Cairo and The Red Sea Xmas Tour packages

After having your early breakfast, you will meet your certified tour guide and start your private Cairo sightseeing tour with the Giza Pyramids. As you stand before King Cheops (Khufu) at the Great Pyramid, which rises 146 meters high and was built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, the guide provides insightful comments about its history and architecture.

Learn about King Cheops, the son of Snefru, who constructed four spectacular pyramids and was the father of Chephren, who built the middle pyramid in Giza still having its original outer casing on top. Understand the significance of Mycerinus (Menkaure), the builder of the smallest pyramid, and enjoy panoramic views from the Giza Plateau; optional camel rides are offered for closer exploration of the site.

From there, proceed to the Valley Temple of King Chephren, whose body was prepared for the afterlife, and then move on to the Great Sphinx of Chephren, a lion with a human head, majestic and an ultimate institution of power and wisdom.

Contemplate the Pyramids of Saqqara, an ancient necropolis actually older than Giza. Here you will see the first pyramid, the Pyramid of Djoser from the Third Dynasty, and the Pyramid of Teti from the Sixth Dynasty. Take a look at the tomb of Kagemni, the vizier of justice and son-in-law of King Teti. Explore some of the burial and funeral customs and decorations.

Next, move to Mit Rahina, Egypt's ancient capital, now an open-air museum containing collections of relics from the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom. Gaze at the white or alabaster Sphinx of Memphis, the second-largest in Egypt. Enjoy a panoramic view of the colossus of Ramses II, one of the most well-known pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty.

Lunch will be served en route before returning to your hotel in Cairo for overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After having breakfast at the hotel, on the Cairo tour you will go to Islamic Cairo with a private guide. First stop: the Cairo Citadel!

Explore Saladin's medieval fortifications of the Citadel, which he ordered built during the 12th century to protect Cairo from possible invasions. Saladin initially hired mercenaries for his army in Egypt, but during Ali Pasha's time, they had become so powerful that they were eventually removed midway through the Citadel Massacre.

Pay a visit to the breathtaking Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali inside the Citadel. Perched high on one of Cairo's hills, it offers magnificent views of the city; with clear visibility, you can even catch a glimpse of the Giza Pyramids.

Proceed to Old Cairo and take the Coptic Cairo tour to explore some of the earliest Christian churches. Visit the Church of Abu Serga, which supposedly stands above the crypt where the Holy Family sought refuge during their escape from King Herod. You will then visit the Hanging Church, named for being suspended over the two bastions of the ancient Roman Babylon Fortress. The Coptic Cairo tour concludes at Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the oldest Jewish synagogues in the Middle East.

Savor a delicious lunch, then go to Khan El Khalili in Al Hussein District of Downtown Cairo, named after Al Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Explore a historical area retaining mosques dating back to the 9th century and mausoleums of the Prophet's companions and family. Walk leisurely among the busy alleys, have a cup of traditional mint tea, and return to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch