• Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa - Begin your delightful day by meeting your guide at your hotel. Travel via highway from Cairo (approximately a 3-hour drive each way) to the renowned city, where your exploration with a knowledgeable tour guide will commence. The guide will share the rich history of Alexandria, starting with the necropolis, which comprises a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues, and archaeological artifacts from the Pharaonic funeral cult, influenced by Hellenistic and early Imperial Roman styles. Due to the era, many features of the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa blend Roman, Greek, and Egyptian cultural elements. Some statues exhibit Egyptian style but are adorned with Roman attire and hairstyles, while other features share a similar style. A circular staircase, often used to transport deceased bodies, leads down into the tombs carved into the bedrock during the age of the Antonine emperors (2nd century AD). The site served as a burial chamber from the 2nd to the 4th century, before being rediscovered in 1900 when a donkey accidentally fell into the access shaft. To date, three sarcophagi have been discovered.

• Pompey’s Pillar - The second attraction is Pompey’s Pillar. Its name is misleading, as this single column standing on a rocky hilltop in Alexandria has no connection to the Roman Consul and General Gaius Pompey, who was Julius Caesar’s rival in a civil war and was murdered by a Ptolemaic pharaoh in 48 BC when he fled to Alexandria. This legend was propagated by Crusaders, who mistakenly believed the 100-foot (30-meter) red Aswan granite pillar marked his burial site. Instead, the pillar is a triumphal monument erected around 300 AD for the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The true significance of this archaeological site lies in what stood here before the pillar: the Serapeum, Alexandria’s acropolis. In the early centuries AD, Christianity was introduced to Egypt, and Alexandria became its stronghold. Gradually, Christianity became the dominant religion in Egypt, relegating followers of ancient traditions and pagan gods to a minority. The Serapeum, dedicated to Alexandria’s patron god, Serapis, symbolized this ancient tradition, which conflicted with the increasingly popular Christian ideas. In 391 AD, Patriarch Theophilus, leader of the Church of Alexandria, led a Christian mob to destroy the Serapeum and other symbols of paganism in the city. Some accounts even attribute the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria to this mob, although this is disputed. Today, a single column marks the site of what was once a grand and elaborate temple, constructed of marble and adorned with precious metals inside. Some tunnels around the complex remain open for tourists to explore, and artifacts from the temple have been recovered. A life-size black basalt bull from the temple and a golden plaque marking the foundation of Serapis are displayed in the Greco-Roman Museum.

• Fort Qaitbey - The third stop is the Citadel of Qaitbay (or the Fort of Qaitbay; Arabic: قلعة قايتباي‎), a 15th-century defensive fortress located on the Mediterranean Sea coast in Alexandria, Egypt. It was established in 1477 AD (882 AH) by Sultan Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qa’it Bay. The Citadel is situated on the eastern side of the northern tip of Pharos Island at the entrance of the Eastern Harbour.

• Entrance fees
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Private tour
• Lunch at a good quality seafood restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean (optional)
• Transport by air-conditioned car
• Bottled water
• Qualified Egyptologist guide

• Gratuities

Enjoy your full-day trip to Alexandria city from Cairo.explore Alexandria with your guide who will talk about the history of Romans in Egypt Dating back to the Roman period in Egypt, the cities history starts from 332 B.C. Alexandria was Egypt’s second-largest city situated on the Mediterranean Sea. Founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, explore all corners of the city to experience how this city has been formed over hundreds of years!

• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Infant meals not included
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

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