Why choose this Cairo tour ?

In the morning pick up from your hotel in Cairo and visit the Monastery of Saint Simon, also known as the Cave Church of Zabbaleen. It is located in the Mokattam Mountain, a short drive through the so called “Garbage City’ – a large population of garbage collectors or Zabbaleen that live there. Several churches have been built into the caves found in Mokattam, First we visit, Saint Simon the Tanner Hall and St. Mark’s Church.

This huge cave was discovered in the year 1974. It was full of hundreds of tons of stones even up to the ceiling of the cave (which is 17 meters high from the ground), and was later prepared to contain two storeys: 1. The upper storey is the St. Simon the Tanner Hall, with seating capacity of 2000 people for spiritual meetings. The walls are decorated with many wonderful pictures engraved on the rocks representing scenarios from the Bible
Then we continue and visit the Cathedral of Virgin Mary and St. Simon the Tanner. After the tour transfer back to your hotel.



Make the most of your Cairo adventure

What makes Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Cairo. a unique experience ?

The church is dedicated to Sergius and Bacchus, who were soldier-saints martyred during the 4th century in Syria by the Roman Emperor Maximina. The most interesting feature is the crypt where Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus are said to have rested. The crypt is 10 meters deep and, when Nile levels are high, is often flooded.

The Hanging Church is named for its location above a gatehouse of Babylon Fortress, the Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo); its nave is suspended over a passage.The church is approached by twenty-nine steps; early travelers to Cairo dubbed it “the Staircase Church”. The land surface has risen by some six meters since the Roman period, so the Roman tower is mostly buried below ground, reducing the visual impact of the church’s elevated position.

The Ben Ezra Synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת בן עזרא; Arabic: معبد بن عزرا), sometimes referred to as the El-Geniza Synagogue (בית כנסת אל גניזה) or the Synagogue of the Levantines (al-Shamiyin), Is situated in the Fustat part of Old Cairo, Egypt. According to local folklore, it is located on the site where baby Moses was found.

LARGE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES ARE NOT abundant in Muslim-dominated Egypt. One of the more populous groups is the garbage scavenging Zabbaleen, who have retained their Coptic beliefs and established the largest Christian church in the Middle East at the Monastery of Saint Simon.

Tour Description & Additional Info:

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness


Options To Choose for Your Trip:

  • Cave Church in Garbage City and Coptic Cairo.
    Add
    Pickup included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Qualified Egyptologist guide

Not Included

  • Gratuities
  • Lunch

Trending Cairo Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out

Special Instructions:

    Please be advised..

  • This Tour is Provided by Twitter Egypt Travel.
  • Tour Timezone & Starts at Africa/Cairo.
  • Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
  • This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 6 valid reviews on TRIPADVISOR.
  • Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
  • Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.