Egypt is one of the cradles of Christianity. Tradition holds that the Holy Family found refuge here, that St Mark brought the Gospel to Alexandria, and that the monastic life began in Egypt's deserts with St Anthony and St Paul the Hermit. The Coptic Church is the largest Christian community in the Middle East, and its churches and monasteries are still places of living worship.
This journey is designed for Christian travellers, parish and church groups, and anyone interested in Egypt's Christian heritage, including many Coptic families from Australia and New Zealand visiting the land of their faith. It visits the most important sites in a logical order, with a guide who understands both their history and their meaning, and time for prayer and reflection.
You also see the Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, and you can extend the trip with a Nile cruise, Luxor and Aswan, or the Holy Family sites of Middle Egypt such as the Monastery of Al-Muharraq. Every journey is private, so we can adjust the pace, add a Sunday liturgy, or arrange visits for a church group.
Journey highlights
- Coptic Cairo: the Hanging Church, Abu Serga and the Coptic Museum
- The Cave Church of St Simon the Tanner in the Mokattam hills
- The 4th-century monasteries of Wadi El Natrun
- St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria
- St Anthony's and St Paul's monasteries in the Eastern Desert
- A sunrise climb of Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery
- The Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Arrive in Cairo
Our representative meets you inside the terminal at Cairo International Airport, helps with your visa and luggage, and walks you to your private car. Transfer to your Giza hotel and rest after the long flight.
- Day2
Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and Saqqara
Reach the Giza Plateau at opening time with your guide for the Great Pyramid, the panoramic viewpoint and the Great Sphinx. After lunch, drive about 45 minutes south to Saqqara for Djoser's Step Pyramid, the oldest large stone monument in Egypt.
- Day3
Coptic Cairo and the Cave Church
Spend the morning in Coptic Cairo, inside the walls of the Roman Babylon Fortress: the Hanging Church, built over the fortress gatehouse; the Church of Abu Serga (Sts Sergius and Bacchus), whose crypt is traditionally where the Holy Family rested; the Ben Ezra Synagogue; and the Coptic Museum's collection of icons, textiles and manuscripts. In the afternoon, visit the Monastery of St Simon the Tanner, whose vast Cave Church is carved into the Mokattam cliffs.
- Day4
Wadi El Natrun monasteries and Alexandria
Drive north-west along the desert road to Wadi El Natrun, the ancient Scetis, where monks have lived since the 4th century. Visit two or three of its monasteries, such as St Bishoy and the Syrian Monastery, with their ancient churches and keeps. Continue to Alexandria, about 1.5 hours further, for two nights.
- Day5
St Mark's Alexandria
Visit St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, on the site associated with the church St Mark is said to have founded in the 1st century. Then explore the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, the Roman theatre at Kom el-Dikka, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site of the ancient lighthouse, with seafood by the harbour.
- Day6
Return to Cairo and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Drive back to Cairo, about three hours, and spend the afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum, where Tutankhamun's treasures are displayed together for the first time. Evening at leisure, or attend a service at a Cairo church with your guide.
- Day7
St Anthony's and St Paul's monasteries
Drive east towards the Red Sea to the Monastery of St Anthony, often described as the oldest active Christian monastery in the world, beneath the cliff where the saint lived as a hermit. Visit its restored wall paintings, then continue to the nearby Monastery of St Paul the Hermit. Overnight on the Red Sea coast.
- Day8
Across the Suez Canal to St Catherine
Drive north, cross under the Suez Canal through the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel, then follow the Gulf of Suez and the mountains of South Sinai to St Catherine, a long but scenic travel day of around six hours with stops. Rest in the afternoon ahead of the night climb.
- Day9
Mount Sinai at sunrise and St Catherine's Monastery
Set off around 2am to climb Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa, 2,285 metres), traditionally where Moses received the Ten Commandments, following the camel path (camels can take you part of the way) and the final steps to the summit for sunrise. After breakfast, visit St Catherine's Monastery, with its Burning Bush and 6th-century basilica, if it is open that day. Drive to Sharm el-Sheikh, about three hours, and fly to Cairo for the night.
- Day10
Depart Cairo
Transfer to Cairo International Airport for your flight home, or continue on a Nile cruise or Holy Family extension to Middle Egypt.
Where you’ll stay
| Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| Cairo (Giza), 3 nights | Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo or similar |
| Alexandria, 2 nights | Steigenberger Cecil Hotel or similar |
| Cairo, 1 night | Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City or similar |
| Red Sea coast, 1 night | A beach resort at Ain Sokhna or similar |
| St Catherine, 1 night | A comfortable lodge near the monastery |
| Cairo airport, 1 night | Le Méridien Cairo Airport or similar |
What’s included
- 9 nights in hotels with daily breakfast
- Private guide on every sightseeing day, with expertise in Coptic and Christian history
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all transfers and touring
- Domestic flight Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo
- Standard entry fees for the sites in the itinerary
- Local Bedouin guide for the Mount Sinai climb
- Airport meet-and-assist service and 24/7 local support
Not included
- International flights from Australia or New Zealand (we can quote and book these)
- Egypt visa fee
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Camel ride on Mount Sinai
- Donations at churches and monasteries, drinks, meals not listed and tips
Destinations on this journey
Cairo & Giza · Alexandria · Sharm el-Sheikh & South Sinai
Christian Egypt in 10 Days: Coptic Cairo, the Desert Monasteries & Mount Sinai: FAQs
Can you arrange a Christian Egypt tour for a church group?
Yes. We plan private tours for parish, church and community groups, including liturgies and visits arranged with monasteries where possible, and a pace that suits all ages. Tell us about your group.
Can we follow the full Holy Family trail?
Yes, as an extension. The traditional route continues south to Gabal al-Tair near Minya and the Monastery of Al-Muharraq near Assiut, where the Holy Family is said to have stayed longest. Travel in parts of Middle Egypt can involve police escorts and different travel advice, so check Smartraveller, and read our guide to Christian sites in Egypt.
Is St Catherine's Monastery always open?
No. At the time of writing it opens to visitors only on limited mornings and closes on some days of the week and on religious holidays, so we schedule your visit around its hours.
How hard is the Mount Sinai climb?
It takes about 2.5–3 hours to the summit on the camel path, finishing with around 750 steep steps, mostly in the dark. It suits anyone of reasonable fitness; camels can carry you most of the way, and you can skip the climb and visit the monastery only.
What should we wear to churches and monasteries?
Cover shoulders and knees; women may like to carry a scarf. Shoes are removed in some sanctuaries. See what to wear in Egypt.
Can we add Luxor and a Nile cruise?
Yes. Many travellers add a 3–4 night Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan, or start with our Classic Egypt & Nile Cruise and add the Christian sites to it.
