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Ancient Christians in Egypt Tour
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Ancient Christians in Egypt OVERVIEW

TOUR SUMMARY

11 days

Ancient Christians in Egypt

From

$0 (p/p)

Country(ies): Egypt

Tour type: Special Interest

Group size: Min: 1 | Max: Any

Accommodation: No Accommodation

Meals: Breakfasts - 10, Lunches - 7, Dinners - 3

Transport: A/C Minibus & 4x4 jeep

Highlights:

The Pyramids & Sphinx, Coptic Cairo & Church of St Sergius, Mount Sinai, Christian monasteries, Biblical sites including Tanis & Wadi Natrun monastaries

Egypt is mentioned throughout the Bible with tales of the Great Exodus and the flight of the Holy Family into the land of the Pharaohs. Christianity in the country has a long history, and this tour aims to visit many important ancient Christian sites and locations mentioned in the Bible including some said to have been visited by the Holy Family during their journey through the country. We also visit some of Egypt's most famous Pharaonic sites and learn about the context of how ancient Christians lived in Egypt over the centuries.

Your journey begins in the Egyptian Capital, Cairo, home of course to the Pyramids and Sphinx, but also to some important ancient Christian sites, particularly some of the ancient churches in what is now called 'Coptic Cairo'. Your tour starts with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities which amongst many other things, houses the treasures from King Tutankhamun's tomb. It also holds important artefacts dating from the reign of the Pharaoh Akhenaton, thought to be the world's first monotheistic king.

Next we head to Coptic Cairo to see some of the oldest Christian Churches in Egypt, the most significant of which is the Church of St Sergius, which is believed to have been constructed on the site where the Holy Family resided at the end of their journey into Egypt. We also visit the Coptic Museum which houses a large collection of ancient Christian artefacts, mainly dating from 300-1000AD.

We can't leave Cairo without visiting the Pyramids, and we tour the three main pyramids. the Sphinx and the Solar Boat museum before leaving Cairo and heading north to the coastal city of Alexandria. En-route, we stop at Wadi Natrun for a picnic lunch and a visit to some of the monasteries. During their journey into Egypt, the Holy Family were believed to have made a stop here at Wadi Natrun, and between the 4th and 7th centuries the region became one of the most important regions for Christianity in the Middle East. St Macarius of Egypt retired to the desert in the 4th century to live a stoic life and many hundreds of others following suit in the following centuries in search of a simple, holy way of life. Today only four of the monasteries survive, all of which originally date back to the 4th century (these are the Monastery of St Macarius the Great, Paromeos Monastery, the Monastery of St Pishoy and the Syrian Monastery. Once in Alexandria we will visit the Roman amphitheatre, Pompey's pillar, the Catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa, Qait-Bay Fort and the modern Alexandria Library.

Leaving Alexandria, we head through the Nile delta region towards Ismailia, via the ancient town of Tanis. Tanis gained prominence recently when it was featured in the movie 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' as the hiding place for the Ark of the Covenant, though there is no historical basis for this theory. After touring the ancient site of Tanis we continue on to Ismailia where we spend the evening.

Ismalia is situated on the banks of the Suez Canal, which we cross through a tunnel before continuing into the Sinai Peninsula and to St Catherine's Monastery, located at the foot of Mount Sinai. The monastery was built between the years 527 and 565 around the 'Chapel of the Burning Bush' that was built on the site where Moses is reported to have seen the burning bush. The living bush which can be seen today is reputed to be the original. Very early the following morning, we begin a hike to the summit of Mount Sinai, thought to have been the location where Moses received the 10 commandments from God, though others believe this happened at the nearby mount Serbal. You should reach the summit in plenty of time to watch a beautiful sunrise over the Sinai mountains. After descending the mountain, we visit Catherine's Monastery itself before returning to Suez, arriving late in the afternoon.

Our next drive takes us south from Suez, along the Gulf of Suez to Zafarana and the historic monasteries of St Paul and St Anthony in Egypt's eastern desert. Both Paul and Anthony are said to have been brought up by wealthy parents, but chose to give all this up to live a stoic lifestyle in order to become closer to God. Their monasteries date from the 5th and 4th centuries respectively and St Anthony’s also claims to be the oldest continually inhabited monastery in the world.

After returning to Cairo your last two days include tours to the Fayoum region, where you can see the Roman Ruins and experience oasis life, and to the pyramids at Saqqara and Memphis, which are thought to be some of the oldest in Egypt.

ITINERARY

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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.

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 0, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

Extra day in Cairo - pre-tour (EGSGCB)


We have a full day of tours planned for today which begins with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, which houses a vast collection of artefacts from Egypt's past, including the famous King Tutankhamun display. After an included lunch we continue to Coptic Cairo which is home to many ancient churches. Whilst in Coptic Cairo we will visit the Church of St George, Al Moalaka Church and the Church of St Sergius which is believed to have been built on the spot where the holy family rested at the end of their journey into Egypt. Later on we visit the Coptic Museum which is home to an excellent collection of Coptic artefacts.

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None


After breakfast we take you on a tour of the pyramids & sphinx at Giza. The majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. Here you have the chance to climb inside one of the pyramids (there are a limited number of tickets available for the Great Pyramid). Before continuing on to the Sphinx you will visit the Solar Boat Museum which is located close to the Pyramids. The Museum houses a full size, intact boat which was discovered in 1954 in a pit cut into the Giza bedrock. The boat is almost certainly the oldest, largest and best preserved boat in antiquity.

Close by, the mysterious Sphinx stands guard, as it has done so for thousands of years. You have another guided tour around the sphinx and some free time to walk around and take photos.

Following our tour of the Giza plateau we leave Cairo and head north towards Alexandria. Along the way we will visit the monasteries around Wadi Natrun and have a picnic lunch. The monasteries around Wadi Natrun were born from Christian hermits who sought to emulate St Anthony by forming these remote communities. The four monasteries were constructed in the 4th century; however each of the monasteries has been totally ruined and reconstructed at least once in its life. Much of what you see today dates to the 18th century.

After time at Wadi Natrun our journey continues north to Alexandria where we will spend the evening. After checking into your hotel the remainder of the evening is free for you to get accustomed to your new surroundings.

OVERNIGHT:

Alexandria hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None


After breakfast we have a full day tour of Alexandria. Your tour of the city includes the Roman amphitheatre, which has twelve semi-circular marble tiers and is in remarkably good condition, Pompey's pillar, and the Catacombs of Kom al-Shoqafa, which is the largest Roman cemetery in Alexandria. Dating from the beginning of the Second Century AD this fascinating underground cemetery displays a unique blend of Pharaonic and Roman art. Later in the afternoon you will also visit Qait-Bay Fort and the famous Library of Alexandria.

OVERNIGHT:

Alexandria hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None


We leave Alexandria behind today and follow the Mediterranean coast to Ismailia. Along the way we make a stop along the Nile Delta to visit the town of Tanis. During Biblical times Tanis was known by the name Zoan, as referred to in the Bible. In the film the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Tanis was said to be the hiding place of the Ark of the Covenant. The city was founded late in the 20th dynasty and became the northern capital of Egypt during the 21st dynasty under the rule of Smendes. Tanis then remainder Egypt's northern capital into the 22nd dynasty. There are many ancient sites at Tanis, including temples and a royal necropolis. In 1939/1940 Pierre Montet discovered the intact burial sites of Psusennes I, Amenemope and Shoshenq II which contained a large amount of Gold, Jewellery, Lapis Lazuli and many other precious items which are now housed in the Cairo Museum.

After time in Tanis we continue on to Ismailia where we will spend this evening.

OVERNIGHT:

Ismailia hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 1

EXTRAS:

None


After free time in Ismailia we cross the Suez Canal and drive into the Sinai Peninsula to St Catherine's Monastery. St Catherine's is located at the foot of Mount Sinai, although known as St Catherine's, the full, official name is 'The sacred and imperial Monastery of the God-trodden Mount of Sinai'. The Greek Orthodox monastery is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and has been declared the world's oldest working Christian monastery - although, the Monastery of St Anthony also holds claim to that title.

The monastery was built between the years 527 and 565 around the 'Chapel of the Burning Bush' which was built at the site where Moses is reported to have seen the burning bush. The living bush is reputed to be the original. You have lunch and dinner in a basic hotel before getting some rest as you have a very early start tomorrow.

OVERNIGHT:

St Catherine hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 1

EXTRAS:

None


At approximately 0130 you will begin your hike to the summit of Mount Sinai. Bedouin tradition says that Mount Sinai is the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Some Christian traditions however, place this event at the nearby Mount Serbal. A monastery was founded at the foot of Mount Serbal in the 4th century; it was only in the 6th century that the monastery was moved to its current location at the foot of Mount Catherine, and is now known as St Catherine's Monastery. For Muslims, Mount Sinai also has religious significance and a chapter in the Quran is named from it. You should reach the summit of Mount Sinai in plenty of time to watch the spectacular sunrise over the Sinai Mountains.

After your descent you will have time for some breakfast before visiting St Catherine's Monastery, home to an important icon collection. You will also have time for lunch at St Catherine's before we continue our journey to Suez. After checking into the hotel you will have some free time.

OVERNIGHT:

Suez hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 1

EXTRAS:

None


We will have breakfast in Suez before following the Gulf of Suez south to the town of Zafarana. Here you will visit the Monasteries of St Paul and St Anthony. The Coptic monastery of St Paul lies in Egypt's eastern desert far from any other ancient ruins. St Paul is said to have been born to rich parents, however by the age of 16 both of his parents had died. Paul gave up his inheritance and gave his life to God, seeking refuge in a cave in the Eastern desert, where he lived until the age of 113. St Paul lived a life of extreme austerity, and is said to have been fed half a loaf of bread each day by a raven. At around 340AD the well-known desert monk St Anthony is said to have visited St Paul just before he passed away. Legend has it that when Paul died, 2 lions dug his grave. St Anthony then buried Paul and designated him a saint. It was above St Paul's cave that the monastery you see today was built. It dates back to around the 5th Century.

The monastery of St Anthony was founded around 356 AD just after the death of St Anthony, on his burial site. Although a Coptic monastery today, throughout its history, the monastery was often multi-faith, home to monks from many different Christian religions. Amazingly the monks who inhabited the monastery today still speak Coptic; a religion directly descending from that of the ancient Egyptians.

Today, St Anthony's is a self-contained 'desert village' with a bakery, a mill, gardens and 5 churches. The best of these churches is that of St Anthony himself. Recently the Egyptian Council of Antiquities and the American Research Centre in Egypt collaborated to restore many of the exceptional wall paintings. Many of these paintings date back as far as the 7th and 8th centuries and depict holy knights in bright colours and the hermit founders of the monastery.

After spending time at these historic monasteries, we drive back to Cairo.

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None


After an early breakfast we head out of Cairo to the Oasis town of Fayoum. Whilst at the Oasis you will see the famous bucket-wheels and will have the chance to visit the Karanis Museum and the remains of the ancient Roman city. You will have lunch beside the banks of Karun Lake before returning to Cairo in the afternoon.

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None


Ensure you don't miss breakfast today as we have a full day of tours ahead. We begin the day with a visit to Memphis and Saqqara. Memphis is thought to have been founded by Menes (aka Narmer) around 3100 BC. At this time Memphis was located at the apex of the Nile Delta, giving it control of overland and river communications. The city is often regarded as the world's oldest imperial city and even after Thebes became Egypt's capital, Memphis continued to hold sway over much of the country. Memphis remained Egypt's second city until Ptolemaic times. Today, not much remains of this once great city, however some of its glory is evident in the great necropolises scattered across the desert landscape. To truly appreciate Memphis, you need to recall the city's great past.

After time in Memphis we continue on to Saqqara, which lies 25km to the south of Cairo. Djeser's (Zoser's) Step Pyramid (built 4700 years ago) dominates the skyline and is believed to have been the ancient Egyptians' first attempt at Pyramid building. The entire 7km stretch of desert at Saqqara is a treasure trove of pyramids, temples and tombs, which we will have plenty of time to explore while we learn about the history of pyramid building in Egypt. We return to central Cairo around lunch time to visit the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar where we will have lunch in one of the local restaurants.

In the afternoon we visit the Citadel of Salah el Din, with its collection of Mosques and Palaces. You can always be guaranteed an excellent view over the city from here and on a clear day you may even be able to see the Pyramids.

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None


Your tour ends after breakfast and your time is free until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

OVERNIGHT:

N/A

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

Extra day in Cairo - post-tour


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Included:
  • All accommodation as stated in the itinerary in 3-star and 4-star hotels
  • All transport and transfers in private AC vehicles
  • Overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor
  • 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
  • Sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary
  • Services of a local Egyptologist guide for all the sightseeing tours
  • Entrance fees to sites visited
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Excluded:
  • International flights (available on request)
  • Visa fees (available on arrival for most nationalities)
  • Travel Insurance (mandatory, available on request)
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Tour guide tips
  • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
  • Tipping kitty (allow US$55)
  • Hotel Gala Dinners (if charged by the hotels on 24 & 31 Dec, see Tour notes)
  • Any other items not mentioned above

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Note

Accommodation

The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.

Options

Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination you're visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.

TOUR NOTES

The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.

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