Cairo Evening Tour: Khan el-Khalili, Mint Tea & Old Cairo Sweets
Day tour
Food tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Cairo, Egypt
Cairo
1N (Participation Duration)
Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/10
0 booked
Tour description
Islamic Cairo is the largest concentration of medieval Islamic architecture in the world, and at night, when El Muizz street is lit and the crowds are locals rather than tour groups, it is one of the great walks anywhere.
We start in Khan el-Khalili, a bazaar founded in the fourteenth century, at a tea house that claims to have been serving since the 1700s and has certainly been serving since your great-grandparents were born. Mint tea, shisha smoke, brass trays and a cat on every chair.
Then we eat: fatta, layers of rice, bread and lamb under a garlic-vinegar tomato sauce, which is a celebration dish; hamam mahshi, pigeon stuffed with cracked wheat and grilled, which is a genuine Egyptian delicacy and needs explaining before you decide; and sogo' sausage with tomato.
The sweet end is the point for many people: kunafa, shredded pastry over cheese or cream, soaked in syrup; basbousa, semolina cake; and Egyptian rice pudding. Your guide walks you up El Muizz past Mamluk mosques and madrasas and explains what you are looking at.
Small group, maximum 10 guests, entirely on foot.
We start in Khan el-Khalili, a bazaar founded in the fourteenth century, at a tea house that claims to have been serving since the 1700s and has certainly been serving since your great-grandparents were born. Mint tea, shisha smoke, brass trays and a cat on every chair.
Then we eat: fatta, layers of rice, bread and lamb under a garlic-vinegar tomato sauce, which is a celebration dish; hamam mahshi, pigeon stuffed with cracked wheat and grilled, which is a genuine Egyptian delicacy and needs explaining before you decide; and sogo' sausage with tomato.
The sweet end is the point for many people: kunafa, shredded pastry over cheese or cream, soaked in syrup; basbousa, semolina cake; and Egyptian rice pudding. Your guide walks you up El Muizz past Mamluk mosques and madrasas and explains what you are looking at.
Small group, maximum 10 guests, entirely on foot.
Meeting point:
View on map
Al-Hussein Square, beside the Al-Hussein Mosque, Islamic Cairo
We meet in Al-Hussein Square beside the mosque, at the entrance to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Your guide will have a small sign with your name.
Detailed itinerary
Stop 1 - Historic tea house, Khan el-Khalili: Mint tea in a bazaar cafe that has been operating for well over two centuries, with your guide on the Fatimid and Mamluk city.
Stop 2 - Fatta: Rice, crisp bread and lamb layered under a garlic and vinegar tomato sauce. Egypt's celebration dish, cooked for feasts and births.
Stop 3 - Hamam mahshi: Pigeon stuffed with freekeh or rice and grilled. A real Egyptian delicacy - your guide explains it properly before anyone commits, and it is optional.
Stop 4 - Sogo' and grilled meats: Spiced Egyptian sausage with tomato, and kofta from the charcoal, with bread and tahina.
Stop 5 - El Muizz street: A guided walk up the medieval spine of Islamic Cairo, lit at night, past Mamluk mosques, sabils and madrasas.
Stop 6 - Kunafa and basbousa: Shredded pastry baked over cream or cheese and soaked in syrup, and semolina cake with almonds, from a sweet shop in the old city.
Stop 7 - Sahlab or karkade: A hot thickened milk drink with nuts and cinnamon, or cold hibiscus, to finish.
Stop 2 - Fatta: Rice, crisp bread and lamb layered under a garlic and vinegar tomato sauce. Egypt's celebration dish, cooked for feasts and births.
Stop 3 - Hamam mahshi: Pigeon stuffed with freekeh or rice and grilled. A real Egyptian delicacy - your guide explains it properly before anyone commits, and it is optional.
Stop 4 - Sogo' and grilled meats: Spiced Egyptian sausage with tomato, and kofta from the charcoal, with bread and tahina.
Stop 5 - El Muizz street: A guided walk up the medieval spine of Islamic Cairo, lit at night, past Mamluk mosques, sabils and madrasas.
Stop 6 - Kunafa and basbousa: Shredded pastry baked over cream or cheese and soaked in syrup, and semolina cake with almonds, from a sweet shop in the old city.
Stop 7 - Sahlab or karkade: A hot thickened milk drink with nuts and cinnamon, or cold hibiscus, to finish.
Tour price includes
• Small-group English-speaking local food guide
• All food and drink tastings listed in the itinerary
• One local drink at the final stop
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout the walk
• All taxes and service fees
• All food and drink tastings listed in the itinerary
• One local drink at the final stop
• Bottled water and wet wipes throughout the walk
• All taxes and service fees
Tour price excludes
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off unless stated
• Additional drinks beyond those included
• Personal travel insurance
• Tips for your guide (appreciated but never expected)
• Meals and purchases outside the programme
• Additional drinks beyond those included
• Personal travel insurance
• Tips for your guide (appreciated but never expected)
• Meals and purchases outside the programme
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. Tours run rain or shine.
Other notes
Runs daily at 18:00.
Dress: please cover shoulders and knees. We walk past working mosques and this is a conservative quarter. Women may prefer a light scarf.
Ramadan: Islamic Cairo during Ramadan is the single most atmospheric food experience in Egypt, with lanterns strung across El Muizz and the whole quarter eating at once. We adjust the timing - ask us if your dates fall inside it.
Water and hygiene: bottled water only; everything on this route is cooked to order.
Cash: Egyptian pounds; your guide pays throughout. Expect bazaar traders to approach you - your guide will handle it, and nothing on this tour involves a shopping stop.
Harassment: Cairo can be uncomfortable for women travelling alone. Our guides stay with the group at all times and will intervene. Please tell us in advance if you would prefer a female guide.
Dietary needs: tell us at least 48 hours ahead. A vegetarian version works well via fatta without meat, koshary, salads and the sweets.
About 2 km of walking on flat but uneven and very crowded streets.
Dress: please cover shoulders and knees. We walk past working mosques and this is a conservative quarter. Women may prefer a light scarf.
Ramadan: Islamic Cairo during Ramadan is the single most atmospheric food experience in Egypt, with lanterns strung across El Muizz and the whole quarter eating at once. We adjust the timing - ask us if your dates fall inside it.
Water and hygiene: bottled water only; everything on this route is cooked to order.
Cash: Egyptian pounds; your guide pays throughout. Expect bazaar traders to approach you - your guide will handle it, and nothing on this tour involves a shopping stop.
Harassment: Cairo can be uncomfortable for women travelling alone. Our guides stay with the group at all times and will intervene. Please tell us in advance if you would prefer a female guide.
Dietary needs: tell us at least 48 hours ahead. A vegetarian version works well via fatta without meat, koshary, salads and the sweets.
About 2 km of walking on flat but uneven and very crowded streets.
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| 大人 | $49 |
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