9 days/ 8 nights

Cairo is a wonderful city filled with exciting places.  This tour combines Pharaonic period treasures with Greco-Roman, early Christian and Moslem sites, offering visitors an in depth look at thousands of years of history.

This is a PRIVATE TOUR with only your party, a licensed Egyptologist guide (fluent in your native language) plus an air-conditioned vehicle with driver. Not only will you see all the major historic sites of the area but also have time to shop, visit the antique/art shops, furniture and rug factories and more.

A sample tour is:

Day 01:  Arrive Cairo, be met by our staff who will assist with clearing immigration and customs and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 02:  Free morning then an afternoon tour of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Sound and Light show at the Pyramids in the evening. (B)

Day 03:  Tour Memphis, Sakkarra and Dahshur with it’s fantastic Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid. Dahshur forms the southernmost area of the Memphis Necropolis and contains a number of  pyramid complexes and monuments. Dahshur has only recently been opened to the public, having been a military zone until 1996. As a result, the area is not as developed commercially as Giza, and there is a certain peace and tranquility to the site still. It is most noteworthy for being the site that best demonstrates the change from the "step" pyramid to the "true" pyramid that occurred during the Third and Fourth Dynasties.

The Third Dynasty Pharaoh Huni began construction on a true pyramid at Meidum, utilizing a step pyramid as a base for the construction. But it was his son, Sneferu (2613-2589 BC), first Pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, who would take monument-building to a new level. Sneferu began by completing the work on his father's pyramid, then constructed a step pyramid of his own at Meidum. Yet once it was completed, Sneferu had a design for a new

monument, utilizing what he had learned in his previous efforts. Sneferu's second pyramid was to be a true pyramid from the beginning, unlike Huni's, which had been built around a step pyramid "core."

Unfortunately, Sneferu's plans were curtailed. As construction neared the halfway point, the angle of the sides was reduced from the steep 54° to a gentler 43°. It is thought that this was done to alleviate stresses that had become evident in the lower part of the pyramid, either in the foundation blocks or the ground underneath. This resulted in a rhomboid or "bent" silhouette, and makes Sneferu's pyramid the most distinct structure at Dashour. It is also distinct for another reason: it still has much of its outer casing intact.

No doubt dissatisfied with a pyramid that appeared to "hesitate" on its rise to the heavens, Sneferu began construction on a second pyramid approximately two kilometers to the north. This is the famous "Red Pyramid" (named for the red limestone used in its construction), the oldest true pyramid in Egypt and the immediate predecessor of the pyramids that would come later. It has a slope angle of 43°, and is second in size only to the Great Pyramid at Giza, built by Sneferu's son Khufu. In fact, the Great Pyramid is a mere 10 meters larger than the Red Pyramid. When completed, it must have been an incredible sight, for its name translates to "The Shining Pyramid." (B)

Day 04:  Tour the Egyptian Museum, home of King Tut’s treasures and the Khan el Khalili bazaar where merchants have been bargaining since the middle ages. You will also have time to enjoy lunch at one of Cairo's famous restaurants and shop in the antique and art districts. (B)

Day 05:  Tour of the Citadel of Salah el Din, Islamic Cairo  & Gayer Anderson house. Designed by the Greek architect Yussuf Bushnaq, The Mohammed Ali (Alabaster) Mosque in the Citadel was begun in 1830 (finished in 1857) in the Ottoman style by Mohammed Ali Pasha, ruler of Egypt, and founder of the country's last dynasty of Khedives and Kings. The mosque is the Tomb of Mohammed Ali and is also known as the Alabaster Mosque because of the extensive use of this fine material from Beni Suef. Its two slender 270 foot minarets are unusual for Cairo. From the arcaded courtyard, visitors have a magnificent view across the city to the pyramids in Giza. Just off the courtyard is the vast prayer hall with an Ottoman style dome which is 170 feet above. The parapet to the southwest offers a good view of the Sultan Hassan and Ibn Tulun Mosques and of Cairo itself. Perhaps because of its location, it is one of the most frequented Mosques by tourists.

Just across from the Mohammed Ali Mosque, the An-Nasir Mohammed Mosque is the best preserved Mameluke building and was once the principle mosque within the Citadel. Constructed in 1335 by Sultan an-Nasir Mohammed as a congregational mosque, it has two unique minarets topped in a pincushion design with glazed faience decoration and is all that remains of the Sultan's massive building program within the Citadel. There are two entrances to the mosque. One entrance was used by the soldiers, and is in the form of a trilobate arch, while the other, used exclusively by the Sultan, has an inscribed arch decorated with stalactites. Within the mosque, there was once marble panels, but these were removed by Sultan Selim I and sent to Istanbul in 1517. Within the arcaded courtyard, many of the columns were derived from pharaonic, Roman and Byzantine buildings, but seem to fit together surprisingly well as a whole. The restored qiblah has a large dome, and the wooden ceiling and stalactites make this mosque well worth a visit.

Built by Ahmed Ibn Tulun in 879 (265 H), the Ibn Tulun Mosque in the Sayyedah Zeinab district has an atmosphere of tranquillity unlike that of any other mosque in the city. Ahmed Ibn Tulun was sent to govern Cairo by the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad, which explains the Mesopotamian influence. It is the oldest original mosque and the largest in Egypt. It incorporates a number of unique features, such as the external spiral staircase of the unusual minaret (the only one of its type in Egypt) which is similar to the famous Samarra Mosque in Mesopotamia. Its design is simple, consisting of an open sahn with an ablution fountain in the center, surrounded by four riwaqs, the largest being the Qiblah riwaq. There are five naves on the Qiblah side (the side facing Mecca), and two on the remaining sides. The building style follows that of the Abbasid type, characterized by pilasters on which slightly pointed arches are applied, and which have a slight inward curve at the bottom. The rectangular building surrounding the sahn has a rampart walk and the high walled additions (Ziyyadahs) are found on the south, west and north. Within the prayer niche, or mihrab, constructed of marble and gilted mosaic and bordered by four columns with leaf like crowns, is a wonderful pulpit, or minbar of 13th (Marmeluke) century origin. Many of the 13th century restorations were carried out by Sultan Lajin, who at one point took refuge in the mosque and vowed to restore it. The stone carvings on the interior walls are elegant and the designs of the rondels {128 latticed windows made of gypsum} are distinct and unusual. Running around the interior of the four arcades are original Koranic inscriptions carved in sycamore. It was used as a military hospital by Ibrahim Pasha during the 19th century and was later used as a salt warehouse and beggar's prison prior to its restoration in 1918.

The Gayer-Anderson Museum, in the Ibn Tulun area, was founded in 1937 in two ancient residences. They are the Beit el-Kiridiliya from 1632 and the Beit Amna Bent Salim from 1540. The museum includes the private collection of Major Gayer-Anderson, (a retired English Major) who in the 1930’s and 40’s refurbished the two mansions.  He filled them with his collection of Orientalist furniture, glassware, crystal, carpets, silks and embroidered Arab costumes.  It presents an excellent example of what life was like for wealthy merchants in Egypt in the 1700’s. If you are a movie buff or James Bond fan you might remember this museum from a tryst and murder in the film “The Spy Who Loved Me”. (B)

Day 06:  Tour Old Cairo with its famous churches, synagogues and mosques including the Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary) which derives its name from its location on top of the southern tower gate of the old Babylon fortress with its nave suspended above the passage. The church was first built, in Basilican style, near the end of the 4th century. However, at that time it is unlikely that the church would have been constructed in this location. In fact, we know that it was destroyed in the ninth century and later rebuilt, after which in 1039, it is known that the Coptic patriarchate was moved from Alexandria and seated in this church. The church consists of a courtyard surrounded by two wings with pointed arches, and a long aisle lined with marble columns. In the eastern wing, there are three altars (haykals) with beautiful ebony and ivory inlaid wooden screens. The center alter is dedicated to Christ, while the left sanctuary is dedicated to St. George and the right to St John the Baptist. On the right wall of the church as you enter are many ancient icons, including a 10th century icon of the Virgin and Child, Egyptian faces and Byzantine crowns.

The Church of Abu Serga (St. Sergius) is another 4th Century church, dedicated to two early martyrs and supposedly built on the spot where the Holy Family, Joseph, Mary and the infant Christ, rested at the end of their journey into Egypt. They may have lived here while Joseph worked at the fortress. However, the church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, who were soldier-saints that were martyred during the 4th century in Syria by Maximilan. The original building was probably done during the 5th century. It was burned during the fire of Fustat during the reign of Marwan II around 750. It was then restored during the 8th century, and has been rebuilt and restored constantly since medieval times, however it is still considered to be a model of the early Coptic churches. Again, the most precious and ancient of the icons are on the southern wall. A vast central hall is divided into three naves by two rows of pilasters. In much the same style as the Hanging Church, Abu Serga has 12 unique columns decorated with paintings of the Apostles. This church resembles religious structures in Constantinople and Rome. The main attraction, situated directly under the choir, is the crypt. This crypt contains the remains of the original church where tradition says the Holy Family lived. Originally  this crypt was the sanctuary, but became the crypt after the larger church was built.

Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra, c.1089-1164, was a Spanish Jewish scholar. His Bible commentaries combined traditional Jewish interpretation with a critical method of exegesis and emphasis on grammar; his philosophical work followed the Neoplatonic tendency (see NEOPLATONISM) in medieval thought. Ibn Ezra translated an astronomical work from the Arabic into Hebrew, creating a Hebrew prose style for scientific purposes. Liturgic poetry fascinated him; many of his hymns were included in the prayer book of the synagogue. Ibn Ezra traveled widely throughout his life and won many admirers. He was probably the model for Robert Browning's poem "Rabbi Ben Ezra."

One of the great Jewish scholars, theologians, and Talmudists of the past century, Solomon Schechter, b.  Romania, Dec.  7, 1847, d. Nov.  19, 1915, was a spokesman for Conservative Judaism in the United States.  In 1896, while teaching at Cambridge University, England, he discovered a Genizah (archive) in the Cairo synagogue that contained more than 100,000 manuscripts, one of which he identified as an original fragment of the Book of Wisdom.  From 1902 until his death, Schechter served as president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.  In 1913 he founded the United Synagogue of America, which eventually encompassed 850 Conservative congregations. In the evening enjoy a dinner cruise on the Nile. (B,D)

Day 07:  A day at Fayoum oasis including lunch at King Farouks hunting lodge.  Fayoum, about 1.5 hours drive south of Cairo is where the Greeks and Romans had their wineries and grew the grain for the empire.  It also was an important part of Pharaonic history with ancient temples and cities. Due to the canals, in the area, Medinet El-Fayoum (Fayoum city) has been called the Venice of Egypt. The city of close to half a million people was first known as Crocodilopolis, and later Arsinoe, and has a substantial Coptic presence.  It is the capital of the province and lies at the center of the depression, and also the transportation network of the area.  All of the canals, roads, and train rails in the Fayoum converge at Medinet El-Fayoum, including the famous Joseph's Canal, though to have been built by the biblical Joseph. The city's dominate attractions are the water wheels built by the Greek settlers, the canals, and the Obelisk which stands at the city's northern entrance and was erected in honor of Senwosret I (12th Dynasty).  This monument was originally found in two pieces during the 18th century and was recently reconstructed  and erected in the City.  It is thought to be the only Obelisk in Egypt with a rounded top, and has a cleft where a golden statue of Ra was originally placed. The canal is the main avenue for most commerce in the city. The covered market place and the adjacent street of gold smiths found across the 4th bridge to the west of the central tourist office, are worth a visit .

The Pyramid of Hawara (built by Amenemhet III) also known as the Labyrinth, was the most visited sites of the ancient World. Herodotus claimed to have counted three thousand rooms in the pyramids funeral complex. Herodotus visited the pyramid during the 5th century B.C. (B, L)

Day 08:  An overday trip to Alexandria where you will enjoy seeing the famous city of Cleopatara.  You will visit the Greco-Roman museum, the Catacombs, Pompays Pillar and the Montazah Palace with a wonderful lunch at St. Giovanni restaurant. O/N Cairo. (B, L)

Day 09:  Our staff will transfer you to the airport, assist with departure formalities and checking in for your international departure. (B)

This tour includes:  hotels, transfers pertaining to the tour, private tours with the services of an English speaking Egyptologist, air-conditioned van/driver, full American style buffet breakfast daily, lunch at King Farouk’s lodge and in Alexandria, fees for visiting antiquity sites, service charges and taxes. Travel insurance for those departing the USA or Canada.

NOT included would be items of a personal nature such as entry visa, tips, telephone, laundry, bar bills, anything not specifically mentioned as included.

Tour cost: Tour cost: Email us or call 1 (877) 778-3497 for current pricing.

Recommendations