Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria

Schedule: Daily Departures

Duration: Approximately 8 to 9 Hours

Pickup Time: 08:00 AM (Customizable upon request)

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

Tour Highlights

Journey 60 kilometers east of Alexandria along the Mediterranean coast to the historic port city of Rosetta (known locally as Rashid). Renowned globally as the discovery site of the Rosetta Stone—the trilingual key that unlocked Egyptian hieroglyphic script—this serene delta town features Egypt’s largest open-air collection of Islamic and Ottoman civil architecture outside Cairo.

• Fort of Qaitbay (Fort Julian): Tour the 15th-century Mamluk estuary fortress where French soldiers discovered the world-famous Rosetta Stone in 1799.
• Nile & Mediterranean Confluence Boat Cruise: Board a private motorboat along the Rosetta branch of the Nile River to navigate out toward the exact estuary where the freshwater Nile merges into the open Mediterranean Sea.
• Ottoman Mansions & Islamic Heritage: Walk through the cobbled alleys of historic Rashid to inspect distinct red-and-black pointed brick facades, wooden Mashrabiya screens, and merchant residences dating to the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Rosetta National Museum: Discover local delta history, antique weaponry, ceramics, and daily life exhibits inside the restored Arab Kili mansion.
• Private Executive Transfers: Travel comfortably with door-to-door transportation in a private, climate-controlled vehicle accompanied by an expert licensed guide.

Detailed Tour Itinerary

08:00 AM: Hotel or Cruise Port Pickup

• Your private Ramasside Tours tour leader and driver greet you directly in your Alexandria hotel lobby or at the Alexandria Port passenger terminal holding a personalized name sign.
• Settle into your modern, air-conditioned vehicle for a scenic 60-kilometer drive northeast across the lush agricultural landscape of the Nile Delta toward Rosetta.

The Fort of Qaitbay & The Rosetta Stone Site

• Fort Julian (Citadel of Qaitbay in Rashid): Begin at the fortified defensive stronghold erected along the western bank of the Nile estuary by Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay.
• Stand inside the defensive bastion where French officer Pierre-François Bouchard unearthed the basalt Rosetta Stone in July 1799 during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign.
• Learn how the trilingual inscriptions (Hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Ancient Greek) allowed Jean-François Champollion to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs in 1822.

Nile Delta Motorboat Cruise

• Board a private local motorboat along the Nile's western branch.
• Cruise downstream past traditional wooden fishing skiffs, verdant date-palm groves, and delta fishing docks.
• Navigate toward the dramatic meeting point where the currents of the Nile River flow into the Mediterranean Sea.

Ottoman Rashid Walk & Islamic Architecture

• Ottoman Brick Mansions: Walk through the historic quarters of Rashid to explore its unique architecture, characterized by patterned black-and-red fired brick masonry, carved marble columns, and intricate lattice woodwork (Mashrabiya).
• Visit preserved residential landmarks such as the House of Amasyali and the House of Hassiba Ghazal.
• Historic Mosques: Admire the multi-domed architecture and hanging columns of the Zaghloul Mosque, the oldest surviving religious monument in Rosetta.
• Rosetta National Museum (Arab Kili House): Step inside this grand four-story Ottoman governor's residence surrounded by gardens, displaying regional artifacts, traditional folk crafts, and historical documents.
• Enjoy free time to stroll the local markets, sample traditional delta sweets, or stop for fresh seafood before the return drive.

04:30 PM – 05:00 PM: Return to Alexandria

• Rejoin your private vehicle for a smooth return drive southwest back to Alexandria.
• Arrive comfortably at your hotel or cruise ship terminal in the late afternoon.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

• Private round-trip transfers from Alexandria in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional licensed English-speaking tour guide throughout the day
• All entrance tickets to scheduled monuments (Fort of Qaitbay, Ottoman historic houses, Rosetta Museum)
• Private motorboat ride on the Nile River
• Chilled bottled mineral water inside the vehicle
• All road tolls, parking fees, service charges, and local taxes

Exclusions

• Entry visa to Egypt
• Optional lunch at a local seaside seafood restaurant (available for $15 per person)
• Personal expenses, souvenirs, and optional snacks
• Professional vacation photographer add-on
• Gratuities / Tipping

Tour Add-ons & Travel Notes

Executive Luxury Van Upgrade

Upgrade your coastal road journey to an executive luxury van featuring extra legroom, plush reclining seats, dual-zone climate control, onboard Wi-Fi, and cold beverages.

Professional Vacation Photographer

Hire a dedicated vacation photographer to accompany your journey through Rosetta's historic brick alleys, fortress ramparts, and Nile riverbanks for $50 per day.

Shore Excursion Assurance

For cruise ship travelers docking at Alexandria Port, this tour includes guaranteed terminal gate pickup and prompt return scheduled well ahead of your vessel's departure time.

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 departure hours, and private VIP upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]