The Treasures of Cairo (5 Day All-Inclusive Group Tour)

Itinerary

Day 1: Cairo - Arrival

Stop At: Mercure Cairo Le Sphinx Hotel, 16 Pyramids, 1 Alexandria Desert Rd, Kafr Nassar, Al Haram, Giza Governorate 12556, Egypt
Ahlan wa Sahlan! Today is your first day in Egypt, you took the leap, booked the flight and now you’re here! We are so excited that you have decided to explore this bustling hive of history and culture with us. Your Niktrip host will be waiting for you at the airport (with a sign of your name) for your transfer to the hotel for some much needed rest time before dinner, which starts shortly after sunset.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the Mercure Hotel or the Grand Pyramid Hotel, both 4-star hotels.


Day 2: Ancient Cairo

Stop At: Saqqara (Sakkara) Pyramids, Al Badrashin, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Today is our very first tour day, and we begin our adventure with a tour of Saqquara, the necropolis of Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis. Travel back in time as you wonder through the columns and hallways of this old world burial ground. Here, we'll see and learn about Djoser'd Step Pyramid, which is the central feature of this necropolis. The single pyramid is thought to be the oldest step pyramid in the world, and the earliest known large-scale cut stone construction.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Memphis Museum, Cairo Egypt
This Open air museum is the largest in the world and is located in the ancient city of Memphis. Here we'll observe a colossus of Ramses the second, as well as other gigantic monuments that pay tribute to Gods and Kings alike. This ancient city was once the epicenter and capital of all of Egypt, and as we walk through the courtyard of what once was, our imaginations fill in the gaps of glory and grandeur and bring this city back to life.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Pyramids of Giza, Al Haram Str., Giza 12611 Egypt
Welcome to one of of the seven wonders of the world! Built during the Old and New Kingdom, the Pyramids of Giza were constructed as tombs for the country's pharaohs and their consorts. These majestic structures strike awe and wonder in the heart of the admirer that’s seeing them for the first time. We're getting an up-close-and-personal look at these ancient skyscrapers that can only be described as majestic. As we explore the exterior, remind yourself of where you are, and bask in the thought that you’ve just crossed off a major bucket list item.

Note: Our tour does not include the interior of the pyramids, only the exterior.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Western Desert, Cairo Egypt
It's time to wind down. We're hoping on camel back and heading to the Sahara desert for some much needed relaxation. Our camel train puts us on route to a bedouin styled rest stop, where we can enjoy some local tea. While you sit among your fellow travelers, take in the vast desert landscape that houses a tranquility that's matched by no other place in this world.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the Mercure Hotel or the Grand Pyramid Hotel, both 4-star hotels.

Day 3: Medieval Cairo

Stop At: Egyptian Antiquities Museum, Midan El Tahrir Geographical Society Building, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Mummies, golden chariots, princely garments, and real life treasures all await at the Egyptian Museum. It's a new and beautiful morning here in Cairo, and we start off the day with a visit to The Egyptian Museum. This treasure trove of Egyptian artifacts houses a collection of over 120,000 items with the majority being on display. Built in 1904 the collection has called this Museum home for over one hundred years.

Note: Tour does not include entrance to the Mummy Room of the Museum.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ben Ezra Synagogue, Coptic Cairo, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Originally the Ben Ezra Synagogue was a Christian church that was sold to the Jews in 882 A.D. in order to pay for taxes that were imposed on the church at the time. It was purchased by Abraham Ben Ezra for 20,000 dinars. Through the years, the buildings that housed the church fell victim to fires, raids, and even a structure collapse. The building that we are visiting today was built in 1892, and legend has it that this holy place is located on the site where the baby Moses was found.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Hanging Church (El Muallaqa, Sitt Mariam, St Mary), Shar'a Mari Girgis Street, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Commonly known by earlier travelers as the staircase church due to the 29 steps at it's entrance, Saint Mary's Church is now referred to as the hanging church because it's nave hangs over a passage. Inside we'll get some more history on this place of worship while viewing beautiful intricate mosaics.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Cairo Citadel, Al Abageyah Shar'a Salih Salem, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Our tour day ends with a visit to the Citadel of Salah al Din. Fortified between 1176 – 1183 as a protectant during the crusades, it contains a few museums, and the famous Grand Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the An Nasir Muhammad Mosque. We'll be given special garments to enter the Mosques, as they are both in use by the general public.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Nile River, Cairo 15662 Egypt
After a brilliant day, it’s time to unwind with a felucca ride along the nile. Just before sunset, you float along the river Nile and watch the light play with the ripples of the water.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the Mercure Hotel or the Grand Pyramid Hotel, both 4-star hotels.

Day 4: Day Trip to Alexandria

Stop At: Fort Qaitbey, 29 88545 N 31. 21372 E, Alexandria 21599 Egypt
Welcome to Alexandria, a fusion of Greek, Italian and North African culture. The port city was founded in 331 B.C.E by Alexander the Great, who at the time was 25-years-old when he claimed the African jewel. After his death, the city was named in his honor and was viewed as the epicenter of the Mediterranean.

Our first stop in Alexandria is Qaibey Fort, the Medieval Fort was built on the site of the famous Pharoes light house during the crusades. We tour the archaic structure and the breath taking sea side scenery .

Note: The drive to Alexandria is about 3.5 hours. This tour day starts very early. The exact time will be announced the morning before.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Mohmad said Al halawane Mohmad said Al halawane, Alexandria 21599 Egypt
Started in the 2nd century A.D. the Catacombs were used to intern the dead for over two hundred years. While observing the ancient tombs you'll notice Greek, Roman, and Arab cultural designs that display the diversity of Alexandria at the time. The site was given the name Kom el Shoqafa which means "mound of shards" because of the vast amount of broken pottery left behind by the families of the dead. It is believed that the relatives would bring food and drink to the site, and instead of returning home with the pottery, they would break them around the tombs.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Bibliotheca Alexandrina, El Shatby, Alexandria 30100 Egypt
The Library of Alexandria is arguably the most famous library of all time. The ancient library was the hive of knowledge for the entire ancient world, and a temple for the cultivation of brilliant minds. Unfortunately the great library was destroyed by a devastating fire in 48 B.C. leaving not a single scroll in its wake.

In 1974 a proposal to revive the former library was made and quickly gain momentum which resulted in the commission of the Bibliotheca Alexandria. The building was finally completed in 2002 and commemorates the great Library of Alexandria. France donated over 500,000 books making it the main French library in Africa. It is believed that the new library's location is close to that of the original.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at the Mercure Hotel or the Grand Pyramid Hotel, both 4-star hotels.

Day 5: Farewell

Stop At: Cairo International Airport, Oruba، Road، El Nozha, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Remember the cities, remember the food, the warm smiles, sounds, and all that you experienced in Egypt. We’re sure that you’ve made friendships that will carry on for decades to come. Be proud of your achievement, be proud of your courage in being able to live out such a dream. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

After breakfast, our Niktrip host will arrange your transfer to Cairo International Airport.

Note: The drive to Cairo International Airport is about an hour and a half if traffic conditions are ideal. Check out is at 11:00AM
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.