Port
Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt
Activity Level
Strenuous
Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At
$119.95
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
Meals Included
Meals not included
The history and archeological significance of Alexandria is highlighted on this guided tour celebrating the city’s iconic monuments and treasured artifacts.
Board an air-conditioned motor coach and head to the Alexandria National Museum, home to antiquities ranging from Egyptian mummy cases to Greek statues and papyri. Also, in this amazing museum are some of the archeological finds from the underwater excavation of the Faros Lighthouse - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Continue to the famous Catacombs of Kom El Shogafa - the largest Roman burial site discovered in Egypt to date. The catacombs consist of three tiers of tombs and chambers cut into the bedrock to a depth of about 115 feet. Constructed in the 2nd century AD as a single-family crypt, these tombs represent the last existing major construction under the auspices of ancient Egyptian religion. Though the motifs are purely ancient Egyptian, the architects and artists were schooled in the Greco-Roman style, resulting in an amazingly integrated artform, quite unlike anything else in the world.
From there, proceed to the Pompey’s Pillar. This 88-foot tall and 7-foot-thick column of polished Aswan rose granite stands before the sparse remains of the splendid Temple of Serapis - once one of ancient Alexandria’s most important buildings. Erroneously named by the Crusaders, the pillar had nothing to do with Pompey, and in fact was raised in honor of Diocletian in the 4th century AD.
Following your Alexandria discovery, return to the pier.
Notes:
You are visiting a predominately Muslim country, dress appropriately, wear conservative dress that covers the shoulders and knees - trousers for men and trousers, skirts or dresses for women. All regulations are subject to change without notice. Photography is not permitted at the Catacombs of Kom El Shougafa and flash photography is prohibited inside the National Museum of Alexandria.
Participants must negotiate stairs and/or uneven surfaces and is therefore not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Catacombs of Kom El Shugafa are not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia or with cardiac and respiratory problems. Minimum age 6 years.