Alexandria — full-day excursion from Cairo
Private tourSmall groupsNo forced shopping stops
from €75 per person
Overview
Alexandria is a different Egypt: Mediterranean, Hellenistic, facing the sea rather than the Nile. This full-day excursion from Cairo takes you along the coastal road to the city founded by Alexander the Great, for an immersion in a history very different from Giza or Luxor.
We visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a contemporary reconstruction of the legendary ancient library, then the Citadel of Qaitbay, built on the exact site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria — one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, now vanished. The afternoon ends at the Kom el Shoqafa catacombs and Pompey's Pillar, two sites that reflect the Graeco-Roman-Egyptian blend unique to the city.
It's a long day, with several hours of driving each way from Cairo. We'll be upfront: it takes energy, but it offers a perspective on Egypt most visitors never see.
This price covers the guide and private transport
This price covers the guide's fee and private transport during the excursion (hotel pickup, travel between the sites, drop-off). It does not include entrance tickets or meals. You buy your own tickets at the official price: we take no cut on them, and we never take you into a shop.
Highlights
- The Bibliotheca Alexandrina and its contemporary architecture
- The Citadel of Qaitbay, on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
- The Graeco-Roman catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
- Pompey's Pillar and the remains of the Serapeum
- A Mediterranean city with an atmosphere radically different from Cairo
Schedule for the day
- 06:00
Hotel pickup
A very early start for the coastal drive to Alexandria.
- 08:30
Arrival in Alexandria
First impressions of the city and its Mediterranean seafront.
- 09:00
Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Visit of the contemporary library and its historical context.
- 10:30
Citadel of Qaitbay
Visit of the fortress built on the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
- 12:30
Lunch break
Break at your own expense by the sea.
- 14:00
Kom el Shoqafa and Pompey's Pillar
Visit of the catacombs and the Serapeum site, before heading back to Cairo.
What's included / What's not included
What's included
- Your licensed French-speaking Egyptologist guide’s fee
- Private transport throughout the excursion: hotel pickup, travel between the sites, drop-off
- The full day itinerary, including drive time
- Pickup at your hotel in Cairo
- Full attention throughout this long day
What's not included
- Entrance tickets to the Alexandria sites
- Lunch and drinks
- Tips, at your discretion
The stops on the map
Meeting point
Meeting point
Very early morning pickup from your hotel in Cairo, at the time agreed when booking.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour begins. No deposit is required at booking: you settle on site, on the day of the tour.
