Your beautiful journey begins this evening as you board your overnight flight to Cairo, Egypt. Meals will be served on board.

We arrive in the land of the Pharaohs, Jacob, Joseph and Israel during the famine! Upon arrival at the airport we meet our guide and transfer to our hotel in Cairo, where we will be staying for the next 6 nights. Once we settle in our hotel, enjoy dinner and start soaking up the atmosphere of this incredible city. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Following breakfast we will be touring the wonders of the ancient world, some of which date back to 1000+ years prior to Abraham. We spend time at one of the seven wonders of the world- the pyramids. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. Today, we will also see the Sphinx and tour the New Grand Egyptian Museum, location of Tutankhamen’s treasures and ancient remains. The museum contains historical artifacts dating back more than 7,000 years. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will start the flight of the Holy Family in Egypt. We will drive to Tel Basta, where according to Coptic tradition, it is understood that Jesus brought gushing water into a well. Continue to Belbeis where the Holy Family rested in the shade of a tree, “The Virgin Mary’s Tree” and remains a significant religious site for Christians. After visiting Saint George Church, we will return to Cairo. Dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast we will board our motor coach to travel to Sakha. The Holy Family resided in Sakha during their flight in Egypt. We will visit the Virgin Mary Church, believed to be built on the site where they stayed. According to Coptic tradition, it is understood that the footprint of Jesus is on a stone. The Holy Family crossed the Nile to the city of Samanoud. Here we will visit the Saint Abanoub Church. Abanoub was born in a town called Nehisa in the Nile Delta. He was the only son of good Christian parents. Abanoub was only twelve years old when he was martyred by the Roman ruler. Abanoub’s relics are still preserved in St. Virgin Mary and St. Abanoub church. The church still contains the well from which Jesus, Mary, and Joseph drank. Numerous apparitions and miracles do occur in the church till this very day. Return to Cairo for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at your hotel, we travel to Wadi Natrun Valley. Known for its natural salt lakes and early Christian monasteries . The ancient Egyptians found a source of the salt deposit natron, a vital ingredient in the mummification process. This remote valley just west of the Delta region was later valued by the early Christians as a hiding place from persecution by the Romans. Initially they sheltered in caves, later building monasteries, of which four remain today. Each monastery is home to a community of monks. Begin your trip with Deir al-Baramous . to proceed to Deir Anba Bishoy who’s body is still there, continue to visit Abu Makar Monastery and end your trip with Deir El- Suryani. Return to Cairo for dinner and overnight.

Today we visit the churches of Coptic Cairo, start by the Hanging Church. The church is named “Hanging” because it’s built on top of the ruins of the Roman Fortress of Babylon. The church seems to float in the air, giving it the name “Hanging Church. Continue to the Church of St.Sergius, also known as Abu Serga. It is one of the oldest Coptic Christian churches in Egypt. It’s located in Old Cairo.

According to Coptic tradition, the Holy Family sought shelter in a cave beneath the church during their flight from King Herod. Next, we will visit the Church of St. George, located within the Roman Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo. After lunch we continue to visit the Church of Holy Virgin Mary at Maadi. There is a cave at Maadi where accordingo Coptic tradition, the Holy Family sought shelter in a cave for three months beneath the church stayed in before leaving Maadi for their Nile River voyage. Return to your hotel for Farewell dinner and overnight.

The Holy family traveled in a boat on the Nile toward the south. Following breakfast we will travel south to Minya City. Upon arrival in Minya we will visit The “Church beside the River at Gabal Al Teir”, it refers to the Church of the Virgin Mary located on the mountaintop of Gabal Al Teir . A significant stop on the journey of the Holy Family according to Coptic tradition. The church is built near the Nile River, hence the “beside the river” description Gabal Al Teir. Travel to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast we will continue our journey south to Assyut City to visit the Monastery of the Holy Virgin. The Holy Family spent over six months here. The monastery’s altar, dated 747 AD, is said to be located on the very spot where the baby Jesus rested and is claimed to be the oldest in the world. We continue our way to Luxor for dinner and overnight.

This morning after breakfast visit Temple of Karnak (temple of the New Kingdom period) and the East Bank of the Nile. It was during this period that the bondage and Exodus occurred. Karnak second to Giza’s Pyramids, is one of Egypt’s most important Pharaonic sites. After a nice break for lunch, group will cross to visit the Valley of the Kings (where many ancient pharaohs were buried) and the famous Temple of Hatshepsut, the princess who perhaps pulled baby Moses out of the Nile River. This temple may have been designed by Moses. Transfer to airport for a short flight back to Cairo. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Following breakfast, transfer to Cairo Airport for your return flights Home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.