Early in the morning we will leave the capital of Egypt and will head north to explore the city of Alexandria—one of the capitals of the Ancient World. You’ll find this modernized city huge and bustling. At first glance it seems that there is nothing left from its ancient glory. However, the observant traveler will notice the signs of its venerable antiquity. On this day, we will visit the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, a true wonder from the Ptolemaic Period in Egyptian history that truly represents a melding of the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultural and artistic traditions. The Odeon at Kom el-Dikka is a smallish Roman theater that provided archeologists with a myriad of fascinating finds. Adjacent to the theater, there are remains of ancient houses and a bath complex. We also will see the Pompeii Pillar and the Qaitbey's Fort, built on the site of the famed Pharos, the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria. We will finish our day with a visit to the Alexandria National Museum. Though smaller than its recently renovated counterpart, the World-Famous Greco-Roman Museum, it is a fascinating location with a great number of unique artifacts on display. For dinner and overnight we will return to our hotel in Alexandria. 

The main tour formally starts today. Those of you who are not able to participate in our prequel should arrive to Cairo International Airport (CAI) some time today. Tomorrow your guide is going to pick you up at the hotel lobby and will accompany you to Wadi Natrun for a visit to the Monasteries of the Western Desert.

Prequel group: In the morning, we will visit St. Mark’s Coptic Cathedral. Just as the Byzantine Orthodox counterparts, the Coptic church sees its beginning in the apostolic mission of St. Apostle and Evangelist Mark in Alexandria. The recently reopened Greco-Roman Museum was closed to visitors for nearly two decades. Although the exhibitions here deal with the final chapter in the history of the “classical Egypt”, we will be introduced to some fascinating articles of the past, right from the time period of the coming of Christianity to Egypt. In the absence of many monuments from the period, these tiny glimpses of history will help increase our appreciation of the history of the land and our ancestors in Faith.

After the visit to the museum we will travel to St. Mina’s monastery. St. Mina is one of the most famous warrior martyr saints from the earliest period of Church history. His shrine was once one of the most important pilgrim destinations in the entire Mediterranean. Nearly all of the significant collections of Christian Antiquities contain flasks or bottles that once held oil or water sanctified on the tomb of the saint. The image often seen on the containers is a depiction of a saint praying in orant position amidst two camels. We will see the archeological remains of the ancient holy site as well as a modern monastery nearby. For an overnight we will arrive to the guest house of St. Macarius monastery in a former region of Wadi Natrun

Early in the morning, we will travel to the desert  oasis where several Coptic monasteries still  stand. The names of the monastic colonies of  Sketis, Kellia and Nitria are familiar to anyone  who have read The Sayings of the Desert  Fathers, Lausiac History by Palladius, or other  writings from the earliest monks of Egypt. The  remains of monastic hermitages at Kellia and  Scetis, which once there were hundreds if not  thousands of, have been largely consumed by  modern agricultural development. However, in  Nitria, monastic presence can still be seen.  Unlike in the days of old, modern monks live in  large communities, but keep the traditions of their ancient ascetic predecessors. We are planning to visit several  monasteries in Nitria, most notably Monastery of the Syrians (Aby Suriani) and St. Makarios. These monasteries  not only continue centuries-old monasticism, but also preserve the memory of some of the most illustrious holy men  of the past. They also serve as repositories of great artistic treasures, in the form of Sacred Art – frescoes, in some  instances preserved to this day from the time of Antiquity. Overnight: Cairo 

During our first day in Cairo, we will start our  exploration of the Egyptian Capital. In the morning  we will visit the Museum of the Egyptian  Civilization, a small, but incredibly valuable  collection of artifacts that cover the entire history  of Ancient Egypt from its origins through the recent  times. It certainly pales in comparison to the Grand  Museum in Giza, but it provides a good overview,  bringing together our entire experience during the  trip, in addition to having some incredibly unique  and never-before-seen artifacts. Those of you who  would like to meet the pharaohs and their queens  face-to-face will be able to do so, as it is here that  the remains of the ancient rulers were moved and  placed in a special mummies’ room. In the  afternoon, we will explore Medieval Cairo with  its incredible architecture and exotic bazaar where you will be given some time at leisure. Overnight:  Cairo 

After breakfast, we will visit the most famous  site in all of Egypt, the Giza plateau with the  iconic Pyramids and the Sphinx. It seems that  from early childhood, the images of the  pyramids are deeply ingrained into our  imagination, but there are no words to describe  the feeling when you stand in front of these incredible structures built by the people of old. Right after the Pyramids, we [plan to] visit the New (and equally mammoth) Museum that houses the best examples of 3,000-year-old  ancient Egyptian Civilization, including the most splendid valuables from the Tutankhamun burial chamber.  Currently, it is considered to be the largest museum in the world, even though it is dedicated solely to the history  of Ancient Egypt. If such a visit will be impossible, we will visit the “original” Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Overnight:  Cairo 

This morning, we will leave very early, as  our road towards the Red Sea will take  some time. Today, we will visit the  birthplace of Christian Monasticism. St.  Anthony the Great is known as the Father  of Monasticism, but he is not the first monk.  During his lifetime, he visited another  monastic elder, his older brother in monastic  profession, Paul of Thebes, who spent  many decades in a cave close to the Red Sea. A new road from Cairo leads right to Deir Anba Bola also known  as the Monastery of St. Paul the Hermit. After our visit to the monastery and lunch at a guest house close to the  monastery, we will transfer to the Monastery of St. Anthony the Great, which remains as one of the largest and  most important monasteries in the Coptic church. When St. Anthony started living as an anchorite in a cave high in  the mountain, he had no disciples. However, toward the end of his life, other monks joined in the surrounding area.  The community grew, and to this day, churches and  vestiges of the earlier structures from different periods  can be seen on the territory of the vast complex. The actual cave of St. Anthony is also available to those  who are physically fit as you’ll need to climb some  2000 stairs in order to reach the cave. Late in the  evening, we will return to Cairo for the night.  Overnight: Cairo 

Today we will explore the Old City of Cairo. Included  in the visits we will make today, there will be stops at  several ancient Coptic churches in Old Cairo, among  them The Hanging Church, Sts. Sergius and Bacchus Church, St. George Greek Orthodox Church and the Ben  Ezra synagogue. The Synagogue is a former church that  Coptic Christians needed to sell to pay taxes to the Islamic  overlords. Another stop in the Old City will be the Coptic  Museum. The Coptic Museum has an amazing collection  of the Ancient Christian Artifacts. We do need to say that  in comparison to the studies of Ancient Egypt, the history  of early Christian communities in the land was greatly  oversighted and remains somewhat obscure and  relatively less known to the general public. Nevertheless,  they have their own unique history, and the collection of  the Coptic Museum located in a splendid Eastern  mansion–which deserves a tour on its own–offers an incredible insight into this unique subject. In the afternoon, we  will visit new St. Mark’s Cathedral and the Martyrs’ memorial located in Coptic patriarchal compound. Overnight:  Cairo 

Early in the morning, we will begin our journey  south. First, we will “dive” into Egyptian Antiquities  by exploring two vast Egyptian necropolises at  Saqqara. Most people are familiar with the  Egyptian pyramids on the Giza plateau in the  suburbs of Cairo. But prior to Giza, dozens of  pyramids were built, each one of them surrounded  by vast complexes of residences, and  subsequently tombs, of the workers. Contrary to  long-held beliefs, the building of the pyramids  involved a lot of skilled craftsmanship and not  slave labor. At Saqqara, we will visit the Step Pyramid, the Tombs of the Nobles and the  mysterious Serapeum. After lunch, we will transfer  some distance south to visit a very recent shrine in  the Village of al-Our dedicated to New Martyrs,  most of whom were from that village, and who  perished in Libya at the hands of extremists. The video  of their gruesome execution at the reomte beach in  Libya was shown on nearly all major TV channels  across the world. Some years later, their remains have  been unconvered, identified and brought back with  great honor. Overnight: Samalut 

This morning, we will visit an important Christian Holy  Sites - right next to our hotel, a tiny and humble church  and holy site, made from the cave, believed to be a  refuge for the Holy Family during their sojourn  through Egypt. From Samalut we will drive on, cross the Nile and will reach  Beni Hasan, the site of an ancient Egyptian cemetery with splendidly  decorated carved stone tombs. Due to the distance from the river, the tombs  were cut into the rocks on the eastern side of the Nile. The tombs belong  mainly to the members of the provincial ruling elite. Among the varied scenes  depicted on the walls of the tombs, there are numerous portrayals of both daily life and warfare. The scenes of the Eastern nomads seeking refuge in  Egypt and crude graffiti of the Early Christian monks are of particular  interest to our Biblical and Early Christian focus of the tour. Our last stop of  the day will be Tel Amarna. Tel Amarna, or Tell al-Amarna, is the site of the  ruins and tombs of the city of Akhenaten, the “heretic” ruler of Ancient Egypt.  During his life he attempted to abandon Egypt's traditional polytheism and  to introduce the worship of the Aten, a disc of sun. Akhenaten and his new  capital built specifically for this new religion were lost in history until the  excavations in the late 19th century that brought the ruins of his great capital  back to light. Interest in him as a patron of art is great, even though he is  overshadowed in the popular mind by the famed beauty of his queen  Nefertiti and the treasures from the tomb of his son Tutankhamun.  Overnight: Al Minya 

In the morning, we will continue our journey south. Near Sohag, we will explore two ancient Coptic monasteries,  known as the Red or White Monasteries. These are some of the oldest in existence and still partially preserved in  their original form as ancient monastic sites. From the beginning, both communities were established after the  Pachomian order as places of communal living. The walls of two great basilicas that witnessed once greatly  populated communities still stand, and what once used to be altar areas are now used as a monastery chapel. A  unique architectural chapel in the Red Monastery  still contains a great deal of sacred art that dates  to Late Antiquity. Frescoes in the church were  completed sometime between the sixth and eighth  centuries AD. For dinner and overnight we will arrive  at Abydos. Just outside our hotel, there is the Great Temple of Abydos, one of the most important  historical sites in this area that once was the capital  of the Egyptian kingdom. The temple of Seti I,  known as the Great Temple, strikes us with its eerily  modern appearance, despite the fact that it was  built over 3000 years ago. This magnificent  monument is known for the “Abydos graffiti,” a very  rare example of an inscription in Aramaic, and  also for the "Abydos King List" – a long list of  the pharaohs of the principal dynasties. Their  names are carved on a wall of the Temple  Gallery. Overnight: Abydos (Sohag) 

After breakfast we will start driving South  toward the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes or  modern-day Luxor. In about an hour’s drive time,  we will come to Dendera Temple complex, one  of the best-preserved temple complexes in  Egypt. The original complex was of gargantuan  size and covers an area of approximately 40,000 square meters. The temples were of great importance and were used actively throughout their history. The  complex has remains of the building activities of the Roman emperors Trajan and Domitian. Hence, here we could  see not only pharaonic, but also Ptolemaic art. In one of the temples, a spectacular ceiling painting was exposed  after the restoration, presenting some of the most vibrant and colorful paintings from antiquity. Our next stop will  be at the monastery of St. Pachomius, the father of the Cenobitic monasticism and the younger contemporary of  St. Anthony. According to tradition, St. Pachomius was born in Thebes, and one of his foundations is still a functioning  monastery where his memory is greatly commemorated by the local Christians. Our last stop of the day will be at the Karnak Temple. Karnak temple is a general name for a large area with several large temples dedicated to  funerary practices. The site was a holy place for many generations. Along with sacred Egyptian vestiges, we will  see inscriptions that bring to memory some Biblical narratives, and in one of the edifices we will see remains of the  Early Christian frescoes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Overnight: Luxor 

Luxor (Thebes of Antiquity) without a doubt is one of the most important, if not the most important  place for all interested in the Pharaonic Egypt.  Sheer volume, size, splendor, and importance of  the Temples and funerary monuments in that area  is impossible to overestimate. Today will be  dedicated to the exploration of the West Bank.  We will visit the world-famous Valley of the Kings with many fascinating tombs of mighty Egyptian  rulers. It is here that in November of 1922,  Howard Carter found the tomb of Tutankhamun which would be considered one of the greatest  archaeological discoveries ever. A short distance  from the Valley of the Kings, there is the Temple  of Hatshepsut. It is of great historical importance  as it is considered the closest Egypt came to  classical architecture. It is hard to enumerate all the fantastic sites in the West Bank, besides the valley with the  countless tombs and dozens of temples. Perhaps the Colossi of Memnon, and the funerary complex at Medinet Habu (The Temple of Ramesses III) are of the greatest interest. In the evening, we will transfer to the airport for  our flight to Cairo. Overnight: Cairo 

OPTIONAL EXTENSION: For those who would like to, we are happy  to offer a four-day extension aboard a  Nile Cruise to complete your journey from  the North Egypt all the way to the  southernmost part, near the border with  Sudan. During a relaxing voyage along the  mighty Nile, you’ll be given a chance to see  some awe-inspiring monuments. Complexes  at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, and  Aswan itself, are incredibly repositories of  history and human devotion to the Divine. If you choose to join the extension: For dinner and overnight board our cruise ship in  Luxor. Overnight: Nile-cruise ship, Luxor 

Today, we will visit another Egyptian sacred  area - the Luxor Temple. The Luxor Temple that  stands some distance away from the Karnak  temple area is believed to be the only temple  that is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship.  It is suggested that some of the pharaohs may  have been crowned there in a real or mystical  way. Exploration of the sites will take most of the  morning. From here we will proceed to visit the  Luxor Museum of Pharaonic Art and Sculpture.  A fascinating collection of ancient artifacts at the  Luxor Museum is second-best only to the collection in Cairo. Cruise departure in the afternoon. Overnight: Nile-cruise ship, Luxor. Those who would like to will be given a chance to take a hot air balloon ride. Balloon rides are offered very early in the  morning with the intent to meet the rising sun in the air. 

Those who will be in Cairo this morning, check-out from the hotel in the morning and transfer to the airport for the departure back home

This morning, we will start sailing South toward  Aswan. Along our way we will have two stops.  The first will be in Edfu, to visit a grand temple dedicated to the falcon-headed god, Horus— one of the most important deities in the pantheon  of Ancient Egyptians. Besides being of enormous  size, the temple is one of the best-preserved  ancient shrines in Egypt. Our second stop along  the way will be at Kom Ombo. The temple here  is not as well preserved as other monuments, but  its features are very inspiring nonetheless. Next  to the temple, a “crocodile museum” was  recently opened. Time permitting, we will  explore its eerie but fascinating collection that consists  of statues, inscriptions, coffins, and the crocodile  mummies themselves. Overnight: Nile-cruise ship,  Aswan 

From the boat we will depart for our last “long ride”  during this trip. Our coach will bring us almost to the  Southern Border of Egypt to Abu Simbel. Here at Abu  Simbel there are two iconic temples that are as well-known via cultural reference as the Pyramids of Giza  and the Sphinx. The Temple of Hathor and Nefertari,  and nearby the mammoth Great Temple of  Ramesses II, are carved from the rock. Four Colossal  sitting statues greet visitors on their entry to the Great  Temple. The temple serves as a living legacy of the  Pharaoh Ramesses II. Inside the temple there are  many hieroglyphic inscriptions commemorating his great deeds and achievements. Among them there is a description  of the battle of Kadesh. In the 20th century, after the High Aswan dam was built, important monuments were  threatened with flooding from the artificial lake.  Thus, in the late 1960s, the monuments were  carefully cut into pieces and relocated to higher  ground. That story itself is worth further  exploration! The complex is part of the UNESCO  World Heritage Site is known as the "Nubian  Monuments.” For dinner and overnight we will  return to our boat moored in Aswan. Overnight:  Nile-cruise ship, Aswan 

In the morning, we will visit the Nubian  Museum, which houses an important collection of Antiquities that help us understand the history  and development of the region. High on our list  is a visit to Agilkia Island to see the very impressive and historically important Philae Temple that was moved here  in 1970 as part of the UNESCO Nubia Campaign project. This was done in order to save it from permanent flooding  caused by the construction of the high Aswan dam.  Temple features are a great testimony to the  Ptolemaic reign in Egypt and subsequent gradual  Christianization of the area. Walls of the temple  contain many signs of the historical and religious  changes in the area. Later in the evening, we will  take a flight back to Cairo. Overnight: Cairo 

Transfer to the airport.  Departure back home.