Route of the Holy Family

• Day 1:
• Arrive in Cairo. Transfer to Hotel

You arrive at Cairo airport where we meet and greet and transfer you to your hotel. Our Egypt Uncovered rep. welcomes you, helps you settle into the hotel, and outlines the plan for the next few days.

• Day 2:
• Tour to visit Tal Basta, Tanis & Ismailia

A full day tour today to visit Tal Basta, with its ancient well where the Holy Family are said to have rested. We also visit ancient Tanis, which was known as Zoan in the Bible.

• Day 3:
• Tour to visit holy sites at Al-Matariya, Mostorod and Bilbeis

Full day tour today to visit Christian churches around the Cairo area. Includes Al-Matariya where the holy family rested beneath a tree – ‘Tree of the Virgin Mary’, Musturud to the Church of the Holy Virgin, which is sited on the spot where the Holy Family sought shelter and finally the Church of the Virgin Maria in Bilbeis.

• Day 4:
• Tour to visit Wadi Natrun

Today we head to Wadi Natrun to visit the 4th century monasteries – another site where the Holy Family are reputed to have passed through whilst in exile. In the afternoon we return to Cairo.

• Day 5:
• Coptic Cairo and Maadi Churches

We visit the Churches of Coptic Cairo today, most notably the Church of St Sergius which is constructed on the site where the Holy Family are believed to have rested.

• Day 6:
• To Minya to visit Monastery of the Holy Virgin
  

Head south from Cairo to the province of Minya. Whilst you are here you will visit the Monastery of the Holy Virgin which is said to have been founded around a cave where the Holy Family sought refuge for 3 days. The cave now houses an icon of the Virgin Mary which is said to have special properties.

• Day 7:
• To Assyut to visit Monastery of the Holy Virgin

We continue south today to the city of Assyut where we visit the Monastery of the Holy Virgin. The holy family spent over 6 months here and Jesus is said to have returned following his resurrection to consecrate the altar.

• Day 8:
• Return to Cairo via Convent of the Virgin

We return to Egypt’s capital today via the Convent of the Virgin which is where the Holy Family stayed before taking a boat to return to Palestine.

• Day 9:
• Free time. Transfer to the Airport for departure

You have free time in Cairo today until we transfer you to the airport for departure.