The Holy Family Trip in Egypt — 11-Day Pilgrimage Journey
Follow the ancient route of the Holy Family through Egypt, from Cairo to Assiut, across four millennia of faith and history.
This Holy Family Trip in Egypt traces the sacred path walked by Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, and Joseph during their four-year refuge in Egypt, from the northern delta towns to the southern reaches of Assiut. Each site carries documented historical and theological significance recognized by both Eastern and Western Christian traditions. The journey covers a distance few pilgrims have traveled with such depth and context.
Historians and religious scholars broadly agree that the Holy Family entered Egypt through the Sinai, at Al-Farma near the Gaza border, and moved through a sequence of towns and sacred sites before settling for an extended period at Qosqam Mountain near Assiut. The route was deliberately unpredictable, keeping the family out of reach of Herod's soldiers. That same geography — stretching across delta, river valley, and mountain — forms the backbone of this itinerary.
Alongside the pilgrimage sites, the tour includes Egypt's most significant ancient monuments: the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, and the historic quarter of Old Cairo. The combination places Christian heritage within the full sweep of Egyptian civilization. Participants travel by private air-conditioned transport, with expert guiding throughout.
The route passes through Cairo, Alexandria, Wadi El-Natrun, the Nile Delta towns, El-Minya, and Assiut. Several of the stops — including St. Mary's Tree at Matarya, the cave church of St. Sergius, and the Monastery of El Muharraq — are considered among the most important Coptic Christian pilgrimage destinations in the world. The tour concludes where the Holy Family's Egyptian sojourn ended, before they returned to Jerusalem.
Tour Highlights
Visit the cave beneath St. Sergius Church in Old Cairo where the Holy Family is said to have sheltered during their time in the city.
See St. Mary's Tree and the Balsam spring at Matarya, where tradition holds that the Virgin washed garments and a fragrant plant grew from the water.
Explore the Monastery of El Muharraq at Qosqam, considered by Coptic tradition to be the first church in the world, where the Holy Family stayed for over six months.
Discover the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, placing the Christian pilgrimage within the broader context of Egyptian history.
Travel the Nile from Maadi by felucca, retracing the waterway route the Holy Family took south toward Upper Egypt.
Visit the ancient monasteries of Wadi El-Natrun, including Ava Bishoy and the Virgin Mary Monastery, on the road to Alexandria.
See the Church of St. Mary at Zeitoun, the site of the documented Marian apparitions that appeared beginning in April 1968.
Itinerary Overview
Arrive at Cairo International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Meet your guide for a full briefing on the itinerary and program ahead.
Visit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at the Giza Plateau, then continue to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid, the earliest completed pyramid structure in Egypt.
Visit Mostorod, Matarya (St. Mary's Tree and Balsam spring), the Church of St. Mary at Zeitoun, the cave church of St. Sergius in Old Cairo, and St. Mary's Monastery at Maadi. End the day with a felucca ride on the Nile from the point where the Holy Family departed for Upper Egypt.
Stop at the monasteries of Wadi El-Natrun, including Ava Bishoy and the Virgin Mary Monastery, before continuing to Alexandria. Visit St. Mark's Cathedral and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Visit the Virgin Mary Church at Sakha, the Martyr Abanob Church at Samannoud, and Tal Basta, where Jesus is said to have caused a spring to rise and the presence of the Holy Family caused the local idols to fall. Return to Cairo for overnight.
Explore the Hanging Church, St. Simon Monastery at Mokattam, and Gabal El-Tair before traveling south to Assiut. Visit the Monastery of El Muharraq at Qosqam and the Monastery of Dronka before returning to Cairo and departing.
What Is Included
Included
- Airport meet-and-assist on arrival and departure
- Private air-conditioned road transport throughout
- Accommodation for 10 nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis
- Professional licensed tour guide for all guided days
- All site entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Felucca ride on the Nile at Maadi
- All transfers between cities
Not Included
- International airfare to and from Cairo
- Lunches and dinners unless specified
- Personal travel insurance
- Visa fees for entry into Egypt
- Tips and gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses and optional activities
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Journey
Spaces on this guided pilgrimage are limited. Secure your booking in advance to confirm availability for your preferred travel dates.
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