Wadi El Natrun Monasteries Day Trip from Alexandria – Private, Three Coptic Monasteries
8 hours, private vehicle and guide, lunch included, pick-up at 08:00.
At a glance
- Departs
- Daily
The short answer
An 8-hour private day trip by road from Alexandria to Wadi El Natrun and back: the monasteries of St Bishoy, the Syrian Monastery and Baramus, with a guide, a driver and lunch.
- New
- Private
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Alexandria · Wadi El Natrun · Monastery of St Bishoy · Syrian Monastery · Monastery of Baramus
- Includes
- Private pick-up and drop-off at an Alexandria hotel or the cruise port · Your own air-conditioned vehicle with a driver · Private English-speaking guide · Visits to three monasteries (no entrance fee is charged) · Lunch at a local restaurant
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April has the best temperatures. In summer, the morning start helps.
- Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, an Egyptian tour operator working since 1988 with six offices
- Travel licence ETAA 718 (Category A); IATA accredited agent
02Overview
A first look
This is a private day from Alexandria to Wadi El Natrun, a quiet desert valley where Coptic monks still live and pray. Your driver meets you at 08:00 at your hotel or the cruise port, and the desert road south takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Your guide then walks you through three monasteries: St Bishoy, the Syrian Monastery and Baramus, with lunch at a local restaurant in the early afternoon. These are working monasteries, not museums. The order of the visits and the churches that are open depend on the monks' schedule and on fasting periods. If one monastery is not receiving visitors that day, your guide replaces it with another in the valley where possible. Cover your shoulders and knees, and be ready to take your shoes off inside the churches. Cruise guests should give us their ship's name and all-aboard time when booking. You can book this trip online, and the price shown is per person.
Background
The facts
Wadi El Natrun is a desert valley about 1 hour 45 minutes by road south of Alexandria. A private day trip leaves in the morning and returns in the afternoon.
Named in this entry
Alexandria·Wadi El Natrun·Monastery of St Bishoy·Syrian Monastery·Deir al-Suryan·Monastery of Baramus·Coptic
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers staying in Alexandria, or in port there, who want a quiet look at living Coptic monastic life in one private day.
Maybe not, if
- Not for anyone who dislikes long drives or heat, or who cannot manage uneven ground and shoes off on stone floors.
What lingers
- 01A private vehicle, driver and English-speaking guide for your party only
- 02The Monastery of St Bishoy: the old church, the keep and the refectory
- 03The Syrian Monastery (Deir al-Suryan) and its wall paintings
- 04The Monastery of Baramus, the northernmost in the valley
- 05Lunch at a local restaurant and no entrance fees
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Your own guide and vehicle, with a flexible pace
- Three working monasteries in one day
- Lunch included and no entrance fees
Things to Consider
- About 3.5 hours in the car
- Visits depend on the monks' schedule and fasting periods
- Modest dress and shoes off in the churches
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
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- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Private pick-up and drop-off at an Alexandria hotel or the cruise port
- Your own air-conditioned vehicle with a driver
- Private English-speaking guide
- Visits to three monasteries (no entrance fee is charged)
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water
Not included
- Gratuities
- Drinks with lunch
- Personal expenses
- Donations at the monasteries
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Wear shoes that slip off easily and bring socks
- 02
Cruise guests should send the ship's name and all-aboard time when booking
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children's prices are set from the ages you give when you book, and there is no minimum age. The day lasts about 8 hours with around 3.5 hours in the car, so it suits school-age children who are comfortable on a drive. Children should be ready to dress modestly, speak quietly and take their shoes off in the churches.
Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How is this private trip priced?
The price is per person, and it falls as the group grows, because the vehicle, driver and guide are shared among more people. It covers the transfers, the guide, lunch and bottled water. No entrance fee is charged at the monasteries.02How do I book this trip?
You book online. Choose your date and group size, and give us the name of your hotel or, for cruise guests, your ship and its all-aboard time. Our team confirms the pick-up details with you afterward.03Will all three monasteries be open?
Usually, but not always. These are working monasteries, so the order of the visits and which churches are open depend on the monks' schedule and on fasting periods. If one monastery is not receiving visitors that day, your guide replaces it with another in the valley where possible.04What should I wear?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and wear shoes that are easy to take off, because shoes come off inside the churches. Socks help on cool or hot floors. Bring a hat and sunscreen for the walks between buildings.05Can I do this from a cruise ship in Alexandria?
Possibly, if your ship stays in port long enough. The day runs about 8 hours plus any wait at the port, so you need to be free from the morning into the afternoon. Give us your ship's name and all-aboard time when booking, and we will say honestly whether it fits. We cannot promise a return-to-ship time, because road traffic changes.06What is the cancellation policy?
More than 72 hours ahead, keep 100% as credit toward future travel or take a 100% refund, less bank charges. Between 72 and 24 hours, keep 100% as credit or take a 50% refund. Within 24 hours, or if you don't show up, there is no refund or credit. If we have to cancel, you lose nothing.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
What you get back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your trip you tell us and the type of trip you book. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Product ID: EXC-ALX-043113
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