INTERNATIONAL TOURS

PHILIPPINE ISLAND TOURS

A GLIMPSE OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATION

(Extensive Greece, Turkey, Egypt)

These countries are truly a glimpse of ancient civilization. Enjoy a complete site and visit of the “Ancient Wonders of the World: the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, stroll along the marble streets of Ancient Ephesus in Turkey or walk through the medieval city of Rhodes in Greece where Crusaders gathered before sailing to the Holyland, to name a few! If you love great history, culture and archaeology, these are indeed the countries to visit.

Day 1 MANILA-DOHA-ATHENS

Depart Manila via your favorite airline and enjoy their superb services and sumptuous meals on board. Meet airport assistant on arrival at Athens Airport. Transfer to the Hotel for Check-in. Rest of the day at leisure to relax after a long trip. Dinner and Overnight. (D)

Day 2 ATHENS CITY TOUR

Begin the day with your City Tour. See the famous sights, including Syntagma Square, (Constitution Square), the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Visit the Pan Athenaic Olympic Stadium, and see the Temple of the Olympian Zeus. Visit the World Famous Site of the Acropolis, the Parthenon and Museum. At leisure in the afternoon and discover Plaka, the old quarter of Athens with its many shops, boutiques and restaurants. Dinner and overnight (B, D)

Day 3 SARONIC ISLAND CRUISE

After breakfast, depart the hotel for the Port and embark on your Cruise Ship for the Full Day Cruise to the 3 Saronic Islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra. Lunch is included and served on Board. At each island, get off the boat and discover each island, each one different in their own individual characters. Aegina: famous for BBQ Sea food and Pistachio Nuts, Poros and Hydra: dotted with Boutique shops. On the return journey back to the Port, enjoy the Live Greek Dancing Show. Transfer to the Hotel for Dinner and Overnight. (B, D)

Day 4 ATHENS-ISTANBUL/ADANA/ANTAKYA

After breakfast, prepare transfer to the airport for onward flight to Istanbul and Adana Proceed by coach to Antakya (ancient Antioch) and tour the Mosaic Museum with mosaics dating from the second and third centuries A.D. Then we’ll visit the grotto of St. Peter where followers of Jesus were first called “Christians”. We’ll stroll thru this lovely, cool, grotto where Peter first preached and where reportedly the crusaders found the Lance used to pierce Jesus’ side when he was crucified. We’ll also visit Samandag from where Paul, Silas, Barnabas, John and Mark set out on their ministries. Dinner and overnight at a local hotel in Adana.. (B, D)

Day 5 ADANA/TARSUS/MERSIN

We’ll journey by coach towards Mersin today. Lunch in Adana followed by a stroll thru the bazaar. After this brief walking tour in Adana we’ll continue to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. There are very few historic remains of the city Paul knew in Tarsus now. We’ll see St. Paul’s gate, St. Paul’s well, and St. Paul’s Church. From Tarsus continue to Mersin. (B, D)

Day 6 CAPPADOCIA

Tour through the spectacular Goreme Valley with its glorious landscape created ages ago by volcanic eruptions and erosion. Visits to the Uchisar Fortress and then tour the open air museum which contains many fascinating cave churches with colored frescoes. We’ll see the village of ortahisar, the “Fairy Chimney” landscapes of Zelve, the pottery-making town of Avanos and the town of Urgup. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Nevsehir, Cappadocia. (B, D)

Day 7 CAPPADOCIA/KONYA

We’ll explore the underground city of Derinkuyu (deep well) and the town of Guzelyurt with its many cliff caves. Then on to the Ihlara valley which was formed by erosion caused by the Melendiz River. It is a place of great natural beauty and contains hundreds of churches carved into the stone. On to Sultanhani and a visit to a caravanserai (an inn for ancient camel caravans) from the Selcuk times. Our final destination today is Konya where we will visit the Museum of Mevlana who founded the Mevlevi order of Whirling Dervishes. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Konya. (B, D)

Day 8 KONYA/PAMUKKALE

Today we’ll visit the Mevlana museum. Mevlana was the founder of the order of Whirling Dervishes, a religious sect based on love and tolerance. Continue to Pamukkale region for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 9 PAMUKKALE/EPHESUS/IZMIR

Transfer by coach to Selcuk to visit the Roman ruins at Ephesus. It was here that St. Paul condemned idolatry and the cult of Artemis and set up a Christian community. St. John, author of the fourth gospel of the New Testament, also lived here accompanied by Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus. Lunch enroute. Then we will visit the Basilica of St. John and the House of Virgin Mary where we will hold our thanksgiving mass. Continue our tour of Ephesus with visits to the museum in Selcuk. Then on to Izmir for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 10 IZMIR/ISTANBUL

Prepare transfer to airport for return flight to Istanbul. Begin full day Istanbul city tour which includes: St. Sophia - the magnificent Byzantine church; one of the finest architectural works in the world. It has been nominated as the 8th wonder of the world by many historians. Visit the Blue mosque – one of the largest mosques in Istanbul. Dating from the 17th century, it is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of Istanbul, also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets. See the Hippodrome – the former center of sportive and political activities of Constantinople and see the obelisk from Egypt, serpentine column from Delphi and fountain of Wilhelm ii. Continue to the Grand bazaar – a bazaar that will tempt even the non-shoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather and souvenirs. Topkapi palace – the former imperial residence from where the great ottoman was ruled wit its spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain. Suleymaniye mosque – the mosque of sultan Suleiman “the magnificent” built in the 16th century by Sinan, the famous architect of the time. (B, D)

Day 11 BOSPHORUS CRUISE

Hotel Breakfast. Depart the hotel for the Port and embark on your Cruise an unforgettable excursion that starts between two continents, Europe and Asia. The cruise takes you along the Bosphorus, past the European style palaces of Ottomans, Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi, as well as beautiful wooden kiosks from the 19th century, mansions and modern villas which form the elegant sections of the city. Transfer to the Hotel for Dinner and Overnight. (B, D)

Day 12 ISTANBUL-CAIRO

After breakfast prepare transfer to the airport for onward flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, meet and assist and begin our tour of Cairo which includes visit to the Great pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Sakkara, and to the Papyrus institute where you can find Egypt’s finest work of ancient paper art. Cap the day with a Nile dinner cruise. . Overnight at our hotel (B, D)

Day 13 CAIRO-DOHA-MANILA

This morning we visit the Egyptian museum and discover the rich history and culture of this country. After lunch, prepare for transfer to the airport for return flight to Manila via Doha. ( B )

Day 14 Arrive Manila at ETA 1410 (2:10pm)

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

Roundtrip economy airfare

Roundtrip airport transfers

Hotel accommodations on twin sharing on half board meals

Tours as specified in the itinerary, entrance fees included

Motor coach by a deluxe air-conditioned bus

Services of English speaking local guides

All domestic flights

Porte rage of one (1) piece of luggage at hotels

Services of a tour escort and Pilgrimage chaplain

Pre-departure merienda briefing with travel kit

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATIONS:

Deposit of USD$500.00 per person upon reservation payable in USD Dollars, USD$200.00 is non-refundable once visas granted or if cancellation

is done one month prior departure date;

Balance or full payment in U.S. Dollars due before ticketing or three (3) weeks before departure date .Fifty percent (50%) of tour cost will be imposed

if cancellation is done than two (2) weeks before departure date

Full tour cost will be forfeited if cancellation is done 1 week before departure date.

Unused portion of the tour is non-refundable.

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE Philippine travel tax (PHP 1620.00), airport taxes, visas fees and documentation expenses, taxes on air ticket , travel insurance, medical and hospitalization expenses, tours and transportation expenses during free periods, porter age of extra luggage, drinks and meals not specified in the itinerary, tip fund for drivers and guides and such other personal nature like telephone calls, fax, laundry, room service and expenses not mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.

EPHESUS TRAVEL AND TOURS has arranged for the various tour services to be performed under the responsibility of various operators. Our company or its subagents therefore only acts as agents for the operators providing the various services described in this tour and assume no responsibility or liability that may occur out of or in connection with losses or unexpected expenses due to delays, overbooking, and defaults. The tour itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice. Company reserves the right to increase the tour cost or cancel/reschedule the departure should we fall short of the required number of passengers. The payment for a reservation fee on the tour shall constitute acceptance and consent to all provisions in the tour conditions/responsibility published in this tour.