About Egypt : Optional Tours : Cairo

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player

 rfetgerhyujyjggsfdf
Cairo Test Tour (CAI/18)
Half Day
 rfetgerhyujyjggsfdf
Pyramids, Solar Boat Museum and Sphinx (CAI/01)
Half day
Without doubt the Giza Plateau is most popular site to visit. The largest pyramid ever built was the great Pyramid at Giza, built for King Khufu and was completed around 2550 BC. The Giza plateau is home to two other pyramids, Khafre and Menkaura. The pyramid is the only remaining member of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Next to the Khufu pyramid there are several boat pits. In 1954, a large cedar boat was uncovered in one of the pits and reassembled in the Boat Museum. To complete this wonderful archaeological site a stop at the Sphinx or The father of Fear, is one of the best known monuments, constructed somewhere between 2520 BC and 2494 BC. In front of the Sphinx is its temple, while adjacent it is the better preserved valley temple of Khafre. The Sphinx is half human and half lion and is one of the largest and oldest statues.

Memphis and Saqqara  (CAI/02)
Half day
Memphis was founded around 3,100 BC .It is the legendary city of Memes the king who united upper and lower Egypt. Memphis was a name given later in life of the capital; it began as Inbw-hdj or “White Walls, perhaps reflecting the appearance of its fortified residence. Memphis was the royal residence and the capital of Ancient Egypt. Ramses II is well represented with a colossus of himself near the Alabaster Sphinx. Not far from Memphis lies the Necropolis of Saqqara. The site best known for the step pyramids, built for King Djoser around 2630 BC by the architect Imhotep. All over Saqqara can be found private tombs of different periods, which contain beautiful and revealing scenes, and the most famous sites are the Serapeum, pyramid of Unas which contains the first hieroglyphs to appear in pyramids.


Egyptian Museum (CAI/03)
Half day
The Egyptian Museum was built in 1900, in the neo-classical style by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon. It has 107 halls. At the ground floor there are the huge statues. The upper floor houses small statues, jewels, Tutankhamun treasures and the mummies. A hall for the royal mummies was opened at the museum, housing eleven kings and queens. The mummies of some pharaohs found in Thebes (Luxor) . The first group was found in Deir el Bahari cachette, the other group was found in the tomb of Amenhotep II.


Citadel, Mosques and Bazaar (CAI/04)
Half day
Another side of Cairo will be seen through its Medieval Islamic quarter. The Citadel built in 1176 by Salah El Din to defend Cairo from the crusaders, Mohamed Ali Mosque known as the Alabaster Mosque, then we continue our visit to Sultan Hassan Mosque and Madrasa (school), it is considered stylistically the most compact and unified. It is an example of a Mamluk architecture was built in 1356 - 1363. We end our visit with a truly amazing atmosphere, a place where you can bargain the Khan El Khalili bazaar once known as the Turkish bazaar.


Coptic Cairo (CAI/05)
Half day
Old Coptic Cairo known as ( Masr al Qadima ) it is the oldest part of Cairo. The Roman built a fortress known as Babylon; some of these walls still exist today. After the spread of Christianity throughout Egypt, it became a Christian stronghold, with as many as 20 churches, now only 5 remain. We will visit the church of St. Sergius 4th century AD oldest church, where the holy family rested. The Hanging church , built in the 7th century on 4th century church site on top of the Roman wall. Ben Ezra synagogue, built in 882 surrounding grounds originally a property of the church. Continue to the Coptic Museum, Morcos Smeika Pasha founded the Coptic Museum in 1910 to fulfil the needs of displaying monuments referred to the period in order to easily trace the history of Christianity in Egypt. The objects displayed rise up to 16000 pieces approximately, arranged as possible in chronological order in 12 different sections. The display had been set according to scientific measures.


Dahshour and Abusir (CAI/06)
Half day
Dahshour is 40km south of Cairo, the pyramids of Dahshour evoke great part of the ancient history. The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu, retains much of its original polished limestone casing; it is a unique example of early pyramid development. Per Usir means the house of Osirs known today as Abusir is located 2km from Saqqara. three main surviving pyramids can easily be seen from funerary complex of Djoser, who is the most famous king of the 3rd Dynasty.


Ibn Tulun Mosque and Gayer Anderson (CAI/07)
Half day
The Ibn Tulun Mosque was completed in 879 AD. The mosque was built by Ahmed Ibn Tulun, a Turkish slave from Bakhara, over a period of 3 years of mud brick, The Mosque became focal point of the Tulunid Capital that lasted 26 years. The mosque is the third largest mosque in the world, and the oldest mosque in Egypt that has survived in a fairly original form. The Gayer Anderson Museum was the residence of Gayer Anderson (1881- 1945) a British officer in the Egyptian army, and a physician for the Egyptian government. Gary loved the Egyptian culture; he filled his house with oriental furniture, glassware, crystal, carpets, silks, and embroidered Arab costumes not only from Egypt, but from Turkey, Persia, Syria and other oriental areas. He made his house into historical treasure. 1937 his house was made into a museum.


The Pharaonic Village (CAI/08)
Half day
In 1984 the Pharaonic Village was formally opened to the public. The Pharaonic Village began with a dream of a living museum with real people, actors in costume and realistic environment, taking the place of static exhibits. He built a nobleman; house, garden, a market, a field for planting and harvesting, a shipyard, a life-size replica of Tutankhamun tomb that was discovered in Luxor in 1922. Several museums were opened, related to life in ancient Pharaonic Egypt, and various stages of Egyptian history all bring history vividly to life.


Fayoum Oasis (CAI/09)
Full day
Fayoum takes its name from the Coptic word, Phiom or payomj meaning lake or sea, it is a wonderful area of Egypt with a rich and interesting history. Fayoum sometimes referred to as Fayoum Oasis, even though it is not a real Oasis, during the ancient times it was a sea. On this tour we will visit old waterwheels first introduced by the Ptolemies, lake Qarun, Ain-Siliyin has natural spring and steams, the pyramid of Amenemhet III (1842 -1797 BC), south of the pyramid is the mortuary temple of Amenemhet III which is known as Labyrinth, further west along the southern side of Bahr Youssef is the attractive Mosque of Khawen Asal Bay believed to have been built in 1499, or earlier, making it the oldest in Fayoum, numerous monasteries are all around the area. Fayoum is a mix of Pharaonic, Christian and Islamic monuments.


Wadi Natrun Monasteries ( Except Religious Holidays )  (CAI/10)
Full day
Drive to Wadi Natroun, situated 100km north west of Cairo, founded early in the 4th century. It is one of the most significant places in the Western Desert. It is a birdwatchers paradise and became the site of many monasteries, Deir El Baramus the oldest in the Wadi houses five churches, Deir Al Sorian contains exquisite paintings, the library accommodates many valuable books and manuscripts the small museum houses a collection of icons, Deir Anba Bishoi, and Deir Abu Makar. This excursion takes you in depth look at the Coptic Christianity and its heritage.

Alexandria (CAI/11)
Full day tour / Overnight
Drive to Alexandria visit the National Museum which houses a good and rare collection. We proceed to Fort Qaitbay, site of the Pharohs lighthouse of Alexandria. Visit the Catacombs which are the largest Roman cemetery, continue to Pompey Pillar, Roman Theatre, Alexandria library and Montazah ground.


Luxor (CAI/12)
Full day / overnight
Early morning flight to Luxor, to one of the major attraction in Egypt. The West bank is fascinating, here you discover a variety of tombs starting with the Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut to see the bas-reliefs which illustrate her expedition to the land of Punt. Our final stop on the west bank is the legendary Colossi of Memnon. Proceeding onto the East bank of the Nile visit the Karnak temple, passing through the small avenue of sphinxes, view the Great Court, magnificent Hypostyle Hall, the Hatshepsut granite Obelisks, and the Sacred lake. We continue to the south to visit the Luxor temple built by Amenophis III and his superb colonnade with papyrus-head columns.


Abu Simbel (CAI/13)
Full day tour / Overnight
Early morning flight to Abu Simbel. In 1968 Abu Simbel temple was dismantled and reassembled in a new location 65m higher and 200m back from the river. The Abu Simbel complex consists of two temples the great temple took 20 years to build and was completed around year 24 of the reign of Ramses II. It was dedicated to the gods Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty and Ptah. The temple is considered the grandest and most beautiful of the temples built during the reign of Ramses II. The temple is arranged so that on the two days of the year, in February and October, the rising sun shoots its rays through the entrance and halls until it finally illuminates the sanctuary statues. The smaller temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor, personified by Nefertari, Ramses most beloved wife.

St. Catherine Monastery (CAI/14)
Overnight Mondays, Thursdays & Saturday ( except on Religious Holidays )
Early morning start to St. Catherine, the drive is approximately 6 hours far from Cairo. St. Catherine was built by order of the Roman Emperor Justinian between 527-565AD. The intention was to protect the monks and hermits living in the area. The monastery was dedicated to one of Alexander rulers, St. Catherine, who was tortured to death for her new faith. It is the Oldest Christian Monastery and belongs to Greek Orthodox Church. Climb the Moses Mountain in the early morning with a Bedouin guide, after watching the sunrise we make our way to visit St. Catherine Monastery.


Sound and light show (CAI/15)
Evening
A spectacular show of the sound and light at the Pyramids of Giza. The show begins with the story of the Sphinx who has been the guardian of the city of the dead for 5000 years. The show describes the story of building the Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren, Mykeninus and relates to history of other great and famous ancient Egypt Kings and Queens.


Dinner on Cruising Restaurant  (CAI/16)
Evening
Dining on a cruising restaurant is a marvellous way to enjoy a night on the Nile. Sailing gently for two hours on the Nile including entertainment a belly dancer, folklore show, whirling dervish, western music and international dinner cuisine. It is a memorable dining experience.

Sun set Felucca Sailing (CAI/17)
Evening
A felucca is a traditional sailing boat. This is an exquisite way for a panoramic view of the city, and to discover the amazing night life of Cairo. Enjoy a relaxing experience on a felucca ride, feel the cooling breeze while sailing between the banks of the magnificent Nile.