Today you will visit the open-air Goreme Museum, which is full of pink, rose and white tapering columns. These tall free standing cones of stone, curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. The caves were settled in the 4th Century as monasteries. You will visit some caves in cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian Churches.

In the afternoon, first visit to Kaymakli Underground City carved out of rock and completely self-contained. It is connected to Derinkuyu Underground City by six miles of tunnel. The tour of the region also includes Zelve Valley and villages of Cavusin and Avanos. (b,l,d)

Transfer to Konya and visit the Tomb of Mevlana, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader who founded the sect of “Whirling Dervishes”. Continue to Pamukkale, the cotton fortress, which rises above the fertile Menderes Valley. Hot mineral water burst from the earth and cascade over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic water here was known to founders of curecity of Hierapolis in 190 B.C. (b,l,d)

Stroll through the ruins of ancient Hierapolis, the Roman city, and transfer to Kusadasi.   En route visit Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Return to Kusadasi. (b,l,d)

Visit the ruins of Ephesus, which played a major role in the development of architecture, religions, governmental and economic systems and arts. The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world and center of Pagan religion for 15 centuries. Here Marc Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. This is where St.Paul preached in the great theatre, and in a little house outside the city the Virgin Mary spent her last days. (b,l,d)

In the morning visit Pergamon. This was the hometown of Galen the renowned doctor, and site of his temple devoted to healing, the Asklepion. The library once held 200,000 books all parchment. In the afternoon, drive to Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan Horse. (b,l,d)

Drive in the morning to Istanbul by crossing the Dardanelles Straits. (b,l)

Today you will tour the Egyptian Museum that houses the most spectacular collections of Egyptian artifacts.  View the treasures found in King Tut’s Tomb, and the mummy room.  Also visit the Citadel, the Mosque and the Khan El Khalili Bazaars.

In the afternoon tour Giza, site of the three great pyramids; Cheop, Khefren, and Mykerinos. Have the opportunity to climb within Cheop’s Pyramid to view the inner chamber.  Continue onward to see the elusive Sphinx and the Valley Temple. (b)

   Overnight RAMSES HILTON HOTEL, Cairo

Air ticket: USA / Istanbul / Ankara and Istanbul / Cairo / Aswan

All transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary in Turkey and on the Nile cruise by

   motor coach, except in Cairo by PRIVATE car with English speaking