Cairo and Alexandria by bus for 2 days from Sharm El Sheikh

A 2-day excursion to Cairo and Alexandria is truly unique, since you visit two of the oldest and most important Egyptian capitals at once! Yes, yes, everyone knows that Cairo is the modern capital of Egypt, but before that, thousands of years ago, this post was occupied by Alexandria.

And if in Cairo you see the largest in the world – the National Egyptian Museum, a complex of pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and sail along the Nile – the longest river in the world, which competes for primacy with the Amazon and divides Cairo into two parts: western and eastern . This is the only river in North Africa that passes through the Sahara Desert and carries its waters to the Mediterranean Sea – being the source of life in the dry desert.

Then in Alexandria, whose coastline is connected for 32 km to the Mediterranean Sea, you will touch no less ancient history in the Royal Library and walking along the Pharos Lighthouse, which also ranks among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

It is impossible to convey the atmosphere of Cairo or Alexandria in words, you just need to feel it! And you have this opportunity with us!

Dear tourists, please note:

– To enter Cairo you MUST need a visa stamp, the cost of which is $25. The cost of a visa is NOT included in the stated tour price. You can buy a visa yourself at the airport upon arrival, or later at any time.

– The day of the trip must be booked in advance by writing to us.

– The distance between Sharm El Sheikh and Cairo is 506.4 km (about 8 hours by bus)

The program of the first day of “Cairo and Alexandria by bus for 2 days from Sharm El Sheikh”:

– Our guide will pick you up from your hotel gate around midnight (we will let you know the exact time after booking the excursion). On the way, you will have a stop at a comfortable cafe to relax, drink a hot drink and have a snack. You will arrive in Cairo around 07:00-08:00 am.

– First stop in Cairo is the Egyptian Museum

Let us remind you that this is the world’s largest repository of ancient Egyptian art, the collection of which includes 160 thousand exhibits from all historical periods of ancient Egypt. The museum was founded in 1858. On the ground floor of the museum are exhibited fragments of walls with reliefs, heavy stone sarcophagi, statues and steles. On the second floor there are manuscripts, figures of gods, mummies and their funeral masks, antique statues and vases. There are also statues of pharaohs Khafre, Amenemhet III, mummies and sarcophagi of the priests of Amun, and the famous golden mask of Tutankhamun weighing almost 11 kg.

– Nile River

At the second stop, you will be offered an optional ride on a Felucca sailing boat along the Nile River with incredible scenery all around, away from the bustling city – costing $10, for up to 45 minutes.

– Lunch on the boat on a Nile River

At the end of the boat ride, lunch will be waiting for you. It is important to note that lunch will take place on a moored Felucca boat, right on the Nile! After lunch you will go shopping at a papyrus, oils and perfumes factory.

– Piramids in Cairo and Sphinx

And the last, but most important part of the program: a visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The ancient Egyptian necropolis consists of the Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu, also known as the “Great Pyramid”) – 140 meters high and 4500 years old, the slightly smaller Pyramid of Khafre and the southernmost, latest and lowest pyramid of Mykerina, the volume of which is only a tenth of the pyramid Cheops. In addition to them, much smaller satellite pyramids (the pyramids of the valley and the pyramids of the queens) rise in the necropolis. The surface of the pyramids is covered with slabs of polished white limestone, and after the fall of the ancient Egyptian civilization, the limestone was stolen by local residents for their own needs.

The Great Sphinx is the oldest surviving monumental sculpture on Earth. The Sphinx was carved from a monolithic limestone rock in the shape of a lion lying on the sand, whose face was given a resemblance to Pharaoh Khafre, whose funeral pyramid is located nearby. The Sphinx, 73 meters long and 20 meters high, ranks first among single-stone statues in the world. Between the paws of the sphinx there was a small sanctuary. The face (or rather the nose) of the modern Sphinx is badly damaged, the reasons for this are not exactly known, but there are a number of theories. For example, one of them says that Napoleon’s troops used the face of the Sphinx as a target for shooting. But it is impossible to confirm or refute this.

Dear tourists, please note that entrance to the Pyramids is paid (optional, about $25).

– The tour in Cairo ends around 17:00, and then we check into the hotel, which is located in Giza (single room requires an additional payment – the cost of which must be clarified with us when booking the tour).

– After check-in, dinner and free time will await you.

Second day program “Cairo and Alexandria by bus for 2 days from Sharm El Sheikh”:

– Breakfast and departure from the hotel around 07:00, transfer to Alexandria.

The journey will take about 2 hours (200 km). Alexandria, a city that combines Roman and Greek civilizations, will definitely not leave you indifferent!

– First stop in Alexandria – Royal Library of Alexandria (overview).

It is one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. The library was founded presumably in 285-246 BC, during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, and the library’s holdings range from 40,000 to 400,000 papyrus scrolls, which may be equivalent to approximately 100,000 books. During its heyday (III-II centuries BC), about 100 scientists worked there.

– The next place to visit  is St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral

– the historical residence of the Pope of Alexandria (head of the Coptic Orthodox Church). It is believed that the cathedral stands on the site of a church founded by St. Mark the Evangelist in 42 AD. In 68, Saint Mark was arrested and tortured; there is information that he was even dragged through the streets of the city. Saint Mark was buried under the church he founded.

– Next we will visit the Abu el-Abbas el-Mursi Mosque

Built in 1307 by a Muslim preacher over the grave of the Sufi sheikh Abul-Abbas el-Mursi. Initially, the mosque looked like a small building with one minaret and a grave located under the dome. But later, due to the growing popularity of the mosque among Muslims performing the Hajj, who traveled from the countries of northern Africa to Mecca through Alexandria.

– Citadel of Qaitbay or Kait Bay citadel in Alexandria

After the mosque, nearby is the Kait Bai citadel, which we will also visit for an overview. In appearance, this is a fortress located right on the Mediterranean coast. The foundation of the fortress was created by Sultan el-Ashraf Kait Bey in 1477 in the 15th century. Legend has it that the Alexandria Lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, used to be located on this site, and the remains of the lighthouse were used in the construction of the fortress. The Citadel of Kayt Bay has been captured and seriously damaged many times due to its location. Throughout its existence, it was completed and restored several times.

– Lunch time

After visiting the citadel, you will have lunch at the restaurant (please note that drinks during lunch are not included in the price of the excursion).

DEAR TOURISTS PLEASE NOTE: In a situation where there are not enough seats on the excursion bus, we will arrange seats for you on a comfortable regular bus, and upon arrival in Sharm El Sheikh, our transfer will pick you up from the station and take you directly to your hotel.

Dear tourists, we kindly ask you to familiarize yourself with the weather forecast before your trip.

• A valid Egyptian visa stamp (approximately $25) is mandatory for this excursion and is not included in the tour price.

• The journey between Sharm El Sheikh and Cairo takes approximately 8 hours by bus each way.

• Entrance inside the Great Pyramids is optional and requires an additional fee of approximately $25 per person.

• The optional Nile Felucca boat ride costs approximately $10 per person and lasts up to 45 minutes.

• Single hotel rooms in Giza are available upon request and require an additional supplement.

• In case the excursion bus is fully booked, guests may travel on a comfortable regular bus, with hotel transfers in Sharm El Sheikh still provided.