🏛️ Mons Claudianus Day Trip to the Roman Quarries
Explore the ancient Roman quarries in the Eastern Desert
Embark on a journey to Mons Claudianus, one of the largest and most famous Roman quarries in the Eastern Desert. Discover the history of this ancient site, see the ruins of a Roman settlement, and marvel at the massive stone columns and structures left behind.
🌟 Key Highlights 🌟
🏜️ Sunrise Stop: Enjoy a breathtaking sunrise from the top of a desert mountain.
🏛️ Roman Quarries: Explore the ancient quarries and see massive stone columns, tubs, baths, and ruins.
📜 Historical Insights: Learn about the lives of the Roman quarry workers and their daily routines.
🍴 All-Inclusive Food & Drinks: Enjoy breakfast and refreshments during the tour.
📅 Tour Program
Itinerary:
- 05:00 AM – Pickup from your hotel in Hurghada by Jeep.
- 06:00 AM – Sunrise stop at a desert mountain.
- 06:40 AM – Drive to the Acacia tree in the middle of the desert.
- 07:20 AM – Arrive at Mons Claudianus and enjoy breakfast.
- 08:00 AM – Explore the Roman quarries, ruins, and historical sites.
- 10:00 AM – Visit Panorama Point for stunning views of the desert.
- 11:00 AM – Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch with drinks at the site.
- 12:00 PM – Depart for Hurghada.
- 01:00 PM – Arrive back at your hotel.
📜 Mons Claudianus History
Mons Claudianus was a quarrying settlement in the Eastern Desert, midway between the Red Sea and the Nile. Discovered in 1823 by Wilkinson and Burton, the quarries operated between the 1st and 3rd centuries. The site housed an estimated 1,000 people, including quarrymen and guards, and was connected to the Nile by a Roman road marked by way-stations.
The stones from Mons Claudianus were used in iconic Roman structures, including the Pantheon in Rome, the Basilica of Trajan, the Flavian Palace, and the Baths of Caracalla.
🏛️ Mons Claudianus Highlights
- Numerous columns, tubs, and baths still lie broken but intact.
- Ruins of a temple started by Emperor Hadrian but never completed.
- Camp, dwellings, workshops, stables, and a dromos (processional way).
- Surviving facilities that show how quarrymen accessed and transported stone.
🍴 Mons Claudianus Life
Between 1987 and 1993, 9,200 ostraca (pottery fragments) were found, detailing the lives of the men, women, and children who lived here. The ostraca reveal four groups of people:
- Soldiers and officials
- Skilled civilian workers
- Unskilled workers
- Women and children
Workers earned around 47 drachmas a month, twice the wage of their counterparts in the Nile Valley. The diet included fish from the Red Sea, pepper from India, game animals, snails, oysters, and locally grown vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, and mint.
📦 Inclusions & Exclusions
Included:
- Egyptian professional tour guide/leader (degree-qualified in Egyptology).
- All transfers by Jeep from the hotel and back.
- Entrance fees to Mons Claudianus.
- All permissions for the site.
Excluded:
- Personal expenses and optional activities.
- Tipping kitty.
- Any item not mentioned above.
ℹ️ Additional Tour Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Trip Capacity | 1 to 5 persons per trip |
| Maximum Group Size | Not more than 25 persons |
| Tipping | 10% of the tour price |
| Payment | Due upon arrival |
| Private Trip Requests | Contact EL Pharaon via Phone/WhatsApp: +201055441595 |
| Passport Requirement | Bring your passport and send a copy via email for permissions (required for Exodus and all trips) |
| Booking & Cancellation | Book at least 2 days in advance; cancellations accepted up to 1 day before. For Exodus trips, book at least 1 month in advance; cancellations accepted up to 15 days before. |
| Exodus Private & Self-Drive | For Exodus private and self-drive trips, contact EL Pharaon via Phone/WhatsApp: +201055441595 |
⏰ Tour Details
Duration:5 hoursType:PrivateState:HurghadaRuns:DailyPickup Time:05:00 AMReturn Time:01:00 PM
🎒 What to Bring
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
- Comfortable shoes and clothes
- Camera or video camera
- Reusable water bottle
Important Notes:
- Wear comfortable clothing suitable for desert conditions.
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.