Eastern Desert & Mons Claudianus
مونس كلوديانوس
A Roman granodiorite quarry deep in the Eastern Desert southwest of Hurghada. Columns for the Pantheon in Rome were cut here, and it is a historic extension of a desert jeep tour.
Behind Hurghada stretches the vast Eastern Desert, also known as the Arabian Desert, with reddish-brown mountains running down to the Nile Valley. Most visitors take a half-day desert jeep or quad bike trip with a Bedouin village dinner, which stays close to the city. For a deeper historical route, you can visit Mons Claudianus. From the 1st to the 3rd century AD, this was a Roman Empire granodiorite quarry. The massive columns of the Pantheon's portico and the columns of Trajan's Forum were cut from here. The site preserves walled quarry workers' camps, temples, baths, stables, and wells. On the surrounding slopes lie several broken or unfinished giant columns, one about 18 metres long, looking as if the workers had just set it down. The site is about 120 km southwest of Hurghada. You follow the Hurghada–Qena road into the mountains, then travel a stretch of desert track. Hire a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a guide who knows the route, and plan a round trip of one day. You can also stop at another Roman porphyry quarry, Mons Porphyrites. There is no water supply or mobile signal in the desert, so bring plenty of water and food. Your guide will arrange any necessary travel permits.
Opening hours
Daytime (guide required)
Nearby sights
- Jungle Aqua Park
- Sand City Hurghada
- Makadi Bay
- Safaga
- Hurghada Grand Aquarium
- Sahl Hasheesh
- Mons Porphyrites
- Hurghada Museum