Egypt, Cairo

Greater Cairo 5^*

Arrival in Cairo.

Cairo is one of the largest cities in the world and spans the length of both sides of the Nile.

Welcome on arrival and assistance with entry formalities.

Group transfer to your hotel.

Settle in at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Set off to visit the Giza Plateau and its incredible pyramids:
The Great Pyramid of Giza (the largest of the three, built around 2650 B.C.), one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and the only to have withstood the test of time. For more than 40 centuries, it was the highest monument built by man at 146m high.
Khafre: the Pyramid of Khafre looks taller than Giza, but in reality it is slightly smaller. The tilted angle is more emphasised, and it sits on slightly higher ground which is what creates this impression.
Menkaure: the tomb of King MenkauIt. At a height of 66 m, it is much smaller than the other two pyramids.
The Sphinx: a lion's body with a Pharaoh's head. Its role was to guard the entrance of the tomb against pillagers. It is 73 m long and 20 m high.

Lunch by the pyramids.

You will spend the afternoon exploring the sites of Memphis and Sakkara. Memphis, in the south of Cairo, is now a palm grove where several stone blocks, tablets and statues lie, including the iconic Alabaster Sphinx, capital of the Old Egyptian Empire, and was founded by King Menes around 3000 B.C. On to the site of Saqqarah and the famous Step Pyramid, built around 2700 B.C. for the pharaoh Djoser by the architect Imhotep.

Optional: Sound and Light at the Pyramids

Dinner and night at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Visit to the Egyptian Museum where treasures dating from the prehistoric age to the Roman period can be seen.
You will see the well-known Tutankhamun, among other treasures. It houses more than 250,000 pieces, is one of the largest museums in the world, and allows visitors to discover the history of Ancient Egypt spanning the course of 5 millennia.

Lunch during the trip.

Visit the Baron's Palace if you are stopping over in Cairo and discover the mysteries that are hidden there. Baron Empain arrived in Egypt in January 1904, with the intention of saving one of his wife's development projects: the construction of a rail link between Al-Matariyyah and Port Said. Despite losing the train contract with the British, Empain remained in Egypt.

Dinner and night at the hotel.

Breakfast

Trip to the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali (built between 1830 and 1849; it is so white that it is nicknamed the "Alabaster Mosque"). There is a large clock in the centre of the courtyard which was a gift from the King Louis Philippe of France to Muhammad Ali. The Belvedere commands a panoramic view of the city of Cairo.
Visit to the Coptic District. The Christian religion was introduced by Saint Mark around 45 AD and thus a Coptic community (Coptic being a term specifically designating the Christians of Egypt) began to develop. The Coptic area in Cairo is best known for having a large number of churches in a very small area.
The Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church is one of the oldest Christian churches, built around the 3rd or 4th century AD. The Church was named Saint Sergius in homage to a former war general who converted to Christianity. The Christians built a church on this very spot because it is believed that the Holy Family took refuge here when it used to be a cave.
Saint Virgin Mary's Church, or the Hanging Church, is a very beautiful monument. It is accessible via stairs preceded by a corridor with mosaics depicting biblical scenes. This church is nicknamed the Hanging Church because it is built above palm tree trunks which support it like stilts. The interior is lavishly decorated. In the main room, there is a Coptic icon depicting the Virgin Mary with Jesus in her arms. It feels like she's following you with her gaze as you walk around her.
Ben Ezra Synagogue, this synagogue is a true architectural masterpiece. From the outside, there is nothing exceptional about it, but it is the inside which makes it all the more interesting; it's quite simply incredible.

Lunch during the trips

Walk in the Souk of Khan El Khalili, a bazaar built in the 14th century. It is very colourful and has traditional goods, but also a fabulous choice of gold, gold thread and silver jewellery, and a selection of North African handicrafts.

Dinner and night at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to the airport. Assistance with check-in formalities, then take-off.

Tips: "baksheesh"! A word you'll soon get to know! While it's easy to refuse solicitors, on the other hand it's part of the customs and rewards work and service well done. Gratuity for guides is never included. It's up to each individual to decide.

Wifi is available only at reception and at a charge during the cruise

The baggage allowance for domestic flights is 23kg in the hold per person, and a small bag in the cabin of 7kg maximum. Any additional kilos will be charged locally.

Accommodations are up to local standards.

The level of control at the airport in Egypt can be high and random depending on the number of tourists, which is why the tour leader anticipates schedules as far as possible.

Due to the dense traffic in Cairo, journey times can be long.

On excursions, you will be grouped with other participants.
This package includes periods of free time during which you can wander around at your leisure. However, transfers are at your own expense.

Optional extras are extra and must be paid for on site with your guide or local representative.

The order of visits is subject to change due to local imperatives (navigation time, passage of locks, etc.)

The order of visits may be modified according to local imperatives (navigation time, passage of locks, etc.)

The pace of visits can be quite long (see all the visits included in the day-by-day details), which means waking up very early in the morning (outside the boat's navigation periods)

Egypt is a cultural destination

PLEASE NOTE: For those booking the "hotel only" package (without international flights), please let us know your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form in "Help and contact" at the bottom of the page, so that we can organize your transfers.