August 12-21, 2027 Egypt Old Testament Pilgrimage and Nile River Cruise

Welcome to the mystical lands of Egypt, where the Pharaohs ruled for thousands of years. Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport, your tour manager will meet and assist you and ease the process by providing an entry visa. You will then be escorted the hotel in Cairo where your tour manager will assist you with your check-in. Dinner & Overnight in Cairo. Meals included: Dinner.

Early morning breakfast and Mass. Then we will begin a trip to Old / Coptic Cairo to visit the Hanging Church where the Holy Family-Jesus, Mary & Joseph lived while they were in Egypt while in exile. We will visit the Abu Sirga Church – built over the cave where the holy family lived in the heart of Coptic Cairo. We will also visit Great Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx before heading back to your hotel to rest. Optional Camel ride today (not included). The pyramids were around at the time that the Holy Family would have been living in Egypt and they would have gazed on them just the way we will! Back to the hotel for dinner & overnight in Cairo. Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner.

Today after breakfast and Mass we will travel to area of Egypt that was the focus of Moses’ Psalms 78:12 and 43. We will drive north of Cairo and visit Zoan, also known as Tanis (san Al Hagar). This is where Moses would have performed the miracles of God that freed God’s children. Biblically, this city in Egypt in the Nile delta is discussed in Numbers 13:22. It says that it was built seven years after Israel’s Hebron was built. Hebron is the oldest Jewish community in the world. Psalm 78:12,43 identifies the “field of Zoan” as the location at which Moses performed miracles before Pharaoh to persuade him to release Israel from his service we will also visit the Biblical cities of Ramses and Avaris. We will then be leaving Cairo and flying out to the shining city of Luxor. Upon landing in Luxor, you will be whisked away in an exclusive air-conditioned vehicle to board your Nile river cruise ship. We will enjoy a delicious lunch on board before heading out to your first stop in Upper Egypt which is visiting the infamous Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple at the East Bank. The temples of Karnak and Luxor are integral components of Egypt’s Christian history. Numerous churches have been discovered within the precincts of the Luxor Temple such as the Church of St. Mark. This ancient church, dating back to the 5th century AD, stands as a testament to the beliefs of early Christians in the region. Here you will find the Church of St. Takla, situated opposite the façade of the Luxor Temple. Within the Karnak Temple, the churches of St. Abanoub and St. Estephanos are found, both dating back to the early centuries further exemplify the rich Christian heritage of Egypt. In the area of the Luxor Temple you will find meticulously restored Christian murals that have been rejuvenated to their original splendor. The Hatshepsut Temple served as a monastery during times of persecution and even today is affectionately referred to as the “Western Monastery of Luxor.” These temples are not just revered for their historical prominence in Egypt, but they are deeply rooted in Christianity and specifically the Old Testament. It is noteworthy to mention that Ramses II, a central figure in these temples, is present in the Holy Scriptures particularly in the Book of Exodus. It will be very exciting to explore these sites, which many never get to— not merely due to their iconic stature in Egypt’s history but because they are intricately tied to both Egypt’s Christian heritage and the narratives of the Old Testament in the Holy Scriptures. Return back to your cruise ship to enjoy a warm and hand-crafted dinner. Overnight aboard your cruise in Luxor. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Enjoy Mass and your first breakfast on board your cruise surrounded by the calm waters of the Nile. The Nile river that we will cruise on is where Moses was pulled from the reeds by Pharaoh’s daughter. While on the cruise, we will be doing a Bible study of all of the Old Testament chapters that discuss all of the amazing things we will see on this pilgrimage. After breakfast we will head out to explore the West Bank of Luxor. We will visit the Royal Cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, the Valley of the Kings, and head the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by the architects of the New Kingdom during the 15th century BCE at Deir El Bahari. We will marvel at the towering Colossi of Memnon. After finishing your visits at the West Bank we will return back to the cruise to start sailing to Edfu while enjoying a delicious lunch on board. Relax the rest of the day as you sail and take advantage of the amazing facilities of your cruise. Enjoy some afternoon tea, get a massage or de-stress in the Jacuzzi. End the day with an appetizing dinner on board. Overnight aboard your cruise ship. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Edfu and Kom Ombo Enjoy Mass and then a mouth-watering breakfast on board your cruise as you sail to Edfu. Upon arrival we will visit the Edfu Temple, one of the best-preserved temples of the Greco Roman era. Enjoy a magnificent experience as you take a horse-drawn carriage ride to and from the temple to marvel at Upper Egypt’s local life. Pass through the slow-paced, rural life of the local farmers and fishermen. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking lush, fertile landscapes dotted with banana, date & palm trees. Next we will head back to our cruise for lunch as we start sailing to our second stop of the day, Kom Ombo. After we touch down on the shores of Kom Ombo we will walk through the town amongst the locals until we arrive at the unusual Kom Ombo temple with its two identical entrances, hypostyle halls, and sanctuaries. After our visit, we will head back to the ship where we will enjoy an appetizing lunch while sailing to Aswan. As the day comes to an end, enjoy a warm, delicious dinner surrounded by the calm, serene watesr of the Nile River. Overnight aboard your cruise ship. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Today you will have breakfast and Mass and then disembark our cruise. We will then get transferred to Aswan Airport to catch your for your flight back to Sharm El-Sheikh (indirect flight via Cairo). Upon arrival Sharm El-Sheikh we will get transferred to the Red Sea area hotel for dinner and overnight in Sharm El-Sheikh. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast at the hotel and Mass will travel to visit the St. Catherine monastery located between the St. Catherine’s Mounts and Moses Mount which is the oldest monastery of Christianity. This is where the original stock of the Burning Bush is. Also, it is at the foot of Mt. Sinai where Moses received the 10 commandments. We will do a Bible study while we drive today. This is an Orthodox Greek monastery within its amazing walls resting like a citadel. It is incredibly rich in important religious and historical structures. Among its treasures and in the Museum of St. Catherine you will hear the fascinating story of this great saint – St. Catherine of Alexandria. Today you will also see the desert of Sin where the Israelites received manna, Mount Horeb, where Moses struck the rock twice, the site where the battle of Amalek occurred and the Red Sea which Moses parted. We will drive back to our hotel in Sharm El Sheikh for dinner and overnight. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

This morning after Mass and breakfast at the hotel, we will be transported to Sharm El-Sheikh airport where you will board a short flight back to Cairo. When you land in Cairo your trip has ended and we will sadly say our goodbyes after an amazing week filled with wonder and Scripture! You will then board your final flight back home. Depending on your flight you may arrive home either the 21st or 22nd of August.