Cairo Off The Beaten Path: A trip for artists by artists

Hosted by

Omar

12 Nov 23 → 18 Nov 23

Guided trip

7 days

6 stops

4 - 5 Mates

Egypt

What's special?

Unusual attractions

Underground Arts & Music scene

Meeting artists and creators

Cairo, the ancient city of a thousand minarets, is a place of magic and mystery. It is a city where the past meets the present, and where the old and the new coexist in harmony. While the city is known for its Pyramids and its Mosques, there is so much more to explore! On this trip, you will experience the best of Cairo, from its iconic landmarks to its hidden gems. Don't worry, we will do all the mandatory stops: you will explore the world-famous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, and you will wander through the ancient alleyways of Khan el-Khalili :) But you will also go beyond the beaten path, to discover the lesser-known treasures of Cairo. You will visit unusual and extraordinary museums. You will explore the underground nightlife scene, from amazing parties to rooftop bars. You will attend a magical Zar ceremony and maybe even a performance at the Cairo Opera House. You will hang out with artists and creators. And of course, you will enjoy the best cuisine that Cairo has to offer. You will sample the finest Egyptian dishes and you will have the opportunity to have a special gourmet dinner cooked just for us! The trip is also designed to be flexible enough to accommodate your own creative and artistic curiosities. For example, if you are interested in history, we could spend more time visiting ancient Egyptian sites. If you are interested in art, we could spend more time visiting galleries and museums. Let me know what you like to create and let's go hunt for inspiration together! IMPORTANT: If you need a visa, the Egypt visa fee is approximately 25 USD in cash, credit cards are not accepted.

About me: I'm a multidisciplinary visual artist and a Cairo local. While there are a lot of tours of the city that cater to the touristic aspects of the city, I am more interested in the vibrant arts scene and the underground music scenes that rarely get experienced. I'm a history nerd, so I'll guide you through the world-heritage sites, but I will also go for the more unusual and unknown hidden gems of the city. This trip is for artists, by artists!

Accommodation: We will be staying at a beautiful apartment in the center of Cairo. It is very convenient for all the sites we would see, and it will give us a local experience of the city. The rooms will be shared and the apartment will give us a nice, refreshing refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. The area is walkable, and close to many amenities. Do you have a question? Please ask in the Q&A!

What's included?

Accommodation

Transportation between stops

Entrance fees to attractions

Private dinner by a world-class chef

Guided tours at attractions

Your Booking includes free protection from Trip cancellations.
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Egypt - Downtown Cairo - Cairo Off The Beaten Path: A trip for artists by artists - 1

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Omar

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A visual artist with wanderlust

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Downtown Cairo

Day 1-3

We'll start our first day rather softly, welcoming you to Cairo and getting to know each other. We can explore Downtown Cairo, go to the city's historic bars and immerse ourselves in the context and rhythm of the city. On our next day, we'll visit the Egyptian Museum, home to the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, as well as the NMEC which holds the largest collection of royal mummies in the world. In the evening, we'll explore Cairo's nightlife.

Giza Necropolis

Day 3-4

Next, we'll explore the remaining wonders of the ancient world and visit the Giza Necropolis. We'll visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx and then head further south to the impressive Saqqara pyramid, the world's oldest pyramid. We'll be able to explore traditional carpet-making in the area, and wander through several ancient tombs. In the evening, we'll dress up and attend a concert at the Cairo Opera House.

Old Cairo

Day 4-5

Afterwards we'll journey forwards in time and visit Old Cairo, with its towering minarets. The old medieval city is filled with hidden gems that span over 700 years. We'll walk through the alleyways of the ancient quarter and we'll explore the Gayer Anderson Museum, one of the most elaborate museums housed in one of the remarkable examples of Mamluk domestic architecture in Cairo. In the afternoon, explore the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. In the evening, we'll attend a magical Zar ritual. Each ritual is led by a priestess and aims to appease evil spirits through incantation songs and dances.

City Of The Dead Cairo Egypt

Day 5-6

The City of the Dead is Cairo's cemetery dating back to the 7th century. The necropolis that makes up "the City of the Dead" has been developed over many centuries and contains both the graves of Cairo's common population and the elaborate mausoleums of many of its historical rulers and elites. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of "Historic Cairo". We'll also be able to check out St. Simon's Monastery, a massive cave church that is one of the largest Christian churches in the Middle East. It is located in the "Garbage City", notable for having nearly every space of it covered in Cairo's collected garbage, including the streets and rooftops of the settlement. Almost 90 percent of the garbage is recycled, which is four times the percentage most Western recycling companies produce. In the evening, we'll take a boat ride on the Nile, with a dinner and shows that include bellydancing, Tanoora and Egyptian folk music.

Prince Mohamed Ali Palace (Al Manial Palace)

Day 6-7

We'll travel once more in time and explore Egypt's royal history. We'll visit Prince Mohamed Ali's Palace, and see the different ornate styles found therein. We'll also visit the Nilometer, an ancient instrument used to measure the waters of the Nile so Egyptian farmers would know whether to expect famine or flood. We'll end our last night on a high note, we'll have a bespoke culinary experience with a gourmet chef cooking reimagined and deconstructed Egyptian dishes just for us!

Mahmoud Mokhtar Museum

Day 7

The last day will be softer and more relaxed as we prepare for your departures. We'll visit the Mahmoud Mokhtar Museum, dedicated to one of Egypt's greatest (and my personal favorite) sculptors. The Museum is located near a wonderful garden, near our accommodation, so we can have the time to stroll and wander around freely, and make most of the day. I'm also leaving this day relatively empty, so we can do whatever was on our wishlist that we somehow missed and want to revisit :)