City of the Dead: A Heritage Walk Through Cairo’s Living Necropolis
Join me in a place full of life, art, and history as we explore the unique heritage of Cairo’s Necropolis. Known as the City of the Dead, this area defies its name—it is very much alive. Families live among the tombs, creating a rare landscape where daily life and memory coexist. Also called El Qarafa by Cairenes and the Mamluk Desert, it reflects one of Cairo’s most powerful eras.
I call it "Game of Thrones" era as it's the bloodiest one. also it was the peak of art and architecture.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Mosque and Khanqah of Faraj Ibn Barquq
- This is a complex and considered the first tomb created in the city of the dead. the dome for burial is inside the mosque.
Funerary Complex of Sultan al-Ashraf Barsbay
Complex of Sultan al-Ashraf Qaitbay
Ending Point
Mausoleum of Khedive Tawfik, also known as Qubbat Afandina
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Transportation
Tips inside the area
Tour Important Information
* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
* I recommend women to not wear anything too revealing or short, as it's local neighborhood that people are more conservative.
* We don't have to cover our hair inside every mosque, but if it's a prayer time, we will have to so make sure to bring a scarf or shawl just in case.
* We will take off our shoes inside mosques, I recommend wearing socks as it's dusty at some places.
*There is a lot of small supermarkets, so water is no problem .
*No clean toilets.
Last time to start this tour will be 14:00
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Maryem H.
Hi there! My name is Maryem, and I love stories, adventures, and languages—the way they connect people across time and place. Egypt is full of all of these, and I would love to share them with you.
I became a tour guide because I wanted a career that combined travel, culture, and meeting people from around the world. What started as curiosity became a journey I am truly grateful for. I studied history to become a licensed tour guide, and my passion for Egyptian history continues far beyond my studies.
Whether you are fascinated by Ancient Egypt, curious about Islamic Cairo, or interested in Coptic history, I would be happy to guide you through Egypt’s rich and layered past. I believe storytelling has the power to bring silent stones and ancient places back to life, helping us connect with the people who came before us—and with one another.
As someone who loves learning from different cultures, meeting travelers from around the world has always inspired me. I speak both English and Japanese, which allows me to connect with a wide range of visitors and create experiences that feel personal, engaging, and memorable.
Beyond historical tours, I also enjoy creating off-the-beaten-path experiences, from cultural activities to nature adventures, tailored to what you are most excited to experience in Egypt.
When you explore Egypt with me, I will show you the country through the eyes of a true Cairene who deeply loves her city—blending history, culture, and modern local life. From the timeless pyramids of Giza to the vibrant streets of Cairo and the coastal charm of Alexandria, I look forward to welcoming you and sharing my beloved country with you.
Feel free to contact me and customize your ideal tour—I would be delighted to help you experience Egypt in a meaningful way.
Reviews
Keith N.
“A Great Guide, highly recommend!”
Maryem brought us on a full day tour of the GEM and the pyramids / Sphinx. We really enjoyed our time and she is an excellent guide and great company. Her knowledge was great and she cut out a lot of the less important stuff along the way and really focused on the important and interesting items and topics, which we appreciated. We didn’t have to think about where we were going or what we were looking at as we were guided perfectly. Anyone that approached us Maryem kindly asked them to leave us alone, which also really contributed to our experience. We would highly recommend her to anyone coming to Giza. Thanks Maryem & we wish you well !
Jill L.
“Maryem is an excellent guide!!”
We enjoyed our 5 hour tour with Maryem as our guide immensely. She gave us a very informative and fascinating introduction of Ancient Egyptian history during our visit to the Egyptian Museum. Her very detailed, and insightful explanations of the antiquities brought these periods of history to life. We also visited two of the few remaining Synagogues that remain in downtown Cairo. She shared her very vast knowledge of this once very vibrant community with compassion and even a degree of nostalgia. It was obvious that she had done a great deal of research and special arrangements to facilitate our visits and make the experience meaningful. I highly recommend Maryem for any tour in Egypt.
Jenny M.
“Coptic Cairo and the old Necropolis.”
I lived in Cairo forty yeas ago, my first visit since then. I had the most wonderful day with Maryam. She was an excellent guide and went up and behond to make sure we covered so much of old Cairo and was very informative. I highly recommend you book her to guide you around Cairo.
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Maryem H.
It was such a pleasure meeting you Jenny! Your positive and adventurous energy, I loved being your guide so so much, I hope I can see you again next year <3 Stay healthy and happy till we meet again And thank you for your kind words
$65/ per group
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Scoprire uno dei mercati antichi del Cairo. l'mercato consiste di varie palazzi, moschea e luoghi di epoca. Al interno di questo mercato, vedremo varie artigiani di metalli/ Tessuti e anche negozi di spezzi. Eventualmente entriamo in una dei Universita/Moschea più anticha nel mondo.
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