Our group trip: a journey back in time
When you travel to Cairo with Misr Moments , you're not simply boarding a plane to a vibrant capital. You're stepping into a time machine that transports you through more than a thousand years of Islamic history, where dynasties, scholars, and believers left their mark in stone, stories, and atmosphere. Our journey is structured like a walk through time: from the earliest foundations of Islamic Egypt to the impressive buildings of later centuries.
We begin in the 7th century , at the Mosque of Amr ibn al-'As . Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and was commissioned to conquer Egypt and establish Islam there. His mosque is the very first mosque in Egypt, and indeed in all of Africa. Here, you sense the simplicity of the early Islamic period: a place of prayer, knowledge, and connection where the roots of Islam were planted in this country.
From there, we travel back to the 10th century , the Fatimid era. We enter the Al-Azhar Mosque , not only a place of worship but also the heart of centuries of Islamic knowledge and educational tradition. As we walk through the courtyards, we can imagine generations of students attending classes here and how the echoes of Qur'anic recitations filled the walls.
Not far from Al-Azhar, we find another Fatimid masterpiece: the Al-Hakim Mosque (built in the 11th century), named after Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. With its robust walls and distinctive minarets, this mosque has withstood centuries of changing dynasties and histories. Inside, you'll experience a calm, open atmosphere that recalls the strength and steadfastness of the Islamic presence in Cairo.
Our journey then takes us back to the 12th century , to an impressive structure that symbolizes strength and protection: the Citadel of Salah ad-Din . From this strategic vantage point, you see the city stretched out before you. It's as if you're part of a history of defense and power, yet at the same time, you're stilled by the thought that Salah ad-Din laid plans here to protect the Islamic world.
In the 14th century, we're surrounded by splendor and detail. We visit the Qalawun complex , a breathtaking structure consisting of a madrasa, a mausoleum, and a hospital. The complex showcases the refinement of Mamluk architecture and demonstrates how faith, education, and care for the community came together in a single, monumental whole.
A little further on, the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan awaits, another masterpiece from the same period. Its enormous doors, high walls, and serene courtyard demonstrate how art and religion intertwined in a time when knowledge and worship went hand in hand.
Finally, we leap back to the 19th century and enter the Muhammad Ali Mosque , a gleaming Ottoman-style building high in the citadel. The white stone, ornate domes, and glittering chandeliers evoke a palace of light. This mosque concludes our journey through time with a look at Egypt's more modern history.
And so, step by step, we journey from the roots of Islam in Africa to the grandeur of the Ottoman period. Every mosque, every complex, and every stone brings us closer to the story of Cairo: a city that not only lives in the present but carries the echoes of its past in every breath.
Join us on this unique group tour and experience this journey through time firsthand. Discover places where history, faith, and culture intersect, and let Cairo touch your heart as it has for centuries. Register today and be part of this unforgettable experience.