Giza Trip Overview
We are Americans with Egyptian Heritage. We create exceptional travel experiences in Egypt for our fellow Americans. We include more for better value tours. You have more choices when traveling with us. On this 12-day Egyptian land and river adventure escorted by Rebecca (Our Travel Consultant) from the US office and your experienced Egyptologist local tour guide; Visit most of Egypt’s star-studded sites and see the early attempts of building pyramids. Take a day trip to the beautiful Qaroon Lake in Fayoum where you will see farms, lakes, and ancient whale bones. Fly to Luxor where you’ll visit Karnak, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hathshepsut’s Temple before you set sail for Aswan, then get prepared to see the incredible Abu Simbel. Once the cruise concludes, return to Cairo to experience many more wonders: museums, Islamic and Christian monuments. This trip would not be complete without heading to the Mediterranean to visit the second largest city–Alexandria.
Additional Info
Duration: 12 days
Starts: Giza, Egypt
Trip Category: Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours >> Air Tours
Explore Giza Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt
We are Americans with Egyptian Heritage. We create exceptional travel experiences in Egypt for our fellow Americans. We include more for better value tours. You have more choices when traveling with us. On this 12-day Egyptian land and river adventure escorted by Rebecca (Our Travel Consultant) from the US office and your experienced Egyptologist local tour guide; Visit most of Egypt’s star-studded sites and see the early attempts of building pyramids. Take a day trip to the beautiful Qaroon Lake in Fayoum where you will see farms, lakes, and ancient whale bones. Fly to Luxor where you’ll visit Karnak, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hathshepsut’s Temple before you set sail for Aswan, then get prepared to see the incredible Abu Simbel. Once the cruise concludes, return to Cairo to experience many more wonders: museums, Islamic and Christian monuments. This trip would not be complete without heading to the Mediterranean to visit the second largest city–Alexandria.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and Overnight in Cairo
Stop At: Cairo, Cairo, Cairo Governorate
Today you arrive in Cairo International Airport and meet with the tour coordinator and driver. They will help you navigate your way through the airport and escort you to your hotel. Once at the hotel, the tour coordinator will provide details regarding Day 2 Excursions. You will spend the night in the hotel and awake for a day full of adventure.
Duration: 30 minutes
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Meridien Pyramids 5 star Hotel
Day 2: The Great Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, Serapeum, and Memphis
Stop At: Pyramids of Giza, Al Haram Str., Giza 12611 Egypt
After eating breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by the Egyptologist who will provide your full day of touring. The adventure begins west of the Nile River in a town called Giza. It is here you will witness Egypt’s most visited attractions—the Pyramids at Giza and the Great Sphinx. Built for three kings of the Fourth Dynasty, the pyramids were designed to be the tombs of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. In addition to the three main pyramids, you will see the queens’ pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
The next stop for today will be the ancient city of Saqqara, an amazing display of how tomb and pyramid-building progressed. Saqqara is a necropolis containing burials from different dynasties. It includes both royal and nonroyal tombs, mastabas, and cemeteries. We continue to the Serapeum of Saqqara where we will enter a series of tunnels to see the sarcophagi of the Apis bulls, sacred to the god Ptah.
Ptah was the local god of the town of Memphis, our next location. He was a patron of artisans and craftsman and was also considered a creator god. Memphis was founded in 2925 BC, and the Egyptian king Menes helped to unite upper Egypt and lower Egypt. In fact, it was the capital during the Old Kingdom. Memphis is an open-air museum with many things to see such as a statue of Rameses II and the famous 80-ton sphinx made out of one gigantic piece of alabaster.
After you have explored the splendors of the day, your driver will return to your hotel, any you will be at leisure for the evening. Overnight in the hotel at Giza. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Saqqara (Sakkara) Pyramids, Al Giza Desert, Saqqara 12919 Egypt
After eating breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by the Egyptologist who will provide your full day of touring. The adventure begins west of the Nile River in a town called Giza. It is here you will witness Egypt’s most visited attractions—the Pyramids at Giza and the Great Sphinx. Built for three kings of the Fourth Dynasty, the pyramids were designed to be the tombs of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. In addition to the three main pyramids, you will see the queens’ pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
The next stop for today will be the ancient city of Saqqara, an amazing display of how tomb and pyramid-building progressed. Saqqara is a necropolis containing burials from different dynasties. It includes both royal and nonroyal tombs, mastabas, and cemeteries. We continue to the Serapeum of Saqqara where we will enter a series of tunnels to see the sarcophagi of the Apis bulls, sacred to the god Ptah.
Ptah was the local god of the town of Memphis, our next location. He was a patron of artisans and craftsman and was also considered a creator god. Memphis was founded in 2925 BC, and the Egyptian king Menes helped to unite upper Egypt and lower Egypt. In fact, it was the capital during the Old Kingdom. Memphis is an open-air museum with many things to see such as a statue of Rameses II and the famous 80-ton sphinx made out of one gigantic piece of alabaster.
After you have explored the splendors of the day, your driver will return to your hotel, any you will be at leisure for the evening. Overnight in the hotel at Giza. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Serapeum, Saqqara Egypt
After eating breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by the Egyptologist who will provide your full day of touring. The adventure begins west of the Nile River in a town called Giza. It is here you will witness Egypt’s most visited attractions—the Pyramids at Giza and the Great Sphinx. Built for three kings of the Fourth Dynasty, the pyramids were designed to be the tombs of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. In addition to the three main pyramids, you will see the queens’ pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
The next stop for today will be the ancient city of Saqqara, an amazing display of how tomb and pyramid-building progressed. Saqqara is a necropolis containing burials from different dynasties. It includes both royal and nonroyal tombs, mastabas, and cemeteries. We continue to the Serapeum of Saqqara where we will enter a series of tunnels to see the sarcophagi of the Apis bulls, sacred to the god Ptah.
Ptah was the local god of the town of Memphis, our next location. He was a patron of artisans and craftsman and was also considered a creator god. Memphis was founded in 2925 BC, and the Egyptian king Menes helped to unite upper Egypt and lower Egypt. In fact, it was the capital during the Old Kingdom. Memphis is an open-air museum with many things to see such as a statue of Rameses II and the famous 80-ton sphinx made out of one gigantic piece of alabaster.
After you have explored the splendors of the day, your driver will return to your hotel, any you will be at leisure for the evening. Overnight in the hotel at Giza. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Memphis and Sakkara, Saqqara 12919 Egypt
After eating breakfast at your hotel, you will be met by the Egyptologist who will provide your full day of touring. The adventure begins west of the Nile River in a town called Giza. It is here you will witness Egypt’s most visited attractions—the Pyramids at Giza and the Great Sphinx. Built for three kings of the Fourth Dynasty, the pyramids were designed to be the tombs of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. In addition to the three main pyramids, you will see the queens’ pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
The next stop for today will be the ancient city of Saqqara, an amazing display of how tomb and pyramid-building progressed. Saqqara is a necropolis containing burials from different dynasties. It includes both royal and nonroyal tombs, mastabas, and cemeteries. We continue to the Serapeum of Saqqara where we will enter a series of tunnels to see the sarcophagi of the Apis bulls, sacred to the god Ptah.
Ptah was the local god of the town of Memphis, our next location. He was a patron of artisans and craftsman and was also considered a creator god. Memphis was founded in 2925 BC, and the Egyptian king Menes helped to unite upper Egypt and lower Egypt. In fact, it was the capital during the Old Kingdom. Memphis is an open-air museum with many things to see such as a statue of Rameses II and the famous 80-ton sphinx made out of one gigantic piece of alabaster.
After you have explored the splendors of the day, your driver will return to your hotel, any you will be at leisure for the evening. Overnight in the hotel at Giza. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Meridien Pyramids 5 star Hotel
Day 3: Fayoum Qaroon Lake, City Tour
Stop At: Al-Fayoum Oasis tours, Fayoum , Taha Hussien Street Fayoum, Al Fayyum 63121 Egypt
Today we will head out for a unique expedition. After breakfast, we will head to the city of Fayoum to enjoy Qaroon Lake. The views along the way are beautiful, and Qaroon Lake is filled with abundant wildlife, including many migratory birds. While in Fayoum we will go to Wadi Al-Hitan, also known as Whale Valley. At Wadi Al-Hitan you will have the opportunity to see ancient whale bones from the now extinct suborder, the Archaeoceti. These fossils expertly show how whales evolved from a land-dwelling animal to a water animal. Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, this is one place not to miss. Once we conclude our visit for the day, we will return to Cairo for an overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Meridien Pyramids 5 star Hotel
Day 4: Flight to Luxor, Karnak Temple, Luxor
Stop At: Karnak Open Air Museum, You Require a separate ticket within the walls of Karnak Temple, Luxor Egypt
Be ready for an early flight this morning as we head to Luxor, the site of the famous Thebes and the World’s Largest Outdoor Museum. Whereas Egypt holds thirty percent of the world’s antiquities, Luxor holds seventy percent of Egypt’s antiquities. The importance of this city in Egypt’s history is unparalleled. Upon arrival to Luxor we will begin our day of touring in the East Bank where we will find the Karnak and Luxor temples. The Karnak temple, also known as the Temple of Amun-Ra, honored not only Amun-Ra but Osiris, Montu, Isis, Ptah, and other Egyptian rulers. The area of Karnak Temple is around 200 acres, so it is immense. In fact, the debate is still on as to whether it or Angor Wat (in Cambodia) is the largest temple. As we leave Karnak, we will begin our trip to the Luxor temple. At one time there were sphinxes that lined a path from Karnak to Luxor, but it is not fully excavated. You will, however see a portion of the sphinx alley as it leads to the Luxor temple. Luxor temple is one of the most intact temples, so you will see many interesting statues, hieroglyphs, and rooms. Your day will end as you board the cruise ship for the evening. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Luxor Temple, Luxor 23512 Egypt
Be ready for an early flight this morning as we head to Luxor, the site of the famous Thebes and the World’s Largest Outdoor Museum. Whereas Egypt holds thirty percent of the world’s antiquities, Luxor holds seventy percent of Egypt’s antiquities. The importance of this city in Egypt’s history is unparalleled. Upon arrival to Luxor we will begin our day of touring in the East Bank where we will find the Karnak and Luxor temples. The Karnak temple, also known as the Temple of Amun-Ra, honored not only Amun-Ra but Osiris, Montu, Isis, Ptah, and other Egyptian rulers. The area of Karnak Temple is around 200 acres, so it is immense. In fact, the debate is still on as to whether it or Angor Wat (in Cambodia) is the largest temple. As we leave Karnak, we will begin our trip to the Luxor temple. At one time there were sphinxes that lined a path from Karnak to Luxor, but it is not fully excavated. You will, however see a portion of the sphinx alley as it leads to the Luxor temple. Luxor temple is one of the most intact temples, so you will see many interesting statues, hieroglyphs, and rooms. Your day will end as you board the cruise ship for the evening. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Farah Luxurious 5 star Nile Cruise
Day 5: Valley of the Kings, Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el Medina, Colossi of Memnon
Stop At: Valley of the Kings, Luxor City, Luxor 85511 Egypt
We cannot leave Luxor before we visit the west bank of the Nile. Today we will take the time to visit several sites. One of the sites we will visit is the Valley of the Kings. After pyramid building began to wane, the kings still needed a final resting place to preserve themselves and store all their treasures. Housing nearly all the tombs for the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties, the Valley of the Kings was designed to help hide the burial places of the kings to prevent looting. One of the most famous tombs here is the tomb of Tutankhamen. We will have the opportunity to explore some of the tombs. Next, we move to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the wife to Thutmose II but became pharaoh after he died. This mortuary temple was modeled after Mentuhotep’s but at a much larger scale. We will explore this beautiful temple which is set into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. As we continue our sightseeing, we will move to Deir el-Medina, which is the ancient village of the craftsmen of the Valley of the Kings. Our last site to visit will be the Colossi of Memnon where you will see two (nearly 60 feet tall) seated statues of Amenhotep III. These statues were once the entrance to Amenhotep’s mortuary temple. As our day concludes, we will return to our cruise ship and prepare for an overnight trip to Edfu via the Esna Lock. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, Kings Valley Rd Deir el-Bahari, Luxor 23512 Egypt
We cannot leave Luxor before we visit the west bank of the Nile. Today we will take the time to visit several sites. One of the sites we will visit is the Valley of the Kings. After pyramid building began to wane, the kings still needed a final resting place to preserve themselves and store all their treasures. Housing nearly all the tombs for the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties, the Valley of the Kings was designed to help hide the burial places of the kings to prevent looting. One of the most famous tombs here is the tomb of Tutankhamen. We will have the opportunity to explore some of the tombs. Next, we move to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the wife to Thutmose II but became pharaoh after he died. This mortuary temple was modeled after Mentuhotep’s but at a much larger scale. We will explore this beautiful temple which is set into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. As we continue our sightseeing, we will move to Deir el-Medina, which is the ancient village of the craftsmen of the Valley of the Kings. Our last site to visit will be the Colossi of Memnon where you will see two (nearly 60 feet tall) seated statues of Amenhotep III. These statues were once the entrance to Amenhotep’s mortuary temple. As our day concludes, we will return to our cruise ship and prepare for an overnight trip to Edfu via the Esna Lock. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Valley of the Artisans (Deir el-Medina), Deir el-Medina, Luxor Egypt
We cannot leave Luxor before we visit the west bank of the Nile. Today we will take the time to visit several sites. One of the sites we will visit is the Valley of the Kings. After pyramid building began to wane, the kings still needed a final resting place to preserve themselves and store all their treasures. Housing nearly all the tombs for the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties, the Valley of the Kings was designed to help hide the burial places of the kings to prevent looting. One of the most famous tombs here is the tomb of Tutankhamen. We will have the opportunity to explore some of the tombs. Next, we move to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the wife to Thutmose II but became pharaoh after he died. This mortuary temple was modeled after Mentuhotep’s but at a much larger scale. We will explore this beautiful temple which is set into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. As we continue our sightseeing, we will move to Deir el-Medina, which is the ancient village of the craftsmen of the Valley of the Kings. Our last site to visit will be the Colossi of Memnon where you will see two (nearly 60 feet tall) seated statues of Amenhotep III. These statues were once the entrance to Amenhotep’s mortuary temple. As our day concludes, we will return to our cruise ship and prepare for an overnight trip to Edfu via the Esna Lock. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Colossi of Memnon, Thebes, Luxor Egypt
We cannot leave Luxor before we visit the west bank of the Nile. Today we will take the time to visit several sites. One of the sites we will visit is the Valley of the Kings. After pyramid building began to wane, the kings still needed a final resting place to preserve themselves and store all their treasures. Housing nearly all the tombs for the kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties, the Valley of the Kings was designed to help hide the burial places of the kings to prevent looting. One of the most famous tombs here is the tomb of Tutankhamen. We will have the opportunity to explore some of the tombs. Next, we move to the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the wife to Thutmose II but became pharaoh after he died. This mortuary temple was modeled after Mentuhotep’s but at a much larger scale. We will explore this beautiful temple which is set into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. As we continue our sightseeing, we will move to Deir el-Medina, which is the ancient village of the craftsmen of the Valley of the Kings. Our last site to visit will be the Colossi of Memnon where you will see two (nearly 60 feet tall) seated statues of Amenhotep III. These statues were once the entrance to Amenhotep’s mortuary temple. As our day concludes, we will return to our cruise ship and prepare for an overnight trip to Edfu via the Esna Lock. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 15 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Farah Luxurious 5 star Nile Cruise
Day 6: Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo, Sail to Aswan
Stop At: Temple of Horus, Adfo, Edfu Egypt
Welcome to the Edfu temple. Located on the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan, the Edfu temple, also known as the Temple of Horus, is the tallest and best-preserved temple in Egypt. This temple was designed to honor the divine birth of Horus and the pharaoh. We will take some time to explore this temple before we return to our cruise ship and set sail for the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple built for the falcon god Horus and the crocodile god Sobek. Kom Ombo also contains an engraving which is thought to depict the first use of medical and surgical instruments. Once we complete our tour of this fascinating place, we will board the cruise ship and head for Aswan. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Temple of Kom Ombo, Nagoa Ash Shatb, Kom Ombo 81611 Egypt
Welcome to the Edfu temple. Located on the Nile River between Luxor and Aswan, the Edfu temple, also known as the Temple of Horus, is the tallest and best-preserved temple in Egypt. This temple was designed to honor the divine birth of Horus and the pharaoh. We will take some time to explore this temple before we return to our cruise ship and set sail for the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple built for the falcon god Horus and the crocodile god Sobek. Kom Ombo also contains an engraving which is thought to depict the first use of medical and surgical instruments. Once we complete our tour of this fascinating place, we will board the cruise ship and head for Aswan. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Farah Luxurious 5 star Nile Cruise
Day 7: Abu Simbel, Felucca Ride
Stop At: Abu Simbel Temple Complex, Abu Simbel, Abu Simbel Egypt
After our breakfast on the cruise ship, we will begin our journey to Abu Simbel. Abu Simbel is not only an amazing site built for Ramses II and his wife Nefertari, but it also presents the amazing feat of ingenuity. In the 1960s the Egyptian government began construction on Aswan High Dam. Its purpose was to prevent the annual flooding of the Nile River and to bring electricity to all people of Egypt. The trouble with the High Dam was it would permanently flood many of the antiquities. As a result, massive projects were begun to help preserve these sites. Abu Simbel was one of them. Over the course of several years, Abu Simbel was cut apart and reconstructed on a higher plane, so visitors would still be able to stand in awe of ancient Egyptian ingenuity. Today our guide will take us through both the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Small Temple of Nefertari as we see just how incredible the temples are.
Once our tour has concluded we will return to our cruise ship for lunch and a little leisure time. In the early evening you will board a felucca for a lovely boat ride through Aswan. You will learn about the Nubian village as you have time to explore some of Aswan’s outstanding natural beauty.
Your evening will be at your leisure as you spend your last night on board the ship.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Farah Luxurious 5 star Nile Cruise
Day 8: High Dam, Philae Temple, and Fly back to Cairo
Stop At: Aswan High Dam, Manteqet As Sad Al Aali, Aswan Egypt
Today we say goodbye to all the wonderful people we met on the cruise ship and begin our touring at the Aswan High Dam. The High Dam was built between 1960 and 1970 to help control Nile flooding, provide water storage for irrigation, and to bring electricity to the people of Egypt. Prior to the High Dam being built, the Aswan Low Dam served to provide similar effects to the Nile River. Today the High Dam protects the Nile basin from flooding and droughts while providing jobs for many Egyptian people.
Once our visit to the High Dam concludes, we will continue on to the Philae Temple. This temple was dedicated to Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother to Horus. Like Abu Simbel, the Philae Temple also had to be moved to a new location because of the construction of the High Dam. The process to move the Philae Temple was quite intense as a temporary dam was built around the majority of the temple and the water was pumped out of the space. This allowed the architects and other skilled craftsmen to disassemble then reassemble the site. To get to the Philae temple, you will take a water taxi.
Our next stop will be to the Aswan airport as we take flight back to Cairo. We will once again be met with a tour coordinator and driver who will take you to your hotel. You will be able to enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Temple of Philae, Island of Agilika, Aswan Egypt
Today we say goodbye to all the wonderful people we met on the cruise ship and begin our touring at the Aswan High Dam. The High Dam was built between 1960 and 1970 to help control Nile flooding, provide water storage for irrigation, and to bring electricity to the people of Egypt. Prior to the High Dam being built, the Aswan Low Dam served to provide similar effects to the Nile River. Today the High Dam protects the Nile basin from flooding and droughts while providing jobs for many Egyptian people.
Once our visit to the High Dam concludes, we will continue on to the Philae Temple. This temple was dedicated to Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother to Horus. Like Abu Simbel, the Philae Temple also had to be moved to a new location because of the construction of the High Dam. The process to move the Philae Temple was quite intense as a temporary dam was built around the majority of the temple and the water was pumped out of the space. This allowed the architects and other skilled craftsmen to disassemble then reassemble the site. To get to the Philae temple, you will take a water taxi.
Our next stop will be to the Aswan airport as we take flight back to Cairo. We will once again be met with a tour coordinator and driver who will take you to your hotel. You will be able to enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Grand Nile Tower 5 star Hotel
Day 9: Egyptian Museum, Citadel of Saladin, Khan el Khalili, and Moez Street
Stop At: The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Midan El Tahrir Geographical Society Building, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Our first stop will be the Egyptian Museum. This museum houses over 120,000 artifacts from Egyptian history. Some of their most famous include the entire collection of Tutankhamen. Your guide will introduce some of the many important pieces as well as allow you some time to wander through the museum to peruse the collections. Once we finish with the museum, we will head to Abu Tarek for lunch. Abu Tarek is a multi-story restaurant that serves wonderful Koshary. It is definitely a special Egyptian treat.
You might have noticed a wall in parts of Cairo. This wall served to protect ancient Cairo and another city called Ayyubid from the Crusaders. Sala-Al-Din (Saladin) was the leader of the Ayyubid, and he decided to fortify both his city and ancient Cairo with this wall. It proved to be quite formidable as the Citadel of Saladin was nearly impenetrable. Today, as we learn about the history of the Citadel, we also venture inside the walls to the highest point, the Mohamed Ali Mosque. This ancient mosque is quite beautiful and will provide greater insight into most of the Egyptians’ religion, Islam.
Next up is the Khan el Khalili Bazaar. It is a wonderful depiction of an ancient outdoor shopping center. You will have the opportunity to wander the narrow alleyways and see many items unique to the Egyptian markets. As you continue to wander, you will have the opportunity to traverse Cairo’s oldest street—El-Moez Street. This pedestrian only street, just beyond Khan el Khalili, is an open-air museum and runs over half a mile. Moez Street is less touristy and provides those who travel it a unique look at Islamic architecture.
We then drive back to your hotel in Cairo for the evening at leisure. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
**Ladies please consider bringing a scarf with you on our tour today. It will be needed to enter the Mohamed Ali Mosque. Also, conservative dress is required while inside the mosque.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Cairo Citadel, Salah Salem St, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Our first stop will be the Egyptian Museum. This museum houses over 120,000 artifacts from Egyptian history. Some of their most famous include the entire collection of Tutankhamen. Your guide will introduce some of the many important pieces as well as allow you some time to wander through the museum to peruse the collections. Once we finish with the museum, we will head to Abu Tarek for lunch. Abu Tarek is a multi-story restaurant that serves wonderful Koshary. It is definitely a special Egyptian treat.
You might have noticed a wall in parts of Cairo. This wall served to protect ancient Cairo and another city called Ayyubid from the Crusaders. Sala-Al-Din (Saladin) was the leader of the Ayyubid, and he decided to fortify both his city and ancient Cairo with this wall. It proved to be quite formidable as the Citadel of Saladin was nearly impenetrable. Today, as we learn about the history of the Citadel, we also venture inside the walls to the highest point, the Mohamed Ali Mosque. This ancient mosque is quite beautiful and will provide greater insight into most of the Egyptians’ religion, Islam.
Next up is the Khan el Khalili Bazaar. It is a wonderful depiction of an ancient outdoor shopping center. You will have the opportunity to wander the narrow alleyways and see many items unique to the Egyptian markets. As you continue to wander, you will have the opportunity to traverse Cairo’s oldest street—El-Moez Street. This pedestrian only street, just beyond Khan el Khalili, is an open-air museum and runs over half a mile. Moez Street is less touristy and provides those who travel it a unique look at Islamic architecture.
We then drive back to your hotel in Cairo for the evening at leisure. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
**Ladies please consider bringing a scarf with you on our tour today. It will be needed to enter the Mohamed Ali Mosque. Also, conservative dress is required while inside the mosque.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Khan Al-Khalili, Cairo Egypt
Our first stop will be the Egyptian Museum. This museum houses over 120,000 artifacts from Egyptian history. Some of their most famous include the entire collection of Tutankhamen. Your guide will introduce some of the many important pieces as well as allow you some time to wander through the museum to peruse the collections. Once we finish with the museum, we will head to Abu Tarek for lunch. Abu Tarek is a multi-story restaurant that serves wonderful Koshary. It is definitely a special Egyptian treat.
You might have noticed a wall in parts of Cairo. This wall served to protect ancient Cairo and another city called Ayyubid from the Crusaders. Sala-Al-Din (Saladin) was the leader of the Ayyubid, and he decided to fortify both his city and ancient Cairo with this wall. It proved to be quite formidable as the Citadel of Saladin was nearly impenetrable. Today, as we learn about the history of the Citadel, we also venture inside the walls to the highest point, the Mohamed Ali Mosque. This ancient mosque is quite beautiful and will provide greater insight into most of the Egyptians’ religion, Islam.
Next up is the Khan el Khalili Bazaar. It is a wonderful depiction of an ancient outdoor shopping center. You will have the opportunity to wander the narrow alleyways and see many items unique to the Egyptian markets. As you continue to wander, you will have the opportunity to traverse Cairo’s oldest street—El-Moez Street. This pedestrian only street, just beyond Khan el Khalili, is an open-air museum and runs over half a mile. Moez Street is less touristy and provides those who travel it a unique look at Islamic architecture.
We then drive back to your hotel in Cairo for the evening at leisure. Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
**Ladies please consider bringing a scarf with you on our tour today. It will be needed to enter the Mohamed Ali Mosque. Also, conservative dress is required while inside the mosque.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Grand Nile Tower 5 star Hotel
Day 10: Coptic Cairo and St. Simon Monastery, and Drive to Alexandria
Stop At: Coptic Cairo, Cairo Egypt
Our day commences with visits to both Coptic Cairo and the Monastery of St. Simon. In Coptic Cairo we will have the opportunity to see many Christian churches and influences for Egypt. One church in particular, the Monastery of St. Simon is one of those churches. The journey to get there is a bit arduous as you will pass the Zabaleen village. Translated, Zabaleen means “garbage collectors”. In 1969 the Cairo governor moved all the garbage collectors to one area. Most of them were Coptic Christians, and as their numbers swelled, the need for a larger church was established. While you will pass all the garbage collectors in Cairo, you will end the journey in the largest Coptic Christian Church in the middle east. St. Simon is built into the cliffs and is an amazing site to see.
We will then head toward Alexandria and overnight there. Meals included: Breakfast
