A journey to Egypt with Orthodox Tours is a rare and deeply moving pilgrimage that brings together the living heritage of Christian monasticism and the timeless legacy of ancient Egypt in a carefully curated series of encounters across desert and Nile Valley. Many of the sites included are seldom visited by formal pilgrimage or religious groups, making this comprehensive experience especially unique, and we are deeply honored to be able to offer such a diverse and meaningful journey.

Among the most profound highlights are the Monasteries of the Eastern Desert, especially St. Anthony and St. Paul, where the origins of Christian monastic life still echo in the silence of the mountains once inhabited by the earliest desert ascetics, along with the wider tradition of the Nitrian Desert, cradle of early communal monasticism.

In Upper Egypt, the Red and White Monasteries near Sohag stand as extraordinary witnesses to early Christian civilization, with monumental architecture and remarkable ancient wall paintings from the world of Shenoute and the monastic revival of the fifth century. The Shrine Church of the Lybian Martyrs in the village of Abu Or offers a deeply moving moment of remembrance and devotion, honoring steadfast faith in a setting of quiet intensity rarely experienced by organized groups.

Interwoven with this sacred landscape is the grandeur of Pharaonic Egypt, from the Grand Egyptian Museum and the timeless pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings, the rock cut tombs of Beni Hassan, and the evocative site of Amarna. Together, these places form a pilgrimage of exceptional depth, where sacred tradition, ancient history, and living memory illuminate one another.

Arrival to Cairo. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner, orientation, and overnight in Cairo.

Start your morning in Cairo with a visit to the renowned Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square. Opened in 1902, it remains a cornerstone of Egypt’s antiquities collection, displaying thousands of artifacts from the Predynastic period through the Greco Roman era. Although some major treasures have moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the museum still offers a rich and atmospheric introduction to ancient Egyptian civilization, with galleries filled with monumental statues, fine jewelry, and everyday objects.

The museum also presents artifacts that help illustrate the Biblical narrative, including objects from the New Kingdom period often linked to the era of the Exodus, stelae and inscriptions referencing Semitic peoples, and items of daily life that provide context for the ancient world described in early Biblical texts. These links are interpretive, yet they add depth to the wider history of the region.

After your visit, travel toward the Sinai Peninsula, where the landscape shifts from the Nile Valley to wide desert expanses. Along the way, enjoy short stops and views that may include the Suez Canal or the Red Sea. By evening, arrive near Saint Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai and check in at your hotel, surrounded by the calm and beauty of the desert.

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 Saint Catherine's Monastery, set at the foot of Mount Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula. It is one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries in the world. Founded in the sixth century under Emperor Justinian, it was built to enclose the site of the Burning Bush and to provide a fortified refuge for monks in the area, serving as a significant Christian site since the fourth century. The site is traditionally linked to the Biblical account in the Book of Exodus, where Moses encounters God in the burning bush, as written, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5), making it a place of profound spiritual importance and a major destination for pilgrimage.

The monastery is renowned for its exceptional heritage, including a unique sixth century basilica and a remarkable museum housing one of the earliest and most important collections of Christian icons in the world. Among its notable leaders was St. John Climacus, a seventh century abbot and author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, a cornerstone of Christian spiritual literature.

After your visit to the monastery, depart the Sinai and travel back to Cairo, where you will arrive to meet your group and enjoy a joint welcome dinner. Overnight in Cairo.

Picture of the monastery: Berthold Werner. Taken from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Catherine%27s_Monastery#/media/File:Katharinenkloster_Sinai_BW_2.jpg

After breakfast, we will “dive” into Egyptian antiquities with a visit to the vast necropolis of Saqqara, one of the oldest and most significant burial grounds of ancient Egypt. While many are familiar with the pyramids of the Giza Plateau near Cairo, Saqqara predates Giza and reflects the early development of pyramid building during the Third Dynasty around 2700 BCE. Here we will explore the Step Pyramid of Djoser, designed by the architect Imhotep for King Djoser, and considered the first monumental stone structure in history. Surrounding it are Tombs of Nobles and officials, richly decorated with scenes of daily life. We will also visit the underground Serapeum of Saqqara, a vast network of galleries that housed the massive stone sarcophagi of the sacred Apis bulls. These sites reveal that pyramid construction relied on highly skilled labor and organization rather than slave labor.

After lunch, we continue to the Giza Plateau, built during the Fourth Dynasty around 2600 to 2500 BCE, and home to the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of them all, stood for millennia as the tallest man made structure in the world. Nearby stands the monumental Great Sphinx of Giza, traditionally associated with Pharaoh Khafre, carved from a single mass of limestone and guarding the plateau for over 4,500 years. From early childhood, images of these monuments are etched into our imagination, yet nothing compares to the moment you stand before these extraordinary structures built in antiquity. Overnight in Cairo.

Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saqqara_pyramid_ver_2.jpg

This morning, we will depart very early, as our journey toward the Red Sea will take several hours. Today, we will visit the birthplace of Christian monasticism. Anthony the Great is celebrated as the Father of Monasticism, although he was not the first monk. During his lifetime, he visited another monastic elder, his senior in the monastic profession, Paul of Thebes, who spent many decades living in a cave near the Red Sea. A new road from Cairo now leads directly to Monastery of St. Paul the Hermit, also known as Deir Anba Bola.

After visiting the monastery and enjoying lunch at a nearby guesthouse, we will transfer to the Monastery of St. Anthony, one of the largest and most important monasteries in the Coptic Church. When St. Anthony first retreated as an anchorite to a cave high in the mountains around 270 AD, he had no disciples. By the end of his life, other monks had joined him in the surrounding area, and the monastic community grew. Today, the complex preserves churches and structures from different periods, reflecting centuries of spiritual life. The original cave of St. Anthony is accessible to those physically fit, requiring a climb of approximately 2,000 steps to reach it.

Late in the afternoon, we will return to Cairo for overnight. Overnight: Cairo.

After the Divine Liturgy at the round Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Old Cairo, we will explore several remarkable sites in this historic district, one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas of Cairo. Our visits will include some of the most important Coptic Christian landmarks, beginning with the Hanging Church, dating largely to the 7th century and built above the remains of a Roman fortress. We will also visit the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, traditionally believed to stand over the site where the Holy Family rested during their flight into Egypt, and the historic Ben Ezra Synagogue, originally a Coptic church that was sold in the 9th century to a Jewish community to meet taxation demands under Islamic rule.

Another highlight is the Coptic Museum, founded in 1908, which houses one of the world’s most important collections of early Christian artifacts, including manuscripts, textiles, icons, and architectural elements. While the history of early Christianity in Egypt is often less widely known than that of ancient Egypt, it is rich and distinctive, and the museum, set within an elegant traditional mansion, offers a deep and engaging insight into this heritage.

In the afternoon, we will visit the modern Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, consecrated in 1968 and serving as the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope, along with the nearby Martyrs’ Memorial, a striking monument honoring the courage and faith of our contemporaries who suffered for Christianity in Egypt. Overnight in Cairo.

Early in the morning, we will journey to the desert oases of Nitria, Kellia, and Scetis, where several Coptic monasteries continue to stand, preserving the legacy of early Egyptian monasticism. The names of these monastic colonies—Sketis, Kellia, and Nitria—are familiar to anyone who has studied The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Palladius’ Lausiac History, or other writings of the earliest monks of Egypt. While the remains of hermitages at Kellia and Scetis, which once numbered in the hundreds or even thousands, have largely been overtaken by modern agricultural development, Nitria still retains an active monastic presence.

Unlike the solitary anchorites of the past, today’s monks live in larger communities but continue to follow the austere ascetic traditions of their predecessors. We will visit several monasteries in Nitria, most notably the Monastery of the Syrians (Aby Suriani) and the Monastery of St. Makarios. These monasteries not only maintain centuries-old monastic practices but also honor the memory of some of Egypt’s most revered holy men. They are repositories of extraordinary sacred art, including frescoes and icons, some of which have survived from antiquity, offering a vivid window into the spiritual and artistic heritage of early Christian Egypt. At St. Macarius Monastery, the relics of St. Macarius of Alexandria, St. Macarius the Great, and John the Short, along with many other famous saints, are venerated, preserving the spiritual legacy of these early desert fathers.

We will also visit the Paromeos Monastery (El-Baramous) in the Wadi Natrun desert, where the relics of Moses the Black are primarily housed. His body rests within the monastery’s Church of the Virgin Mary, where he is venerated for his remarkable transformation from a robber to a holy monk. Interest in this extraordinary saint has been renewed in modern times, inspired by his portrayal as the model for a criminal’s conversion in the contemporary drama Moses the Black (2025) by Yelena Popovic.

Late in the day, we will return to Cairo for overnight. Overnight: Cairo.

After breakfast, we will visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near Cairo, the largest museum in the world devoted to a single civilization and a landmark of modern archaeology. Opened in 2025, the museum stretches across nearly 500,000 square meters and houses more than 100,000 artifacts spanning Egypt’s history from the earliest Predynastic times through the Roman period. The definitive highlight is the treasures of Tutankhamun, displayed together for the first time, including his golden funerary mask, jewelry, chariots, and personal items that reveal the richness of royal life. Another extraordinary feature is the Solar Boat of Khufu, a cedar vessel buried near the Great Pyramid, believed to carry the pharaoh through the afterlife, now fully restored and exhibited in a dedicated gallery. The museum’s expansive, light-filled galleries allow visitors to experience the art, religion, and daily life of ancient Egypt in a way that is both modern and deeply immersive.

After lunch, we will travel south to the village of al-Our, near Samalut, to visit the Church of the Martyrs of Faith and Homeland, a modern shrine honoring the 21 Christians who were martyred in Libya in 2015. Most were young men from this village who had traveled to Libya for work. When faced with the choice to renounce their faith, they refused, and their execution was recorded and broadcast worldwide, drawing global attention to their courage. In the years that followed, their remains were recovered, identified, and brought home to Egypt with great reverence. The shrine now serves as a place of remembrance and prayer, preserving the story of their steadfast faith for future generations.

Overnight: Samalut.

This morning, we will visit an important Christian holy site located right next to our hotel, a small and humble church carved into a cave, traditionally believed to have served as a refuge for the Holy Family during their journey through Egypt. From Samalut, we will drive on, cross the Nile, and reach Beni Hasan, the site of an ancient Egyptian cemetery with spectacularly decorated rock cut tombs. Positioned on the eastern bank of the Nile, these tombs belonged mainly to the provincial elite of the Middle Kingdom, approximately 2055 to 1650 BC. The walls of the tombs are adorned with vivid scenes depicting daily life, work, and warfare. Of particular interest to our Biblical and early Christian focus are the portrayals of Eastern nomads seeking refuge in Egypt and the crude graffiti left by early Christian monks who later visited the site.

Our final stop of the day will be Tel Amarna, the ruins of the city built by Pharaoh Akhenaten, who reigned from 1353 to 1336 BC. Known as the heretic king, he attempted to replace Egypt’s traditional polytheism with the worship of the Aten, the sun disc. Akhenaten’s city, constructed specifically for this new religion, was lost to history until excavations in the late 19th century revealed its ruins. While he is often overshadowed in popular imagination by his famous queen Nefertiti and the treasures of his son Tutankhamun, who reigned from 1332 to 1323 BC, Akhenaten is celebrated as a unique patron of art and a bold, if controversial, innovator of his time.

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 Monastery and the White Monastery. These are among the oldest Christian monastic sites in existence and remain partially preserved in their original form. Both communities were founded following the Pachomian monastic model, emphasizing communal living. The walls of their two great basilicas, which once served thriving monastic communities, still stand, and areas that once held altars are now used as monastery chapels. The Red Monastery contains a remarkable architectural chapel with an extensive collection of sacred art dating from Late Antiquity, with frescoes completed between the sixth and eighth centuries AD.

For dinner and overnight, we will arrive at Abydos. Just outside our hotel lies the Great Temple of Abydos, one of the most important historical sites in this region, which was once a capital of the ancient Egyptian kingdom. Built by Seti I, who reigned from 1290 to 1279 BC, this temple impresses with its strikingly modern appearance despite being over 3,000 years old. The temple is famous for the Abydos graffiti, a rare example of an Aramaic inscription, and for the Abydos King List, a carefully carved record of the principal pharaohs whose names appear on a wall in the temple gallery.

Overnight: Abydos (Sohag).

After breakfast, we will start driving south toward the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, known today as Luxor. In about an hour’s drive, we will arrive at the Dendera Temple Complex, one of the best-preserved temple sites in Egypt. The original complex was enormous, covering approximately 40,000 square meters, and it remained in active use throughout its long history. The complex includes building additions from the Roman emperors Domitian (reigned 81–96 AD) and Trajan (reigned 98–117 AD), allowing us to see not only pharaonic and Ptolemaic art but also Roman architectural and decorative influences. One of the temples features a spectacular ceiling painting that was revealed after restoration, displaying some of the most vibrant and colorful artwork from antiquity.

Our next stop will be the Monastery of St. Pachomius, the father of cenobitic monasticism and a younger contemporary of St. Anthony the Great. According to tradition, St. Pachomius was born in Thebes around 292 AD, and one of his monastic foundations continues to function today, preserving his memory and influence for local Christians.

The final stop of the day will be the Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex in Egypt and one of the most important religious sites of the ancient world. Construction began during the Middle Kingdom around 2055 BC and continued through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The complex is dedicated primarily to the god Amun-Ra, but it also includes sanctuaries for Mut, Khonsu, and other deities. The temple’s massive pylons, colossal statues, and intricately carved obelisks reflect centuries of Egyptian architectural mastery. Of particular interest to our Biblical and early Christian focus are inscriptions that depict interactions with neighboring peoples, references to Eastern tribes who sought refuge in Egypt, and scenes that some scholars associate with events described in Exodus. Additionally, in some areas, remnants of early Christian frescoes can still be observed, showing the layering of sacred traditions over millennia.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Overnight: Luxor.

Optional: Guests who wish to experience a truly unique perspective may opt for a hot air balloon ride early in the morning to watch the sunrise over the West Bank monuments, providing a breathtaking view of the Nile Valley and Theban temples.

Luxor (Thebes of Antiquity) is without a doubt one of the most important, if not the most important, sites for anyone interested in Pharaonic Egypt. The sheer volume, size, splendor, and historical significance of the temples and funerary monuments in this area are impossible to overestimate. Today will be dedicated to the exploration of the West Bank.

We will begin at the Valley of the Kings, home to many fascinating tombs of Egypt’s mighty rulers. It was here that in November 1922, Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, considered one of the greatest archaeological finds in history. A short distance from the valley lies the Temple of Hatshepsut, an extraordinary mortuary temple built for Egypt’s fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty (reigned 1479–1458 BC). Its terraced colonnades and symmetry represent some of the closest Egypt came to classical architectural ideals, and the temple is adorned with reliefs depicting Hatshepsut’s divine birth, her trading expeditions to Punt, and her accomplishments as a ruler.

Another remarkable site is the Medinet Habu, the funerary temple of Ramesses III (reigned 1186–1155 BC). This monumental complex served both as a mortuary temple and a fortress, and its walls are covered with vivid inscriptions and reliefs that commemorate the pharaoh’s military campaigns, religious rituals, and dedication to the gods. Alongside these, the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues of Amenhotep III, stand sentinel over the West Bank, offering a powerful sense of the scale and ambition of Theban monuments.

In the evening, we will transfer to the airport for our flight back to Cairo.

Overnight: Cairo.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION: For those interested, we offer a four-day Nile Cruise extension, allowing you to travel from Northern Egypt to the southern border near Sudan. During this relaxing voyage along the mighty Nile, you will have the chance to visit awe-inspiring monuments, including the temple complexes at Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, and the city of Aswan, each a testament to history and human devotion to the Divine. Guests choosing the extension will board the cruise ship in Luxor for dinner and overnight. Overnight: Nile cruise ship, Luxor.

Those who are in Cairo will check out from their hotel in the morning and transfer to the airport for their departure.

For those who opt for the cruise:

Today, we will visit another significant Egyptian sacred site, the Luxor Temple. Located some distance from the Karnak Temple complex, Luxor Temple is unique in its focus on the rejuvenation of kingship. It is believed that pharaohs may have been crowned here, either ceremonially or mystically, as part of the annual Opet Festival that celebrated the divine nature of the king. The temple was originally constructed by Amenhotep III (reigned 1390–1352 BC) and later expanded by Tutankhamun (reigned 1332–1323 BC), Horemheb (reigned 1319–1292 BC), and Ramses II (reigned 1279–1213 BC). The colonnaded halls, towering statues, and finely carved reliefs make this temple a prime example of Theban artistry and devotion. Exploration of the site will take most of the morning.

From there, we will proceed to the Luxor Museum of Pharaonic Art and Sculpture, which houses one of Egypt’s finest collections of artifacts outside Cairo. The museum’s displays feature objects from the local Theban temples and tombs, including statues, jewelry, stelae, and finely crafted items from the New Kingdom period (1550–1070 BC). Highlights include statues of Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun, and a beautifully preserved collection of royal funerary objects, which illustrate the artistry, religion, and daily life of ancient Egypt. The museum offers a compact yet immersive experience, making it an essential stop for understanding the wealth of Theban antiquities.

In the afternoon, we will return to the ship and depart Luxor, beginning our scenic journey along the Nile.

This morning, we will begin sailing south along the Nile toward Aswan. Along the way, we will make two notable stops. Our first visit will be to Edfu, home to the grand Temple of Horus, dedicated to the falcon-headed god who was one of the most important deities in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. Built during the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC, the temple is remarkable not only for its enormous size but also for being one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt, with intact reliefs, inscriptions, and ceremonial halls that offer a vivid window into ancient religious life.

Our second stop will be at Kom Ombo, where we will visit the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, shared by the gods Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. While the temple is not as well preserved as some of the other monuments along the Nile, its symmetrical design and carved reliefs remain deeply inspiring. Adjacent to the temple is the recently opened Crocodile Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of mummified crocodiles, statues, inscriptions, and coffins associated with the worship of Sobek. Time permitting, we will explore this unusual and eerie collection.

Overnight: Nile cruise ship, Aswan.

From the Nile cruise, we will depart for our last long journey of the trip. Our coach will take us nearly to the southern border of Egypt to Abu Simbel, home to two of the most iconic temples in the world. These temples are as instantly recognizable in cultural memory as the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The smaller Temple of Hathor and Nefertari and the massive Great Temple of Ramesses II are carved directly from the sandstone cliffs. Four colossal seated statues of Ramesses II greet visitors at the entrance to the Great Temple, a powerful testament to the pharaoh’s grandeur and divine status.

Inside the Great Temple, intricately carved reliefs and hieroglyphic inscriptions commemorate Ramesses II’s achievements, including a detailed depiction of the famous Battle of Kadesh. The smaller temple, dedicated to his queen Nefertari, features stunning reliefs celebrating the pharaoh and his consort. In the 20th century, after the construction of the High Aswan Dam, these monuments were threatened by the rising waters of Lake Nasser. In the late 1960s, the temples were carefully cut into pieces and relocated to higher ground, a remarkable feat of modern engineering and preservation that adds another layer to their history.

The Abu Simbel complex forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Nubian Monuments, preserving centuries of ancient Egyptian devotion and artistry. After exploring the temples, we will return to our Nile cruise ship in Aswan for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Nile cruise ship, Aswan.

In the morning, we will visit the Nubian Museum in Aswan, which houses a comprehensive collection of artifacts that illuminate the history, culture, and daily life of Nubia from prehistory through the Islamic era. The museum’s exhibits include ancient pottery, jewelry, sculptures, and architectural fragments, as well as reconstructions of Nubian village life, giving a vivid sense of the region’s long and complex history. Special attention is given to the Nubian communities affected by the construction of the High Aswan Dam, offering insight into both ancient and modern heritage.

Following the museum visit, we will take a short boat ride to Agilkia Island, home to the magnificent Philae Temple, dedicated primarily to the goddess Isis. Originally located on nearby Philae Island, the temple was relocated in 1970 as part of the UNESCO Nubia Campaign to protect it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the High Aswan Dam. The temple complex reflects the rich Ptolemaic period in Egypt (305–30 BC) and provides remarkable insight into the gradual Christianization of the region, as later inscriptions and carvings show adaptations of the site for early Christian worship. The reliefs, columns, and hieroglyphs are exceptionally well-preserved, offering a vivid glimpse into religious and cultural practices over centuries.

Later in the evening, we will board our flight back to Cairo, concluding our exploration of southern Egypt and Nubia.

Overnight: Cairo.

Transfer to the airport for your departure back home.