WHAT EXPECT
Curious about the story of Coptic Christians in Egypt? There’s no better way to learn than by visiting some of the oldest monasteries around! Early in the morning, someone from our team will pick you up from your hotel in Hurghada, and you’ll set off on a cool trip to the famous Red Sea monasteries. Get ready for a day full of adventure!
St. Paul’s Monastery
First stop: St. Paul’s Monastery. It’s about a three-hour drive north, right next to some huge cliffs in the desert. This place is really important because a hermit named St. Paul once lived in caves here, and you can still see them! The churches inside are decorated with awesome paintings, and a friendly monk will show you around and tell you all about the history.
St. Anthony’s Monastery
Next, you’ll head south for about half an hour to St. Anthony’s Monastery. This place is super old—built way back in the 4th century! It’s actually the oldest monastery in Egypt, and people still live and pray there today. You’ll see beautiful churches, a library, and even a tiny cave where Saint Anthony lived all by himself on top of a mountain. If you’re up for it, you can climb the 1,420 steps to see where he stayed!
After exploring, you’ll have lunch and enjoy the amazing desert views. By the end of the day, you’ll head back to Hurghada with lots of cool stories and memories from your adventure!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit Saint Paul Monastery: Explore this sacred site nestled against the cliffs of the Eastern Desert. Discover ancient caves once inhabited by the hermit Saint Paul, visit beautiful historic churches, and see vibrant, ancient frescoes.
- Guided Tour by a Monk: Receive a rare, intimate look into Coptic history as a resident monk guides you through the sacred grounds of Saint Paul’s.
- Explore Saint Anthony Monastery: Visit the oldest functioning Christian monastery in Egypt (and one of the oldest in the entire world), dating back to the 4th century.
- See the Cave of St. Anthony: Tour the ancient churches, explore the historic library, and see the tiny mountain cave where Saint Anthony lived a life of isolated prayer.
- Scenic Desert Dining: Take a break between your historical explorations to enjoy a traditional lunch at a restaurant in Zafarana, taking in the stunning desert landscape.
TOUR INFORMATION
- Schedule: Everyday
- Departure Location: Pick-up available from all hotels in Hurghada, El Gouna, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, & Soma Bay
- Destination: Red Sea, Egypt
- Duration: Full-Day Excursion (12 to 14 Hours)
- Types: Private-Day Trip
- Guide Languages: English, German, French & Russian
- Pickup Time: We’ll let you know what time we’re picking you up from the hotel the day before the tour!
- Our Tourism License Number: 1569. Check our Travel License here
IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED
- Bring sunscreen, hat, and comfortable shoes
- Modest dress required for monasteries visits
INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSION
Included:
- Private, round-trip transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
- Dedicated multilingual guide (and monk guide on-site).
- Traditional lunch in Zafarana.
- All service charges and local taxes.
Excluded:
- Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Travel insurance.
- Gratuities.
ADDITIONAL INFO
- Not wheelchair accessible.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Sign up for the tour at least a day in advance to allow us time to prepare.
- Travelers can send their own pickup location.
CANCELLATION POLICY
You can cancel up to 24 hours before your experience for a full refund.
- To receive a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before your experience begins.
- If you try to cancel with less than 24 hours to go, you won’t get a refund.
- You can’t make any last-minute changes in that final 24-hour window.
- Remember, all these times are based on the local time where the activity happens.
Take a minute to check out the Terms & Conditions and Cancellation Policy before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What days is the Red Sea Monasteries tour available?
A. The private tour runs every day of the week. You can book for any date that fits your travel schedule.
Q. Is this a private or group tour?
A. This is a 100% private tour. You will have a private air-conditioned vehicle and dedicated service for just you and your group.
Q. Is hotel pickup included?
A. You don’t have to worry about getting there—we’ll pick you up right from your hotel in Hurghada and bring you back when it’s over. The ride to and from your hotel is all taken care of!
Q. What time is the pickup?
A. Since this is a private tour just for your group, we’ll set up a pickup time that works best for you. The day before your tour, we’ll reach out to let you know exactly when we’ll pick you up from your hotel.
Q. Can I provide a custom pickup location?
A. Yes, travelers can specify their preferred pickup location when completing their booking.
Q. What will we see at the Saint Paul Monastery?
A. You will explore the ancient caves where the hermit Saint Paul lived, tour historic churches featuring vibrant, centuries-old frescoes, and receive a guided walk from a resident monk.
Q. What makes the Saint Anthony Monastery special?
A. Built in the 4th century, the Monastery of Saint Anthony is the oldest functioning Christian monastery in Egypt and one of the oldest in the world. Highlights include its ancient churches, the historic library, and the tiny cave where Saint Anthony lived.
Q. Are the monasteries accessible for wheelchairs?
A. No, due to the historic and rugged nature of the desert terrain and cave access steps, these sites are not wheelchair accessible.
Q. Is lunch included in the price?
A. Don’t worry about bringing your own food—lunch is part of the deal! You’ll get to eat a classic meal at a restaurant in Zafarana, and it’s already covered in the cost of the tour.
Q. What is the cancellation policy?
A. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour start time are non-refundable.
David W –
We found the whole day extremely interesting and comfortable
Pick up was on time and car made this trip enjoyable
Both the driver and guide where knowledgeable and helpful
Although if was half term and both monasteries extremely busy our guide made sure we had a extremely interesting and informative vist.
We would not fesitate in using Pharaohs Tours again
David and Martin
Tiago Barroso –
This is not my first trip to Egypt, and not the last, this time i take a great day seeing the monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony. It was a very good day, i saw many ancient places and they were very beautiful, the tourist guide was amazing, it took me to every place, and explained everything to me in detail, it was an amazing day, it is a trip that i recommend, and to repeat again.
Wafeek –
Hey Tiago, thanks for making us smile with your kind words! We can’t wait to help you out again when you come back to Egypt.