Cairo, Egypt

Cairo tours are one of the best tours in Egypt because there are so many exciting things

Cairo tours are one of the best tours in Egypt because there are so many exciting things to see there. Booking an all-inclusive tour in Cairo with a reputable travel company like “AtumTours Egypt” will keep you safe and give you the time of your life. On one of our tours to Giza, you can see  the great pyramids in the world. From Cairo, we also offer tours to Luxor and Aswan and alexandria 

•    The Great Pyramid in Giza 
No monument on the planet can reflect the true definition of Glory, “The Great Pyramids of Giza.” The complex contains the last intact memorial of the seven wonders of the ancient world, ” The Great Pyramid of Giza,” next to two other pyramids; each one is impressive in its way and represents the political level and economic stability.
The Complex is one of the last intact prehistoric monuments on the planet that was built in the time of the old empire (2685 bc )during Dynasty IV ( 2163 bc ) over 4000 years and is still capable of capturing the heart and soul of everything it sees Contains three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure who wished to make the test of time and immortalize their names and legacies through the ages Each pharaoh built a pyramid to be his final resting place and help his soul ascend to the heavens Adjacent to the pyramids is the Valley Temple where the kings and queens were mummified and prepared to pass to the other side.
The Complex is located in the western desert, 9 kilometers west of the river nile 13 kilometers southwest of the city center of Cairo. The Complex is protected by Egypt’s only guardian, the great sphinx 

The Great Pyramid of King Cheops (Khufu)
The last intact wonder of the ancient world is The Great Pyramid. It was built for king khufu at the time of the old empire between 2580 and 2560 BC; it took 20 years to make. She was known to the Greeks as King Cheops. It was the tallest structure in the world, measuring 147 meters high (481 feet) for more than 3,800 years until the construction of Lincoln Cathedral in 1311.
It was built with 2.3 million blocks of limestone, each block weighing 2.5 tons per 10,000 skilled workers. It was designed by Pharaoh Khufu’s vizier “Hem-Iunu,” who created a true masterpiece of miraculous architecture using the golden age resources that the ancient empire era had to offer.
The Pyramid of King Khafre (Chephren)
The second largest Pyramid in Egypt was built by the order of King Jafra (2558-2532 BC). During the IV dynasty, in the year 2540 BC. Jafra is Khufu’s son, so he wanted to create a structure similar to his father’s.
The Pyramid is known to the Greeks as Khafre, and it measures 136.4 in height (448 feet) on a base of 215.5 meters (706 feet). It was also built of limestone and had an angle of 51 50 24. In front of the Pyramid is the protector of Egypt, the famous “Sphinx,” the oldest statue in the world designed with the face of Pharaoh Jafra.
The Pyramid of King Menkau-Ra
The smallest of the three pyramids. It was built by King Menkau-Ra (the sixth king of the IV dynasty) in 2510 BC to be his tomb. It was constructed of limestone from the outside and granite stone from the inside; it is 61 meters high (204 feet) on top of a base that measures 108.5 meters and has an angle of 51 20 25. The interior of the Pyramid is built of granite.

•    The Sphinx 
The ancient Egyptians built the sphinxes to symbolize strength, intelligence, and the sun deity. The lion symbolizes power and guardian in pharaonic belief, which is why sphinxes are found in their tombs, amulets, furniture, and temple doors. The most famous Sphinx in Egypt is the Great Sphinx of Giza.
The Great Sphinx is the oldest and largest in the world, and there are many mysteries about the time of its construction and the lack of its nose. It is on the west bank of the river nile on the Giza Plateau, 20 km from the center of Cairo.

The Name of the Egyptian Sphinx
The ancient Egyptian name of the Sphinx is unknown, and the ancients from the New Kingdom gave it the name “Shesep-ankh,” which means the living image. The word Sphinx is from the Greek word “sphinx,” which means to squeeze, but the Greek sphinx in mythology is a beast that had the wings of an eagle, the head of a woman, and the body of a lion.
The Egyptian Sphinx is wingless and with the head of a human. Due to the Coptic influence, his name was “Bel-hit,” which translates in Egyptian to “hu or Ju,” which means guardian. His name in Egyptian Arabic is “Abu Alhol, ” meaning the father of terror.

When was the Sphinx of Giza built?
Archaeologists are not sure of the exact time the Sphinx was built, and it was said it was built by King Cheops or King Khafre in the 4th dynasty. It was also noted that it was made before the construction of the Agiza Pyramids because the erosion on the Sphinx was by water dating back to the Ice Age.
The Sphinx was buried in the sand for many years. Thutmose IV and Ramses IIThey tried to dig it up during the New Kingdom. Tuthmosis IV could only unearth the front legs, between which he placed a granite stela in 1400 BC. C. Ramses II ordered a second restoration between 1279 and 1213 a. C. Additional blocks fortified the Sphinx by the Greeks and Romans, especially the legs. The Italians in 1817 cleaned the sand from the Sphinx, and in 1925, the Sphinx completely removed the sand. In 2014 the Sphinx underwent a restoration process that lasted four months.

•    Sakkara the step pyramid 
The Pyramid of Djoser was built by order of king Djoser the III dynasty in the XXVII century BC from 2670 to 2650 BC. Its architect is Imhotep (the first architect in Ancient Egypt). The Pyramid of Djoser was known by the name “Dyeser Deyeseru.” It is considered a prototype of the Pyramids of Giza and the other pyramids in Egypt. Before Djoser, royal tombs were underground chambers covered by mastaba (rectangular mud-brick structure). Still, King Djoser’s tomb consisted of six huge mastabas, one on top of another made of stone.
Later all the pharaohs built their tombs in the form of pyramids, but they did not have time to finish them. Seneferu was the first pharaoh to finish his pyramids after Djoser, and his pyramids were already smoothing the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. In 1821 the blue earthenware chambers and plates were discovered, but more severe excavations began in the 1920s. In 1992 a major earthquake destroyed much of the Pyramid, including the burial shafts and the ceilings of the underground chambers. In 2006, the restoration of the Pyramid began, which lasted until 2020, with a pause from 2011 to 2013. After 14 years of restoration, it was reopened to the public in 2020.

The Interior of the Step Pyramid Djoser
Djoser Step Pyramid in Saqqara has a feature not found in other pyramids, a 28m deep vertical shaft with room for a large granite sarcophagus. This well is covered with a dome. At the end of this vertical shaft is the King’s Chamber which is 7m long and 7m wide at the heart of the Pyramid.
The chamber was built of red granite and enclosed by large granite blocks and is surrounded by a series of underground passageways covering 5.5 km. There are eleven 32 m deep shafts that lead to horizontal passages leading to eleven funerary chambers dedicated to members of the King’s family that initially housed the furniture and artifacts of the deceased, more than 48 thousand ceramic and stone vessels from the dynasties I and II, in addition to the mummies of his family but the King’s mummy was not found.

-Citadel of Salah el Din 
One of the most famous Islamic places in Cairo and Egypt is the Saladin Citadel & Mohammad Ali Mosque ( also known as The Citadel of Cairo). The Citadel is a leading tourist destination due to its historical importance and architectural beauty like the  giza pyramids 
The Cairo Citadel was considered a city in another, one of the most attractive medieval structures. It is known as the Citadel of Muhammad Ali because its mosque is the most prominent and luxurious building in the Citadel. Since the Citadel of Saladin was constructed in the 12th century, kings and rulers built structures such as museums, royal palaces, and impressive mosques.

The History of Saladin’s Citadel in Cairo
Saladin was the first ruler of the Ayyubid dynasty. He ruled Egypt from 1171 to 1193 and was in Cairo for almost eight years. To protect Old Cairo from the Crusaders, Saladin built a wall that surrounded the two capitals, Old Cairo (the Fatimid capital) and Fustat (the first Arab capital). Later Saladin ordered his Vizier, Bahaa El-Din Karakosh, to build a citadel on Mount Moqatam to be a refuge if the enemies conquered Cairo and to be his royal residence.
The Vizier Bahaa El-Din destroyed the buildings and tombs in this place and began the construction of the Citadel of Cairo. Saladin died in 1193 before finishing the structure of the Cairo Citadel. The Vizier of him completed the building in 1204 AD El-Malek El-Adel (Saladin’s nephew) was the first resident of the Citadel. When the French arrived in 1798, they destroyed many parts of the Citadel.
During the Mamluk era, the sultans built some palaces and mosques. In 1830 Muhammad Ali made a Mosque named after him (the most famous place in the Citadel). Saladin Citadel was the administrative center and royal residence for 700 years until the Khedive Ishmael built the Abdin Palace in the 1860s; the Citadel maintained its military importance until the 1970s. In 1882 it was the center of the British Army. Since 1983 it has been under the control of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority.
In 1830 Muhammad Ali built a Mosque in his name (the most famous place in the Citadel). Saladin Citadel was the administrative center and royal residence for 700 years until the Khedive Ishmael built the Abdin Palace in the 1860s; the Citadel maintained its military importance until the 1970s.

History of Mohammad Ali Mosque:
Dedicated for the first time in 1848, the Muhammad Ali Mosque was built using a particular Ottoman architectural style. Found atop the Salah el-Din Citadel’s tallest tower. The mosque’s interior is split in half, with the prayer area (called the “house of prayer”) placed in the eastern half and the “courtyard” in the western half. Since Turkish architect Yusuf Boshnak was responsible for designing this mosque, it follows the architectural style of traditional Turkish mosques. The limestone foundation and walls of this mosque are its most distinguishing features. The mosque has two minibars, and the dome is adorned with six medallions. Among the names inscribed on these medallions are Allah, Mohammed, and the four righteous Caliphs Abou Bakr, Omar, Othman, and Ali.

•    Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street
Walking down  Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street
 Cairo is like going back in time. This historic street is lined with beautiful buildings from different times in Egyptian history. Along the city’s cobblestone streets, you’ll see beautiful mosques, madrasas, and mansions with elaborate Islamic designs that show off the city’s rich history. There are also busy markets on the street where you can find unique gifts and learn about the lively culture of the area. In Cairo, Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street is a must-see for anyone interested in building or wanting to immerse themselves in culture.

Al Mo’ez Street now contains the most distinctive number of Islamic buildings and monuments normally visited in Egypt during any trip to Islamic Cairo raveling through the heart of Islamic Cairo throughout its space, from Bab al Futuh to Bab Zuweila, we understand how this road is considered one of the most critical places in Islamic Cairo.
The northern section of the street extends from the Hakim Mosque which is considered one of the largest mosques in Egypt and is located north of the Market on Al-Azhar Street, through the Al-Aqmar Mosque (one of the few Fatimid mosques in well-protected areas), as well as the Qalawun complex.
El Moez Street is one of the most historic streets you can patiently explore during the Islamic Cairo tour. If you plan to visit Egypt, when visiting Al Moez Street, you can discover the Islamic civilization.
The southern part extends from Al Ghuriyah to Bab Zuweila. A stroll down this street ends with a maze of shops in the traditional  bazzar of khan el khalili 
Al-Muizz Street makes it simple to feel both the history of Islamic Cairo and the trendy neighborhood that exists beyond this developing architecture during many Cairo Day Tours. The moving street from (Bab Al-Futuh to Azhar Street) is (next to Khan Al-Khalili) has been recently restored.

-Coptic Cairo 
The Cairo sightseeing tour wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Coptic Cairo This ancient neighborhood is a fascinating look into the Christian history of Egypt. Check out old buildings with beautiful Coptic art, like  the Hanging Church and the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus. Visit this area to learn about its rich history. The buildings and stories here bring the past to life. Coptic Cairo is a must-see for anyone who wants to learn more about Egypt’s rich cultural history.

The Church was built in the 1st century and finished its construction in the 3rd century at the gate of the southern wall of the Roman Babylonian fortress. From the 7th to the 12th century, the Church was the place of Christian festivals and the first patriarchal seat. During the 11th and 12th centuries, the patriarchs were buried in the Church.
It was the first seat of the Pope of Alexandria Cairo  in 1047 when the Islamics moved the Egyptian capital from Alexandria to Cairo. The Church was restored many times during the Islamic dynasties. The first renovation during the Islamic dynasty was during the dynasty of Harun Al-Rashid by order of the Pope of Alexandria. The second restoration was in the dynasty of El-Moez Li-Din Allah, who ordered the renovation of all the churches in Egypt.
The Church was converted to a mosque in the Al-Hakim dynasty and returned to the Christians as the Church after his death. The original artifacts were removed, and most of the screens were painted in the 18th century. The last restoration was in 1998 (renovation of lighting and wall paintings).

•    The Grand Egyptian Muesum (GEM)

A 500,000-square-meter plot of land near the Pyramids is being used to build the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum. It’s the biggest museum in the world that only shows artifacts from one culture. It will have more than 50,000 items under one roof for the first time. The complete Tutankhamun collection has about 5,300 pieces, and two Khufu sun boats are among these. 

•    The Egyptian Muesum 
The second crucial pharaonic destination in Cairo after the Giza pyramids is The Egyptian Museum. In also known as The Cairo Museum. It is the largest Museum dedicated to Egyptian antiquities. At the time of the construction of the Egyptian Museum, there were 12 thousand ancient Egyptian objects. Still, due to the recovery of Egyptian artifacts, they reach 120 thousand.
Now they get more than 150 thousand monuments, which is why the New Museum of Giza is being built (a great project expected in 2021) to exhibit all the monuments on display and deposits due to lack of space.

Downstairs
Papyrus sheets of various languages such as Greek, Latin, Arabic, and hieroglyphics (ancient Egyptian) are found from the last two millennia; some of these papyri are from the Book of the Dead. Gold, bronze, and silver coins are from various Greek, Roman, and Islamic periods. Many objects are from the new, middle, and old empires (found in the tombs of pharaohs)

The Second Floor
There is a room of Tutankhamun’s objects and his gold mask with more than 5 thousand artifacts found in his tomb. The Museum also contains a children’s Museum that was built in 2010 and a library that was created with the construction of the Museum.

•    Memphis 
Memphis Necropolis was the first of the world’s Imperial Cities and dates back to the Old Kingdom of the Pharaohs in 3100 BC by the then King Menes. It was the first Capital of Egypt and, at that time, a thriving place of commerce and a center for the Cult of the God Ptah. Today, it is still a popular tourist attraction in Egypt and a visitors center due to it pre-dating the Pyramids and being the first ever Pharaonic Capital and City.

Known as the first City of Pharaonic Egypt, this Old Kingdom of Pharaohs and nobility were buried in its cemetery at Saqqara. Memphis was symbolically built where the delta met the southern valley. Even after the 5th century BC, when Thebes had long taken over as the capital of Egypt, it was a splendid city, a thriving commercial center, and a significant cult center dedicated to the God Ptah. It’s hard to imagine such splendor today, as the mud brick palaces have dissolved and the stones of its temples, including the grand temple of Ptah, were plundered centuries ago for other buildings. The sleepy village of Mit Rahina has a few little statues, and its tiny museum has a fine limestone colossus of Ramses II as a young man and a beautiful alabaster sphinx in the garden.