Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt

Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church

Outty Ranking 50 4.4 · 5 traveler reviews4 hoursFrom $60
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Outty Ranking

50/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.4/5

Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church worth booking?

Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church is a 4-hour experience in Cairo, Egypt, from $60 per person. It scores 50 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 5 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
50 / 100
Rating
4.4/5 (5)
Duration
4 hours
From
$60 per person

Embark on an unforgettable journey with our Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church. Explore the fascinating Cave Church built inside the renowned Mokattam Mountain, offering you a unique spiritual experi

What you get

    About this experience

    Embark on an unforgettable journey with our Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church. Explore the fascinating Cave Church built inside the renowned Mokattam Mountain, offering you a unique spiritual experience. This half-day excursion allows you to marvel at the breathtaking architecture and intricate designs while immersing yourself in the religious ambiance. Our professional guides will accompany you throughout the journey, providing insightful commentary on the historical and cultural significance of this remarkable site. Discover the hidden wonders of Cairo and delve into the mystique of El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church during this enriching half-day trip.

    What's included

    Included

    • All Transfers by Private A/C latest Model Vehicle
    • Hotel pickup and drop-off
    • Private tour
    • Entry Fees
    • Lunch
    • Driver
    • bottled water

    Not included

    • Tipping

    What you'll see and do

    1. Cairo

      Pickup from your hotel in Cairo or Giza by tour guide to start your tour

      60 minutes here

    2. Cave Church

      Visit the famous church of Saint Simon the Tanner, the cave church. The largest church in Cairo located inside El mokkatam mountain in a small village named by zableen means garbage collectors. Inside the church Virgin Mary appeared in carved statue in ceiling without any human effort.

      60 minutes here · Admission included

    3. St Simon the Tanner Monastery

      s the Coptic Orthodox saint associated with the story of the moving the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo, Egypt, during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph al-Muizz Lideenillah (953–975) while Abraham the Syrian was the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

      60 minutes here · Admission included

    4. Cairo

      Tour Finishes with drop off at Customer Hotel in Cairo or Giza

      60 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Cairo

    Cairo

    Meeting point

    Cairo

    Giza

    Meeting point

    Cairo

    Giza

    Meeting point

    Cairo

    Giza

    Meeting point

    Cairo

    Giza

    Meeting point

    Cairo

    Cairo

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is available for selected locations.

    Ends at

    Cairo

    Ends at

    Giza

    Ends at

    Giza

    Ends at

    Giza

    Ends at

    Giza

    Ends at

    Cairo

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    ar, en, es
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Emo Tours Egypt

    Know before you go

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Entry fees includes basic area only

    Photos

    Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church in Cairo, photo 2Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church in Cairo, photo 3Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church in Cairo, photo 4Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church in Cairo, photo 5Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church in Cairo, photo 6

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    5 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Photo opportunities

    2 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Organization

    2 mentions

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    1 mention

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Food and drink

    1 mention

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Small groups

    1 mention

    The group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.

    Traveler reviews

    5 verified traveler reviews for Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    3
    4 star
    1
    3 star
    1
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    mindszamzam · October 2023

    Amazing experience

    Before going for the trip to Egypt, I read about the Cave Church in Mokattam Mountain. It’s fascinating story, I requested Mostafa El Shakkhab to arrange a private tour for me. The tour guide Mahmoud came and pick me up from the hotel. The ride going inside this Garbage City is amazing, sometimes I hold my breath how narrowed the road, maybe an inch distance to the next car, our excellent driver maneuver his way around. From the top of this mountain, you can see the city of Cairo. Unbelievable carvings made from hands using out of scrap metals . This Monastery of St. Simon also known as the Cave Church can seat 20,000. The Coptic Christian uses the church as place of worship and meditation. There was a funeral during my visit but I was allowed to go up to the top of the opening of this cave church . An amazing experience!

    via Tripadvisor

    Tyler_P · October 2023

    Professional company, but limited tour context

    Emos Tours was a professional company to work with, commutating with me prior to the tour to confirm pickup and location. They were on time and delivered everything as described in the tour itinerary. Unfortunately, our guide provided limited context to the sites that we saw and was extremely difficult to understand. While I wouldn't hesitate to book with Emos again, I'd hope for another guide.

    via Viator

    Cathy D · October 2023

    Church visit

    Tour guide was very knowledgeable on the history of the churches we visited. Offered to take pictures, which was appreciated. Lunch was good.

    via Tripadvisor

    Dan_M · March 2022

    Definitely should be visited in Cairo

    Picked up on time from hotel with driver and guide. Great place to visit. Amazing building of church carved out of rock. Off the beaten tourist track and got to see the garbage city too. A charming real area and not as pungent as I was led to believe. The your was short, only a couple of hours rather than the half day.

    via Viator

    Duncan_M · October 2021

    A striking church, off the beaten track in Cairo

    A great trip to the Church of St Simon the Tanner, set in a huge cave in an off-the-beaten-track part of Cairo. The church is not old but has striking iconography in a very unusual setting. The mountain location provides views of Cairo. The journey there involves passing through the ‘garbage city’, home of the Zabaleen refuse collectors - an interesting and, I must say, humbling sight in itself. My guide Said and driver Mohamed were excellent. Said spoke very good English and provided plenty of information along the way, allowing me plenty of time to look around with lots of flexibility. The vehicle was clean and covid safety was observed (I requested that we wear masks in the car and this caused no problems). I would certainly recommend this tour.

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    4 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $60 to $75
    Hotel pickup
    Available for selected locations
    Booked in 30 days
    2
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Emo Tours Egypt, who run 20 experiences we rank across 8 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.6.

    See everything Emo Tours Egypt runs

    Why this scores 50

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)80
    Review evidence (18% weight)24
    Booking momentum (14% weight)17
    Value for money (12% weight)0
    Listing quality (10% weight)79
    Local standing (8% weight)40
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cairo.

    How much does Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church cost?

    +

    Prices start at $60 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cairo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church take?

    +

    Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cairo is not rushed.

    Is Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 50 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Cairo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church?

    +

    Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cairo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cairo and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Cairo Half Day Trip to El Mokattam Mountain Cave Church start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cairo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Cairo?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Cairo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include All-in-One Giza Tour, inside Pyramid, sphinx, Camel ride & lunch, VIP Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx Tour –Inside the Pyramids&More, Giza Pyramids all inclusive,Sphinx,lunch,Camel,insid pyramid. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Cairo?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Cairo?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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