Cairo – El Minya – Fayoum Oasis

Day 1: Arrival in Cairo and a Leisurely Nile Cruise

Arrival in Cairo (preferably in the first half of the day).

Airport meeting and transfer to the hotel. Check-in at the chosen hotel.

A Nile cruise with dinner and an entertainment program is the perfect start to a journey through Egypt. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the country, enjoy the sunset over Cairo, and experience a colorful show featuring breathtaking performances, including the male Sufi dance “tanoura” and the traditional female belly dance.

Return to the hotel.

Day 2: Excursion to the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, Exploring Cairo and Visiting the Egyptian Museum

Breakfast at the hotel marks the start of the day’s excursions, beginning with the awe-inspiring Pyramids in the Giza Plateau and the Great Sphinx. Travelers will then head to Saqqara to see another renowned landmark, the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest pyramid, built around 2650 BC.

The next stop is a Cairo sightseeing tour. Afterward, an optional lunch is available for an extra charge, followed by a visit to the Egyptian Museum, the world-famous repository of ancient treasures.

Dinner is also optional and paid separately. Overnight stay at a hotel in Cairo.

Day 3: Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and a Walk through the Oldest Market in the Capital

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a visit to Old Cairo. Highlights include the Babylon Fortress, the famous Hanging Church, and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Participants will also explore the renowned Citadel, a formidable medieval fortress that served as a stronghold for Egyptians against the Crusaders. Within its walls lies the Alabaster Mosque, whose minarets dominate the Cairo skyline. From the Citadel, visitors can also enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Lunch is optional and available at an additional cost. Afterward, there’s a visit to the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, where handcrafted items made by generations of artisans are sold. The bazaar itself, the oldest in Cairo, is an incredibly vibrant attraction.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at a traditional Egyptian restaurant. Overnight stay at a hotel in Cairo.

Day 4: The Pearl of Upper Egypt – El Minya

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to El Minya, where, 20 km away, lies a monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Of particular reverence in the monastery is a church built in 328 AD inside a cave that served as a refuge for the Holy Family during their flight to Egypt. El Minya is also notable as the site where the Coptic text of the Gospel of Judas was discovered within the Codex Tchacos.

The city boasts fascinating historic architecture, including numerous colonial mansions, and is often referred to as the «Pearl of Upper Egypt».

The day’s program also includes a visit to the village of Ashmunein and the renowned necropolis of Tuna El Gebel. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the Omar El Khayam Al Minya Hotel in El Minya.

Day 5: The Tombs of Beni Hassan and a Visit to Tell El Amarna, the City of the Heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by an excursion to the tombs of Beni Hasan and Tell El Amarna.

Beni Hasan is a cliffside necropolis from the periods of the Old and Middle Kingdoms of Egypt, featuring around 40 tombs adorned with remarkably well-preserved reliefs depicting scenes of daily life from centuries ago. Tell El Amarna is a site of historical monuments from the legendary ancient Egyptian city of Akhetaten, built by the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV), who was also the husband of the renowned Queen Nefertiti.

After the visit, return to Cairo. Dinner is available as an extra charge option. Overnight stay at a hotel in Cairo.

Day 6: Fayoum Oasis and Ancient Pyramids, an Adventurous Jeep Safari and Sandboarding

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by departure to the Fayoum Oasis, located 99 km away from Cairo. This is Egypt’s largest oasis which is the closest to Cairo. Its administrative center, the city of Fayoum, dates back to the Middle Kingdom. The Greeks referred to it as Crocodilopolis due to the worship of Sobek, the crocodile-headed god.

About 18 km southeast of Fayoum, in Lahun, lies the pyramid built for Pharaoh Senusret II. It is unique in that its entrance is located on the southern side rather than the traditional northern side, and its burial chamber is positioned in the southeast corner of the structure rather than the center. Another pyramid, built for Pharaoh Amenemhat III, is located 12 km northeast of Fayoum in Hawara. The mortuary temple on the southern side of this pyramid was once famous as the Labyrinth. Herodotus described it as consisting of 3,000 rooms interconnected by corridors.

Approximately 45 km southeast of Fayoum lies the Wadi El Rayan Nature Reserve.

Our adventure includes a jeep safari, during which we will visit the Wadi El Hitan National Park. We’ll also explore magical springs and Medawara Mountain, where participants can enjoy sandboarding.

Lunch will be provided during the excursion. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the Helnan Auberge Fayoum Hotel.

Day 7: The «Cradle» of Monasticism, Wadi El Natrun, and Return to Cairo

Breakfast at the hotel marks the start of the day as we head to Wadi El Natrun, a valley with 10 alkaline lakes. The waters here once provided a key substance used by ancient Egyptians in the mummification process. In Christian literature, this region is referred to as the Nitrian Desert.

This area is known as the «cradle of monasticism». In one of its monasteries dedicated to St. Mary, the Nitrian Codex was discovered in 1842, a palimpsest that includes, among other texts, the Gospel of St. Luke.

Out of approximately 50 ancient Christian Coptic monasteries in the area, only 4 remain active today. We will visit the Monasteries of Anba Bishoy and Paramus (Baramus) before returning to Cairo.

Dinner is available optionally for an additional fee.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Cairo.

Day 8: Departure Home

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Transfer to the airport. 

Flight home.