Red Sea Christmas Trip from Cairo

After enjoying a delicious buffet breakfast at your hotel, your certified tour guide will meet you to commence your private tours in Cairo, beginning with a visit to the remarkable Giza Pyramids area. Prepare to be captivated by the mysteries of ancient Egypt as your tour guide shares their extensive knowledge and answers any questions you may have. Standing in close proximity to the Great Pyramid of King Cheops, an awe-inspiring structure towering at 146 meters, you will gain a deep appreciation for the achievements of the pharaohs during the Old Kingdom, particularly the fourth dynasty.

King Cheops (Khufu) was the son of Snefru, who himself constructed four impressive pyramids. Cheops was also the father of Chephren, known for building the middle pyramid in Giza, which still retains its outer casing at the top. Additionally, Cheops was the grandfather of Mycerinus, whose pyramid, though the smallest, holds significant historical significance. From the plateau, you will have the opportunity to marvel at these pyramids and, if you wish, partake in an optional camel ride to experience the grandeur of this ancient land—the land of the pharaohs.

Next, you will proceed to the Valley Temple of King Chephren, where his royal remains were mummified to ensure preservation for the afterlife. Adjacent to the temple, you will encounter the majestic Sphinx, a legendary monument embodying power and intelligence with its lion-shaped body and human head.

Continuing your journey, you will visit the Saqqara Necropolis, which predates the Giza Necropolis by 200 years. Here, you will explore the Step Pyramid complex of King Djoser from the Third Dynasty and the Pyramid of King Teti, who ruled during the Sixth Dynasty before the onset of the First Intermediate Period. Venture into one of the noble tombs, such as the tomb of Kagemni, the vizier of Justice, who was married to King Teti's daughter, and marvel at the exquisite ancient Egyptian artwork.

The tour then takes you to Mit Rahina, the site of the ancient capital of Egypt, now known as an open-air museum. Discover fascinating artifacts dating back to various periods of ancient Egyptian history, including the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom. Behold the alabaster sphinx of Memphis, the second-largest among all the sphinxes in Egypt, and the colossal statue of Ramses II, one of the most prominent kings of the 18th Dynasty.

As the day draws to a close, you will enjoy a delightful lunch on your way back to the hotel, where you will spend the night in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, right after you finish your tasty breakfast at the hotel, you will be accompanied by your tour guide for an amazing Cairo day tour, starting with the Islamic Cairo trips to the Cairo Citadel.

You will see the Medieval fortification of Cairo, Salah El Din Citadel, which was built by the Sultan Saladin during the 12th century to fortify Cairo against any probable dangers. During that time, Saladin recruited some mercenaries to be used in the Egyptian army, but very quickly they gained power, wealth, and the support of the people, which made them rule the country before Mohamed Ali Basha got rid of them in a very famous massacre known as the Citadel Massacre.

Talking about Mohamed Ali, his brilliant alabaster mosque is located inside the citadel and is considered one of the highest points in Cairo, from which you can view the Giza Pyramids if the weather is clear.

Move now to Old Cairo to start the Coptic Cairo tour, where you will get to see the earliest Christian churches in the history of Christianity. The holy family visited Egypt during their journey to escape from King Herod, and this area is one of the spots they stayed in for almost 3–4 months, according to historians. They took refuge in a crypt, which later had a church built above it, now called the Church of Abu Serga. Also, you will see the Hanging Church, which is built above two towers of the ancient Roman fortress of Babylon. At the end of your Coptic tours in Cairo, you will enter the Synagogue of Ben Ezra, which is one of the oldest Jewish synagogues in the Middle East.

Enjoy your gourmet lunch before hitting the market of Khan El Khalili in the area known as Al Hussein in Cairo's downtown. Al Hussein was the grandson of the Prophet of Islam, Mohamed (PBUH), and the area is full of old mosques from the 9th century, along with lots of mausoleums of the companions and family members of Prophet Mohamed. Enjoy your Cairo walking tour in the small alleys of Cairo and have a tasty tea-mint drink before being transferred back to your hotel and staying overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After checking out of the hotel today, we will drive the 90 minutes to the Red Sea Ain Sokhna resort, where we can spend the day relaxing by the pool or on the beach and have a buffet lunch starting at 3 PM and dinner right before the evening performance.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your adventure. We'll drive for nearly 30 minutes to the well-known resort of Porto Sokhna to ride the cable car (Teleferik) up Galala Mountain and then have a meal of fresh seafood at a chic restaurant with a view of the Red Sea and the mountain range. Before returning to Cairo in your car and indicating to the driver exactly where you want to be dropped off, explore the resort's mall and take some breathtaking pictures of the coastline.

breakfast and lunch

Final Service