The Holy Family Visit & Nile Cruise, 11 Days

Day 1 Arrive In Cairo

On arrival in Cairo, you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel for overnight.

Meal(s) Included: Dinner

Overnight at Safir Hotel or Similar

Day 2 Cairo - Giza Plateau - Cairo

After breakfast, go on a tour of The Pyramids of Giza, including the famous Sphinx and the museum, where the remains of the Solar Boat of Cheops are displayed. In the afternoon, visit The Egyptian Museum of antiquities where a vast treasure of numerous objects made of gold, bronze, alabaster, silver from Egypt's most glamorous times are exhibited including the new mummy room and the objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun. In the evening, visit Khan El Khalili Bazaar, an Oriental Bazaar that goes back to the 10th century. Dinner is at a local restaurant.

Great Pyramids of Giza (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Gardel

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Safir Hotel or Similar

Day 3 Cairo - Tel Basta - Belbis - Samanoud - Sakha - Cairo

Today's tour will include:

• Tel Basta, the Holy Family's first stop when they entered Egypt
• Belbeis (Ancient Philippos) where the holy family rested in the shade of a tree called (Virgin Mary's tree) 
• Samanoud, located on the Damietta branch of the Nile, it is also the site where a church was built to commemorate the resting place of the Holy Family
• Sakha, where the Holy Family is also believed to have visited. Also known for its large Christian community in the Middle Ages.

Return to Cairo for overnight.

Church of the Virgin Mary in Cairo's Coptic Quarter (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Gardel

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Safir Hotel or Similar

Day 4 Cairo - Wadi Natrun Valley - Cairo

Today, visit Wadi Natroun, a desert area that many believed was blessed by Jesus Christ. Three monasteries still exist in the area. Return to Cairo for dinner and overnight.

A Monastery in the Desert (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Chicurel

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Safir Hotel or Similar

Day 5 Cairo

Today, visit the holy well and sacred tree at Matariya just outside of Cairo. It was a resting place of the Holy Family and a popular destination for medieval pilgrims. Also, see the Church of St. George, as well as the Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo, where the Holy Family passed. Tour the ancient churches, including the Hanging Church and St. Sergius.

St. George's in Cairo's Coptic Quarter (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Gardel

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Safir Hotel or Similar

Day 6 Cairo - Dier Al-Gamous Monastery - Gabal Al-Tair - Menyia

Today's visit will include:

• Abai Issous, or the "house of Jesus." This is the site of the present-day village of Sandafa
• Gabal Al-Tair, "mountain of birds." This is the site where the Holy Family took shelter in a cave which is now covered by the ancient church.

In the evening, board the sleeper train to Aswan.  Dinner and overnight in the train.

Art in Cairo's Coptic Quarter (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Gardel

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Sleeper Train or Similar

Day 7 Aswan - Kom Ombo - Edfu

On arrival in Aswan, embark the cruise ship. After, visit the High Dam and the temple of Philae then sail to Kom Ombo. In the afternoon, visit the temple shared by the two Gods Sobek and Haroeris. Sail to Edfu and overnight.

Philae Temple (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Rieger

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Presidential Nile Cruises or Similar

Day 8 Edfu - Esna - Luxor

Today, visit the temple of Horus in Edfu. Later, sail to Esna and cross the lock. Cruise to Luxor and overnight.

Nile Valley between Esna and Luxor (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Rieger

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at Presidential Nile Cruises or Similar

Day 9 Luxor

In the morning, cross to the West Bank. Visit the Necropolis of Thebes, Valley of the Kings, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight in Luxor.

Tomb of Amon in Thebes Necropolis (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Rieger

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Presidential Nile Cruises or Similar

Day 10 Luxor - Cairo

Disembark after breakfast.  Later, take the sleeper train to Cairo.

Cruise ships on the Nile in Luxor (Courtesy of Egyptian Tourist Authority) © Rieger

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at Sleeper Train or Similar

Day 11 Depart Cairo

On arrival in Cairo, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast