Biblical Cairo, Alexandria & Sinai - Private - 9 Days

Once you have arrived in Cairo, you will be met and transferred to the hotel for check-in. The representative will assist with check-in and provide a briefing on the itinerary and pick-up times for each tour. You will then have the rest of the day at your leisure.

Please note: Your guide may adjust the itinerary due to weather, road conditions, or unforeseen issues, always prioritising safety. Our aim is to ensure all key programme highlights are experienced.

Cairo - Pyramids of Giza - Cairo. Today, you'll be picked up from your hotel for a guided excursion to the Giza Plateau. Here, you'll explore the world-famous Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus. You'll then visit the Great Sphinx, a limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh, believed to represent King Chephren.

Next, you'll head to the Grand Egyptian Museum, located about 2 kilometres from the pyramid complex. Also known as the Giza Museum, it is one of the largest archaeological museums in the world and houses an extraordinary collection of artefacts, including many from the tomb of Tutankhamun. After your visit, you'll return to your hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll head to Coptic Cairo, a historic district enclosed within the old Roman fortress of Babylon, where early Christians built churches for protection. For three centuries after Emperor Constantine, Egypt was a Christian nation and the Coptic Church played a key role in developing desert monasticism, traditions that continue today among the many Copts who still live here.

You’ll explore the Hanging Church, built above an ancient gateway, and St Sergius Church, which houses the crypt where the Holy Family is believed to have sheltered. You’ll also visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue, a site of worship since the fourth century, originally a church before becoming a synagogue, and traditionally linked to the discovery of baby Moses. Though under restoration, it preserves a remarkable Torah scroll on gazelle skin, said to date to the fifth century BC. Once home to many Jewish families, only a few remain in Cairo today. After discovering this area’s deep religious significance, you’ll have time to browse the vibrant Old Bazaar before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Cairo - Wadi El Natrun city - Alexandria. This morning, you’ll set out with your guide to visit the monasteries of Wadi El Natrun, about 100 km from Cairo. Known as one of the cradles of Coptic monasticism, this desert valley was once home to around 700 monasteries, though only four remain today. These ancient sites hold relics of saints, early churches, murals and icons that reflect centuries of history, faith and resilience in the face of repeated attacks.

You’ll explore the Monastery of Saint Bishoy, one of Egypt’s most important monasteries, which holds the saint’s relics and features a drawbridge built for protection from Berber raids. Nearby is Saint Mary’s Syrian Monastery, established in the sixth century by monks from Saint Bishoy’s community. It became known as the Syrian Monastery when Syrian monks later settled alongside the Copts. Here you’ll see a cave where Saint Bishoy is said to have tied his beard to a rope so he would not fall asleep while praying.

You’ll also visit the Monastery of Saint Mary Al-Baramos, believed to be the oldest monastery in Wadi El Natrun, founded by Saint Macarius the Great in 335 AD and fortified to guard against attacks. Finally, at the Monastery of Abu Makar, also founded by Saint Macarius, you’ll learn about its vast grounds and the discovery of the relics of Saint John the Baptist and the prophet Elisha during church restoration works.

Please note: Some of the monasteries in the itinerary may be closed for renovations

Alexandria - Cairo. Today, you’ll head to Alexandria, where Christianity first took root in Egypt, brought by Saint Mark during Roman times. Despite fierce resistance from the Romans, Christianity spread swiftly and ultimately became Egypt’s dominant faith.

Your visit includes the Catacombs, Egypt’s largest subterranean burial site, reflecting the city’s rich heritage. You’ll then stop at Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, the traditional seat of the Pope of Alexandria and a central symbol of the Coptic Church, viewed from outside.

Finally, you’ll see the impressive Qaitbay Fortress, which stands on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Pharos, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, before returning to Cairo.

Cairo - St. Catherine's. After breakfast, you’ll set off for the Sinai Peninsula on a scenic six-hour drive to Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine’s Monastery, with stops along the way. You will visit Moses Springs, known in Arabic as Oyun Musa, about 25.75 kilometres south of the tunnel linking mainland Egypt with Sinai. This site is traditionally believed to be where Moses, following God’s instruction, made the bitter water drinkable by casting a tree into it. Although no tree remains, seven of the original twelve springs still exist today.

You’ll continue to Saint Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest Christian sites in the world, nestled at the foot of Mount Sinai. After your visit, you’ll return to your accommodation in the holy valley for a rest and prepare for an optional early morning climb of Mount Sinai, beginning at about 3 am. Alternatively, you may choose to stay at your hotel and relax.

This morning at 3 am, you will have the option of joining the climb to Mount Sinai, known as Jabal Musa, one of the most sacred peaks in Egypt. Many believe this is the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments, making it a place of deep religious significance for pilgrims of all faiths. After descending, you will return to your hotel for breakfast and some time to rest.

After, you will visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery, built where God is believed to have spoken to Moses from the Burning Bush. This is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, dating back over 1,700 years, and it holds the relics of Saint Catherine. Its foundations predate the divisions within Christianity, linking it to the earliest period of the faith. This monastery has never been destroyed, preserving the distinctive influence of its Greek and Roman heritage. While pilgrims from many Christian traditions have visited over the centuries, the monastic community has always belonged to the Greek-speaking world, a tradition that continues today.

It was first known as the Monastery of the Holy Virgin, reflecting the belief that the Burning Bush symbolised the Virgin Mary and the Incarnation. The monastery is also dedicated to the prophets Moses and Elijah, who both came to this mountain and later appeared with Christ at the Transfiguration. Over time, it became known as Saint Catherine’s Monastery, a name it still bears while keeping its earlier dedications. After this spiritual visit, you will return to your hotel.

Today, you will depart from Saint Catherine’s and begin the six-hour journey back to Cairo, travelling through the dramatic landscapes of the Sinai Peninsula. Along the way, you can take in views of desert plains, rugged mountains, and small Bedouin settlements. Upon arrival in Cairo, you’ll return to your hotel for the evening. The rest of the day will be at your leisure.

After your final breakfast, depending on your flight schedule, you may have time to explore Cairo further, do some last-minute shopping, or simply relax before your transfer to the airport for your onward journey. Safe travels!