Day 01
Giza Pyramids, Old Cairo and Simon the Tanner Church
- Get picked up by your Egypt tour representative from your hotel in Cairo and start the tour.
- Transfer to discover one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), along with 3 small pyramids.
- Continue to explore the rest of the Giza Plateau, including Khafre's (Kaphren) Pyramid, the second-largest pyramid on the Giza site, the remains of the Funeral Temple, the Pyramid of Mankawra (Mykerinus), and 3 small pyramids.
- Proceed to visit the Great Sphinx, the head of a pharaoh with a lion's body, which dates back to the time of Chephren.
- Pay a visit to the Valley Temple, which belongs to the pyramids of Chephren. This temple served two functions: first, it was used for the purification of the mummy of the king before burial; second, it was used for the mummification process of the king.
- After visiting the pyramids, continue across the plateau for a photo opportunity of the three pyramids rising from the sands.
- Then head to Old Cairo. First, visit the Babylon Fortress, known as the Wax Palace or Babylon Castle. It is an ancient fortress and is considered one of the largest fortresses built by the Roman civilization in Egypt. It is also the center around which the city of Fustat was built.
- Go on to admire fascinating architectural wonders such as the Hanging Church, built between the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century in the Basilica style. The Hanging Church of Cairo rises majestically on the ancient tower of the Fortress of Babylon, with an interior full of symbolism and icons. It has become one of the most visited monuments in Egypt's magnetic capital. With an essence that mixes Roman, Egyptian, and Babylonian architecture, it becomes a place where the line between legend and history blurs.
- Visit the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, which holds a special place among the other Coptic churches as it is linked to the path of the Holy Family during their escape from King Herod to the land of Egypt. According to Christian belief, the church is named after Saints Sergius and Bacchus, who were martyred in the region of Rusafa in Syria.
- No one can be in Coptic Cairo without visiting the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, called El-Shamieen Church, now located behind the Hanging Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Pay a visit to Amr Ibn El-Aas Mosque, the very first mosque built in Egypt.
- After that, explore the important mosques and high places of worship of the Islamic faith in Cairo. With 80 percent of its population following Islam, see the amazing architecture built here and appreciate its artistic mosques created for worship.
- Proceed to visit the Church of Simon the Tanner (fl. 10th century), also known as Saint Simon the Shoemaker (Sam'an al-Kharrāz). He is the Coptic Orthodox saint associated with the story of moving the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph al-Muizz Lideenillah (953-975).
- Return to the hotel.
