3-Day Cairo & Alexandria from Marsa Alam

Description

The Ultimate 3-Day Cairo & Alexandria Adventure from Marsa Alam: Pyramids, Catacombs & Coastal Magic

Cairo & Alexandria from Marsa Alam – Let me tell you why this isn’t just another Egypt tour. This is your chance to:

• ✔️ Stand in the shadow of the last Ancient Wonder of the World
• ✔️ Walk through Roman catacombs where history whispers from the walls
• ✔️ Taste the Mediterranean breeze where Cleopatra once ruled
• ✔️ Lose yourself in bazaars that haven’t changed in 700 years

And here’s the kicker—you’ll do it all in just three days without feeling rushed. I’ve done this exact itinerary (yes, including that 3 AM wake-up call), and here’s everything you need to know.

Cairo & Alexandria from Marsa Alam

Day 1: Marsa Alam → Cairo – When Pyramids Become Real

The Red-Eye Flight That’s Worth It

• 00:00 AM: Pickup from your Marsa Alam hotel (pro tip: sleep in your clothes)

• 3-hour drive to Hurghada Airport – Watch the desert stars fade to dawn

• 05:00 AM Flight: EgyptAir’s quick hop to Cairo (nap on the plane)

Giza Plateau: More Than Just Instagram Backdrops

By 8 AM, you’re touching 4,500-year-old pyramid stones. Your private Egyptologist will reveal secrets like:

• The Great Pyramid’s hidden shafts (some lead to nowhere—archaeologists still debate why)

• The Sphinx’s missing nose (no, Napoleon didn’t shoot it off—that’s a myth)

• Valley Temple’s mummification secrets (the ancient Egyptians were obsessive about preservation)

Lunch: At a restaurant with pyramid views (order the kofta—it’s legendary).

Egyptian Museum: Tutankhamun’s Treasure Trove

This place feels like a pharaonic attic—overcrowded, slightly chaotic, and utterly magical. Don’t miss:

• Room 3: Tut’s golden death mask (smaller than you’d expect, more dazzling than photos show)

• Royal Mummies Hall (+200 EGP): See Ramses II’s actual hair (creepy-cool)

Stay: Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel (5-star with pool views of the pyramids).

Day 2: Alexandria – Cleopatra’s Playground

The Scenic Desert Drive

• 7:00 AM: Private AC van to Alexandria (3 hours through Nile Delta farmlands)

• Coffee stop: Try Egyptian “ahwa” (cardamom-spiced coffee)

Kom el Shoqafa Catacombs: Underground Time Capsule

Descend into a spiral staircase carved in the 2nd century AD. The vibe? Ancient Egypt meets Roman art—sphinxes wear Roman armor, gods have Egyptian crowns.

Pompey’s Pillar & Qaitbay Citadel

• The pillar: A 25m red granite monolith (misnamed—it honors Emperor Diocletian)

• The citadel: Built from the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the original 7 Wonders)

Lunch: Fresh seafood at White & Blue Restaurant (their grilled sea bass? Chef’s kiss).

Bibliotheca Alexandrina: The Reborn Legend

The modern library is an architectural marvel—its tilted disc design symbolizes the rising sun. Inside:

• Reading room: Fits 8 million books under a 160m glass roof

• Manuscript Museum: See ancient Quranic texts and Ptolemaic maps

Drive back to Cairo (sunset over the desert = unreal photo ops).

Day 3: Old Cairo – Layers of History

Saladin Citadel: Where Sultans Ruled

• Muhammad Ali Mosque: Known as the “Alabaster Mosque” for its glowing interior

• Panoramic view: Spot the pyramids, Coptic churches, and minarets from the ramparts

Coptic Cairo: Time-Travel Through Faith

• Hanging Church: Suspended over Roman gate ruins (look for the 12th-century icons)

• Ben Ezra Synagogue: Where baby Moses was allegedly found in the reeds

Lunch: Koshari at Abou Tarek (Egypt’s national comfort food—lentils, pasta, and crispy onions).

Khan el-Khalili: The Art of the Deal

This 14th-century bazaar is sensory overload in the best way:

• Spice stalls: Cumin so fresh it smells like the desert

• Gold shops: Haggle for cartouche necklaces (start at 50% of the asking price)

• El Fishawy Café: Sip mint tea where Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz wrote

Evening: Fly back to Hurghada → transfer to Marsa Alam (arrive by 10 PM, exhausted but euphoric).

Key Details: What Makes This Trip Special

✔️ Inclusions:

• Private Egyptologist (no canned speeches—ask anything about hieroglyphs or politics)

• 5-star hotels (with pyramid views)

• All entrance fees (even the obscure catacombs)

• Domestic flights (saves 12+ hours of driving)

❌ Exclusions:

• Tipping (~$10/day for guides/drivers)

• Royal Mummies Hall (200 EGP—but a must for history buffs)

Packing Pro Tips:

• Scarf/wrap (for mosques/churches)

• Comfortable sandals (Old Cairo’s streets are cobblestone)

• Empty suitcase (for papyrus art and spices)

Why This Itinerary Works

1. No backtracking – Smart route from pyramids → coast → historic Cairo

2. Private tours – Dodge the cruise-ship crowds at key sites

3. Flight transfers – Maximize time (3 days = what most do in 5)

Alternative: Add a Nile dinner cruise on Day 1 (ask your guide to arrange it).