Port
Port Said, Egypt
Activity Level
Strenuous
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At
$264.95
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 10¾ hours
Meals Included
Meals included
Boarding a motor coach at the port of Port Said, you’ll take the scenic road to the outskirts of Cairo, approximately 3½ hours away. Enjoy the desert landscape of sand and scrub punctuated by lush, irrigated fields of produce and small farm towns. Standing atop Cairo's highest hill, the Citadel of Salah El-Din dominates the landscape. This 12th-century fortress was erected by Saladin in AD 1183 and was used to defend Cairo from armies of Crusaders. Within the citadel complex stands the exquisite Muhammad Ali Mosque. Built in 1820, the mosque resembles Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque and features alabaster walls, unique ring chandeliers, and intricate, geometric carvings. The second part of your journey will take you through Islamic Cairo and the old gates of Cairo. Walk through the El-Fotouh Gate to experience a unique cultural walk that takes you from one end of the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar to the other. It is not hard to imagine a time when this was the heart of the old walled city of Cairo. The ancient thoroughfare leads you along some of the most traditional parts of the bazaar, where life has barely changed for centuries. It runs from the massive fortified Fotouh Gate to the beautifully designed Zuweila Gate. This stretch contains more Heritage buildings per yard than any other street in the world. In this part of the bazaar, where Egyptians themselves go to bargain for everyday items, your guide will enthrall you with explanations of passing licorice-tea-sellers, spice markets with obscure roots and magical powders, black-swathed women, and brightly painted donkey-carts overflowing with watermelons and mangos. Lunch will be served during the day at a local restaurant. Re-board the air-conditioned vehicle that return you to the port, with enough time to reflect on the amazing sights you have visited in Egypt.
Please note: Minimum age is 6 years.