5-Days Excursion to Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria

Your day with Classic Egypt Tours begins this morning at the renowned Egyptian Museum, a home to remarkable collections from the ancient epochs of Egypt. As you wander through the galleries, your guide will share tales full of inspiration about the artifacts that moulded the history of the nation. Of course, the greatest attraction would be the extraordinary treasures from the Tomb of King Tutankhamun, which are renowned all over the world for their incomparable beauty and craftsmanship. Those interested can venture into the Royal Mummies Room for an additional fee. Later after lunch began your tour of Old Cairo. In the morning, the tour visited St. Sergius Church, an important Coptic Christian site, and led pilgrims to the majestic Citadel of Saladin and the beautiful Mohamed Ali Mosque, a unique Ottoman style building. and end the day at the famous Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, where people have been buying and selling goods for hundreds of years. (B, L).

Today, drive to Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt, and get off the car to visit a village near Kerdassa. The village school teaches carpet-making to poor rural children who also move these intricately woven carpets. Continue the drive to Memphis, founded by King Menes some time around 3200 BC. The remains of this city are highlights, such as the colossal statue of Ramses II and the temple dedicated to Hathor that reveals the grand saga of Egypt's early holiness. 

Following this, go to Saqqara, the enormous necropolis that was used as the burial site for the city of Memphis for over 3000 years. Saqqara contains about 80 pyramids. and hundreds of tombs. It is like a treasure trove for archaeologists. The most famous structure at  Saqqara is the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, which dates back to c. 2650 BC, and is widely believed to be the world's oldest stone building.

After noon, continue to the Giza Plateau, where the legendary Great Pyramids and The Sphinx await. No photograph or video can really show how big and how grand they are-the term "awe-inspiring" really fits here. The largest of all is the Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) at a height of 451 feet; between the two is the Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren), the smallest pyramid is the one of Menkaure (Mycerinus). Visit the Valley Temple, where the pharaoh's bodies were mummified, and wonder at the enigma of the Sphinx, a single block of limestone. Afterwards, return to Cairo bearing the weight of these indelibly imprinted memories. 

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An excursion to Egypt through the history of Alexandria would not be complete without exploring its Greco Roman history. Alexandria, founded in 332 B. C. by Alexander the Great, held the world's first lighthouse. It developed into being the second most important city in the Roman Empire after several conflicts. The paganism to Christianity shift demolished many of the temples and structures in 641 when it was captured by the Arabs. At that time, Alexandria was hosting 4,000 palaces, some 4,000 public baths, 1,200 gardens, 400 circuses and amphitheaters, and nearly half a million in population. During your visit, you will admire Pompey’s Pillar, explore the ruins of the Serapeum Temple, and see the Nilometer, historically used to measure the Nile’s annual flooding. After a delightful lunch, your tour continues to the Roman Amphitheater and the recently restored Great Library of Alexandria. Later in the afternoon, you will return to Cairo. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner on a Nile cruise, featuring international cuisine and a lively belly dancing performance.

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