Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
Old Cairo can feel like a maze on your own. With a private Egyptologist it opens up into a clear story of the medieval city.
This tour pairs the Islamic and Coptic sides of the old city. You climb to the Citadel of Saladin, the 12th-century fortress topped by the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, for the widest view in Cairo. Then you drop into Coptic Cairo for the Hanging Church, built over a Roman gate, and the quiet lanes around it. A felucca sail on the Nile is included when the wind and timing cooperate.
Private vehicle, hotel pickup, and an expert who turns old stone into living history.
Ideal for travelers who want the medieval and Christian layers of Cairo, not just the pharaohs.
What's included
Traditional felucca sailboat ride on the Nile (approximately 30 minutes)
Licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off in private air-conditioned vehicle
All entrance fees to Citadel of Saladin and Old Cairo sites (if price option selected)
All Service charges & taxes
Local lunch at a quality restaurant (if price option selected)
Gratuities for guide and driver (optional)
What to expect
Citadel of Saladin
2h · Admission ticket included
You climb to the Citadel, the limestone fortress Saladin founded in 1176 to guard Cairo against crusader armies, and the city spreads out below you. At its center stands the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, its alabaster walls and slender Ottoman minarets dominating the skyline for almost two centuries. Your Egyptologist walks you through the layers of rulers who held this hill and into the great domed prayer hall. On a clear day you can pick out the Giza pyramids on the horizon. Modest dress is needed inside the mosque.
The Hanging Church
2h
Down in Coptic Cairo, the oldest Christian quarter in the country, you reach the Hanging Church, so called because its nave is suspended over the gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon. Parts of it date to the 7th century, and inside are inlaid screens, icons, and a wooden ceiling shaped like an ark. Your guide leads you through the narrow lanes nearby, past other ancient churches and the spot tied to the Holy Family's time in Egypt. It is calm, shaded, and easy to walk.
Meeting and pickup
Pickup details
Please share your hotel name and address when booking. Your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby at the scheduled pickup time. Modest dress recommended for Coptic and Islamic religious sites (covered shoulders and knees).
Additional information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Dress code is smart casual May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Please note: pickup reconfirmation is required upon booking, please refer to voucher for further details
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
