Coptic Cairo The Legacy of the Early Church

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Arrival in Cairo⌄

   Your adventure in the land of pharaohs begins when you meet NASCO representative who will assist you through the immigration and customs formalities. Then he will escort you to your hotel to check in and overnight in Cairo.

2. 2Giza & Grand Egyptian Museum⌄

   Visit the Pyramids of Giza, the only remaining wonder of the Ancient World. Enjoy photo opportunities from the Western Plateau with views of the pyramids and Cairo, explore the base of Chephren’s Pyramid, and continue to the famous Sphinx.

   Explore the museum's chronological journey through Egypt's history, from the Predynastic Period through the Greco-Roman era.

   Meals: Lunch: Enjoy an optional lunch at Khufu Restaurant or 9 Pyramids Lounge.

3. 3Cairo to St. Catherine⌄

   Check out after breakfast and enjoy a scenic drive through the Sinai Peninsula, crossing under the Suez Canal through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel. Take rest stops along the way to enjoy desert and mountain views.

   At approximately 2:00 AM, transfer to Moses Mountain and climb the sacred mountain accompanied by a Bedouin guide. Descend at approximately 7:00 AM.

   Meals: Dinner: Arrive at the St. Catherine Monastery guest house, where you will have dinner and spend the night.

   Overnight: Arrive at the St. Catherine Monastery guest house, where you spend the night.

4. 4St. Catherine Monastery & Transfer to Sokhna⌄

   After breakfast, visit Saint Catherine Monastery, one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries in the world. Explore the legendary site of the Burning Bush and the Chapel of the Burning Bush, traditionally associated with Moses. The site is sacred to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

   After the monastery visit, drive to Sokhna and check in at your hotel for overnight stay.

5. 5St. Paul & St. Anthony Monasteries⌄

   Visit the monastery founded in the 4th century AD and widely considered one of the oldest monasteries in the world. Explore the site associated with Saint Paul the Anchorite, who lived as a hermit in a cave in the mountains.

   Visit the monastery complex and its five churches, including the Church of St. Anthony, built over the saint’s original burial site. Admire the ancient Coptic frescoes dating from the 7th and 8th centuries.

6. 6Wadi El Natrun Monasteries & Alexandria⌄

   Explore this historic Christian monastic region and visit its surviving monasteries: Deir al-Baramus, the oldest of the four; Deir Anba Bishoi, where the body of Saint Bishoi is preserved; and Abu Makar Monastery, known for its important Coptic relics, including those of sixteen patriarchs and forty-nine martyrs.

   Continue to Alexandria, check in at your hotel, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

7. 7Abu Mina & Alexandria⌄

   Visit the ancient town-monastery complex and Christian pilgrimage center, exploring the remains and foundations of major buildings, including the Great Basilica. The site is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   then visit St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, traditionally associated with St. Mark the Evangelist; the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, also known as the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa

   one of the city's most distinctive modern architectural landmarks. Optional lunch at the Greek Yacht Club before returning to your hotel for overnight stay.

   Meals: Lunch: Enjoy lunch by the sea at the Greek Club Restaurant

8. 8Departure from Alexandria⌄

   Have breakfast and complete check-out formalities before transferring to Alexandria Airport for your flight to your final destination.