Magnificent Mosques of Egypt

• The Mosque of Ibn Tulun is one of the oldest mosques in Egypt and Africa being completed in 879. It is 1, 145 years old.  It has the only mosque to have survived in its full original form.
• It was the largest mosque in Cairo in  until the building of the Grand Mosque in 2024.
• It is built around an open square courtyard with one covered hall on each of the four sides, the largest facing Mecca
• Ibn Tulun Mosque features ancient architecture styles of Egypt, its decorations being created from carved stucco and wood.
• The Abbasids were an Arab dynasty that ruled between 750 and 1258. Tt was Ahmad ibn Tulun, the governor of Egypt that commissioned  the mosque.
• The Abbasids favoured mud brick and baked brick for construction. It has a uniform colour. It is built entirely of well-fired red brick faced in carved stucco; it has ziyadas and a roof supported by arcades on piers.
• The mosque was constructed on a small hill called “The Hill of Thanksgiving.”   One legend says that it is here that Noah’s Ark came to rest
• The mosque can accommodate 5000 worshippers
• Parts of the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me were filmed at the mosque. It is also featured in a level of Tomb Raider.

The Revolving Restaurant – Grand Nile Tower

• We enjoy taking our guess out for lunch because it’s another way to experience Egyptian culture.  The restaurant that is part of this experience is the revolving restaurant atop the Hilton Hotel.  This is one of the top restaurants in Cairo and a chance to not only take in the stunning view of Cairo, but as a great interlude to captivating day

The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is a historic mosque in Cairo, Egypt. It was commissioned by Muhammad Ali Pasha and completed in 1857.  It is situated in the Cairo Citadel and is one of the most visible mosques and landmarks in Cairo.   And the distinguishing feature of this mosque is that it combined various functions not only as a place of worship, but offices, tombs and other functions.

• The mosque was built in an entirely Ottoman and European-influenced style, further setting it apart from other monuments. It is sometimes called the Alabaster Mosque due to the alabaster covering for its walls. The main material is limestone likely sourced from the Great Pyramids of Giza
• The mosque represents Muhammad Ali’s efforts to erase symbols of the previous rulers that he sought to replace and as a tribute to his son who died in 1816.

Architectural Grandeur

The mosque is, to this day, a place of worship for over 10,000 people. It’s also an architectural masterpiece. It is a place of prayer and reflection and a peaceful refuge away from the frenetic pace of modern-day Cairo. With amazing ceilings and stained glass, the mosque has looked over the ever-changing skyline of Cairo for over 150 years.

Amazing Interiors

• The mosque was built with a central dome surrounded by four small and four semi-circular domes. The use of this style were a defiant declaration of Egyptian independence.

Muhammad Ali’s Tomb

• Muhammad Ali, whom many consider the father of modern Egypt  is buried in a tomb in the courtyard of the mosque. This is a fitting tribute to a man who contributed significantly to the country.

Overnight – the second of 3 nights at the Cairo Marriott (Nile River) 5 Star Hotel. B L included 

Dinner at own expense

Al-Rifa’i Mosque is located in Citadel Square, adjacent to the Cairo Citadel. Its name is derived from Ali Abu Shubbak who is buried in the mosque.  Ali Abu Shubback is an important saint in the Rifa’i and hence the mosque is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims.   As well as this mosque is also the royal mausoleum of Muhammad Ali’s family.  The Muhammad Ali dynasty ruled Egypt for over 100 years up to the revolution in 1952 which eventually brought Abdul Nasser to power.  The mosque was built from 1869 – 1912.

• The mosque was designed in a Neo-Mamluk style, which was fashionable in Cairo at the time
• Neo-Mamluk architecture is an architectural style that was popular mainly in Egypt in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It combined the principles of modern European architecture with elements of Mamluk architecture in Egypt.
• The interior area of the mosque is 6,500 square metres, the part designated for prayer is 1,767 square metres and can accommodate 10,000 worshippers
• The rest of the space is allocated for the royal mausoleum

The Royal Mausoleum

• The mosque is the resting place of Ali Abu Shubbak who holds a place of great esteem within Islam.
• Sultan and King Fuad, I (the father of Kind Farouk) and his family predecessors were a part of the ruling class of Egypt ie the Muhammad Ali dynasty. They were given this position by the British.
• The last King of Egypt, King Farouk’s tomb, together with other members of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, are in the mosque.
• King Farouk’s first wife, who was the sister of the Shah of Iran, is also buried in the mosque
• The mosque served briefly as the resting place of Reza Shah of Iran, who died in exile in the Union of South Africa in 1944, and was returned to Iran after World War II
• Part of the burial chamber is also occupied by Reza Shah’s son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who died in Cairo in July 1980. He was buried in Cairo following the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

Lunch:  Lunch is taken at a local restaurant on route to the Grand Mosque

• Every corner of the mosque is enough, both in size and detail, to be considered a mosque on its own. Each offers a unique view of the 32 metre wide dome, which had been assembled on the ground and then lifted up.
• Drawings by Egyptian artists  were painted on special fabrics which were then installed in place.
• The main chandelier (50 tonnes and the heaviest in the world) hangs mid-air under the dome, with lanterns offering a nostalgic aura within its Islamic star design.
• Ceilings of natural interlocking wood, inspired by various Islamic eras, each of which are depicted with all their intricacies. “
• Positioned on an elevated platform 24 metres high, Masjid Misr will offer a unique view of the new capital and its governmental district.
• Photography Credit: Essam Arafa

Overnight – the third of 3 nights at the Cairo Marriott (Nile River) 5 Star Hotel. B L included – Dinner at Own Expense

Breakfast in the hotel then Checkout

Checkout times can be discussed with the hotel but are typically between 11 am and noon. Depending on your departure time and your journey , it may be that you would like to relax or have a shopping experience.

Optional:  Perhaps a shopping experience at the Khan El Khalili Bazaar .

Transfers and Flights: We will transfer you to either the airport or within Cairo to your next experience.

End of Tour