Temple Gallery Travel

There is an argument that Egypt has a greater claim as the cradle of Christianity than Rome or Jerusalem. The Gospel account of Christ’s Flight into Egypt or ‘Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians’ (Acts 7.22) are symbolic references to a source of knowledge and wisdom – perhaps one could say esoteric knowledge – that we will encounter throughout the trip. We may discern this continuity that starts with the Sphinx and the Pyramids and ends with the icons in Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai.

The Cairo hotel is the Ritz Carlton where we spend five nights. It is more expensive than a number of alternatives but Egypt can be uncomfortable sometimes – we are in the monastery dormitory at Saint Catherine’s – and I have thought it’s worth it.  (Those wishing a room with Nile view will require a supplement of £280 in single or £140 pp in twin share.)

We leave London Heathrow at 14:00 arrive in Cairo at 20:40, and after arrival formalities, we meet Kent Foster our ETR Tour Director and board our private coach for the drive to our hotel. Many of us know Kent from previous trips in Russia and elsewhere.

We begin our day devoted to ancient Egypt at the new Grand Museum. Built near the pyramid complex and only opened in 2018, Exhibits include the full tomb collection of King Tutankhamun.

We also see Tutankhamun’s three funeral beds, five chariots and textiles dating to 1350 BC as well as the famous golden funeral mask. Also the 30 foot high statue of Ramses II, ancient Egypt's greatest ruler.

Lunch at the nearby Felfela Restaurant and then continue, via the ancient capital of Memphis, to Giza to see Pyramids and the Sphinx.

Return to our hotel for dinner.

Overnight Cairo

If yesterday was focused on ancient Cairo, today is reserved for the Medieval Cairo.

We continue after lunch , eventually finishing at the Bazaar of Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s famous souk.

Holy Virgin Mary’s Orthodox Church, the official name of what is commonly known as the Hanging Church, the most famous Coptic Christian church in Cairo, 12th century. The name refers to its position above a gatehouse of the Babylon Fortress, the Roman fortification in Coptic Cairo, and the church’s nave is suspended over a passage. The main altar, or haikal, screen dates back to around the 12th or 13th century and is made of ebony inlaid with ivory that is carved into segments showing several Coptic Cross designs.

The Coptic Museum

16,000 objects from the Christian era are housed here, providing links between the Pharaonic and Islamic periods. Of special note is the sanctuary screen of sycamore wood from the Church of Saint Barbara. The panels, with human and animal figures against a foliate arabesque background, are recognizable as having been crafted in the Fatimid period, either in the 11th or 12th century.

We leave Cairo and drive approximately 100 kms north to Wadi El Natrun, in the Nitrian desert. In their heyday in the 5th and 6th centuries the many monasteries sustained thousands of monks. They were established in spiritual commemoration of the Holy Family’s passage through the valley.

Today four large monasteries with monks and hermits, have remained: the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of St. Bishoy the Great, followed by Al-Suryan, which is of great import to Coptic Christians. It would be our hope to also visit St. Macarious Monastery, but this will depend upon closing hours during Lent, which in 2019 will be 6 March to 18 April. We’ll have lunch during our visit to Al-Baramous monastery then return to Cairo.

Overnight Cairo

Leisurely start to the day as we leave Cairo and drive south east to the Gulf of Suez at Al-Sokhna and continue south to our hotel located near Zaafarana.

Overnight at seaside hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and then full day visit to Saint Anthony and Saint Paul Monasteries.

We start with the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great, 4th century.

Breakfast at hotel and then drive to Hurghada (five hours, 265 kilometers). We will enjoy lunch just outside Hurghada and then head directly to the airport for our 16.20 departure to Sharm El Sheik. We’ll arrive at 17.00 and transfer to our hotel with time to settle in and relax before dinner.

Overnight Sharm El Sheik.

Breakfast and then leave Sharm el Sheik hotel for Catherine’s Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, some 215 kms north into the Sinai desert.

The Monastery owns more than two thousand icons including a number dating from before the Iconoclast period (7th century).

Pre-iconoclast icons and mosaics at St. Catherine’s Monastery

Final morning visit to Saint Catherine’s Monastery followed by lunch. We then make our return three hour journey to Sharm el Sheik and our hotel. Tonight we enjoy a final evening meal at a local restaurant.

Overnight Sharm el Sheik.

Breakfast and then leave at noon for airport. Depart 14.15 for Cairo and from there transfer to our London bound flight scheduled for 17.30 – arriving Heathrow 21.00