Cairo City Tour All Inclusive

Today you will immerse yourself in Egypt's history with a visit to the famous Egyptian Museum. Following this, you will visit Cairo's most popular Islamic attractions: the Alabaster Mosque, and then stroll through Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Housing over 65,000 Egyptian artifacts, the Egyptian Museum attracts millions of visitors a year. The highlight of the Museum is the priceless treasures of King Tutankhamun. His 6-gold gilded coffins dominate the main hall while his magnificent gold mask is the star attraction! Your Egyptologist guide will introduce you to the most important pieces before allowing you to have free time to explore the museum at leisure. Here you can also visit the “Royal Mummies Room” where you will learn about the ancient art of mummification (optional, for an additional cost). Following your visit to the Egyptian Museum, you will tour to the Alabaster Mosque at the Citadel of Salah el-Din which sits on top a limestone hill overlooking Cairo and is the most important mosque in the city. The lower part of the Mosque is clad inside and out with Alabaster while the top part is constructed from the limestone cladding removed from the Pyramids of Giza. Inside the mosque, your guide will introduce you to the basic beliefs of Islam, including a translation of the most common prayers. Then you will discover the ancient sites and culture of Coptic Christians where you will learn about Christian life in Egypt, a country where Christianity is a minority. You will first visit the Hanging Church is built into the walls of the water gate of the Roman fortress and is possibly the oldest Christian church in Egypt. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it is one of Cairo's most beautiful churches. Continue to the Monastery and Church of Saint George. It is one of the few remaining circular churches in the Middle East. Your next stop is the Abu Serga, one of the places where the Holy Family rested after fleeing Israel from King Herod. At the turn of the century this little church, which dates from the 10th-century, was the most important pilgrimage spot in Old Cairo for visiting Christian tourists. There are 24 marble columns lining the central court and a series of 12th-century icons depicting the 12 apostles. You will then tour Ben Ezra Synagogue which is one of the oldest synagogues in Egypt. Set in a shady garden, it was built on the site of the 4th-century Christian church. Thereafter, you will visit the Khan el Khalili bazaar where your guide will give you an introduction to the famous bazaar which it is said to have inspired Christopher Columbus to discover the New World. Here you will enjoy free time to stroll through the maze of streets and shops, and try your luck bargaining with the shop owners for a souvenir of your trip to Egypt or have a cup of tea at the famous coffee shop “El Fishawy.” This is a private tour allowing you to determine the amount of time you will spend at each of the sites. In addition, you will have the chance to visit a Papyrus Institute to see how this famous artwork is made and have the chance to purchase genuine items if you wish. After the conclusion of your tour, you will be taken back to your hotel for drop-off.