Mount Sinai sunrise climb and St Catherine's Monastery
Overview
Watching the sun come up from the top of Mount Sinai is one of the great experiences in Egypt. Known locally as Jabal Musa, the Mountain of Moses, the 2,285-metre peak is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and many visitors climb it through the night to reach the top for sunrise.
You're picked up from your Sharm hotel late in the evening for a drive of about three hours to St Catherine. With a local Bedouin guide, you set off by torchlight up the Camel Path, a broad, steady trail with small cafés along the way for tea and a rest. Camels can take you part of the way for an extra fee. The last stretch is a steep flight of stone steps to the summit.
At the top, wrap up in a blanket and watch the first light spread across a sea of red granite peaks. After the descent, visit St Catherine's Monastery at the foot of the mountain. Built between 548 and 565 on the site of the Burning Bush, it's the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You're back in Sharm around lunchtime.
Highlights
- Sunrise from the 2,285-metre summit of Mount Sinai
- Night climb by torchlight with a Bedouin guide
- Tea stops at small cafés on the trail
- St Catherine's Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Optional camel ride for part of the way
What's included
- Return transfers from Sharm el-Sheikh in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Local Bedouin guide for the climb
- English-speaking tour leader
- Permits
- St Catherine protected-area and Mount Sinai entry fees
- Monastery entry, where charged
- Camel ride (optional)
- Blanket hire, drinks and snacks on the mountain
- Tips
Request this tour
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Itinerary
Frequently asked questions
A moderate level of fitness is enough. The climb takes around two and a half to three hours at a steady pace, and the final steps are steep. It isn't recommended with back or heart problems or in pregnancy.
Warm layers, as the summit is very cold before dawn, plus a torch or head torch, sturdy shoes, water, snacks and some Egyptian pounds for tea, toilets and blanket hire.
Yes. St Catherine is outside the Sharm resort area, so the free Sinai entry stamp isn't enough. We'll confirm the current visa rules when you book.
