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Four Seasons Cairo Plan your
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Other recreation
Tours and excursionsHalf-day toursEgyptian Museum Designed and built in 1902 by architect Marcel Dourgnon, the two-storey Egyptian Museum is fronted by a sculpture garden and has a mind-boggling 120,000 objects on display. With the help of a knowledgeable guide, this in-depth tour will take you through the Tutankhamun collection from the New Kingdom (18th dynasty), funerary objects from the tomb of Sennedjem and his family, sarcophagi and coffins from different periods, the rare collection from the reign of the monotheistic pharaoh, sculptures from all periods of ancient Egypt, and more. Giza pyramids and the Sphinx Explore Giza and visit the final resting places of the pharaohs of the fourth dynasty. During this tour, you'll visit three famous pyramids on the Giza plateau: the Great Pyramid (the only remaining of the seven wonders of the ancient world), the Pyramid of Chephren and the Pyramid of Mycerinus. You will also visit the smaller pyramids of the princess and queens. Your guide will recount recent excavations and discoveries in the area and explain new theories surrounding the enigmatic Sphinx. You can also choose to venture inside a pyramid (please note that a fee applies to enter each of the three pyramids of Giza). From the pyramids, you'll make your way to the Solar Boat Museum, which houses a royal funerary boat believed to have transported the body of Khufu to the Great Pyramid, either symbolically or literally. It was found intact but excavated in pieces, and has since been reassembled, an endeavour that took 10 years to complete. On the return trip, the tour will stop at the Papyrus Institute, where you will see how this ancient writing material was produced. Memphis and Sakkara This tour will take you to the edge of the desert and the site of the ancient city of Memphis, the first capital of the united Egypt, where you'll see the Alabaster Sphinx and several colossal statues of Rameses II. From Memphis, you will journey a few kilometres further to Sakkara, one of the largest necropolises in Egypt, which features the Step Pyramid of King Djoser. Dating from 2,780 BC during the third dynasty, it is reputed to be the oldest pyramid in the world. Your guide will take you through the fascinating Mastaba tombs, which depict scenes of the daily life of ancient Egyptian gentry, as well as the burial chamber of a pharaoh. Finally, you will visit a carpet school to learn how Egyptian artisans produce their masterpieces. Desert on horseback For an unforgettable experience, take a sunrise, sunset or full-moon ride across the western desert, overlooking the pyramids of Giza. Experienced riders can choose to ride a fully trained Arabian dancing horse. Horse-drawn carriage rides and camel rides are also available. Art galleries and museum Visit the Egyptian Modern Art Museum, Zamalek Art Gallery, Abdeen Palace, Mahmoud Khalil Museum and Islamic Ceramic Museum. Full-day toursOld Cairo (includes Coptic Museum and Sultan Hassan Mosque) This tour will take you on a guided drive through the fascinating streets of Old Cairo. You'll then continue on foot to al-Mu'allaqa (the Hanging Church) and the Church of Abu Serga, where it is said that Mary, Joseph and Jesus rested upon their arrival in Egypt. You will also have the opportunity to explore the Church of From there you will make your way to the Coptic Museum, built on the site of the Babylon Fortress. Inside the fortress are several Coptic churches and a rich collection of Coptic art. Finally, you will visit the Sultan Hassan Mosque, built between 1356 and 1363, a masterpiece of Arab architecture in Egypt. Citadel, mosque and bazaar Situated near the centre of the city in the Muqattam Hills, the Citadel dominates Cairo's skyline and was the nerve centre of the city and of Egypt for almost 700 years. Construction was begun by Saladin in 1176 and continued until the 1820s, when it was completed under Muhammed Ali. Your guide will recount the rich and varied history of the Citadel, which encompassed residences, palaces and mosques for Mameluke Sultans and Turkish governors within its walls. This tour also includes a visit to the Sultan Hassan Mosque and the Khan El Khalili, a well-known Cairo bazaar that dates to the 14th century. Memphis, Sakkara and Dahshur This tour takes you to the desert and the site of the ancient city of Memphis, the first capital of the united Egypt. Here you'll see the Alabaster Sphinx and several colossal statues of Rameses II. Just a few kilometres away is Sakkara, one of the largest and most interesting necropolises in Egypt. The Step Pyramid of King Djoser, located here, dates to 2780 BC during the third dynasty, earning it the reputation as oldest pyramid in the world. During a guided tour of one of the Mastaba tombs of Old Kingdom nobles, you will see depictions of the daily life of the ancient Egyptian gentry. You'll also have the opportunity to see texts that were found in Sakkara's Old Kingdom pyramids and to visit the burial chamber of a pharaoh. Dahshur, located 2 kilometres south of Sakkara, forms the southernmost extension of the Necropolis of Ancient Memphis. There you'll have the option of exploring the interior of the red pyramid, named from the reddish limestone it's made from. The tour also includes a visit to a carpet school, where you'll learn how artisans produce Egyptian carpets. Alexandria – Pearl of the Mediterranean Three hours from Cairo is Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great. Now a lively and cosmopolitan city, Alexandria was established in 331 BC and was once famous for its museum, complex of schools, laboratories, observatories, gymnasium, theatre, markets, baths and a series of lighthouses. One-third of the Alexandrian area used to be occupied by palaces, and the main street of the city was once 30 metres (98 feet) wide. A guide will accompany you to the Greco-Roman Museum, which was founded by Giuseppe Botti in 1891. Inside the museum you will find mosaics, statues of famous pharaohs and emperors, such as Julius Caesar and Augustus, and the statue of the head of Alexander the Great. The museum houses a unique collection of vases and one of only two Tanagra collections in the world. The Tanagra collection includes a number of small, well preserved statuettes. You will also visit the underground necropolis of Kom el Shoqafa (Hill of Potsherds), one of the most famous Greco-Roman necropolises in the world. It served as a burial place from the first century to the fourth century and was discovered in 1900, when a donkey pulling a cart fell into a deep shaft leading to this monumental treasure. This tour will also take you through other notable sights in Alexandria, including Pompei's Pillar, the Roman theatre and the gardens around the royal Montaza Palace. Safari in Fayoum Located approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Cairo, Fayoum is an oasis in the western desert. Its climate is warm year-round, and the area features green landscapes surrounded by desert, as well as lakes rife with rich archaeological and geological treasures. This off-road adventure will take you through three areas in the Fayoum oasis. First, you'll travel by four-wheel-drive vehicle to Wadi el-Hitansee to see the fossilised skeletons of primitive whales, shark teeth, shells and other marine life. Then you'll travel to Wadi el-Rayan to visit the man-made wetlands formed in 1973 and the surrounding protected area, which showcases a variety of landscapes, formations and wildlife. Finally, you'll stop at Medinet Madi, monumental ruins that include the only preserved Middle Kingdom temple in Egypt, featuring sculpted texts and scenes. Other full-day tours A variety of full-day tours combine the best that Cairo has to offer. Choose from the following:
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