, taking up a large portion of an island in the middle of the Nile, with pools and sustainable farms on-site.
The Jaz cruise up the Nile was really nice, with good food and comfortable quarters.
The Continental hotel in Hurghada was seriously ridiculously lavish, with a private beach on the Red Sea, giant pool, a dozen restaurants, and a shopping corridor.
And the Ramses Hilton in Cairo is clean, elegant, and right in the middle of the action of downtown Cairo.
We saw a million places from ancient Egypt I never thought we'd see. I can't overstate how incredible it is to stand in front of the Sphinx, the pyramids of Giza, Luxor temple, Kom Ombo, and especially the incredible monuments at Abu Simbel...this is an optional extra tour, and a bit expensive, as it's a whole day trip, but my goodness, it's worth the long drive. Incredible.
Overall, this trip had probably the most OMG moments I've had on a trip. And I've been to some pretty spectacular places, including India, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Peru (Machu Picchu), the UK, and more.
Please trust me and take the trip. Ignore the warnings. It's so worth it.
Travel through the stunning landscape of mainland Greece on this 7-day tour of ancient sites and scenic beauty. Explore Athens and its iconic Acropolis before heading to the Peloponnese to see Epidaurus and the ruins of Mycenae. Discover Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, and the sacred sanctuary of Delphi. The journey continues to Meteora, where centuries-old monasteries sit atop towering rock pillars, with a brief stop at historic Thermopylae on the return to Athens. A captivating blend of history, legend, and dramatic landscapes.
Egypt is one of those places which truly amaze and confound even seasoned travelers with its unbelievable ancient sites and unforgettable culture, despite the glaring poverty which seemingly surrounds and swallows up nearly everything and everyone in the country. Some would have questioned my sanity to bring four young children to Egypt when some areas still remain off limits to travelers due to possible terrorist activity. Given all of these concerns why and how did we visit this amazing country of Egypt you may ask. Why, that's simple, its a cradle of civilization and for learned people a once in a lifetime destination not to be missed, simple as that. How, well... it could have been done differently no doubt, but I am very happy to say that I used a well known and highly capable local tour company. They took what I wanted to see, my budget, and applied the local knowledge required and essential to ensure that the trip would be safe, hassle free, and memorable. They did a fine job on this long 16 day trip across Egypt including visits to Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Luxor, Aswan, Hurgada, and Alexandria. Some of the many highlights included cruising the Nile in a ship and visiting ancient ruins saved from the flooding of Lake Nasser (Abu Simbel). A brief respite from the sightseeing midway through the trip at the lovely and truly perfect family resort of Steinberger Aqua Magic in Hurgada recharged our batteries before diving back into the amazing scenery of Lower Egypt after a packed trip to Upper Egypt. The guides and drivers all did their absolute best to ensure we were always safe and that the children had extra time if needed such as to accommodate an extra trip to the WC or a quick nap in-amongst the sightseeing. At no time did we ever feel unsafe or unwelcome during our trip to Egypt, and on the contrary were made to feel very welcome by everyone we met be it in the street, at the hotel, in a restaurant, in the bazaar, etc etc. The truth is, you could spend a year in Egypt and only scratch the surface of what the country offers travelers, but for our family and budget we feel that our 16 day full tour of Egypt was exceptional in the quality, breadth and value offered by the tour company, and I deeply thank them for this life changing trip to Egypt. I only hope that I have the means and health to visit again in the future to this amazing country, and when I do, I will be sure to use this company once again. I hope this helps anyone contemplating taking on the Egypt trip with young children, best of luck!
The trip was wonderful! We were impressed by the way the trip was planned. Great hotels and service by the representatives we dealt with. Our transportation vehicles and drivers were all very nice and had prompt pickups. Very thorough explanations of how things will work when we arrived in Athens.
Kicking off in the powerhouse of the Ottoman empire - Istanbul, pay your respects at Gallipoli, get lost in the impressive Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, witness the beautiful Aegean Coast and dip your toes in Pamukkale's beautiful cascading mineral pools.
Discover Western Turkey and cruise through the Mediterranean in our 12 day tour. Similar to the Best of Turkey by Land, this amazing gulet option offers you the choice to mix it up and relax in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Discover the wonders of Istanbul, Gallipoli and the history of Troy and Ephesus and then immerse yourself in the natural healing powers of Pamukkale. The tour is not complete until you have journeyed into the magical world of Cappadocia.
We highly recommend this Best of Italy tour!!! This tour is a great introduction to Italy and includes the key highlights of this beautiful country.
Booking through Bookmundi was easy & the discount appreciated