Istanbul to Nairobi
Tour Itinerary
Weeks 1 to 2: Accommodation: 
Turkey
Start in Istanbul, Turkey with its olive groves and sweet baklava. Why not get to Istanbul on the original Orient Express train from London? Our first stop is ANZAC’s Gallipoli to pay our respects to the fallen heroes of the expeditionary force. We cross to Asia by ferry to the wooden horse at Troy and to Selcuk and the limestone curtain of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Ephesus. Then to Olympus to visit the Chimera Eternal flame and the Turquoise Coast at Kas. Heading into Cappadocia we visit the fairy tale land carved by the weather into the volcanic ash. Try a Turkish bath and some belly dancing whilst you’re here.
Weeks 3 to 4: Accommodation: Jordan and Syria
We head into Syria at Bab el Howa or “Gate of the Winds” and descend on to the plains to Aleppo with its ancient markets and buildings. Here we see crusader castles and the myriad of things to buy in the many souks of Damascus – the oldest city in the world. We cross the border to Jordan and a quick dip in the Dead Sea before heading up to Petra the ancient rock city and into Wadi Rum and memories from "Lawrence of Arabia". We take a ferry to the Sinai Desert, Egypt
Weeks 5 to 7: Accommodation: Egypt: Cairo, Pyramids, Sphinx
On the Sinai Peninsular at Dahab we have a few days to relax on the beach of the Red Sea. This is one of the best places to go scuba diving in the world. We cross the Suez Canal to Cairo where we spent a few days to look at the great pyramids in Giza and the immense collections of the Cairo Museum with treasures and chariots and golden masks thousands of years old Luxor, we visit Karnak Temple the Colossi of Memnon & Valley of the Kings & Tutankhamen's Tomb on donkeys. In Aswan we visit the High Dam & Philae Island Temple. Most take a felucca sailing boat on the river for a few days and also go to see the Temples of Abu Simbel. We take the ferry crossing Lake Nasserto Wadi Halfa in to the desert of Sudan
Weeks 8 to 9: Accommodation: Sudan
From Wadi Halfa we cross the sandy Nubian and Bayuda Deserts stopping at time forgotten friendly villages on the Nile. We visit the Pharonic Pyramids of Meroe in an un-spoilt, seldom visited desert setting. Khartoum where the Blue & White Nile join watch dervish dancing or even join in the Nubian wrestling - safer just to watch. We follow the Blue Nile to Gedaref and Ethiopia.
Weeks 10 to 12: Accommodation: Ethiopia
Tissisat Falls is the source of the Blue Nile. We visit Gondar; a city of castles and churches. You can take Landrovers to visit the Simien Mountains where you can horse trek and see grazing Gelada Baboons. Take boats to visit Bahir Dar Monasteries on islands on Lake Tana the source of the Blue Nile, with hippos and crocs at the outflow of the river. We briefly visit the capitol Addis Ababa and follow the Rift Valley Lakes south to Kenya.
Week 13: Accommodation: Kenya
We continue south into the "Northern Frontier District" of Kenya, a restricted area; semi arid with a spectacular diversity of people, wild game on the road side and a pleasant dry climate We visit Samburu Park. We stop at the base of Mount Kenya before reaching Nairobi.
NOTE: Africa is an unpredictable continent. We do not have a fixed itinerary so please treat the information given as a guideline only. Although our information is written in good faith at the time of printing, our route may vary at any time due to weather, politics or road conditions. For an updated dossier containing a more detailed itinerary and information on visas, vaccinations, spending money, optional excursions and other useful information please contact us. Of all the trips we run this is the most likely to have a change of route due to local conditions and visa requirements.