Cairo is a must for anyone fascinated by the magnificent Great Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza. Situated on the Nile, Cairo is exciting, vibrant and fascinating; it is a perfect blend of old and new. Take time to explore the treasures of Tutankhamen in the Egyptian museum or take a stroll around the bustling Khan El Khalili bazaar. Away from the city centre, there is still more to see from the capital of ancient Egypt at Memphis to the Step Pyramid at Saqqara.
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Here are some of the things to see & do whilst staying in this exciting city
See the great Pyramids of Giza – Cheops(Khufu), Chephren and Mykerinos. Enter inside one of the Pyramids (subject to opening and extra cost approx. LE 300) Then visit the Valley Temple - the place where the priests mummified the dead body of King Chephren, owner of the second pyramid at Giza Plateau. Take a close look at the Sphinx - the legendary guardian that stands by the huge funeral complex with its lion body and the head of King Chephren. It may be possible to take a short camel on the plateau (pay locally).
Price per person: £78
See the great Pyramids of Giza – Cheops(Khufu), Chephren and Mykerinos. Enter inside one of the Pyramids (subject to opening and extra cost approx. LE 300) Then visit the Valley Temple - the place where the priests mummified the dead body of King Chephren, owner of the second pyramid at Giza Plateau. Take a close look at the Sphinx - the legendary guardian that stands by the huge funeral complex with its lion body and the head of King Chephren. It may be possible to take a short camel on the plateau (pay locally). After lunch continue to Sakkara, home to Zhoser’s step pyramid. The step pyramid was constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh’s chief architect in 2700 BC, and was the template for all future pyramid construction, including the Great Pyramids of Giza. Three major discoveries have recently been made at Sakkara, including a prime minister's tomb, a queen's pyramid, and the tomb of the son of a dynasty founding king. Learn about the unusual layout of the pyramid of Userkaf, enter inside the pyramid of Teti and afterwards visit the small Imhotep Museum and see the site’s artefacts.
Price per person group tour: Every Saturday £95
Other days £129
The museum displays a rare collection of 5000 years of art which is considered the largest most precious collection of Egyptian art in the world. Over 250,000 overwhelming artefacts are presented, After lunch, continue to the Citadel of Saladin (12th century) first where you will visit the famous alabaster mosque of Mohamed Aly Pasha (19th century) representing the Ottoman style of architecture.
Price per person group tour: Every Sunday £95
Other days £129
Visit Old Cairo, known as Christian Coptic Cairo which is among the most important locations visited by the Holy Family, and where the then Governor of Fustat, enraged by the breaking of idols at Jesus’ approach sought to kill the Child. The family took shelter in a cave above where, in later years, the Church of Abu Serga (St Sergious) was built. Also visit the Church of Abu-Sergah and St. Barbara, the hanging church, and the old Jewish Ben Ezra Synagogue.
After lunch in a local restaurant, continue to Islamic Cairo that was founded in 641 A.D by the First Muslim leader Amr ibn Elas and visit the Mosques of `Masjid` (Amr Ibn Elas Mosque) that was built in 642 A.D by the Muslim leader Amr ibn Elas.
Afterwards visit the El Sultan Hassan Mosque that also known as `Madrasa El Sultan Hassan` that was founded by Sultan Hassan in 1356 A.D
Continue to the Al-Rifa’i Mosque, opposite the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan, which dates from around 1361 and that has the mausoleum of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi. Then visit The Citadel of Cairo where you can visit the most famous mosque in Cairo which is Mohamed Ali`s mosque that known as the Alabaster Mosque
Price per person: £129
Visit the Citadel of Saladin (12th century) first where you will visit the famous alabaster mosque of Mohamed Aly Pasha (19th century) representing the Ottoman style of architecture. Continue to the mosque of Sultan Hassan (14th century) representing the Mameluk style of architecture and the mosque of Rifaei (19th century) that has the mausoleum of the last kings of Egypt as well as the last Shah of Iran Reza Pahlavi. After that see the 9th century mosque of Ibn Tulun which is considered the oldest mosque intact in Egypt, it is unique with its minaret that has external stairs. Next door to the Mosque is the Gayer-Anderson Museum - founded in 1937 in two ancient residences, the Beit el-Kiridiliya from 1632 and the Beit Amna Bent Salim from 1540. In the museum, you will see the private collection of Major Gayer-Anderson along with furniture, glassware, crystal, carpets, silks and embroidered Arab costumes
After lunch in a typical Egyptian restaurant, go to the Gate of Conquests (Bab el Fetouh), one of the original gates of Cairo and the nearby Gate of Victory (Bab el Nasser) and walk to the third remaining gate, Gate of Zweila (Bab Zweila), where you will climb to the top and see a panoramic view of Islamic Cairo.
Price per person: £129