Journey of the Holy Family

The journey of the Holy Family to Egypt including fantastic excursions to the Giza Pyramids and Egyptian Museum in Cairo and relaxing Nile
cruise experience from Luxor to Aswan for 5 day Nile cruise.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival Cairo - Welcome to land of the Pharaoh’s

 Welcome to Cairo, Egypt

 Your tour manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport (Arrival procedures)
 He will escort you to the hotel by air-conditioned deluxe vehicle.
 Tour manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for
each tour. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 2:
Pyramids and Cairo Sightseeing

 After breakfast you will be accompanied by your personal guide to Giza Plateau to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
 The Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren and Mykerinus, famous Sphinx, and Valley temple facing the great statue.
 Then transfer to enjoy the Egyptian Museum, Treasures room for the child king Tutankhamen.
 Continue driving to Islamic Cairo, where you will be able to explore Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s old bazaar.. Back to hotel and overnight in
Cairo.
Day 3:
Tel Basta & Belbis

 After breakfast you will be accompanied by your personal guide to start the Holy Family Journey in Egypt.
 Your first stop will be at the town of Babastis; It is now known as Tel- Basta, about 100 Kms north-east of Cairo.
 There Jesus gushed forth a spring of water to drink, you will visit the holy well, and then you will visit Belbeis (ancient Philippos).
 The Holy Family made their way north-eastwards to Belbeis at a distance of about 55 kms from Cairo.
 They rested there in the shade of a tree which came to be called, "The Virgin Mary's Tree' at its place you there are Saint George Church,
which you will visit and then back to Cairo.
 Lunch at Local restaurant and back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 4:
Sakha & Samanoud

 Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, then you will enjoy the trip to Sakha about 140 Km North of Cairo.
 You will visit Virgin Mary Church, a place renowned for its Christian community in the middle Ages.
 Also you will see the foot print of Jesus Christ.
 Then transfer to Samanoud where the holy family crossed the River Nile to the city of Samanoud inside the Delta and they were received
by its people in a pleasant way, and so the people were blessed by Jesus Christ.
 There you will visit Saint Abanoub Chursh. There is also, a holy well where the holy family had drunk from it.
 Lunch in your way back in Tanta city. Back to Cairo and overnight stay at your hotel.

Day 5:
Wadi Natroun

 After breakfast you will be accompanied by your personal guide to visit Wadi Natroun a desert area said to have been blessed by the
Christ.
 The Holy Family crossed the western branch of the river Nile (Rosetta branch) to the south to Wadi AL-Natrun.
 According to tradition the Virgin Mary and her son the child Jesus Christ, hid in that valley during their trip to Egypt, and Jesus Christ
blessed the four directions of the valley.
 Wadi Al- Natroun is considered one of the most famous valleys in Egypt. It is considered the home of asceticism and worship, with four
monasteries still existing today.
 Begin your trip with Deir al-Baramus which is the oldest of the surviving 4 monasteries, and in many ways the most isolated.
  Then proceeds to Deir Anba Bishoy whose body is still in the monastery. Abu Makar Monastery and Deir El-Suryani which is the smallest
and most compact of the 4 monasteries.
 Lunch during your way back to Cairo. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 6:
Cairo Churches

 Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, you will be accompanied by your personal guide to visit Cairo churches.
 Start by the Hanging Church and St. Sergius, then continue to see the Church of St. George as well as the Fortress of Babylon in Old
Cairo, which the Holy Family passed by.
 Transfer to Mostorod to see virgin Mary Church, visit the Holy well and Holly Marry tree at Matariya on the outskirts of Cairo, a well-
attested resting place of the Holy Family and a popular destination among medieval pilgrims.
 Lunch at local restaurant in Cairo. Overnight stay in Cairo

Day 7:
to Minya Tour

 Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, then you will enjoy The holy Family Trip to South Egypt.
 The Holy Family moved to the south in a boat on the River Nile at a place where the church of Holy virgin Mary now lies at Maadi.
 Many visitors go to this church to see the book this may be a sign that the Holy Family had passed by that place of the church.
 The Holy Family travelled in a boat on the Nile from this place towards the south (Upper Egypt).
 You will transfer South to EL Minya about 3 hours, arrive El Minya, see the beautiful church hewn out of the cliff beside the river at Gabal
Al-Teir in Minya. Overnight in Minya.

Day 8:
Minya - Dandara – Luxor

 Breakfast at your hotel in Minya

 Continue the route of the Holy family by visiting The White Monastery, it was built in 400 AD by St. Senouda, who constructed the
monastery using blocks from ancient Egyptian buildings.
 The White Monastery has a basilica church inside that used columns from ancient Egyptian structures as well.
 There are also wonderful paintings on the walls and ceilings.
 This monastery used to house over 2000 monks.
  Enjoy your trip to the Monastery of Al Muharraq in Assiut (Which is known as the Monastery of the Holy Virgin at Al Qusiya).
 It was built around the area where the Holy Family remained just over 6 months. Their time was spent mainly in a cave which became, in
the Coptic era, the altar of the Church of Virgin Mary.
 End of Holy family route, continue your way to Luxor about 05 hours driving, in the way you will stop at Danadara Temple in Qena, to
visit the Temple of Hathor, goddess of love and joy.
 The temple is located in Dendera which is situated at the north of Luxor. Transfer to your hotel in Luxor and Overnight stay in Luxor

Day 9:
Luxor Nile Cruise Tours

 Breakfast at your hotel in Luxor then you will be met and transferred to embark your 05 star Nile Cruise.
 In the afternoon you will be accompanied for a wonderful tour of the East Bank of the Nile in Luxor.
 Here you will see Karnak and Luxor Temples. Return to the ship for afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight in Luxor.

Day 10:
Luxor Nile Cruise Excursions

 After breakfast transfer to the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor and visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple at El Deir EL Bahari,
and the Colossi of Memnon.
 Return to the ship for lunch & afternoon tea while sailing to Edfu via the Esna Lock. Dinner on board. Overnight in Edfu.

Day 11:
Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

 Enjoy breakfast on board before visiting Horus Temple at Edfu.

 Return to the ship for lunch and sail to Kom Ombo.
 Upon arrival, visit the temple shared by the two gods Sobek and Haroeris.
 Return to the ship and continue sailing to Aswan. Dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.

Day 12:
Aswan Nile Cruise Tour

 After breakfast pay a visit to the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk, and the majestic Philae Temple.
 Return to the ship for lunch. Dinner on board. Overnight in Aswan.

Day 13:
Aswan - Fly to Cairo

 Breakfast on board the cruise then disembarkation from Cruise at 08:00 AM.
 And free time in Aswan with optional tour to enjoy a tour to one of Egypt's top tourist attractions, Abu Simbel temple, which were
originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to
himself and his queen Nefertari. Later,
 you will be transferred to Aswan airport to catch plan to Cairo.

Included:
 Meet and greet service by our representatives at airports.
 Assistance of our guest relations during your stay.
 All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle.
 Accommodation for 6 nights in Cairo.
 Accommodation for 1 night in Minya.
 Accommodation for 1 night in Luxor.
 Accommodation for 4 nights on a 5 star superior cruise on full board.
 All sightseeing tours in Cairo (Private Guided Tours).
 All sightseeing tours on the cruise.
 All sightseeing tours in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Coptic sites as mentioned in the itinerary
 Holy Family route as per the itinerary above
  Entrance fees to all sites as indicated on the itinerary.
 Lunch during tours at good quality local restaurants.
 All service charges and taxes.
 Entry visa to Egypt

Excluded:
 International Airfare
 Any optional tours
 Personal spendings
 Tipping