Enjoy a special private tour to visit St. Paul and St. Anthony Monasteries from Cairo, a chance to learn about the oldest Monasteries n the world. Dating to the 4th century, the Monastery of St Paul began as a grouping of hermitages in the cliffs around the site where Paul had his cell. The complex’s heart is the Church of St Paul, which was built in and around the cave where Paul lived. It’s cluttered with altars, candles, ostrich eggs (the symbol of the Resurrection) and murals representing saints and biblical stories. The fortress above the church was where the monks retreated during Bedouin raids.
Embark on a private tour of the oldest monasteries in Egypt, St. Paul and St. Anthony, departing from Cairo in the early morning. Your knowledgeable tour guide will collect you from your hotel at 7:00 am to begin your journey.
Travel approximately 250 km to the eastern desert of Egypt, near the Red Sea, where the historic monasteries are located. Dating back to the 4th century AD, these monasteries hold great significance in the history of Christianity.
St. Anthony’s Monastery, situated on Zafaraana Road towards Beni Suef, boasts a vast complex featuring churches, chapels, a lush garden, a bakery, and a fountain dedicated to Saint Anthony, the father of monasticism.
Continuing your journey through the rocky terrain, you will arrive at St. Paul Monastery, also established in the 4th century by hermits seeking solitude from worldly distractions.
These monasteries are revered as sacred sites within the Coptic Church of Egypt and offer a glimpse into the religious coexistence of different faiths in the country.
Despite the changes in the surrounding landscape over the centuries, St. Paul and St. Anthony Monasteries stand as enduring testaments to history.
The breathtaking views and spiritual significance of these ancient sites make the excursion from Cairo an unforgettable experience.
Tour prices are in USD but € and £ are also accepted. The prices quoted per person per tour all inclusive and prices are always updated to ensure you receive the lowest price possible. Once your tour is confirmed we guarantee the price will not be changed.
0 – 05.99 Free of Charge
6 – 11.99 pay 30 USD
12+ pay full tour price as per adult person
You have the option to conveniently book and pay online, or alternatively, you may choose to pay in cash at the time of the tour.
Cairo Private Tours does not charge cancellation fees for tours canceled due to force majeure events like natural disasters. However, if the cancellation is due to personal or business reasons and expenses have been incurred, those costs will be passed on to the customer. The company aims to be transparent and fair, and this policy ensures financial obligations are covered. Cairo Private Tours strives to provide exceptional service and flexibility. Customers can contact customer service for any questions or concerns.
This famous icon represents the visit of Saint Antony (on the left) to Saint Paul, who lived in the eastern desert near the Red Sea.
St. Paul was born into a wealthy family in Alexandria in the mid-3rd century and originally fled to the Eastern Desert to escape Roman persecution. He lived alone in a cave here for more than 90 years, finding bodily sustenance in a nearby spring and palm tree. According to tradition, in AD 343 the then-90-year-old Anthony had a vision of Paul’s death and made a difficult trek through the mountains to visit Paul, and then to bury him.
St. Anthony is a Christian saint who was born to a wealthy family in Lower Egypt around 251 CE He was orphaned at the age of eight years. Most of what is known about him comes from the biographical work of Athanasius of Alexandria, Vita Antonii. This biography depicts Anthony as an illiterate and holy man who through his existence in a primordial landscape received an absolute connection to divine truth. The moment that St. Anthony dedicated his life to God and the church was due to the words he heard from Mark in which he was told to give up all of his belongings and seek God. At the age of 34, Anthony gave away all of his property and worldly possessions; he ventured into the Eastern Desert to seek a life of humility, solitude, and spiritual reflection. Saint Anthony took the words he heard in a literal sense and that is what caused him to venture into the desert to live a life of ascetism. He made his abode in a small cave where he lived ascetically. Although St. Anthony was not the first monk, he attracted many followers and disciples and is one of the fathers of modern Christian monasticism
ExcellentBased on 100 reviewsSezer Can S2024-04-28Khalifa iş made our Dreams come truth Khalifa iş great, he picked up us on time and amazing guide. He helped us whenever we need. I suggest everyone. Egypt iş great for himHakan A2024-04-28Amazing tour wıth khaıefa We met with Khalifha right on time. He planned everything for us. We just enjoyed our trip. He is a friendly person and a good guide. I would gladly recommend him to anyone.Maria L2024-04-26A great day visiting Alexandria I had a fantastic day on a full day tour of Alexandria and most well known places in the city. Tarek is an excellent tour guide which I can highly recommend. On time, professional, knowledgeable his car very clean and in excellent conditionChrisnTink2024-04-17Exceptional hospitality with comfort Such a great experience. Started with an on time arrival at our location on the Corniche followed by an exceptionally well planned day seeing the highlights in Alexandria. Really knowledgeable about history and answered all our questions at the sites we visited and even sights we didn’t. He took us to places we would have never found in our own and shared very specific details from various scholars and archaeologists. Our Seafood lunch was very tasty and a nice time to relax. Comfortable vehicle and he always found good parking. I will be recommending Tarek to all my friends!Darryl2024-04-07The best tours in cairo We highly recommend Tarek for an exceptional experience in Egypt. Our driver, Samir, was excellent and ensured a smooth journey throughout our trip. We look forward to returning to Egypt in the future.MarioH2024-03-26Hopefully next time Unfortunately had to cancel my trip. After some misunderstanding that were cleared up, follow-up was prompt and issues resolved.william m2024-03-22Tours & Guides Thanks from Anne and I to Tareck for the trip organisation / haytham our guide very knowledgeable and are friendly Driver Alaa for 6 days of exploring Cario and Alexander, had a wonderful time and will be comming back to this wonderful place again.Alex Petik2024-03-18It was amazing trip. We booked 10-day tour package with Cairo Private Tours, It was nothing short of amazing. From exploring the ancient pyramids of Giza to cruising down the Nile River, every moment was filled with awe and wonder. Our knowledgeable guide provided us with in-depth historical insights and ensured that every aspect of our trip ran smoothly. Thank you Tarek and Sam.Nurulnaharlatif2024-01-29Fascinating land of the pharoahs From the moment we touched down at Alexandria Airport, our guide Tarek was there to receive us and took us throughout our 3 day Alexandria/Cairo tour. What else can I say about Egypt that everyone else has said except that it was the best trip ever to just be immersed in the so rich culture. Everything was so rich and deep. The people especially, the smells, sounds, the mesmerizing sites. All so stimulating. I can never top this trip if it hadn’t been for our guide Tarek and Cairo Private Tours. Everything was so moving for me. Thank u Tarek for showing us your fascinating country.Wanderlust2024-01-19Amazing! We were in Egypt for 2 weeks and had an amazing trip! The private trip was planned perfectly and we had a wonderful time! All I did was tell them what all we wanted to do and they took care of the rest! Itinerary planning, bookings, cars, guides.. everything! Our guides Khalefa in Cairo and surrounding areas, Nagah in Luxor and Aladdin in Aswan and Abu Simbel were exceptional! We felt treated like family! What a memorable time!! 100% recommend!!
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