Cairo Tours
Monastery St Simon with Cave Church and Garbage City Private Tour
5
SPECIAL OFFER

Monastery St Simon with Cave Church and Garbage City Private Tour

By Excursion Cairo Day Tour
Recommended by 91% of travellers
91% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Visit El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church, or the Monastery of St Simon, on a private tour that also explores the magnificent churches of Coptic Cairo. You’ll see some of Cairo’s most important Christian sites, Private tour ensures personalized service Included and entrance fees mean no extra tour costs Enjoy the comfort and security of traveling by private vehicle Convenient pickup and drop-off at Cairo hotels check option rates
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-90
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Private tour
  • Transport by private vehicle
  • Entry/Admission - Cave Church
What's not included
  • Gratuities


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • cairo and giza hotels
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 61931P40

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travellers can participate
        • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 61931P40

        From
        £14.97
        £11.97
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travellers
        Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

        Similar experiences

        Itinerary
        • 1
          our guide will pick you up from your hotel in cairo or giza at any time you request us start from 10  am , max you request till 1 pm by private air conditional car transfer to st simon monastery   have a visit to the Monastery of Saint Simon . Simon the Tanner was a craftsman saint who lived during the 10th century and the cave church that was dedicated to him seems as though it might last for 10 more. Using a pre-existing cave and the slope that led into it, the current monastery seats 20,000 people around a central pulpit. Other nearby caves have also been built into separate church spaces and all of them have been linked to create a massive Christian complex in the heart of garbage city. then transfer  back to hotel
        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • yongz476
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fun day
          Emaan was our guide for the market tour, she was very friendly and gave us oranges ! Had a great first day in Cairo :) Driver was definitely familiar with local traffics, we were a bit anxious on the road but we arrived safely.
          Written 2 November 2024
        • kunitakam2023
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Driver for shopping
          We asked the driver for shopping and also pick up from the airport. The driver, name is Esllam, is good hospitality and good support for our shopping. We could good shopping finally, thanks!
          Written 1 November 2024
        • Lea E
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Yay for Camels!
          Overall we had a lot of fun. Our driver was very nice and arranged an add on tour for us before our camel ride. It was an unexpected surprise. We saw the papyrus museum, a perfume shop, spice shop, and Egyptian cotton place. Each place the people were friendly and welcoming and we enjoyed learning about the process behind the different items. On to the camels! We were so excited for this part of our trip. We got to ride for about 90 mins. We went into the desert a bit and around the pyramids. Our camel guide was friendly and our camels were great. They were much larger than we expected! It was a perfect end to the day - we got some great sunset photos and wished we could have ridden even more!
          Written 28 October 2024
        • mamorimdiver
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Giza with Camel ride in the Sahara Desert
          We had an excellent driver. Our guide was funny, Amazing and very knowledgeable. She was a great photographer and helped us make wonderful photo memories. The pyramid and the sphinx came alive as Doaa explained their history. The Camel ride was sooooo much fun!!! And with so many beautiful backgrounds for pictures. Definitely recommend this tour and company.
          Written 27 October 2024
        • Elena M
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Nice relaxing day accompanied by lovely driver
          Nice relaxing day at the beach. Raafat driver was very sweet and patient, and spoke decent English. He was on time and helped me check into the hotel, get towels, and took pictures. Hotel and food were okay, extra drinks fairly priced, pools great though I chose to swim in the sea a few times which was great as water was clear and warm. It was a bit colder and windier that I expected but I managed to get a tan. Opted not to take the boat which felt like a tourist trap and would have taken at least 2 hours, and I barely felt I had enough time at the beach, which I only reached close to 11am even with a 7am start in Cairo (weekday).
          Written 27 October 2024
        • christophergV1598ET
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          No hidden fees! Completely honest
          I totally suggest going with Shady as your driver! He's super honest and upfront about pricing, no hidden fees at all. His honesty and professionalism are truly commendable.
          Written 25 October 2024
        • Navigator58668228907
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Cairo food tour
          We had a good time with our guide besho and driver Islam . They picked us from our hotel to try local Egyptian food and tra with mint . End with smoking shesha in Cairo street . Guide was wonderful and explained all the habits of Egyptian people . Really recommend this tour if you search for hidden gem
          Written 25 October 2024
        • ghadaha564
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Cairo Khan al khalili Tour with Kareem
          It was an amazing day with my tour guide Kareem. The history and knowledge was so interesting and conveyed to me in a simple, fun manner. The perfumery, papyrus shop and spices experiences were phenomenal, and the walk through khan a khalili was authentic and took me back in time. Kareem was very professional, passionate, knowledgeable, friendly and extremely helpful. My contact, Mr. Hesham was always updating me via messages, and also supportive offering exceptional customer service. Highly recommended!
          Written 17 October 2024
        • dwaynew948
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Bazaar Guide Tour
          Kareem was a fantastic tour guide. Kareem took us to the Bazaar and historical Mosques. Kareem did a great job explaining the Egyptian history.. The driver did an amazing job driving us throughout the city.
          Written 12 October 2024
        • KBSTravels
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Tour Khan el-Khalilli market and beyond
          An amazing day with Karim our guide who was knowledge, charming and had a great sense of humour. Markets were great especially enjoyed the Papyrus museum and were blown away by the Khan el-Khallili market. Would highly recommend this tour!
          Written 5 October 2024
        • Vacay1783
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Honeymooners
          Emaan was our tour guide for our adventure to the El-Khalili Market, Mosque and Koshery Lunch. We also learned about authentic spices and found nice souvenirs to bring home. Emaan is sweet and very educated about Egyptian Culture and the Islamic religion and way of life.
          Written 3 October 2024
        • 56johnnyn
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Shopping/Mosque
          Emaan was a wonderful tour guide. She took us shopping for incents and spices. She is a very nice and caring person. She took us to a fantastic mosque where we prayed and took in great history.
          Written 3 October 2024
        • donnamA4885MW
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Shopping and Sailing
          Bishoy was right on time to pick me up at the hotel and took me around to some local shops that sold Egyptian goods. He was knowledgeable and easy to ask questions. Lunch was included. To finish the day, we took a sailboat ride on the Nile. A perfect end to a perfect day.
          Written 1 October 2024
        • Lamiae123
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing old cairo tour
          Karim is such an amazing tour guide , he does his job with a lot of passion , and very knowledgeable, i had an amazing tour with him
          Written 1 October 2024
        • I8962ZTscotte
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Enjoyable tour with an excellent guide
          Enjoyable afternoon touring the market. Besho was helpful showing us around and assisting with purchases at the many different shops.
          Written 29 September 2024
        See all 729 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

        Popular mentions

        We perform checks on reviews.
        Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
        Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
        When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
        Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
        Learn more about our review moderation.
        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles12 reviews
        Excellent
        11
        Very good
        0
        Average
        1
        Poor
        0
        Terrible
        0

        These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
        This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

        Jocelyn K
        Gilroy, CA33 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        Our driver, Moaz, was great, navigating the traffic in Cairo and Giza is no easy feat. He maintained contact with us from the time we booked the trip. He was very pleasant and answered our questions as we drove. So his part was great. We weren't happy with the "expert" at the site. He spoke too quickly and didn't take us around, just sat in the car. We didn't know there would be additional stops for aromatherapy and papyrus. Had we known, it wouldn't have been such a big deal.
        Written 10 March 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        thank you for review ,but your partner asked him to show in old cairo good price for some Egyptian souvenir,you, you went only to one place and second place you said no , he said with pleasure and you went to hotel,you got your time in thyou, cave church and garbage city,thank you , be fair, enjoy your vacation
        Written 11 March 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Joy K
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mar 2023 • Friends
        Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Coptic Christians in Egypt. We especially enjoyed our time under the mountains visiting the monastery. Our guide also helped us get lunch at a famous koshary restaurant afterwards as well! Overall great experience! Be sure to let the guide know if you have time constraints.
        Written 14 March 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. make sure the tour is including shopping. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 14 March 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        JoAnna F
        Boone, NC57 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2023 • Couples
        We had a wonderful trip with Tamer. He was an informative guide about places we passed on the way to the Cave Church. The ride through Garbage City was interesting, topped by the beautiful summer and winter Cave churches. We would be happy to take a tour with him another time.
        Written 1 May 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. make sure the tour is including shopping. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 3 May 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Yordee V
        3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2024 • Solo
        I tried to get here with uber but the drivers refused to get in that area so I decided to book this tour with a driver only and no guide. I booked it at midnight for 11am and everything was organised on the spot. Ahmed was my driver and he was awesome! Spoke great English and we talked about many things. Crossing the Zabbaleen was a task for experienced drivers like Ahmed.
        Once at the church we walked around and saw the buildings and took some pictures. It was really worth it!
        Written 19 February 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 16 March 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Peter P
        Summerside, Canada44 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Apr 2024 • Solo
        Saint Simon’s cave church is spectacular. I was lucky to arrive at the end of a service and could hear prayers being chanted, which was amazing. The reliefs carved into the stone are beautiful. Had aenjoyed tea under stone gazebos.

        I hope no one is put off by the term “garbage city”. To get to the cave church you must pass through a poor neighborhood in Cairo. It was charming. Interesting to see how life works in this neighborhood. The garbage is neatly contained in large sacks and hoisted to the rooftops for recycling. Yes there is a smell of garbage. I found it quite mild. I hope no one misses the opportunity to see the cave church just because you must pass through a poor neighborhood.

        Overall a great tour. My guide Kereem was fabulous. Very knowledgeable. Very friendly. Eager to help me understand the history of the church and life in Egypt in general.
        Written 27 April 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 28 April 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Fenella A
        2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2024 • Couples
        This was a last minute booking before we left the U.K. as this tour interest us very well.Initially I only booked for a driver only and I am glad that Hesham advised me to get a tour guide for the last minute.We are very happy to meet Karim who is very articulate thorough and best guide ever.We learned a lot about Egypt.He answered all my curiousity and give me more reason to come back and explore Egypt.With regards to our driver Walid I am very pleased that he made this trip possible he was calmed and driven us safely to every destination we stopped until we reach our hotel.They are both highly recommended and especially this tour….It is worth your money.Sukran and thank you very much for this wonderful experience.
        Written 24 February 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 16 March 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Josh and Jodi
        Bend, OR1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        We had such an amazing experience on this tour. Our guide Tamer was so wonderful, and everything about this tour exceeded our expectations. Thank you so much for sharing your country with us!
        Written 14 March 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. make sure the tour is including shopping. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 14 March 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Bre Fern
        7 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2023 • Solo
        If you’re searching for a budget-friendly, culturally-rich walking tour, look no further. My tour guide Alaa was an absolute delight, her extensive knowledge of each landmark and her kind-hearted personality made the experience extra enjoyable. Considering I was traveling alone, it was refreshing to feel I had a tour guide that doubled as a newfound friend, photographer, and historian. The tour commenced at 10am, and Alaa and the assigned driver (aka The Egyptian Vin Diesel from Fast and the Furious) were extremely punctual. I even asked them to make a quick stop for a brief breakfast and they knew just the place to snag mouth-watering falafel sandwiches and Egyptian tea (highly recommend). Not to mention, the drive itself getting from place to place felt like a mobile tour, Alaa was quick to point out any sightings along the way that carried historical significance in Egypt, like the Citadel, special mosques, and much more. We first stopped at the Cave Church of St. Simon, an experience that leaves you WOWing at every turn. Here, the church personnel, Magdy, takes you on an intimate tour, explaining the origins of this Christian Coptic church, the etched holy drawings, sculptures and community built around this sacred space. Truly, one of my favorite experiences while in Egypt, everything about it was breathtaking. Once finished here, Alaa gives you the option of exploring bazaars, perfume stores and papyrus shops if you like. I chose to skip out, and opt in for a Nile Cruise lunch at the end for an additional $20 that was the perfect finish to my tour. But before snacking on delicious bites, we stopped at Old Cairo, where we visited The Hanging Church, Holy Mother to the hanging church and Fortress of Babylon, touring spaces within where Christian, Islamic and Jewish influences have paid a part in shaping religious history. But the biggest reason I booked this tour is because Hashem is in charge of organizing it, and I’ve booked tours through him before and every time it’s been a 5-star experience! Sufficed to say, I will recommend droves of friends to this tour, and others he offers as well. Hope this helps your selection in looking for the perfect tour as a solo traveler or with friends and family!
        Written 24 January 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. make sure the tour is including shopping. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 25 January 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Finn
        Giza, Egypt1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Guide Bisho and driver John were very professional, got very satisfied, fluent in English, wouldn't rush, had a great time the whole way, my colleagues and I tentatively wanted to come out of the hotel to see, can also arrange for the time of day
        Automatically translated
        Written 26 July 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear our respected clients , it is our honor to receive your honest and real review . We would like to thank you for your time to write your feedback and review ...we are happy to show you Egypt by our local eyes our goal to make sure you have unforgettable experience We hope to see you again in Egypt for longer vacation Please Keep in touch. Excursion Cairo Day Tour +201286808284
        Written 27 July 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Monastery St Simon with Cave Church and Garbage City Private Tour provided by Excursion Cairo Day Tour

        All Cairo HotelsCairo Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Cairo
        All things to do in Cairo
        Day Trips in Cairo
        RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire