Red Sea Monasteries Tour: Saint Anthony & Saint Paul in Hurghada

Drive into the Eastern Desert to two fourth-century monasteries where hermit monks still shape Coptic Christianity

A private full-day tour from Hurghada to the Monasteries of Saint Anthony and Saint Paul, Egypt's oldest Christian sites dating to the fourth and fifth centuries AD, with hotel pickup, a professional guide fluent in your language, and lunch. The tour departs at 3:30am for a 3-hour drive north to Saint Paul Monastery, then continues south to Saint Anthony, returning to your hotel around 4:30pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Red Sea Christian Monasteries

• Depart Hurghada at 3:30am
• Drive 3 hours to Saint Paul Monastery
• Explore Saint Paul Monastery and caves
• Drive 30 minutes to Saint Anthony Monastery
• Visit Saint Anthony Monastery and library
• Enjoy lunch with desert scenery
• Return to Hurghada

The experience

The day starts before dawn. Your driver picks you up at 3:30am and heads north into the Eastern Desert for a three-hour drive to Saint Paul Monastery, set against dramatic cliffs of the plateau. The monastery dates to the fourth century AD and holds caves where the hermit Saint Paul lived, along with churches covered in frescoes. Your private guide explains what these spaces mean in Coptic Christianity: the theology, the history, the reason monks chose this remote landscape.

After Saint Paul, you drive south for about half an hour to the Monastery of Saint Anthony, the oldest monastery in Egypt and among the oldest in the world. Founded in the fourth century, it still functions as a working retreat where Coptic Christians come for religious retreats. You'll see several churches, a library, and the small cave where Saint Anthony himself lived as a hermit. Lunch happens here, with time to sit in the desert scenery before the return journey.

The full day (drive, two sites, guide, lunch, hotel return) takes about fourteen hours. A vegetarian meal is available if you request it when you book. Your guide speaks English, French, German or Russian depending on availability.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Hurghada accommodation.
• professional private guide.
• lunch.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 03:00 and 04:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 60 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Pharaohs Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Egypt's oldest Christian monasteries and understand their role in Coptic history with a guide who speaks your language. The 3:30am departure is what makes the long drive manageable and gets you back to Hurghada by late afternoon.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How early does the tour leave Hurghada, and what time do I get back to my hotel?

The tour departs at 3:30am and returns around 4:30pm, making it a full fourteen-hour day that includes the long desert drive.

What are the Monasteries of Saint Anthony and Saint Paul, and why are they important?

Both are among Egypt's oldest Christian monasteries, built in the fourth and fifth centuries AD when monks first settled along the Red Sea. Saint Anthony Monastery is the oldest monastery in Egypt. Saint Paul Monastery is built around caves where the hermit Saint Paul lived. They remain active religious sites central to Coptic Christian heritage.

Is hotel pickup included, and do I need to arrange my own transport?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour price, so you don't need to arrange transport to or from the monasteries.

Is lunch included, and can I request a vegetarian meal?

Lunch is included in the tour. A vegetarian option is available. Let the operator know when you book if you need it.