DAY TOUR TO ISLAMIC AND CHRISTIAN CAIRO

Cairo - Begin your tour with a pickup from your hotel in Cairo or Giza by a knowledgeable tour guide.

Cairo Citadel - Visit the Citadel of Cairo, home to the renowned Mohamed Ali Mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque.

Al-Rifa’i Mosque - Al-Rifa’i Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الرفاعي), also known as Al-Rifai, Al-Refai, or Al-Refa’i, is situated in Citadel Square, next to the Cairo Citadel. Named after Ali Abu Shubbak, who is interred here, it serves as the royal mausoleum for Muhammad Ali’s family. The mosque stands opposite the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, dating back to around 1361, and was designed to complement the older structure as part of a 19th-century initiative by Egypt’s rulers to link themselves with the grandeur of Egypt’s Islamic past and modernize the city.

Mosque and Madrasa of Sultan Hassan - One of Cairo’s largest mosques, the Sultan Hassan Mosque, also known as Madrasa El Sultan Hassan, was established by Sultan Hassan in 1356 A.D. This grand Mamluk-era mosque and madrassa is located near The Citadel in Cairo.

Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As - The Amr ibn al-As Mosque (Arabic: مَسْجِد عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ) in Cairo, Egypt, is named after the Arab Muslim commander Amr ibn al-As. Originally constructed in 641–642 CE, it was the center of Egypt’s new capital, Fustat. It was the first mosque built in Egypt and one of the earliest in Africa. For 600 years, it was a key center of Islamic learning until al-Muizz’s Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo took its place. By the twentieth century, it was the fourth largest mosque in the Islamic world.

Old Cairo - Explore Old Cairo, also known as Christian Coptic Cairo, a significant site visited by the Holy Family, where their spiritual presence is still deeply felt.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church - This church holds great historical significance as the site where many Coptic Church patriarchs were elected, starting with Patriarch Isaac (681-692). It served as the episcopal church of Cairo and the episcopal See of Masr, replacing the former See of Babylon. Numerous bishops were consecrated here until the reign of Patriarch Christodulus (1047–1077).

Church of St. Barbara - The Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Barbara (Coptic: ϯⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲁⲅⲓⲁ ⲃⲁⲣⲃⲁⲣⲁ) (Arabic: كنيسة بربارة) is a renowned Coptic Orthodox parish in Coptic Cairo. Located on the eastern side of the Babylon Fortress, it is one of Cairo’s oldest buildings, dating back to the 5th or 6th century AD. It has been rebuilt several times, most notably by the end of the 11th century.

Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary) - The Hanging Church is named for its position above a gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo); its nave is suspended over a passage. The church is accessed by twenty-nine steps, earning it the nickname “the Staircase Church” by early travelers to Cairo.

Synagogue Ben Ezra - The Ben Ezra Synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת בן עזרא; Arabic: معبد بن عزرا), also known as the El-Geniza Synagogue or the Synagogue of the Levantines (al-Shamiyin), is located in the Fustat area of Old Cairo, Egypt. According to local legend, it is the site where baby Moses was discovered.

Cairo - After the tour concludes, you will be returned to your hotel.

TOUR TO WHALES VALLEY AND WADI EL RAYAN WATERFALLS IN EL FAYOUM

Cairo - Start your tour with a pickup from your hotel in Cairo or Giza by a friendly tour guide.

Wadi El Rayan - Wadi El Rayan is a distinctive nature reserve in the Faiyum Governorate, Egypt, managed by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs (EEAA). Known in Coptic sources as Pilihēy (Coptic: ⲡⲓⲗⲓϩⲏⲩ, meaning ‘possessing profit, useful’), it is a salt lake west of Kalamoun where Samuel the Confessor enjoyed resting. The valley spans 1759 km2, with 113 km2 covered by the Wadi El Rayan lakes. It is situated about 65 km southwest of Faiyum city and 80 km west of the Nile River. The area has been used for man-made lakes from agricultural drainage, creating two separate Wadi El Rayan Lakes. The reserve includes a 50.90 km2 upper lake and a 62.00 km2 lower lake, with waterfalls between them. The Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls are the largest in Egypt.

Valley of the Whales (Wadi Al-Hitan) - Wādī al-Ḥītān (Arabic: وادي الحيتان, meaning ‘Wadi of the Whales’) is a paleontological site in the Faiyum Governorate of Egypt, approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) southwest of Cairo. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005 for its numerous fossils of some of the earliest whale forms, the archaeoceti (an extinct sub-order of whales). The site provides evidence for the evolution of whales from land-based animals to ocean-going mammals. No other location in the world offers the same number, concentration, and quality of such fossils, nor their accessibility and setting in a beautiful and protected landscape. The valley was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.

Cairo - After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

• Tour Guide
• All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Lunch
• All Fees and Taxes
• Bottle of water

• Tipping

Embark on a captivating journey through Cairo’s historical districts with our 2-day tour, exploring Islamic and Christian landmarks. Admire the stunning architecture of mosques and churches that tell the story of the city’s religious diversity. Then, venture to the natural wonders of Whales Valley and Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls in El Fayoum, where you can witness the beauty of Egypt’s unique landscapes. Experience the best of both worlds on this unforgettable adventure.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.