Tour overview

Historians and authors around the world have long recorded the story of the holy family’s journey from Palestine to Egypt with dedication. Many consider the journey as a mark in the Egyptian history, not just a religious event. Egyptians look at the passage of the holy mother and her child through the land of Egypt with fondness and pride, because this land was where they found peace and safety.

Included

  • Skip the airport line with our Fast Track service upon arrival at Cairo International Airport.
  • Meet and greet service by our representatives at airports.
  • Assistance of our guest relations during your stay.
  • All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle.
  • Accommodation for 6 nights in Cairo including breakfast and dinner
  • Accommodation for 1 night in Cairo including bed and breakfast
  • Accommodation for 1 night in Alexandria including breakfast and dinner
  • Accommodation for 1 night in Ismailia including breakfast and dinner
  • Accommodation for 1 Night in St. Catherine including breakfast and dinner
  • Accommodation for 1 Night in Suez including breakfast and dinner
  • Accommodation for 2 Nights in El Minya including breakfast and dinner
  • Accommodation for 1 Night in Assuit including breakfast and dinner
  • Accommodation for 1 Night in Sogah including breakfast and dinner
  • All the sightseeing tours as mentioned in the itinerary (Private Guided Tours).
  • Entrance fees to all sites as indicated on the itinerary.
  • Meals as mention in the above itinerary.
  • Bottled water during outings outside of hotel or cruise ship.
  • Portage when needed.
  • 30 minutes of local calling (5 minutes international) and a mobile phone loaned for the length of
  • your stay or an Egyptian sim card for your unlocked mobile device
  • All service charges and taxes.

Not Included

  • International Airfare
  • Entry visa to Egypt
  • Any optional tours
  • Personal expenses

Day 1: Arrive Cairo ‘Welcome to Egypt’

Welcome to Cairo, Egypt (Around The Clock)
Your tour manager will receive and assist you at Cairo International Airport right after luggage and customs. He will be holding a sign with your name or Memphis Tours’ name. One of our air-conditioned deluxe vehicles will escort you to the hotel. Once you arrive to the hotel, the tour manager will help you to easily check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to determine and confirm pick-up hours for each tour. Overnight in Cairo.

Welcome Drink

Day 2: Pyramids and Cairo Sightseeing

You will have your breakfast at your hotel in Cairo and then at 09:00 AM,
your personal guide will accompany you to Giza to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren, Mykerinus, famous Sphinx and Valley temple. Then, you will enjoy a tasty lunch at a high-quality restaurant. Heading to the Egyptian Museum, you will enjoy Treasures room of the king Tutankhamen. As well, you will be immersed in the Islamic Cairo, where you will be able to tour in Khan El Khalili. Later, you will enjoy a freshly prepared dinner in your hotel and spend an overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 3: Maadi Church/Coptic Cairo

You will enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, then your personal guide will take you to visit Cairo churches. This journey will start by the Church of the Virgin Mary in Ma’adi. Afterwards ,you will visit the Hanging Church and St. Sergius, then resume to reach the Church of St. George and the Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo, which the Holy Family passed by. Lunch at local restaurant in Cairo. At the end of the day, you will have a dinner in your hotel and spend another overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4: Wadi El Natroun / Alexandria

You will check out right after breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, and you will be transferred Wadi El-Natrun. A modern air-conditioned vehicle will escort you to this holy place. Wadi El-Natrun was named as Šihēt by the Coptic, which means "Measuring of Hearts". This place represents the real birthplace for Christian monasticism.
There were about 50 monasteries; only 4 have survived into modern times.
Begin your journey by visiting Deir al-Baramus which is the oldest of the existing 4 monasteries, and in many ways, the most isolated then head to Deir Anba Bishoi whose body exists in the monastery. As well, you will proceed to Deir El-Suryani which is the smallest of the 4 monasteries. We will get to know more about Monastic life, and relish the stunning Fresco arts and the beautiful icons. Continue your drive to Alexandria, and take your lunch at local restaurant in Alexandria, before visiting the Qaitbay Citadel , built on the same site of the ancient Pharaohs of Alexandria.
At the end of the day, you will have dinner in our hotel and spend your first overnight in Alexandria.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 5: Alexandria / Cairo

Check out after breakfast at your hotel in Alexandria and then your private guide will escort you to visit Bibliotheca Alexandria and the Catacombs (the largest Roman Cemetery made of three levels cut in the rock). Afterward, you will enjoy your lunch at local restaurant in Alexandria before proceeding to the Latin Catholic Church of St Catherine in Alexandria .
At the end of the day, you will enjoy a warm dinner in our hotel and overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 6: Heliopolis / Zeiton

Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo before heading to visit other significant Cairo churches.
Transfer to El Matariya (Ancient Heliopolis Area), visit the holy tree "Mary's Tree". It the tree under-which the holy family has rested in its shade. As well as, the child Jesus caused water to flow from a spring from which he drank to arouse this tree. Then, you will swarm up to reach the aromatic plant with a beautiful scent named balsam. This plant is added in all perfumes that make them swab or MYRON oil, which used in church rituals.
Then head to the Church of the Virgin Mary in Zeiton area. Italian artists painted the Church is ornamented by carvings of Jesus, the Virgin, and many icons painted by Italian artists.
At the end of the day, you will have dinner in your hotel and spend an overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box ,Dinner

Day 7: Mostorad/ Samanoud-/Sakha

After breakfast, you will escorted by your personal guide to visit Mostorad; known as "El Mahamaah", meaning the bathing place because Virgin Mary bathed in the child Jesus and washed his clothes.
Then head to the small village of Meniet Samanoud, where its people greeted the holy
Family with warmth & hospitality, and the Christ blessed them & hallowed its water spring in return. The remains of this ancient church are buried under the currently existing church of St. Abanoub church.
In addition, there is a huge granite trough, claimed that the virgin used it for kneading. Continuous on to Sakha town near to Kafr El Sheikh, The Coptic name of the town is "Pekha – Issous" Means "The Foot of Jesus". Its name is originated from the foot print of the Christ appeared on a stone on which he set his foot. Then, you will see the Church of the Virgin Mary that reserves a rock with the footprints of the child Jesus.
You will get a lunch box during the trip before driving you back to your hotel to enjoy a freshly prepared dinner. You will spend another night in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box , Dinner

Day 8: Tel Basta / Tanis / Ismailia

After breakfast your personal guide will accompany you to continue the Holy Family Journey in Egypt. Your first visit will be to the town of Babastis (Tel-Basta). There, Jesus cause the flow of a spring of water to drink, then you will visit Tanis, the main capital of 26th dynasty. Afterwards, you will get to the small museum, Ramses Temple and the royal tombs. Drive to Ismailia
Lunch at local restaurant in Ismailia.
Check in and have dinner in our hotel. You will spend an overnight in Ismailia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

Day 9: Ismailia / St. Catherine

Check out after relishing a tasty breakfast at your hotel in Ismailia and then you will be start a trip to Sinai Peninsula with the company of your personal tour.
During the road, we will pass by Oyoun Mosa (The springs of Moses).
Head to Hammam pharaohs (hot springs). Reaching the fishermen’s city
(Abu Zanima), where we will have our lunch. Then, we will head to the palm groves of the deserted oasis of Wadi Firan, visit the Monastery of Nuns and end this day’s tours with a visit to Saint Catherine.
Check in and enjoy a warm fresh dinner in your hotel. Spend an overnight in St. Catherine.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch / Dinner.

Day 10: St. Catherine/ Suez

In the early morning at 02:00 am, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Moses Mountain. There, a Bedouin Guide will accompany you to climb the sacred mountain.
After you climb the mountain, you will be guided to visit one of the famous monasteries in the world, St.Catherine Monastery. It was dedicated to one of Alexander's rulers, St Catherine.
After this early journey, you will enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before getting ready for a drive to Suez.
Lunch box will be served during the ride. Check in and a have a late dinner in our hotel and overnight in Suez.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box / Dinner

Day 11: Red Sea Monasteries/ Jabal Al Tair (the Birds Mountain) / El Minya

Check out after breakfast at your hotel in Suez, and start a drive south along the coast to visit the Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul. The two monasteries are built in the 4th century AD but dramatically set against the cliffs coming from the eastern desert. St Anthony Monastery is considered as the biggest monastery in Egypt. The church of St. Anthony was built over the saint's tomb. St. Paul is a relatively younger monastery but it is equally ornamented with stunning artifacts. Saint Paul might be considered the first monk ever. Then we will head to Upper Egypt following the trip of the holy family. Our first stop will be at Jabal Al Tair (the Birds Mountain) near to El Minya city. That is the cave where the holy family rested inside. It is situated now inside the Ancient Church there.
Check in and later have dinner in our hotel and spend an overnight in El Minya

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 12: Tuna El-Gabal / Al Ashmunien (Hermopolis) / Beni Hassan

At the morning, you will be escorted by your private guide to get to the necropolis of Tuna El Gabal. This place includes many significant elements, like the crypts of baboons and Ibis that represent the god Thoth, the tomb of Isadora, the tomb of the priest Pet-Osiers, the ancient water wheel and the boundary stele of the city of the Aton. You will have a mouthwatering lunch at a local restaurant.
Proceeding to Al-Ashmunien, you will enjoy visiting the open museum with the two colossal baboon statues and the ruins of the basilica church with its Rose granite columns. Then, you will reach the site of Beni Hasan; it is located on the Eastern Bank of the Nile. There we will see the standing out rock-cut tombs with its scenes depicting local and regional life of the Middle Kingdom. Many of these express scenes of wrestling and military training.
Later, you will have a dinner in the hotel and spend overnight in Minya.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Tell El Amarna / Assuit

You will check out right after enjoying breakfast at your hotel in Minya, and you will transferred to Tell al Amarna" the capital of Akhnaton ", where the northern and southern tombs can be seen.
You will get a mouthwatering lunch, then you will have a car-ride to Assuit city to visit Al Muharraq Monastery. This Monastery was where the Holy Family stayed for 6 months and 10 days, the longest period spent at the same site. In this site, the holy family received the divine message to go back to Palestine. About 8 Km west of the monastery, you will find the rock-cut tombs of Miar, which belong to the nobles and the rulers during the 6th and the 12th dynasties. The tombs remain in great conditions and it will be an impressive visit.
Later have dinner in your hotel and overnight in Assuit.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

Day 14: Assuit / Doronka / Akhmiem / Sohag

You will check out after enjoying your breakfast at the hotel in Assuit, then you will be escorted by your private guide to visit The Monastery of St. Mary in Doronka. It is not just an unusual monasteries in Egypt, yet is also allegedly one of the last sites visited by the Holy Family on their journey through Egypt. This Monastery of St. Mary and the cave Chapel of St. Mary belongs to the first century. This place receives almost one million visitors yearly. It is believed that the Virgin Mary appears in a luminous form within the chapel every while. Proceed to Sohag in order to reach the city of Akhmiem and visit the Open-Air museum and the statue of Meryet-amun (the tallest female statue in Egypt).
Overnight in Sohag.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

Day 15: Sohag / Cairo

You will check out after enjoying your breakfast at your hotel in Sohag and your private guide will accompany you to visit The White Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite. The monastery dates back to the early 5th century, and it is made of stones from Pharaonic temples. The name of the monastery is originated from the color of the white limestone of its exterior walls. Few kilometers north of the White Monastery, you will reach the Red monastery. The monastery is also named after Coptic Saint Bishai (AnbaBishai) who repented after living a corrupted life. The name of the monastery (red) is originated from the color of the stones used to construct it. The monastery has several churches. The essential church consists many antique stunning paintings cover almost eighty percent of the walls, niches, columns, pilasters, pediments and apses. This building is considered as the most important historical church in Egypt due to its elaborated figural and ornamental paintings, as well as some breathtaking sculptures and monumental architecture.
Drive back to your hotel in Cairo. Later have dinner in your hotel and overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: Cairo / Fly Back Home

Breakfast at the hotel and you will spend a free time at your leisure, then you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your final departure.

Meals: Breakfast