10-Day The Holy Family Tour in Egypt

Egypt
10 Days/9 Nights
Starting from:
$2,999.00

Price

$2,999.00

Duration

10 Days

Location

Egypt

Tour overview

Egyptians look at the passage of the Holy Mother and her Child through the land of Egypt with deep fondness and pride, for this land became a place of peace and safety during their time of refuge. Today, travelers can relive this profound spiritual journey by following the same sacred path through The Holy Family Tour, one of the most meaningful pilgrimage experiences in Egypt.

The Holy Family Tour traces the route traditionally believed to have been taken by the Holy Family across Egypt, passing through a series of revered Christian sites that remain active centers of worship. This journey allows visitors to explore Egypt not only as a land of ancient pharaohs but also as a cornerstone of Christian heritage. As you travel, you will discover how faith, history, and culture intertwine across centuries.

Your journey often begins in Cairo, where several important stops are included in Cairo religious tours. In Old Cairo, you can visit the Church of Abu Serga, believed to have been built over the cave where the Holy Family rested. Nearby, the Hanging Church and the Coptic Museum provide deeper insight into Egypt’s early Christian history. Continuing along the sacred route, travelers explore destinations such as Wadi El Natrun, the Red Sea Monasteries, El Minya, and Assuit, where the Holy Family is believed to have stayed the longest. This blend of faith-based travel and cultural exploration makes the journey especially rich and rewarding. Traveling the same passage of the Holy Family is a deeply moving experience that transcends time.
What Included
Meet and greet service by our representatives at airports.
Assistance of our guest relations during your stay.
All transfers are by a private air-conditioned vehicle.
Accommodation for 6 nights in Cairo at Hilton Pyramids Golf Hotel based on half board.
Accommodation for 2 nights in El Minya at Grand Aton Hotel on half board.
Accommodation for 1 Night in Assuit at Assiutel Hotel on half board.
All the sightseeing tours as mentioned in the itinerary (Private Guided Tours).
Entrance fees to all sites as indicated on the itinerary.
Meals as mentioned in the above itinerary.
Bottled water during outings outside of hotel or cruise ship.
Portage when needed.
All service charges and taxes.
Not included
International Airfare.
Entry visa to Egypt.
Any optional tours.
Personal expenses.

Tour highlights

Coptic Cairo: Visit the revered Church of Abu Serga, the Hanging Church, and the ancient Fortress of Babylon.
Mary's Tree: See the holy tree in El Matariya where the Holy Family rested and the miraculous spring flowed.
Desert Monasteries: Explore the 4 monasteries of Wadi El Natrun and the oldest monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul.
Upper Egypt Sanctuaries: Discover Jabal Al Tair (Mount of the Birds) and Al Muharraq Monastery in Assuit, the Holy Family's longest resting place.
Ancient Heritage: Marvel at the 4000-year-old rock-cut tombs of Beni Hasan and the fascinating necropolis of Tuna El Gabal.
Tour Plan
Welcome to Cairo, Egypt (Around The Clock). Your tour manager will receive and assist you at Cairo International Airport right after luggage and customs. He will be holding a sign with your name or Amaken Tours’ name. One of our air-conditioned deluxe vehicles will escort you to the hotel. Once you arrive at the hotel, the tour manager will help you to easily check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to determine and confirm pick-up hours for each tour.

Overnight: Cairo.
After enjoying a delicious wholesome breakfast at your hotel, your personal guide will take you to the Giza Plateau to start your journey by marveling at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Visit the iconic Sphinx and Valley Temple. After your pyramid visit, you’ll go for lunch at an authentic Egyptian restaurant and then head over to the New Grand Egyptian Museum, also known as the Giza Museum, which is an archaeological museum in Giza, Egypt, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Giza pyramid complex. Return back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Overnight: Cairo.
You will enjoy breakfast at your hotel in Cairo, then your personal guide will take you to visit Cairo churches. This journey will start at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Ma’adi. Afterward, you will visit the Hanging Church and St. Sergius, then resume to reach the Church of St. George and the Fortress of Babylon in Old Cairo, which the Holy Family passed by. Lunch at a local restaurant in Cairo. At the end of the day, you will have dinner in your hotel and spend another overnight in Cairo.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Overnight: Cairo
Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo before heading to visit other significant Cairo churches. Transfer to El Matariya (Ancient Heliopolis Area), and visit the holy tree "Mary's Tree". It is the tree under which the holy family rested in its shade, and where the child Jesus caused water to flow from a spring from which he drank to arouse this tree. Then, you will swarm up to reach the aromatic plant with a beautiful scent named balsam. This plant is added to all perfumes that make them swab or MYRON oil, which is used in church rituals. Then head to the Church of the Virgin Mary in the Zeiton area. The Church is ornamented by carvings of Jesus, the Virgin, and many icons painted by Italian artists. At the end of the day, you will have dinner in your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Overnight: Cairo.
After breakfast, you will be escorted by your personal guide to visit Wadi El Natron about 120 KM north of Cairo, where the Holy Family continued their flight, went further west, and crossed the Nile. According to some accounts, the Holy Family visited Wadi al-Natrun and there you can visit 4 monasteries: 1. The Monastery of Anba Bishoy, 2. The Monastery of Baramus, 3. The Monastery of Abu Makar, 4. The Monastery of El-Suryan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner.
Check out after breakfast, and start a drive south along the coast to visit the Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul. The two monasteries were built in the 4th century AD but are dramatically set against the cliffs coming from the eastern desert. St. Anthony Monastery is considered the biggest monastery in Egypt. The church of St. Anthony was built over the saint's tomb. St. Paul is a relatively younger monastery but it is equally ornamented with stunning artifacts; Saint Paul might be considered the first monk ever. Then we will head to Upper Egypt following the trip of the holy family to visit El Minya. Check-in and later have dinner in our hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Box, Dinner.

Overnight: El Minya.
In the morning you will be escorted by your private guide to drive to Jabal al Tair (the Birds Mountain) near El Minya city. That is the cave where the holy family rested inside. It is situated now inside the Ancient Church there. Then drive to Beni Hasan Rock tombs located on the Eastern Bank of the Nile. There we will see the standing-out rock-cut tombs with scenes depicting local and regional life of the Middle Kingdom 4000 years ago. Many of these express scenes of wrestling and military training.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
In the morning after breakfast, you will check out from El Minya Hotel and you will be escorted by your private guide to get to the necropolis of Tuna El Gabal. This place includes many significant elements, like the crypts of baboons and Ibis that represent the god Thoth, the tomb of Isadora, the tomb of the priest Pet-Osiers, the ancient water wheel, and the boundary stele of the city of the Aton. Proceeding to Al-Ashmunien, you will enjoy visiting the open museum with the two colossal baboon statues and the ruins of the basilica church with its Rose granite columns. Then, Drive to Assuit. Go visit Al Muharraq Monastery. This Monastery was where the Holy Family stayed for 6 months and 10 days, the longest period spent at the same site. You will have a mouthwatering lunch at a local restaurant. Check-in at your hotel in Assuit and later have dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Overnight: Assuit.
You will enjoy your breakfast in Assuit, then you will go visit Al Muharraq Monastery (if further exploration is needed where the Holy Family received the divine message to go back to Palestine). About 8 Km west of the monastery, you will find the rock-cut tombs of Miar, which belong to the nobles and the rulers during the 6th and the 12th dynasties. The tombs remain in great condition and it will be an impressive visit. You will be transferred back to your hotel in Cairo to enjoy your dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Overnight: Cairo.
Breakfast at the hotel and you will spend your free time at your leisure, then you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for your final departure.

Meals: Breakfast.

Conclusion: Head back home with profound spiritual memories and photos of Egypt's sacred heritage that will last a lifetime.
FAQs
In Egypt, tipping (Baksheesh) is a cultural norm, but the "right" amount depends on the service: Is $1 good? Yes, for small gestures like a hotel porter carrying one bag or a restroom attendant. When is it NOT enough? For tour guides, it is customary to tip $10–$20 per day. For drivers, $5–$10 is standard. In restaurants, a 10-15% tip is expected, even if a service charge is on the bill. Pro Tip: Use Egyptian Pounds (EGP) for tipping when possible. Small denominations (5, 10, or 20 EGP) are much more practical for locals than $1 bills, which can be hard for them to exchange.
For most travelers, the best way to experience Egypt is a combination of a Land Tour and a Nile River Cruise: Land Tour (Cairo & Alexandria): Use the first 3-4 days to explore the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids via private car. Nile Cruise (Luxor to Aswan): Spend 3-5 nights on a cruise ship. This is the most efficient and relaxing way to see the temples of Karnak, Edfu, and Philae. The "Fly-and-Cruise" Method: Taking domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan saves 10+ hours of driving/train time, maximizing your sightseeing.