Frank Pimentel

frank@realhawaiitours.com

909-702-4919


Best of Cairo ( Private Tours )

6 nights
Private Experience
Start City : Cairo
End City : Cairo

Highlights:

  • GEM 
  • Civilization Museum 
  • Cidadel of Salah Eldeen
  •  Alabaster Mosque
  • Pyramids  
  • Sphinx
  • Memphis 
  • Sakkara
  • Old Cairo
  • Khan Al - Khalili 
  • Alexandria National Museum
  • Catacombs of Kom el-Shouqafa
  • Roman Amphitheater (Kom el-Dikkah)
  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Alexandria Library)
  • Pompey's Pillar
  • Montazah Gardens
  • Dinner Cruise with show
Your Experience

  • Day 1

    Feb 23: - Arrival at Cairo:

    • After the arrival at Cairo International Airport, we offer the "meet and greet" service.  Afterward, our customer will be transferred to the hotel for check-in.

     


    Meals: No Meals
    View Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residence gallery

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  • Day 2

    Feb 24: - Cairo Tour (Grand Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza & the Great Sphinx):

    • Our day starts with a visit to the largest archaeological museum in the world, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).  The new structure houses 100,000 masterpieces from several periods of Egypt's glorious history, 20,000 objects of which will be displayed for the first time such as King Tutankhamun's complete collection.
    • After touring the GEM, we will stop at a nice cozy restaurant to have lunch.
    •  We will, then, proceed to the one and only standing monument among the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, followed by The Pyramids of Khafra & Menkaura, the well-preserved valley temple of Khafra, and the Great Sphinx.
    • Lastly you will have the Oppurtunity to Enjoy Authentic Egyptian Family Dinner


    Meals: Breakfast,lunch

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  • Day 3

    Feb 25: - Memphis, Sakkara, and Old Cairo tour:

    • We will experience the Spiritual Cairo tour and explore some of the early religious monuments of Cairo. You`ll visit the El Muallaqa Church, dating to the late fourth and early fifth century. This basilica was named for its location on top of the south gate of the Fortress of Babylon. Muallaqa means "suspended or hanging." Destroyed in a ninth-century earthquake, the church became the center of the Coptic (or Christian) Church of Egypt from the time it was rebuilt in the eleventh century until the 14th century.
    • Make a stop at the Ben Ezra Synagogue, built sometime between the sixth and ninth centuries AD. The temple contains a Jewish Heritage Library, containing documents found here in 1896 that describe the economic and social conditions of Jews under Arab rule as well as descriptions of relations between various Jewish sects.
    • After lunch at a local restaurant (Abu Shakra), continue to Memphis, founded around 3,100 BC, which is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Early on, Memphis was more likely a fortress from which Menes controlled the land and water routes between Upper Egypt and the Delta. Having probably originated in Upper Egypt, from Memphis, he could control the conquered people of Lower Egypt. However, by the Third Dynasty, the building at Saqqara suggests that Memphis had become a sizable city.
    • Proceed to the Sakkara site, Sakkara is one section of the great necropolis of Memphis, the Old Kingdom capital, and the kings of the 1st Dynasty as well as of the 2nd Dynasty. are mostly buried in this section of the Memphis necropolis. It has been of constant interest to Egyptologists. Three major discoveries have recently been made at Sakkara, including a prime minister's tomb, a queen pyramid, and the tomb of the son of a dynasty-founding king. Each discovery has a fascinating story, with many adventures for the archaeologists as they reveal the secrets of the past.


    Meals: Breakfast, lunch

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  • Day 4

    Feb 26: - Full-Day Alexandria Tour:

    • Start your over-day excursion to Alexandria by private car & accompanied by an English-speaking Egyptologist. The first stop will be at the Alexandria National Museum, one of our new master sites nowadays. It is inaugurated by the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, on 31st of December 2003. The national museum located in a restored palace contains about 1,800 artifacts pieces of antiquities that narrate the history of Alexandria throughout the ages, Pharaonic, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras, and some modern pieces, Mummies are shown in a special underground chamber (basement). And some of the items found during the archaeological underwater excavations in Alexandria are now on the same floor as the Greco roman artifacts.
       
    • Next, we will visit the Catacomb of Alexandria which is really one of the master sites here in Alexandria. Kom el-Shouqafa lies in the district of Karmouz to the east of Alexandria the area was called Kom El Shouqafa or a pile of shards, Catacombs in Alexandria are called the catacomb as well because of their design, which was very similar to the Roman Christian Catacombs. Most likely it was a private tomb and later converted into a public cemetery. It consists of 3 levels cut into the rock, a staircase, a rotunda, the triclinium or banquette hall, a vestibule, an antechamber, and the burial chamber with three recesses In, wherein each recess there is a sarcophagus. The Catacomb also contains a large number of Luculi or grooves cut into the rock.
       
    • Proceed to the Roman Amphitheater. It a modest in size and most of the part of the structure is in ruined condition but still, it is an excellent ancient structure of the Roman period of Egypt. The theatre also consists of numerous galleries erected crudely. These galleries contain rooms for more spectators along with the arrangement of 700-800 marble seats around the stage. The Roman Amphitheatre was discovered in the excavations done for the site of Paneion or "Park of Pan" in Kom el-Dikkah also known by the name of Hill of Rubble. In the layers above the roman street, two other archaeological sites were found. These were a Muslim Cemetery and slums.
       
    • Next,  Proceed to Pompey's Pillar in Alexandria is a magnificent 27-meter-high Roman triumphal column, built in 297 AD to honor Emperor Diocletian. Located at the ruins of the Serapeum, this towering structure is the largest of its kind outside Rome. The pillar, made of red Aswan granite, stands as a testament to Alexandria’s rich Greco-Roman heritage and once supported a colossal statue, likely of the emperor himself.
       
    • The Serapeum, once a grand temple dedicated to Serapis, the Greco-Egyptian deity, was among the most significant religious centers of its time. Though much of the temple was destroyed, the pillar remains intact, symbolizing the power and influence of the Roman Empire in Egypt. Visitors can explore the surrounding ruins, including underground galleries and statues of sphinxes that hint at the site's former grandeur.
       
    • Stop for lunch then continue to our last stop at the Alexandria Library. The modern Alexandria Library or the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as once called in Ancient Egypt is located on a magnificent site in the Eastern Harbor, facing the sea on the north, and Alexandria University Complex on its southern side. It is very close to the location of the Ancient Library in the Brucheion (the Ancient Royal Quarter), as verified by the 1993 archeological survey. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was inaugurated in 2003 near the site of the old library. The building consists of 11 levels with a total level area of 85,405 m2. The library's main reading area which can accommodate 2000 users occupies 7 levels with a total area of 13,625 m2. The Library has 2 main museums (the manuscript museum and the Antiquities museum) and a Science center in the shape of a sphere and called the Planetarium.Lastly Before you return to Cairo you will visit the relaxing Montazah Gardens.


    Meals: Breakfast, lunch

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  • Day 5

    Feb 27: - Cairo Tour (National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Old Cairo, Citadel of Salah Eldeen) 

    • Start the day with a visit to the first authentic museum of civilization in Egypt.  The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) with 50,000 artifacts from the dawn of civilization to the present day.

    • Then, we will stop to have lunch in one of Cairo's best restaurants.

    • Stop for lunch, Continue the Cairo tour with a visit to The Citadel of Mohamed Ali (the Fortress of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi), built in 1183 and overlooking the city from the Muqattam Hills. The structure, with its domes and minarets, looks over a number of important buildings, including the Alabaster Mosque. Its domed interior, used by Moslems for daily prayers, is a spectacular sight of twinkling lights and beautiful mosaics.

    • A free tour in Khan Al-Khalili Market, which is one of the oldest and oldest Egyptian markets, where it is fun to shop and enjoy watching various Egyptian antiques and gifts throughout historical times, where you can buy souvenirs for you and your friends to remind you of your trip in Egypt.


    Meals: Breakfast, lunch

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  • Day 6

    Feb 28: - Free Day in Cairo with Nile Cruise Dinner with show.

     

    • The Day is free from any visits. but by the end you will enjoy the Majestic Nile Cruise Dinner and Show

     

     


    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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  • Day 7

    Mar 01: - Departure

    • Transfer to Cairo International Airport for Departure after having an early breakfast .

     


    Meals: Breakfast

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Luxury Accommodation:

  • Feb 23 - Mar 01: Hilton Grand Nile Tower - Nile View Room – on bed and breakfast

Transfers:

  • Feb 23: Arrival transfer to your Hotel from Cairo Airport
  • Mar 01: Final transfer from your hotel to Cairo Airport for final dep.

Sightseeing:

  • Feb 24: Full-day Pyramids, Sphinx, and Grand Egyptian Museum includes Guiding, Lunch, Entrance  fees, and A/C Bus model 2024: 
  • Feb 25: Full-day Memphis,  Sakkara, and old Cairo tours include Guiding, Lunch, Entrance  fees, and A/C Bus model 2024
  • Feb 26: Full-day Alxendira, including Guiding, Lunch, Entrance fees, and A/C Bus model 2024.
  • Feb 27: Full-day Cairo National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Citadel of Salah Eldeen, Alabaster Mosque, and Khan Al-Khalili Market, including Guiding, Lunch, Entrance  fees, and A/C Bus model 2024.

Free Items:

  • Camel ride on the second day.

Not included:

  • Visa $25
  • Tipping
  • International flights
  • any option tours 

Egypt is very safe to visit and the police, tourist police, and army are in prominence wherever you go, giving you a feel of being in secure surroundings. Egypt prides itself on its high safety record for tourists and will do all it can to maintain this.

Egyptian Arabic is the official and most widely spoken language in Egypt. English is taught in schools and is considered a secondary language that is most commonly used for tourism purposes.

The official currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and upscale shops. There are also ATMs available at hotels and outside major banks dispensing local currency.

The best time to visit Egypt would be during the winter months, from October to April. The temperatures are mild and pleasant, although evenings can become quite cool. December through January are the peak tourist months so expect large crowds if travelling at this time. The best time to enjoy the beaches, without having to endure the large crowds of summer tourists, would be from March to May. Temperatures at this time are warm and tourist sites are not too crowded.

Egypt, being a predominantly Muslim country, is naturally conservative (not like the Gulf States or Saudi Arabia) but the average people are careful in what they wear. The dress code in Egypt for women is considered conservative by western standards and it is respectful to obey this code. For men it is not really an issue -- normal trousers and shirt or T-shirt are fine -- but in Cairo it would not be acceptable to wear short shorts or a tank tops/sleeveless tops. In the resorts like Sharm El Sheik, Hurghada, Sinai, etc. -- shorts are fine and it is very open and flexible. This also applies to ladies for the beach areas, but going into the market area in Hurghada, for example you may be more comfortable in trousers. Generally for men in Cairo or any city that is not on the sea side, remain with trousers (at tourist sites long loose shorts) or jeans and T-shirt , as even in Cairo, local people do not feel comfortable seeing a man in shorts. In Sea Side areas it's ok to walk in shorts, but once you enter a local restaurant or market, it's better to be more covered.

For the vast majority of travelers to Egypt, a valid passport and a travel visa is required. A visa can easily be purchased at the airport when you arrive. The cost for a single-entry, 30-day tourist visa is $25 (or equivalent in Euro), must be paid in cash (no credit or debit cards accepted), and your passport must be valid for at least six months. Citizens of all European countries, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, South Korea, Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and United States can obtain a visa upon arrival. (Egypt does allow visa-free access for certain countries such as Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macao, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.) Visas can also be purchased beforehand through Egypt’s Visa e-Portal: https://visa2egypt.gov.eg. Forty-one different nationalities are eligible to purchase the e-visa, however, it’s far easier to simply buy the visa at the airport.

As with most European and North American countries, tipping is graciously accepted in Egypt. A 10% tip at restaurants and to guides and drivers is standard. Unfortunately, at major tourist sites like the Pyramids of Giza or the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, touts aggressively hustle for tips by allowing you to take photos in areas where it’s clearly posted as prohibited (such as inside the tombs). Please refrain from perpetuating this problem by not paying to take pictures.

Egypt has a voltage supply of 220V and the plugs are the 2-round pin type that are common throughout Europe.

As noted previously, Egypt is a Muslim country, therefore alcohol is not readily available outside of tourist areas and western-style hotels/resorts. Beer and wine is available for purchase on all Dragonfly Kite Safaris.