Alexandria Archaeological Day Tour

Schedule: Daily Departures

Duration: Approximately 7 to 8 Hours

Pickup Time: 09:00 AM (Customizable to your preference)

Pickup & Drop-off: Alexandria Hotels or Alexandria Port (Private Round-Trip Transfer)

Tour Highlights

Unearth the classical heritage of Egypt’s Mediterranean capital on a comprehensive private archaeological day tour of Alexandria. Led by an experienced English-speaking Egyptologist, this full-day expedition explores multi-tiered subterranean Roman catacombs, classical amphitheaters, monumental civic columns, modern cultural complexes, and royal Mediterranean palace gardens.

• Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa: Descend three subterranean levels carved into solid bedrock to witness the largest Roman necropolis in Egypt, renowned for its architectural fusion of pharaonic funerary motifs, Roman styling, and Hellenistic art.
• Roman Amphitheatre (Kom El Dikka): Tour the 4th-century marble-tiered theater and explore the open-air archaeological display exhibiting sunken architectural columns and sphinxes raised from Alexandria’s Eastern Harbor.
• Pompey’s Pillar: Stand before the colossal 27-meter red-Aswan-granite triumphal column erected at the end of the 4th century AD in honor of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.
• Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Tour the open plaza featuring statues of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I salvaged from the sea bed, alongside visits to the Sadat Museum and the Impressions of Alexandria Museum.
• Montaza Palace & Royal Gardens: Stroll through lush seaside grounds, admire the exterior of the Haramlek and Salamlek palaces, cross the historic Montaza Bridge to the Tea Island, and drive past the landmark Stanley Bridge.

Detailed Day Tour Itinerary

Morning: Bedrock Catacombs, Roman Theater & Pompey's Pillar

• Your private Ramasside Tours Egyptologist guide and driver meet you at your Alexandria hotel or the passenger terminal gate at Alexandria Port at 09:00 AM holding a personalized name sign.
• Travel in a private, climate-controlled executive vehicle to the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa.
• Kom El Shoqafa Necropolis: Descend the circular staircase into this multi-tiered funerary complex. Tour the main rotunda, the triclinium banquet chamber where funeral banquets were hosted, and the principal burial chamber featuring unique relief carvings depicting the jackal-headed god Anubis outfitted as a Roman soldier.
• Roman Amphitheatre (Kom El Dikka): Explore the classical 13-tiered marble auditorium, remnants of Roman bath complexes, and the open-air archaeological courtyard showcasing pharaonic monuments and Greco-Roman columns salvaged by marine archaeologists from the Mediterranean seabed.
• Pompey’s Pillar: Stop at the site of the ancient Serapeum of Alexandria to view the towering monolithic granite column and two protective red-granite sphinxes.

Midday: Intellectual Heritage & Coastal Panoramas

• Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Arrive at the seaside library complex housing millions of texts. Walk through the wide granite open plaza to inspect the salvaged statues of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I. Tour the Sadat Museum and the Impressions of Alexandria Museum.
• (Note: The library is closed on Fridays and public holidays; reading hall access requires a separate entry ticket).
• Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral: Visit the historical foundation site of Christianity in Africa, established in the 1st century AD by Saint Mark the Apostle.
• Historic Downtown & Old Quarters: Walk along the old commercial arteries displaying Italian, French, and baroque colonial facades.
• Lunch Break (Optional): Savor fresh Mediterranean seafood at an oceanfront restaurant or visit Alexandria’s culinary landmark Mohamed Ahmed, renowned for traditional Egyptian specialties and frequented by foreign royalty.
• Abu El Abbas Mosque & Eastern Harbor: Stop for photographs outside the Mosque of Abu El Abbas El Mursi. View traditional wooden fishing boats and nets in the harbor before admiring the exterior of the 15th-century Citadel of Qaitbay, erected on the exact site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse.

Afternoon: Montaza Royal Grounds & Scenic Return

• Drive east along the Corniche, stopping briefly at the King of Mango for a glass of fresh local fruit juice and a quick photo stop at the Unknown Soldier Memorial.
• Montaza Palace Gardens: Explore 150 acres of royal gardens, pine groves, and flowerbeds. Admire the eclectic Florentine and Turkish architecture of the Haramlek and Salamlek palaces, walk across the coastal bridge to the Tea Island, and look out over the royal beaches used by Egypt’s former royal family.
• Stanley Bridge Drive: Enjoy coastal vistas as you drive across the iconic Stanley Bridge on your comfortable return journey back to your Alexandria hotel or cruise ship.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

• Private round-trip transfers in a modern, climate-controlled vehicle
• Professional licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide throughout the tour
• Entrance tickets to all mentioned archaeological venues (Kom El Shoqafa Catacombs, Roman Amphitheatre, Pompey's Pillar, and Montaza Gardens)
• Chilled bottled mineral water inside the vehicle
• All service charges, road tolls, parking fees, and municipal taxes

Exclusions

• Entry visa to Egypt
• Optional lunch and beverages
• Reading hall entrance ticket inside the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
• Professional vacation photographer add-on
• Gratuities / Tipping

Tour Add-ons & Travel Notes

Executive Luxury Van Upgrade

Upgrade your city transit to an executive luxury van featuring extra legroom, plush reclining captain seats, dual-zone air conditioning, and onboard Wi-Fi.

Professional Vacation Photographer

Hire a professional photographer to accompany your archaeological tour across the Roman ruins, library plaza, and Montaza Palace grounds for $50 per day to capture high-resolution portraits.

Footwear Recommendation

Flat, closed-toe walking shoes are strongly recommended due to uneven stone steps and subterranean passages inside the catacombs.

Child Policy

• 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge
• 2 – 11.99 years: 50% of adult tour rate
• 12+ years: Full adult rate

For reservations, customized pickup times, and private VIP upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]