Cairo – Siwa Oasis – Alexandria

Day 1: Nile River Cruise with a Colorful Show

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 River cruise with dinner and entertainment is the perfect way to begin a journey through Egypt. It offers an immersion into the country’s atmosphere, a chance to admire the sunset over Cairo and the flavors of Egyptian cuisine, accompanied by live Arabic music and a colorful show. Guests will be dazzled by mesmerizing performances, including the male Sufi dance “tanoura” and the traditional female belly dance.

Return to the hotel.

Day 2: Excursion to the Giza Pyramids, Cairo Tour, Visit to the Egyptian Museum, Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church, Ben Ezra Synagogue, and Shopping at Khan El Khalili Market

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head out for an unforgettable day, beginning with a tour of the world-famous Pyramids and the Sphinx in the Giza Valley.

Travelers will see the monumental tombs of the pharaohs, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, long celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Great Sphinx will also draw attention.

Our next stop is a guided tour of Cairo, featuring the Egyptian Museum. After lunch, we’ll explore Cairo’s historic Coptic quarter, including Babylon Fortress and the Hanging Church. The tour will also feature a visit to the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the lively Khan El Khalili Bazaar. The day concludes with dinner at an Egyptian cuisine restaurant and an overnight stay at a hotel in Cairo.

Day 3: Discovering the «Cradle» of Monasticism at Wadi El Natrun, Visits to its Monasteries, and Departure to Mersa Matruh

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set off for Wadi El Natrun. In Christian literature, these lands are known as the Nitrian Desert. Here, in one of the local monasteries dedicated to Saint Mary, the famous palimpsest of the Nitrian Codex was discovered in 1842, containing, among other writings, the Gospel of Saint Luke.

This place is considered to be the «Cradle of Monasticism». Of the approximately 50 ancient Coptic Christian monasteries originally established here, only four have survived to the present. We will visit the monasteries of Anba Bishoy and Paromeos (Baramos), and then head to Marsa Matruh (370 km), a resort city on the Mediterranean coast that dates back to the Ptolemaic era. It is a popular summer destination for residents of Egypt’s capital.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Marsa Matruh.

Day 4: Visit to Siwa Oasis, a Blend of Berber, Egyptian, and African Cultures. Tour of the Oracle Temple

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set out for Siwa Oasis (306 km away). In the Middle Ages, a slave market operated here at the crossroads of caravan routes. Some of the slaves settled in the oasis, and the blending of ethnicities transformed the people of Siwa into bearers of a unique civilization.

The ancient capital of the oasis is the city of Aghurmi, located atop a high rock, at the edge of which stands the Temple of the god Amun (6th century BCE). The oracle of this temple was one of the most renowned prophets of antiquity. Alexander the Great visited Siwa, where the temple priests proclaimed him the son of the god Amun and the legitimate ruler of Egypt.

From Aghurmi, the road passes by a second, later Temple of Amun, known as Umm Ubaydah, as well as a round stone-lined pool with warm water that locals call Cleopatra’s Baths. In Siwa, we will visit the Temple of the Oracle, see the Mountain of the Dead with its numerous tombs at the entrance to the oasis, and explore the old village of Siwa (Shali).

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in the Siwa Oasis.

Day 5: Desert Safari

Breakfast at the hotel and the start of a day filled with adventures.

We’ll head out on a desert safari to explore the sand dunes, visit hot springs (where we’ll definitely take a dip), and see the salt lake. During the desert tour, participants will enjoy a safari lunch.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Siwa Oasis.

Day 6: Sightseeing Tour of Alexandria

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Alexandria (600 km). Check-in at the hotel, followed by a sightseeing tour of Alexandria, the second-largest city in Egypt.

This Mediterranean city has a rich history. Alexandria was founded in 332 BC by King Alexander the Great. A magnificent capital of the Ptolemaic Egyptian Kingdom, Alexandria continues to captivate travelers with its beauty.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Alexandria.

Day 7: Citadel of Qaitbay and Pompey’s Pillar, Royal Jewelry Museum and the Mysterious Catacombs

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by the second part of the Alexandria tour. This includes a visit to the famous Citadel of Qaitbay. The travelers will also visit Pompey’s Pillar, the Alexandria Library, and the Royal Jewelry Museum. They will also make sure to visit the stunning Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Alexandria.

Day 8: Departure to Cairo and Flight Home

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a transfer to Cairo Airport for departure. 

Flight home (preferably in the afternoon).