Wadi El Natrun Monasteries Tour from Alexandria

Schedule	Duration	Pickup Time
Every day except Sunday	Approx. 07 – 08 hours	07:00am – we can change the time to suit you

✨ Tour Highlights

Monastery of St. Macarius the Great (Deir Anba Maqar)
Monastery of St. Bishoy (Deir Anba Bishoy)
Monastery of El-Suryan (The Syrian Monastery)
Monastery of Al-Baramus (Deir Al-Baramus)
Living Coptic Christian heritage
Peaceful Western Desert landscapes
Traditional Egyptian lunch

Tour Prices:

Single	2- 3 Persons	4-6 Persons	7-10 Persons
240 $	140 $	120 $	99 $

What’s Included

Pick-up and drop-off services
All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
Private professional Egyptologist guide
Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary
Traditional Egyptian lunch at a local restaurant (beverages not included)
Bottled mineral water during sightseeing
All service charges and taxes

What’s Excluded

Tipping (optional)
Personal expenses
Beverages during lunch
Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary

The Living Desert of Faith – Far beyond Egypt’s temples and pyramids lies a place where time seems to stand still.

This private journey from Alexandria leads to Wadi El Natrun, the birthplace of Christian monasticism and home to some of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited monasteries. Behind their ancient walls, prayer, worship, and monastic life have continued uninterrupted for more than sixteen centuries, making this one of Christianity’s most spiritually significant destinations.

Your WOW TOURS EGYPT guide will meet you at your hotel in Alexandria before traveling through Egypt’s Western Desert in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle.

As you leave the city behind, the landscape becomes open and calm. This is the Western Desert — a place that once drew early Christian monks seeking solitude, reflection, and spiritual purpose.

Arriving in Wadi El Natrun, the birthplace of Christian monasticism and a spiritual center of the Coptic Orthodox Church since the 4th century. Unlike many historic landmarks, these monasteries are not museums – they remain active places of retreat, prayer, and quiet devotion.

Your first stop is the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great (Deir Anba Maqar), one of Egypt’s oldest monasteries and a renowned center of monastic life. Founded by St. Macarius in the 4th century, it is believed to preserve the relics of St. John the Baptist and the Prophet Elisha.

Continue to the Monastery of St. Bishoy (Deir Anba Bishoy), one of the most revered monasteries in Egypt. According to Christian tradition, Christ appeared to St. Bishoy here, and the saint’s incorrupt body remains preserved within the monastery.

Next, visit the Monastery of El-Suryan (The Syrian Monastery), celebrated for its remarkable medieval frescoes, ancient manuscripts, and centuries of Coptic and Syriac Christian heritage.

Your final visit is to the Monastery of Al-Baramus (Deir Al-Baramus), traditionally regarded as the oldest monastery in Wadi El Natrun. Its peaceful courtyards and ancient churches preserve the spirit of the early Desert Fathers who chose lives of simplicity and devotion.

Walking through these monasteries is unlike visiting Egypt’s famous archaeological sites. Ancient walls, quiet courtyards, and centuries of uninterrupted monastic life create an atmosphere of peace that has changed little since the first monks settled this valley.

After your visit, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before relaxing on the comfortable drive back to Alexandria, taking with you a deeper appreciation of Egypt’s Christian heritage and one of the world’s oldest living monastic traditions.

Optional: