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Photograph to come · The desert monasteries of Wadi Natrun

In the Footsteps of the Holy Family

Coptic Egypt, from the Delta shrines to Assyut

Fifteen days tracing the traditional route of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, from the shrines of the Delta and the desert monasteries of Wadi Natrun south to Assyut, with four nights on the Nile from Luxor to Aswan.

Departures

Current Tours to Egypt

Upcoming departures to Egypt. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
    The Route

    Ten stops from the Delta to Aswan

    Cairo, Tel Basta, Sakha, Wadi Natrun, Minya, Assyut, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, by motorcoach through the Delta and Middle Egypt and four nights aboard a Nile cruise ship.

    Itinerary · AS_EG-CRUISE-15D-01

    The Holy Family Itinerary

    Six nights in Cairo with days out through the Delta and into Wadi Natrun, then south by road to Minya and Assyut, four nights sailing from Luxor to Aswan, and a final night in Cairo. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

    Day 1 – 3

    Cairo and the Pyramids

    Photograph to come · The Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx
    The Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx
    Day 1

    Departure from the USA

    Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Cairo, the first of fifteen days tracing the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. Dinner and breakfast are served in flight.
    Day 2

    Arrival in Cairo

    Our local tour escort meets us on arrival and accompanies us by motorcoach to our hotel. We gather in the evening for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Cairo.
    Day 3

    Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza

    We celebrate Mass at Our Lady of Heliopolis Co-Cathedral, seat of Cairo’s Latin Catholic community, then continue to the Great Pyramids of Giza and the colossal Pyramid of Cheops, and to the Great Sphinx, its lion’s body and human face carved from a single outcrop of limestone. We end at the Grand Egyptian Museum and the treasures of Tutankhamun.Overnight in Cairo.
    Day 4 – 9

    In the Footsteps of the Holy Family

    Photograph to come · The Virgin Mary Church at Sakha
    The Virgin Mary Church at Sakha
    Day 4

    Tel Basta and Belbis

    We set out to trace the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, the journey undertaken when an angel warned St. Joseph to flee Herod’s wrath. At Tel Basta we visit the Holy Well, where Coptic tradition holds the Child Jesus caused a spring to gush forth for His family to drink, and at Belbis the tree still venerated as the Virgin Mary’s Tree, with St. George Church.Overnight in Cairo.
    Day 5

    Sakha and Samanoud

    At Sakha we visit the Virgin Mary Church, raised on the site where tradition holds the Holy Family stayed, which preserves a stone venerated as bearing the footprint of the Child Jesus. We cross the Nile to Samanoud for St. Abanoub Church, praying at the well from which Jesus, Mary and Joseph are said to have drunk.Overnight in Cairo.
    Day 6

    Wadi Natrun and the Desert Fathers

    We journey into the Wadi Natrun valley, one of the cradles of Christian monasticism, where the Desert Fathers withdrew into solitude and early Christians took refuge from Roman persecution. We visit four monasteries, each still home to a living community of monks: Deir al-Baramous, Deir Anba Bishoy, where the body of the saint is venerated as incorrupt, the Monastery of St. Macarius and Deir al-Suryani.Overnight in Cairo.
    Day 7

    Coptic Cairo

    A day in Old Cairo. We visit the Hanging Church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and raised above the gatehouse of the Roman fortress of Babylon, and the Church of St. Sergius, beneath which lies the crypt where tradition holds the Holy Family sheltered. We end at the Church of the Holy Virgin at Maadi, where the Family is said to have boarded a boat to continue south.Overnight in Cairo.
    Day 8

    Minya and Gabal al-Teir

    We depart south for Minya, following the course the Holy Family is traditionally held to have taken by boat along the Nile. We visit the Church of the Virgin Mary at Gabal al-Teir, set upon a cliff overlooking the river and among the most significant stops on the Family’s journey in Coptic tradition.Overnight in Minya.
    Day 9

    Assyut and Luxor

    We continue south to Assyut and the Monastery of the Holy Virgin, Deir al-Muharraq, where tradition holds the Holy Family remained for more than six months, the southernmost point of their journey. Its ancient altar is venerated as marking the place where the Infant Jesus rested and is held to be among the oldest in Christendom.Overnight in Luxor.
    Day 10 – 13

    The Nile Cruise

    Photograph to come · A Nile cruise ship at Luxor
    A Nile cruise ship at Luxor
    Day 10

    Luxor and the Nile Cruise

    We visit the Temple of Karnak on the East Bank of the Nile, the largest religious complex ever built in the ancient world, from the period in which the biblical account places the bondage and Exodus of the Israelites. We board our cruise ship for lunch, then visit the Temple of Luxor.Overnight onboard.
    Day 11

    The Valley of the Kings

    Mass on board, then the Valley of the Kings, burial place of many of Egypt’s pharaohs, and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh sometimes associated with the princess who drew the infant Moses from the Nile. We sail south toward Edfu through the Esna lock.Overnight onboard.
    Day 12

    Edfu and Kom Ombo

    We visit the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon god Horus and among the best preserved in Egypt, then sail on to Kom Ombo and its unique double temple, shared between the crocodile headed Sobek and Horus, before continuing toward Aswan.Overnight onboard.
    Day 13

    Aswan

    Mass on board, then the Aswan High Dam and the Temple of Philae, moved block by block to Agilkia Island to save it from the rising water. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Abu Simbel and the colossal temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari, or a felucca sail on the Nile past the Aga Khan Mausoleum.Overnight onboard.
    Day 14 – 15

    Cairo and Home

    Photograph to come · Khan El Khalili in old Cairo
    Khan El Khalili in old Cairo
    Day 14

    Aswan and Cairo

    We disembark and fly back to Cairo. In the evening we walk Al-Muizz Street, one of the oldest streets in the city and lined with monuments of the Fatimid period, and the bazaars of Khan El Khalili, before gathering for our farewell dinner.Overnight in Cairo.
    Day 15

    Return Home

    We transfer to Cairo Airport for our return flight home, carrying with us the graces of a pilgrimage made in the footsteps of the Holy Family through the land that gave them shelter.

    Why leaders choose Canterbury

    “Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

    Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
    Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
    Photograph to come · Wadi Natrun, the desert monasteries
    Wadi NatrunThe monasteries of the Desert Fathers, still home to living communities of monks.
    Dates

    Your group travels on its own dates.

    Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

    Your pilgrimage includes

    Tour Package Includes

    These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

    • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
    • Round-trip group airfare
    • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
    • 4-Star hotel accommodations
    • Private motorcoach transportation
    • Breakfast & dinner served daily
    • Wine served with some dinners
    • Dedicated tour manager
    • Licensed guiding & admission fees
    • Porterage service at hotels
    • Whisper headsets when touring
    • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
    • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
    • 24/7 travel emergency support
    • Canterbury Mobile App
    For the group leader

    What you get as the group leader

    You travel free.

    Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

    No financial risk.

    If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

    We produce the promotional materials.

    Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

    We handle your pilgrims.

    Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

    In your pocket

    The Canterbury Mobile App

    Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

    • Group chat

      Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

    • Their itinerary

      The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

    • Hotels

      Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

    • Flights

      Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

    • Daily prayers

      The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

    • Shrine passport

      A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

    • Live updates

      Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

    Photographs
    Photograph to come · The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo
    The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo
    Photograph to come · The monastery of Deir Anba Bishoy at Wadi Natrun
    The monastery of Deir Anba Bishoy at Wadi Natrun
    Photograph to come · The Church of the Virgin Mary at Gabal al-Teir
    The Church of the Virgin Mary at Gabal al-Teir
    Photograph to come · Deir al-Muharraq at Assyut
    Deir al-Muharraq at Assyut
    Photograph to come · The Temple of Karnak at Luxor
    The Temple of Karnak at Luxor
    Photograph to come · The Temple of Philae at Aswan
    The Temple of Philae at Aswan

    What group leaders say

    “They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

    Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
    Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
    Before you ask

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When is the best time to travel to Egypt?

    October through April is the season for Egypt. Days are warm rather than punishing, and the Nile is at its most comfortable. Middle and Upper Egypt, from Minya and Assyut down to Luxor and Aswan, regularly pass 40 degrees between June and September, which is hard going on a route that spends its days among open temples and desert monasteries.

    How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

    Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

    What is generally not included?

    Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

    Do I need a passport or visa for Egypt?

    A US passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival is required. Egypt also requires a visa, either on arrival, currently 30 US dollars in cash, or an e-Visa arranged in advance. Pilgrims are responsible for their own entry documentation, and we confirm the current requirement with your group before departure.

    Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

    Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

    How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

    Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

    Enquire

    Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Egypt?

    A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

      Your Information

      Your Group

      First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

      Where You Would Like to Go

      Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

      These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

      Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

      When

      Group Size and Budget

      Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

      A Few Last Details

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