Full Day Tour to Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Coptic and Islamic Cairo

Pyramids of Giza - Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel in Cairo or Giza to begin your guided tour of the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx. Marvel at the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus, built as tombs for ancient Egyptian kings. Capture as many photos as you wish during this thrilling adventure. Combine your visit to the Great Pyramid, the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, with this exciting journey.

Great Sphinx - The Sphinx statues feature a human head and a lion’s body, adorned with a false royal beard and a nemes headdress.

During the Middle Kingdom:
The Sphinx represented the king with a human head surrounded by a lion’s mane. The first king to depict himself as a Sphinx with a lion’s mane was Amenemhat III, in the latter half of the 12th dynasty, Middle Kingdom.

During the New Kingdom:
Sculptors continued the Middle Kingdom style but added their touch by transforming the lion’s forelegs into human arms holding cult objects. The first king to represent himself in this form was King Amonhotep III. This statue was discovered in the Temple of God Montu in the Karnak complex. A new artistic feature appeared for the first time: decorating the Sphinx’s body with wings, first seen during King Amonhotep III’s reign.

Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) - Khufu, also known by the Greek name Cheops, was the second pharaoh of the 4th dynasty of Ancient Egypt during the Old Kingdom Period. The 4th dynasty is considered the ‘golden age’ of the Old Kingdom, largely due to the massive size and quality of the pyramids built during this time. Starting with the pyramids Khufu’s father, Sneferu, constructed at Dahshur, the 4th dynasty pyramids were larger and more refined than any others built before or after them.

Coptic Cairo - Coptic Cairo is a unique area within Old Cairo, featuring a concentration of Christian churches and other sites dating from the period between the decline of the pharaonic religion and the arrival of Islam when Egypt had a Christian majority. Coptic Cairo is largely built around the fort of Babylon, upon the remains of its walls.

The Coptic Museum is located here, housing the largest collection of Coptic Christian artwork and artifacts in the world. Founded in 1910, the museum chronicles Coptic history from the arrival of Christianity in Egypt through the Ottoman era, showcasing a blend of artwork influenced by Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman traditions.

Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary) - The most famous site in Coptic Cairo is the Church of the Virgin Mary, commonly known as the Hanging Church. This name derives from its construction atop the walls of the 4th century BC Roman fortress of Babylon, the remains of which are still visible in Coptic Cairo.

Although the effect is significantly diminished today due to the ground level rising over 30 feet over the centuries from accumulated debris, originally this church towered above its surroundings on the high walls of the fortress.

Synagogue Ben Ezra - The Synagogue once housed an ancient copy of the Old Testament, believed to have been written by the prophet Ezra or Al-Azir. It is also thought to be the site where Baby Moses was found and taken by the pharaoh’s wife at that time.

The Synagogue of Ben Ezra was originally a Christian church that Christians sold to the Jews in 882 A.D. to pay the annual taxes imposed by the Muslim rulers. Consequently, Abraham Ben Ezra, who came from Jerusalem during Ahmed Ibn Tulun’s reign, purchased the church for 20,000 dinars.

Over the centuries, the Synagogue has undergone regular restorations and renovations. The current building dates back to 1892 after the original collapsed. It was constructed in the shape of a basilica or a rectangular form, consisting of two floors. The first floor is for men, while the second is for women, with the entrance located on the north side.

Khan Al-Khalili - The market dates back to the 14th century when Emir Dajaharks Al-Khalili built a large market complex on the site of the Za’afran Tomb, which had been the burial place of the Fatimid rulers of Egypt. This construction was part of the rebuilding efforts initiated under Sultan Barquq (ruled 1382-1399) to help the city recover from the devastation of the Black Death during the 13th and 14th centuries.

Today, the market has been significantly modernized, but there are still sections that display the original Mamluk-style architecture, featuring grand archways and vaulted ceilings. The market has several restaurants and cafés throughout where visitors can take a break from shopping.

Al-Azhar Mosque - While there are hundreds of old mosques to visit in Cairo, none can match Al-Azhar Mosque in significance and importance to the history of Islam. Founded by the Fatimids in 970 AD as a mosque dedicated to both worship and learning, it evolved over the centuries into the most important center of Islamic theology and learning in the world.

Over a thousand years since its founding, Al-Azhar Mosque and the university that bears its name attract students from around the globe to study the history of Islam and the various schools of thought that guide the interpretation of the Koran.

From its inception, Al-Azhar University was an institution that embraced pluralism. Founded by the Ismaili Shi’i Fatimid Dynasty, it became a Sunni university under subsequent Egyptian dynasties. Despite tensions between these different theologies, Sunni and Shi’i scholars have worked, taught, and debated alongside one another at Al-Azhar for most of its history.

Transfer

Deluxe Tours Egypt - Additional transfer available with a supplement if needed.

• Private transportation
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Qualified Egyptologist guide
• Guaranteed to skip the long lines
• Entry/Admission - Pyramids of Giza
• Entry/Admission - the Great Sphinx
• Entry/Admission - the Hanging Church
• Entry/Admission - Al Azhar Mosque
• Entry/Admission - Khan El Khalili Bazaar
• Entry/Admission - the Coptic area
• Lunch
• All Fees and Taxes

• Gratuities

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