PVT827 – The Holy Family Trip

After your breakfast at your hotel in Cairo at 09:00 AM, your private tour guide will accompany you to Giza to visit one of the most ancient monuments of ancient the ancient world “ Giza Plateau”, the Great Pyramids of King “Khufu”Cheops, King “Khafre” Chephren, King “Mankura” Mykerinus, The Great Sphinx and Valley temple. During your trip you will enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant. Then, heading to the Egyptian Museum and old Cairo, where you will be able to tour Khan El Khalili bazaar.
After you finish your visit, our representative will transfer you back to your hotel to have your dinner in your hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After your breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, your personal tour guide will take you to visit Cairo’s churches. You will start by visiting the Church of the Virgin Mary in Ma’adi. Afterwards ,you will visit the Hanging Church and St. Sergius, then continue to reach the Church of St. George and the Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo, which the Holy Family passed by. During your tour you will have your Lunch at a local restaurant in Cairo.
At the end of your visits, our representative will transfer you back to your hotel and have your dinner in your hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

You will check out right after your breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, and you will be transferred to Wadi El-Natrun, Wadi El-Natrun was named as Šihēt by the Coptic, which means “Measuring of Hearts”. This place represents the real birthplace for Christian monasticism. There were about 50 monasteries; only 4 have survived into modern times. You will start your tour by visiting Deir al-Baramus which is the oldest of the existing 4 monasteries, and in many ways, then head to Deir Anba Bishoi whose body exists in the monastery. As well, you will continue to Deir El-Suryani which is the smallest of the 4 monasteries. You will get to know more about Monastic life, and relish the stunning Fresco arts and the beautiful icons. Then you will Continue driving to Alexandria, you will have your lunch meal at a local restaurant in Alexandria, before visiting the Qaitbay Citadel , built on the same site of the ancient Egyptian Kings of Alexandria.
At the end of the day, our representative will transfer you to your hotel in Alexandria, and you will have your dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Alexandria.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

You will check out after your breakfast at your hotel in Alexandria and then your private tour guide will transfer you to visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Catacombs (the largest Roman cemetery made of three levels cut in the rock). Afterward, you will enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant in Alexandria before continuing to the Latin Catholic Church of St Catherine in Alexandria .
After you finish your visit, our representative will transfer you back to Cairo, to enjoy your dinner at your hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After your Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, our representative will pick you up to visit Cairo’s churches.
First to El Matariya (Ancient Heliopolis Area), you will visit the holy tree “Mary’s Tree”. It is the tree under which the holy family has rested in its shade. As well as, the child Jesus caused water to flow from a spring from which he drank to arouse this tree. Then, to the aromatic plant with a beautiful scent named balsam. This plant is added in all perfumes that make them swab or myron oil, which are used in church rituals.
Then you will head to the Church of the Virgin Mary in the Zeitoun area. Italian artists painted the Church as ornamented by carvings of Jesus, the Virgin, and many icons painted by Italian artists. At the end of your visits, our representative will transfer you back to your hotel in Cairo, to enjoy your dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch Box – Dinner

After your breakfast at the hotel, our representative will pick you up to visit Mostorad; known as “El Mahamaah”, meaning the bathing place because Virgin Mary bathed in the child Jesus and washed his clothes.
Then, you will move on to the small village of Meniet Samanoud, where its people greeted the holy Family with warmth and hospitality, and Christ blessed them and hallowed its water spring in return. The remains of this ancient church are buried under the currently existing church of St. Abanoub church.
In addition, there is a huge granite trough, claiming that the virgin used it for kneading. Continuous on to Sakha town near to Kafr El Sheikh, The Coptic name of the town is “Pekha – Issous” Means “The Foot of Jesus”. Its name originated from the footprint of the Christ appearing on a stone on which he set his foot. Afterwards, you will see the Church of the Virgin Mary that reserves a rock with the footprints of the child Jesus.
You will get a lunch box during the trip before driving back to your hotel to enjoy your dinner meal.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box , Dinner

After your breakfast at the hotel, your personal tour guide will pick you up to continue the Holy Family Journey in Egypt. Your first visit will be to the town of Babastis (Tel-Basta). There, Jesus causes the flow of a spring of water to drink. Then, you will visit Tanis, the main capital of the 26th dynasty. Afterwards, you will get to the small museum, Ramses Temple and the royal tombs. Before Driving to Ismailia, you will have your lunch at a local restaurant in Ismailia. After you finish your visit our representative will transfer you to your hotel in Ismailia, and you will have your dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Ismailia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

After your breakfast and the check – out, our representative will pick you up to start your trip to the Sinai Peninsula. While driving, we will pass by Oyoun Mosa (The springs of Moses), then by Hammam pharaohs (hot springs). Reaching the fishermen’s city (Abu Zanima), where you will have your lunch. Afterwards, you will head to the palm groves of the deserted oasis of Wadi Firan, and visit the Monastery of Nuns and finally, you will visit Saint Catherine.
At the end you will Check in and enjoy your dinner in your hotel.

Overnight in St. Catherine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch / Dinner.

At 02:00 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Moses Mountain. There, a Bedouin Guide will accompany you to climb the sacred mountain.
After you climb the mountain, you will be guided to visit one of the famous monasteries in the world, St.Catherine Monastery. It was dedicated to one of Alexander’s rulers, St Catherine. After this, you will enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before driving to Suez. You will have your lunch box during the ride.
After arrival in Suez you will check in and have your dinner at your hotel in Suez.

Overnight in Suez.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box / Dinner

After your breakfast you will check out your hotel in Suez, and start a drive south along the coast to visit the Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul. The two monasteries were built in the 4th century AD but dramatically set against the cliffs coming from the eastern desert. St Anthony Monastery is considered as the biggest monastery in Egypt. The church of St. Anthony was built over the saint’s tomb. St. Paul is a relatively younger monastery but it is equally ornamented with stunning artifacts. Saint Paul might be considered the first monk ever. Then, you will head to Upper Egypt continuing  the trip of the holy family. Your first stop will be at Jabal Al Tair (the Birds Mountain) near El Minya city. That is the cave where the holy family rested inside. 
Upon arrival you will check in and later you will have your dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in El Minya
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After your breakfast, our representative transfers you to the necropolis of Tuna El Gabal. This place includes many significant elements, like the crypts of baboons and Ibis that represent the god Thoth, the tomb of Isadora, the tomb of the priest Pet-Osiers, the ancient water wheel and the boundary stele of the city of the Aton.
During the tour you will have your lunch meal at a local restaurant.
Then, to Al-Ashmunien, you will visit the open museum with the two colossal baboon statues and the ruins of the basilica church with its Rose granite columns. Afterwards, you will reach the site of Beni Hasan, located on the Eastern Bank of the Nile. There you will see the standing out rock-cut tombs with its scenes depicting local and regional life of the Middle Kingdom.
After you finish your visits, you will have your dinner at your hotel.

Overnight in Minya.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After your breakfast you will check out your hotel in Minya, and you will be transferred to Tel el Amarna ” the capital of Akhnaton “, where the northern and southern tombs can be seen. During the tour you will have your lunch meal.
Then, you will ride to Assiut city to visit Al Muharraq Monastery. This Monastery was where the Holy Family stayed for 6 months and 10 days, the longest period spent at the same site. In this site, the holy family received the divine message to go back to Palestine. About 8 Km west of the monastery, you will find the rock-cut tombs of Miar, which belonged to the nobles and the rulers during the 6th and the 12th dynasties.
The tombs remain in great conditions.
After you finish your visits you will have your dinner at your hotel.

Overnight in Assiut.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

After your breakfast you will check out your hotel in Assiut. Then, your private tour guide will transfer you to visit The Monastery of St. Mary in Doronka. It is not just an unusual monastery in Egypt, yet is also one of the last sites visited by the Holy Family on their journey through Egypt. This Monastery of St. Mary and the cave Chapel of St. Mary belong to the first century. This place receives almost one million visitors yearly. It is believed that the Virgin Mary appears in a luminous form within the chapel every while. Afterwards, to Sohag in order to reach the city of Akhmiem and visit the Open-Air museum and the statue of Meryet-amun (the tallest female statue in Egypt).

Overnight in Sohag.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner

After your breakfast you will check out your hotel in Sohag and your private tour guide will accompany you to visit The White Monastery of Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite. The monastery dates back to the early 5th century, and it is made of stones from ancient Egyptian temples. The name of the monastery originated from the color of the white limestone of its exterior walls. After a few kilometers north of the White Monastery, you will reach the Red monastery. The monastery is also named after Coptic Saint Bishai (AnbaBishai) who repented after living a corrupted life. The name of the monastery (red) originated from the color of the stones used to construct it. The monastery has several churches. The essential church consists of many antique stunning paintings covering almost eighty percent of its walls, columns.
This building is considered as the most important historical church in Egypt due to its elaborate figural and ornamental paintings, as well as monumental architecture. 

After your visits you will drive back to your hotel in Cairo. You will have your dinner at your hotel.

Overnight in Cairo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After your breakfast at the hotel our representative will pick you up to transfer you to Cairo International Airport for your final departure.

Meals: Breakfast