Cairo to Istanbul overland holiday

country:	Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2008: 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 4 Oct, 11 Oct, 18 Oct, 25 Oct, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov 2009: 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun
price:	From £665 (21 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $300. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed

Overland holidays

Turkey holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

21 days Cairo to Istanbul

Cairo, Red Sea snorkelling, the lost city of Petra, Wadi Rum desert safari, crusader forts, traditional bazaars, the Dead Sea, Cappadocia, Istanbul

An exciting overland adventure through the heart of the Arab world. From the land of the Pharaohs to modern Istanbul, via Jordan and Syria, discover awesome deserts, colourful bazaars, crusader forts, fascinating cultures, beautiful beaches, underground cities and the incredible Dead Sea on this quintessential Middle Eastern adventure.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Cairo. Wander the broad streets and visit the churches of Old Cairo, or escape Cairo's frenetic pace in a local coffee house and watch the world go by.
Day 2:	Mt Sinai. A climb to the top of Mt Sinai for a panoramic desert vista and a visit to the legendary St Katherine's Monastery make this a special day.
Day 3:	Nuweiba. Snorkel the spectacular coral reefs searching for the marine life of the Red Sea before crossing the Gulf of Aqaba to the biblical lands of Jordan.
Day 4:	Aqaba. A leisurely ferry ride takes us to biblical Jordan and the resort of Aqaba.
Day 5:	Wadi Rum. We journey out into the sands of Wadi Rum to follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia. Spending a night in a desert camp with local Bedouin provides a realistic insight into traditional Bedouin life.
Day 6-7:	Petra. Explore majestic Petra, the ruined capital of the Nabataeans. Palaces, temples and tombs were carved from the rose-coloured rock face some 2500 years ago.
Day 8-9:	Madaba. Float in the Dead Sea and wander through Madaba, famous for its beautiful Byzantine mosaics. In Amman, climb the ruined Citadel for outstanding views.
Day 10-11:	Damascus. Visit the Roman city of Jerash and roam the streets of ancient Damascus to learn the history of Sal-uh-din, the greatest Arabic hero ever.
Day 12:	Palmyra. Built over a thousand years ago and once a great oasis city, Palmyra is now a splendid set of ruins in a dramatic scenic setting.
Day 13:	Krak des Chevaliers . This imposing fortress remains one of the world's most impressive castles. The view of the Krak des Chavaliers from the Intrepid hotel is a trip highlight.
Day 14-15:	Aleppo. Revel in the excitement of the souq, and perhaps enjoy a rejuvenating scrub in one of the finest bath houses in Syria.
Day 16:	Antakya. Cross the border into Turkey and see Roman mosaics and the grotto where the apostle St Peter is said to have preached.
Day 17:	Ihlara Valley. Meet the locals in the beautiful Ihlara Valley. Make sure you try the fresh river trout!
Day 18-20:	Cappadocia. Be delighted by the underground cities of Goreme and the whimsical fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.
Day 21:	Istanbul. A fascinating fusion of east and west, Istanbul begs to be explored.

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

Traversing four countries and many different communities it is important for travellers to learn as much as possible in advance about the many cultural differences so that we can travel respecting these differences and minimising any negative impacts. Your group leader and the local guides we use along the way will help to break down barriers in your interactions with local people.

Our travel style:

Grass roots travel using local public transport where possible - minimises demand for special tourist vehicles and fuel.
We choose small-scale locally owned accommodation and homestays where available and local restaurants and markets for dining, retaining revenue in local communities.
Our leaders facilitate communication of our values to travellers and local communities, educating them in sustainable tourism practices.
We employ local guides to aid travellers' understanding of local culture and etiquette.
Small groups allow travellers to experience cultures at first hand, offering greater opportunity for cross- cultural understanding.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.