15-Day Holy Family Tour in Egypt with Nile Cruise and Coptic Sites

15 Days Duration

Experiences

About This Tour

Follow the path of the Holy Family in Egypt on a 15-day journey that combines sacred Coptic sites with the country's most iconic ancient landmarks. Visit Tel Ba...

Duration: 15 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Easy · Accommodation: Included · Luxury · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: Yes · Cities: Mataria, Aswan, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Asyut, El Qoseyia, Cairo, Tanta, Giza, Luxor, Menia, Qena, Belbees, Abu Simbel, Dendera, Wadi El Natrun, Saqqara, Memphis · Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

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Egypt

Dendera

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What's Included

Meet and greet service by our representatives at airports
Assistance from our guest relations team during your stay
All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
Accommodation for 7 nights in Cairo, including bed and breakfast
Accommodation for 1 night in Minya, including bed and breakfast
Accommodation for 1 night in Luxor, including bed and breakfast
Accommodation for 4 nights on a 5-star superior cruise on a full-board basis
Accommodation for 1 night on a sleeper train on a half-board basis
All sightseeing tours in Cairo as private guided tours
All sightseeing tours on the cruise shared with the group
All sightseeing tours in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, and the Coptic sites as mentioned in the itinerary
The Holy Family route as per the itinerary above
Entrance fees to all sites as indicated in the itinerary
Meals as mentioned in the above itinerary
Lunch during tours at good-quality local restaurants
A bottle of water during your trip
Portage when needed
All service charges and taxes

Not Included

International airfare
Entry visa to Egypt
Any optional tours
Personal spending
Tipping

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Cairo and Welcome to Egypt

Your tour manager will meet and assist you with the arrival procedures at Cairo International Airport and escort you to the hotel in a deluxe, air-conditioned vehicle. At the hotel, the tour manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour. Overnight in Cairo.Meals: Welcome drink
2

Day 02

Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, and Khan El Khalili

After breakfast, you will be accompanied by your personal guide to the Giza Plateau to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus, the famous Sphinx, and the Valley Temple facing the great statue. Then, transfer to enjoy the Egyptian Museum, including the treasure room of the child king, Tutankhamun. Continue driving to Islamic Cairo, where you can explore Khan El Khalili, Cairo's old bazaar. Return to the hotel and spend the night in Cairo. Meals: Breakfast and lunch
3

Day 03

Holy Family Route to Tel Basta and Belbeis

After breakfast, you will be accompanied by your guide to begin the Holy Family Journey in Egypt. Your first stop will be the town of Bubastis, now known as Tel Basta, approximately 100 km northeast of Cairo. Here, Jesus caused a spring of water to gush forth for drinking, and you will visit the holy well. Then continue to Belbeis, ancient Philippos, about 55 km from Cairo. The Holy Family made their way northeast to Belbeis and rested there in the shade of a tree that came to be known as the Virgin Mary's Tree. In its place stands Saint George Church, which you will visit before returning to Cairo. Have lunch at a local restaurant and return to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cairo. Meals: Breakfast and lunch
4

Day 04

Sakha and Samanoud Pilgrimage Sites

Have breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, and then enjoy the trip to Sakha, located approximately 140 km north of Cairo. You will visit the Virgin Mary Church, renowned for its Christian community in the Middle Ages. You will also see the footprint of Jesus Christ. Then transfer to Samanoud, where the Holy Family crossed the River Nile to the city of Samanoud within the delta. The people there warmly welcomed them and, as a result, were blessed by Jesus Christ. There, you will visit Saint Abanoub Church. There is also a holy well from which the Holy Family drank. Lunch will be served on your way back to Tanta City. Return to Cairo and spend the night at your hotel. Meals: Breakfast and lunch
5

Day 05

Monasteries of Wadi Natroun

After breakfast, you will be accompanied by your guide to visit Wadi Natroun, a desert area said to have been blessed by Christ. The Holy Family crossed the western branch of the River Nile, the Rosetta branch, to the south of Wadi Al-Natrun. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary and her son, the child Jesus Christ, hid in that valley during their journey to Egypt, and Jesus Christ blessed the four directions of the valley. Wadi Al-Natrun is considered one of the most famous valleys in Egypt and is regarded as a home of asceticism and worship, with four monasteries still existing today. Begin your trip with Deir al-Baramus, the oldest of the surviving four monasteries and, in many ways, the most isolated. Then proceed to Deir Anba Bishoy, where his remains are still housed in the monastery, and continue to Abu Makar Monastery. You will end your trip with Deir El-Suryani, the smallest and most compact of the four monasteries. Lunch will be served on your way back to Cairo. Overnight stay in Cairo. Meals: Breakfast and lunch
6

Day 06

Old Cairo Churches, Mostorod, and Matariya

Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo. You will be accompanied by your guide to visit Cairo's churches, starting with the Hanging Church and St. Sergius, then continuing to the Church of St. George, as well as the Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo, which the Holy Family is believed to have passed by. Transfer to Mostorod to visit the Virgin Mary Church, then see the Holy Well and the Holy Mary Tree at Matariya on the outskirts of Cairo, a well-attested resting place of the Holy Family and a popular destination among medieval pilgrims. Lunch at a local restaurant in Cairo. Overnight stay in Cairo. Meals: Breakfast and lunch
7

Day 07

Journey South to Maadi and Minya

Have breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, and then enjoy the Holy Family trip to South Egypt. The Holy Family moved south by boat on the River Nile to a place where the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary now stands in Maadi. Many visitors go to this church to see the book, which may be a sign that the Holy Family passed by that church. From this place, the Holy Family travelled by boat on the Nile toward the south, into Upper Egypt. You will travel south to El Minya in about 3 hours. Upon arrival, you will see the beautiful church hewn out of the cliff beside the river at Gabal Al-Teir in Minya. Overnight in Minya. Meals: Breakfast and lunch
8

Day 08

White Monastery, Al Muharraq, Dendera, and Luxor

Have breakfast at your hotel in Minya and continue the route of the Holy Family by visiting the White Monastery, built in 400 AD by St. Senouda, who constructed the monastery using blocks from ancient Egyptian buildings. The White Monastery has a basilica church that uses columns from ancient Egyptian structures, and there are also wonderful paintings on the walls and ceilings. This monastery once housed more than 2,000 monks. Enjoy your trip to the Monastery of Al Muharraq in Assiut, known as the Monastery of the Holy Virgin at Al Qusiya. It was built around the location where the Holy Family stayed for more than six months. Their time was spent mainly in a cave, which became, in the Coptic era, the altar of the Church of the Virgin Mary. At the end of the Holy Family route, continue to Luxor, a 5-hour drive away. On the way, you will stop at Dendera Temple in Qena to visit the Temple of Hathor, the goddess of love and joy. The temple is located in Dendera, north of Luxor. Transfer to your hotel in Luxor and spend the night there. Meals: Breakfast and lunch
9

Day 09

Embark on a Nile Cruise and Explore Luxor's East Bank

Have breakfast at your hotel in Luxor, and then you will be met and transferred to embark on your 5-star Nile Cruise. In the afternoon, enjoy an excellent tour of the East Bank of the Nile in Luxor, where you will see Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Return to the ship for afternoon tea and dinner, and spend the night in Luxor. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
10

Day 10

Luxor West Bank and Sailing to Edfu

After breakfast, transfer to the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor and visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple at El Deir El Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. Return to the ship for lunch and afternoon tea while sailing to Edfu via the Esna Lock. Dinner on board. Overnight in Edfu.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
11

Day 11

Edfu and Kom Ombo Along the Nile

Enjoy breakfast on board before visiting the Horus Temple at Edfu. Return to the ship for lunch and sail to Kom Ombo. Upon arrival, visit the temple shared by the two gods, Sobek and Haroeris. Return to the ship and continue sailing to Aswan. Dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
12

Day 12

Aswan Highlights from the Nile Cruise

After breakfast, visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the majestic Philae Temple. Return to the ship for lunch. Dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
13

Day 13

Disembark in Aswan and Board the Sleeper Train

Breakfast on board the cruise, then disembark at 08:00 AM. Enjoy free time in Aswan, with an optional tour available to one of Egypt's top attractions, Abu Simbel Temple, which was originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. Later, you will be transferred to Aswan railway station to board the sleeper train to Cairo. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board, and you will spend the night inside your compartment. Meals: Breakfast and dinner.
14

Day 14

Arrival in Cairo with Optional Saqqara and Memphis

Breakfast aboard the sleeper train before arriving at Giza train station, where you will be met and assisted by our representative, who will transfer you to your hotel. Enjoy free time at leisure, and you will check into your room as early as possible. Optional excursions are available in Cairo to visit the Step Pyramid of King Zoser in Sakkara and Memphis. Overnight stay at your hotel in Cairo.Meals: Breakfast.
15

Day 15

Final Departure from Cairo

After breakfast, transfer to Cairo International Airport for the final departure. Meals: Breakfast.