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Private Full-Day Red Sea Monasteries Tour from Cairo

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Cairo, Egypt

10 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Visit two of the world’s oldest Coptic monasteries, St. Anthony’s and St. Paul’s, and Egypt’s Red Sea mountains, all in one day on a private 10-hour trip from Cairo. Venture into the Eastern Desert hills, and explore the 4th- and 5th-century monasteries independently. View frescoes, icons and manuscripts as you stroll around the churches and grounds, and learn the stories of both saints. Entrance fees, lunch and private transport included.

Private day trip to Egypt's Red Sea Monasteries from Cairo
See Egypt’s Eastern Desert on a drive to the craggy Red Sea mountains
Visit the St. Anthony and St. Paul monasteries, two of the world’s oldest Coptic monastic retreats
Explore the churches, buildings and gardens of both monasteries independently
Lunch, entrance fees and hotel pickup and drop-off included
Transport by private air-conditioned minivan, with personalized commentary from a private driver-guide

What's Included

Lunch
Driver/guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Itinerary

Start your private tour with a hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza. Meet your driver-guide and then travel east toward the Red Sea coast by air-conditioned minivan.

Gaze at Egypt’s Eastern desert on route, and hear about the history of both St. Anthony's and St. Paul's monasteries on route. Two of the world’s oldest Coptic Christian monasteries, these holy retreats were founded in the 4th and 5th century respectively, and lie nestled in the Red Sea mountains.

After roughly three hours on the road, stop to visit the monasteries in turn, enjoying free time to explore their churches, buildings and gardens independently.

Walk into walled St. Anthony’s Monastery, thought to be the world’s oldest working monastery, and discover how it was established by disciples of the saint, who lived as a hermit in a cave above the site.

Wander through the churches and library, and admire the wall paintings of holy knights and hermits that date to the 7th and 8th centuries. Stroll around the gardens among the working monks, and if you wish, make the climb to Anthony’s cave, high up in the mountains.

Travel through the hills to St. Paul’s Monastery, built around a cave inhabited by the hermit saint. Set off independently to explore the refectory, mill, tower and churches, one of them carved underground to incorporate St. Paul’s cave and burial place. View the frescoes, icons and manuscripts, and learn the story of St. Paul, including how he was fed bread by a raven during his years in the cave.

After visiting the monasteries, enjoy a tasty lunch and then relax on your return journey, ending your trip with a drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel.

Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

St. Paul Monastery دير الأنبا بولا

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Zafarana

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Dress code is smart casual
Not wheelchair accessible
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required

May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.9

based on 17 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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Beautiful unforgettable trip!

Alina_M, Jan 2025

It has been such a wonderful and truly unforgettable trip, I loved every moment! My guide Ali has been very nice and so very helpful, he told me many interesting facts about Egypt and the monasteries during our trip. I so enjoyed visiting both monasteries and speaking with the monks there. The most unforgettable experience was going up to the mountains to visit St. Anthony's cave. Its energy and my experience there will always stay with me. I really hope to visit it again! I would also like to thank Ali for his kind help with my bank card. When we stopped at the petrol station in Cairo in the morning, I wanted to withdraw some cash, but the ATM consumed my bank card and we could not get it back... Ali has been exceptionally helpful with this and got out of his way to sort it out. Very grateful to Ali and Kemet Travel for this beautiful trip and would very highly recommend it! 💛

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Dear, Value Clients . A friendly hello from Kemet Travel Egypt. On behalf of all Kemet Travel team and me personally, we thank you so much for sharing your experience with us and the community and we are happy that you love it. We love to have lovely clients such as you. Kemet Travel team will be looking forward to welcoming you again and again. love to hear from you. Montasser Simman Owner Kemet Travel

Wonderful experience at the monasteries near the Red Sea

Thomas_W, May 2024

A fantastic day to see a fascinating angle on Egypt's past and present! My guide Andrew and driver Sayid were friendly, professional, attentive, patient, supportive and made the tour excellent in every way. Andrew speaks great English, and is highly knowledgeable about the region and the monasteries in particular. He shared lots of stories of the ancient monks that illuminated and enlivened the experience of being at these places. At the Monastery of St. Antony, Andrew literally went above and beyond when he accompanied me up the 1400+ steps to St. Antony's Cave cell. The monasteries of St. Antony and St. Paul were beautiful, as was the drive through the Eastern Desert along the Red sea coast. I really enjoyed meeting the Monks at both monasteries, and hearing from them about the history. I am grateful to Andrew for facilitating this. I also appreciated Sayid's smooth driving and his quick and efficient work at the checkpoints and tollbooths. Great atmosphere in the car and at the locations we stopped. Definitely worth it, highly recommend!