Islamic and Coptic Cairo Private Tour from Port Said

Your ship docks at Port Said, and Cairo's oldest faiths are about 3 hours south, layered into a single walkable corner of the old city. This private tour skips the pyramids for something quieter. You climb to the Citadel for the alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, visit the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, the first mosque ever built in Egypt, and step into the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo, suspended over a Roman gate. Your Egyptologist threads Islamic and Christian Cairo into one clear story. Lunch at a local restaurant is included. It is a long day with real driving on either side, run privately and timed to your ship. Ideal for cruise guests who would rather see living, sacred Cairo than the headline sights.

1. 1

   Mosque of Muhammad Ali

   2 hours

   After the drive from Port Said, you climb to the Citadel of Saladin and into the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the great Ottoman-style mosque that has crowned Cairo's skyline since the 1840s. Under its vast central dome, your guide explains the ruler who reshaped modern Egypt and built this as his statement. Alabaster lines the walls, and from the Citadel terrace the city stretches to the pyramids on a clear day. Modest dress is needed; shoes come off at the carpet's edge.

2. 2

   Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-As

   45 min

   You stop next at the Mosque of Amr ibn al-As, the first mosque built in Egypt and one of the oldest in the world, founded in 642 AD where the Arab general Amr pitched his camp. Almost nothing of the original survives, rebuilt many times over thirteen centuries, but the open courtyard and forest of columns still carry the weight of that beginning. It sits in Fustat, the original Islamic capital that grew into Cairo. Far fewer tourists reach here than the Citadel.

3. 3

   The Hanging Church

   1 hour

   You finish in Coptic Cairo at the Hanging Church, named for the way its nave is built over the gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon, appearing to hang above the passage. Parts date to the 7th century, and inside are inlaid screens and an ark-shaped wooden roof. Your guide walks you through the narrow lanes nearby, past Abu Serga and other ancient churches tied to the Holy Family's time in Egypt. Calm and shaded, it is a fitting close before the drive back to Port Said.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
• At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.