Medieval Cairo tour Ibn Tulun Mosque, Gayer-Anderson Khan El Khalili
Description
Cairo day tour to visit the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, and explore the fascinating Gayer-Anderson Museum, housed in two fine 17th century villas. Afterwards enjoy strolling around the fascinating Khan El Khalili Bazzar with its glittering merchandise.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will be picked up from your hotel in Cairo. Accompanied by a guide and by air-conditioned vehicle, you will be taken to Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque: It is the third mosque built in Islamic Egypt. It was completed in 878 AD by Al-Amir Ahmed Ibn Tulun, founder of the Tulunid Dynasty. The mosque is known for its varied gypsum ornamentation and engravings. It has a unique minaret with a staircase from the outside.
The next stop will be Gayer-Anderson Museum: The museum was founded in 1937 in two ancient residences, the Beit el-Kiridiliya from 1632 and the Beit Amna Bent Salim from 1540. In the museum, you will come across the private collection of Major Gayer-Anderson besides furniture, glassware, crystal, carpets, silks, and embroidered Arab costumes. Several rooms on the third floor have been reconstructed to house the collections.
Lastly, proceed to the Khan El Kahili Bazaar. It is one of the earliest and greatest markets in the Middle East. Built in the 14th century, it has many stores exhibiting a wonderful collection of jewelry, wooden artifacts embossed with pearls, leatherware, embroidered dresses, and a range of impressive souvenirs. After that, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cairo.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up from Centrally located Cairo and Giza hotels
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- In most temples and museums in Egypt, an additional fee for photo and video cameras is requested
Reviews(5)
An excellent experience that was well-paced. Timing was ideal allowing us to experience the mosque and museum before large tour groups arrived. Our guide was very knowledgable and gave clarity to historical interpretations from a variety of perspectives.
A great pace with plenty of useful information and stories making it an enjoyable experience. The timing was great so we could experience the spaces before large tour groups arrived.
Excellent tour to several of the lesser-known sites. The mosque is stunning in its simplicity and has aged well (built in 878). The Gayer-Anderson Museum next door has an amazing collection of art in a 500-year old house. The visit to the old quarter of Cairo features a real, less-touristy feel of the city. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The car was excellent and the driver was amazing in the crazy traffic. A great time (even for our teens).
This was an amazing tour. The museum is located in a 500-year old house, in an old neighborhood. The art collections show a wide variety of interests and are beautiful specimens. The Ibn Tulun Mosque is located directly adjacent and is stunning in its simplicity. You can feel the history and majesty of this place. The market tour is less about the market than the variety of mosques, hospitals, and other sites. Our tour overlapped lunch and we stopped for a delicious shawarma and falafel, along with a tasty, tasty crepe. Our guide, Galal, was extremely knowledgeable and fun, making the load of information easy to understand. I came prepared with headscarves for myself and my daughter, but it would be good for the company to remind women to carry them for entrance into the mosques.
We had an excellent guide in Tito. He took us to the Ibn Tulun Mosque and explained the layout and its history. Very interesting and then on to the Gayer-Anderson Museum. Since we believe to be related to the Major, we were really interested in the pictures on display. The whole museum had each room displayed with antiquities. Really a must in Cairo. We actually skipped the souk and went to the Cairo Papyrus Museum. Excellent with a personal presentation on how to make paper. Then on to a perfume factory for more education. A great half day tour with a fantastic guide.
