Day trip to Wadi El Natrun from Alexandria: Three monasteries

Walk through four centuries of monastic history in a single morning

A day trip from Alexandria to Wadi El Natrun takes you to three of the four surviving Christian monasteries in Egypt's Western Desert, 90 kilometers northwest of Cairo. Your guide picks you up from your hotel and drives you to the Monastery of St. Bishoy, the easternmost monastery in the valley, founded in the fourth century; the Monastery of Baramous, believed to be the first established in Wadi El Natrun; and the Monastery of the Syrians, the smallest and most renowned among scholars worldwide. The tour includes entry fees, a local lunch and hotel drop-off.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wadi El Natrun Monasteries Tour

• Pick up from Alexandria hotel
• Drive to Wadi El Natrun
• Visit Monastery of the Syrian
• Visit Monastery of Baramous
• Visit Monastery of St. Bishoy
• Enjoy local lunch
• Return to Alexandria hotel

The Experience

The drive from Alexandria takes you northwest into the Western Desert, crossing about 90 kilometers to reach Wadi El Natrun itself: a depression 23 meters below sea level, dotted with salt lakes fed by the Nile's water table. The valley stretches roughly 60 kilometers long and has sheltered monastic communities since the fourth century, when monks fled to the desert seeking solitude and spiritual practice. Your guide will walk you through each monastery, explaining the history and the rare relics housed inside.

At the Monastery of St. Bishoy, you'll see the church built around the life of a saint born in the Nile Delta in 320 AD. The itinerary notes that at age twenty he joined monastic life and became known for his devotion to the book of Jeremiah. The Monastery of Baramous, probably the first monastery built in the valley, honors two Roman brothers (Maximus and Domidius, sons of Emperor Valentinus), whose bodies lie in a crypt beneath the Church of the Virgin. The Monastery of the Syrians, smallest of the three you'll visit, earned its name from Syrian monks who settled there in 984 AD and has since become the most celebrated among clergy and scholars across the world.

A local lunch is included partway through the day. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of two additional languages, and the tour runs seven to eight hours total. Hotel pickup and drop-off are part of the package, so you don't arrange your own transport to the desert.

What’s included

• Entry to all three monasteries.
• a professional guide in your choice of five languages.
• hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• a local lunch.
• and a water bottle for the desert drive.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Jojo Tours

Is this one for you?Seven to eight hours means you'll see all three monasteries and have time to walk through each one without rushing, but the early morning start and full-day commitment leave little room for other activities in Alexandria that same day.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

15 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How far is Wadi El Natrun from Alexandria?

Wadi El Natrun lies about 90 kilometers northwest of Cairo and roughly 60 kilometers from Alexandria. The drive takes you through the Western Desert, and the valley itself sits 23 meters below sea level, with salt lakes dotting the landscape.

What is the Monastery of St. Bishoy known for?

The Monastery of St. Bishoy is the easternmost surviving Christian monastery in Wadi El Natrun and was founded by Saint Bishoy in the fourth century. Saint Bishoy was born in the Nile Delta in 320 AD and joined monastic life at age twenty, becoming known for his devotion to the book of Jeremiah.

Which monastery is thought to be the oldest in Wadi El Natrun?

The Monastery of Baramous is believed to be the first monastery established in Wadi El Natrun. It honors two Roman brothers, Maximus and Domidius, sons of Emperor Valentinus, whose bodies are buried in a crypt beneath the Church of the Virgin.

What languages does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language, so you can choose the one that suits you when you book.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes entry fees to all three monasteries; a local lunch; hotel or port pickup and drop-off; a water bottle; and a professional guide for the full seven to eight hours.