Description
Embark on a spiritual journey to the Monastery of Saint Anthony from Hurghada, Egypt, and witness the oldest Christian sights built during Roman Egypt. The Monastery of Saint Anthony Hurghada program will also educate you about the country’s history.
During this individual trip, you will visit the oldest Coptic monastery in Egypt – the Monastery of St. Anthony. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious lunch before exploring the other Monastery of St. Paul. The trip price includes transfers and lunch. The Coptic monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul on the Red Sea, close to Hurghada, offer a glimpse into Egyptian history and the country’s Christian heritage.
Why is the Tour to Saint Anthony recommended?
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel in Hurghada and take you to Zafaarana in an air-conditioned vehicle. From there, you will take a sightseeing tour to the St. Anton Monastery, renowned for its high walls and the oldest monastery in Egypt. The monastery houses several churches, chapels, a garden, a bakery, and a fountain celebrating Saint Anthony, the father of monasticism.
Afterwards, continue your journey to the St. Paul Monastery, also built in the 4th century AD by hermits who sought to distance themselves from the material world. The monasteries of St. Anton and St. Paul are considered the holiest places of the Coptic Church in Egypt and an excellent example of religious coexistence.
Finally, enjoy the fantastic view as you drive back to your hotel, making this excursion to the monasteries of St. Anton and St. Paul from Hurghada on the Red Sea an unforgettable journey.
Join us on this spiritual journey and immerse yourself in a piece of Egyptian history. The monasteries of St. Anton and St. Paul are faithful witnesses to the record, showcasing the coexistence of two world religions in Egypt.
The excursion program includes pick up from your hotel in Hurghada, an air-conditioned van from Hurghada/Zafarana/Hurghada, entrance fees to the sites mentioned above, an English-speaking guide during your tour, a bottle of Mineral Water for each person, all service charges, and taxes, and return transfer to your hotel at the end of your tour.
Highlights on Monastery of Saint Anthony Trip
- Visit the Monastery of St. Anthony.
- Lunch at a restaurant.
- Besides, visit the Monastery of Saint Paul.
Program of Monasteries of Saints Anthony and Paul Excursion
- Landious Travel will pick you up from the hotel in Hurghada around 03:00 AM.
- After picking you up, your private vehicle (Limousine or minibus) will leave for the Monastery of St. Anthony. On your way to this monastery, you will pass the cities of Ras Ghareb and Ain Sokhna. Furthermore, you will finally arrive at Zaafarana. All these cities are north of Hurghada, on the coast of the Red Sea. The journey from the centre of Hurghada to the Monastery of St. Anthony will take about 4 hours.
Schedule in Monastery of St. Anthony
- Once you arrive at the Monastery of Saint Anthony, your guide will accompany you on a tour. The Monastery has a massive wall surrounding it. Inside this colossal wall, monks and an abbot live. More than 1,600 years ago, the hermit Anthony lived in a cave on a 680-meter-high mountain. Also, a staircase with about 1,000 steps leads you to this cave. The alleys, chapels, and gardens are especially worth seeing in the complex.
- Later, after visiting the Monastery of Saint Anthony in Zaafarana, you will enjoy your lunch.
Agenda in Monastery of St. Paul
- Then, you will drive some 40 km back to the Monastery of Saint Paul, which will take you approximately 40 minutes to reach.
- The trip continues in the Monastery of St. Paul. Although this monastery is smaller than Saint Anthony’s, it has some important treasures. Among these treasures are altars, icons, an old olive press, an old pulley, and a coffin containing the remains of St. Paul.
Departure to Hurghada
- Finally, you depart to Hurghada after such a program in the sacred Coptic monasteries of Saints Anthony and Paul.
- This trip to the Monasteries of Saints Anthony and Paul from Hurghada ends at approximately 17:00.
What does the Price of the Monastery of Saint Anthony Trip Hurghada include?
- Private air-conditioned vehicle.
- Lunch.
- Drinks.
- Also, we provide a Private guide.
What does the Program of the Monastery of Saint Anthony Hurghada not include?
- Additional programs if not included in the above program.
- Also, the price does not include drinks in the restaurant.
Items to Take with You for the Trip
- Breakfast box.
- Also, carry with you clothes for the season.
Monastery of Saint Anthony Trip Hurghada Booking Days
- Daily from 03:00 – 17:00.
What can You Expect to See during the Monastery of Saint Anthony Trip Hurghada?
The Monastery of Saint Anthony is a Coptic Orthodox monastery standing in an oasis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, in the southern part of the Suez Governorate, some 50 km from the Red Sea coast. It appears deep in the Red Sea Mountains; St. Anthony’s Monastery is Egypt’s largest and oldest Coptic monastery and one of the oldest monasteries in the world.
Monasticism, launched by St Antony the Great, is Egypt’s greatest gift to Christianity. His disciples established the monastery in the 4th century AD, just a short distance beneath St Anthony’s cave.
The monastery was plundered on many occasions. It was also partly destroyed in the 11th century. Due to such attacks, this is a fortress-style monastery.
Though Coptic, the sanctuary was often multi-faith, housing monks of several different Christian religions for many years.
Saint Antony’s Cave
Journey through 17 centuries of fascinating history and experience the awe of the natural mountain cave St. Antony loved and called his home for 43 years. The 45-minute trundle up 276m is well worth the breathtaking views across the Wadis and the Red Sea. St. Antony’s Cave, where he lived as a hermit, is 2 km away up 1200 steps.
Although some parts of the monastery remain off-limits to tourists, an English-speaking monk gives visitors a guided tour. Today, it is a self-contained village with gardens, a mill, a bakery and five churches, the best of which is St. Antony’s Church. There is also a library with over 1,700 manuscripts.
Exceptional Wall Paintings
The monastery has exceptional wall paintings of holy knights in bright colours and the hermit founders of the abbey in subdued colours and icons. These wall paintings, widely known to monks and art historians, were obscured by soot, candle grease, oil and dust.
These unique paintings were recently restored in a collaborative effort between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the American Research Center in Egypt. The oldest images date to the seventh and eighth centuries, while the newest are from the thirteenth century. In addition to the paintings, woodwork inside At. Antony’s Church was also restored.
Hank Green –
This is a sacred trip. Once you are picked from the hotel, you reach the monastery in about 4 hours. It is a huge monastery so you will have a dedicated guide who will make your trip easier and much more comfortable. This monastery has a huge wall that surrounds it and inside live monks and an abbot. About 1600 years ago, St. Anthony lived here in a cave. You can also go to see the cave but you need to cross 1000 steps to reach the summit and see the cave. Let me tell you if you cannot walk well, do not rise those steps as you have to come down as well. Other than this, you can also see the alleys, chapels, and beautiful gardens. Then you will be going to Zaafara to have your lunch. Post that, you will have another trip 40 KMS back to the Monastery of St. Paul. It is a much smaller one, but the historical importance is not that small. The treasures you get to see here are altars, icons, an old olive press, an old pulley, and a coffin that has the relics of St. Paul. Once these trips are done you are taken back to the hotel.
Владислава –
Я про подібну поїздку давно мріяла, але була в Єгипті лише декілька разів і то, ми відпочивали лише на морі і не більше. А тут з’явилась така можливість просто поглянути та познайомитися з історією монастиря Святого Антонія. Я багато про нього чула, мої друзі з універу там були і тому я мріяла туди потрапити. Це один з найстаріших коптських монастирів в Єгипті. Також, в мене був чудовий гід, який дуже захоплено розповідав, та й показував буквально історію цього монастиря. А ще, ми після обіду їздили до монастиря\ Святого Павла, це також цікаве місце.
Людмила –
Я очень люблю посещать монастыри. Не потому, что сильно верю в Бога, а потому что эти места для меня обладают особой силой. В таких местах я наполняюсь энергией, мне приходят разные “откровения” и я просто там счастлива.
Читала в интернете про монастырь святого Антония и очень впечатлилась. Там до сих пор живут монахи, хотя самому монастырю уже более 1600 лет. Он очень красивый и очень древний. Не могла отказать себе в удовольствии просто посидеть во внутреннем дворике и немного подумать о своем, о женском. Все-таки с уверенностью могу сказать, что это место силы.
Дальше поехали во второй монастырь святого Павла. Он мне тоже понравился, но не так, как предыдущий, хотя и он точно является местом духовной силы.
Организация понравилась. Гид очень умный и много знает об истории Египта. Рассказал по пути еще и про то, как сейчас живут египтяне. Тоже им непросто. Большое спасибо! В следующий раз только с вами поеду 🙂 и всем буду рекомендовать вашу компанию.
Людмила –
Отель Seagull
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Людмила 1 человек