7 nights. Egypt, Cyprus, Greece

Day 1

heraklion (iraklion), crete

Departure: 22:00

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and usually the starting point for holiday visitors wishing to explore the island. With about 130 000 inhabitants, it is the fifth largest town in Greece. The city is marked by different influences of Venetians, Saracens and Greeks. History is very much alive in Heraklion just like in most Greek cities. All around the old part of the city, a visitor can walk following the old Venetian walls that meet at a bastion, called Koules Fortress that dominates the old harbour of the city. The Venetians began the construction of the city walls in 1462 and they took more than a century to complete. The walls are about 4km in length and of a triangular shape with seven bastions and is now one of the icons of the city. The central square, surrounded by stores, cafes, and restaurants, is dominated by the fountain of the Lions, built by a Venetian governor in the 17th century. The Archaeological Museum at Heraklion is impressive and it is the pride and joy of the city. The displays are satisfyingly thorough and well laid out, all aspects of life in Crete from prehistory through to the Roman period is covered in a series of spacious galleries. The Palace at Knossos is the second most popular tourist site in all of Greece, second only to the Acropolis, the site is in incredible shape and there is much to see. It is also in a beautiful setting with great views over the countryside. Heraklion offers a vast array of historic and archaeological holiday attractions, including its world-famous museum and the nearby site of Knossos, heart of the ancient Minoan civilisation. The shoreline in the city, Amoudara, is a three kilometre strip of sandy beach, lots of cafes, bars and hotels and the site of Technopolis, a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theatre. The most beautiful beaches outside the city are found in Kartero and Malia.

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Day 3

alexandria, egypt

Arrival: 06:00 - Departure: 23:30

Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city, its largest seaport and the country's window onto the Mediterranean Sea. It's a faded shade of its former glorious cosmopolitan self, but still worth a visit for its many cultural attractions and still-palpable glimpses of its past. The most important sites to see in Alexandria are: • Qaitbay Citadel, Ras el-Tin: One of the icons of the city, the fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the city itself. This citadel was built in 1480 by Sultan Qaitbay on the site of the Pharos lighthouse, to protect the city from the crusaders who used to attack the city by sea. It was erected on the exact site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria. • Mostafa Kamel Cemetery: The cemetery includes four tombs dating from the second century BC, which are in excellent condition and very well decorated. • Kom el-Shouqafa, Karmou: Kom el-Shouqafa is the Arabic translation of ancient Greek name, Lofus Kiramaikos, which means "mound of fragments" or "pots". • Pompey's Pillar, Karmouz: An ancient monument, this column of 25 meters of granite was built in honor of Emperor Diocletian in the year 297. The confined area where the column is, has also other ruins and sculptures as the oracle Serapium. • Roman Theatre, Kom El-Dikka: Built in the second century AD. In Ptolemaic times this area was the Park of Pan, a garden of pleasure surrounded by Roman villas and baths. • Montazah Palace: Built in 1892 by Abbas II of Egypt Abbas Hilmi Pasha, the last Khedive of Egypt. One of the palace buildings, the Haramlek, now contains a casino on the ground floor and a museum of royal relics on the upper levels. • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Mansheya: Egypt has a Tomb of this Unknown Soldier. • Presidential Palace, Montazah. • Alexandria National Museum: historical museum with more than 1,800 archaeological pieces. • Greco-Roman Museum: A history museum with a vast collection mostly dating from the 3rd century BC, spanning the Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

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Day 5

limassol, cyprus

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 18:00

Limassol is the second largest city of Cyprus. After the Turkish invasion in 1974, it became the principal sea port and has also developed into a significant tourist destination. Limassol Castle occupies a dominant position in the landmark and tourist attractions in the city. In Limassol, shore excursions offer a unique experience of exploring the city's various monuments and landmarks amidst the elaborate luxury of a cruise. Shore excursions take tourists to places and attractions in and nearby Limassol, including Kolossi Castle, Troodos Mountains, Omodos Village, Larnaka and Lefkara, Paphos and Nicosia.

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Day 6

rhodes, greece

Arrival: 11:00 - Departure: 20:00

Rhodes is the principal city and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rhodes, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has a population of approximately 50,000 inhabitants (near 90,000 in its metropolitan area). Rhodes has been famous since antiquity as the site of Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The citadel of Rhodes, built by the Hospitalliers, is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, which in 1988 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the city of Rhodes is an important Greek urban center and popular international tourist destination.

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Day 7

patmos, greece

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Patmos is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, one of the northernmost islands of the Dodecanese complex. Worldwide known as a sacred island for it is the place where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation, Patmos is an ideal destination for nature lovers thanks to its lace-like coastline, sheer cliffs and volcanic soil. Designated as “Holy Island” by the Greek Parliament in 1981 as well as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, Patmos had been used as a place of exile by the Romans on account of its steep morphology.

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Day 8

heraklion (iraklion), crete

Arrival: 04:00

Heraklion is the capital of Crete and usually the starting point for holiday visitors wishing to explore the island. With about 130 000 inhabitants, it is the fifth largest town in Greece. The city is marked by different influences of Venetians, Saracens and Greeks. History is very much alive in Heraklion just like in most Greek cities. All around the old part of the city, a visitor can walk following the old Venetian walls that meet at a bastion, called Koules Fortress that dominates the old harbour of the city. The Venetians began the construction of the city walls in 1462 and they took more than a century to complete. The walls are about 4km in length and of a triangular shape with seven bastions and is now one of the icons of the city. The central square, surrounded by stores, cafes, and restaurants, is dominated by the fountain of the Lions, built by a Venetian governor in the 17th century. The Archaeological Museum at Heraklion is impressive and it is the pride and joy of the city. The displays are satisfyingly thorough and well laid out, all aspects of life in Crete from prehistory through to the Roman period is covered in a series of spacious galleries. The Palace at Knossos is the second most popular tourist site in all of Greece, second only to the Acropolis, the site is in incredible shape and there is much to see. It is also in a beautiful setting with great views over the countryside. Heraklion offers a vast array of historic and archaeological holiday attractions, including its world-famous museum and the nearby site of Knossos, heart of the ancient Minoan civilisation. The shoreline in the city, Amoudara, is a three kilometre strip of sandy beach, lots of cafes, bars and hotels and the site of Technopolis, a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theatre. The most beautiful beaches outside the city are found in Kartero and Malia.

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7 nights. Egypt, Cyprus, Greece

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