Your private historian guide will collect you from your Cairo hotel at 9am in a private, air-conditioned minivan complete with Wi-Fi for this 8-hour walking tour of Islamic Cairo. Alight at the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, the oldest intact, functioning mosque in Egypt – please note women will need to cover shoulders, legs, and hair, while men should cover shoulders and thighs – before continuing on foot.
From Bab Zuweila, one of the Old City's three surviving medieval gates, stroll down the ancient street of Sharia al-Muizz li-Din Allah to an ancient tent shop, where workers have hand-crafted ceremonial tents for weddings and other celebrations since the Fatimid era.
Next, delve deep into the religious heart of the city. Explore the red-and-white striped Mosque of al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh and the moving Sabil of Muhammed Ali Pasha, built as a tribute to his son who died of plague. Admire the serene Al-Azhar Mosque, founded in 970 AD as a centerpiece of the new city, and still a focal point for Egyptian Islam even today.
After a traditional Egyptian lunch, explore the celebrated Khan el-Khalili bazaar, an ancient market now full of brassware, leather goods, perfumes, costumes, and souvenirs. Discover the hospital, madrasa, and mausoleum founded by the Mamluk Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun in the 13th century, and the madrasa and Sufi theology school built by Sultan Barquq.
Wander through the Egyptian Textile Museum, home to fabrics from ancient Egypt all the way through to the Islamic era, and discover the Mosque of al-Aqmar, built in 1125 AD. Explore a restored Ottoman-era mansion, the Beit el-Suhaymi, to get a sense of life in later Cairo.
Finally, see the Mosque of al-Hakim, and Old Cairo’s other two surviving gates, before ending your tour at the northern wall. Your minivan will transfer you to your hotel at 5pm.