Bucket list experience:
Sharm el-Sheik, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
This 3-mile trail, high on religious significance, leads up to the rocky summit where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments.
Most tours start in the early hours, to see the sunrise and the dramatic colour shifts in the surrounding desert landscapes.
The trail starts at the beautiful 6th-century monastery of St. Catherine, built to protect the biblical ‘Burning Bush’ where Moses received instructions to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Sharm el-Sheik, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
A remarkable 6th-century UNESCO-listed monastery, set at the base of Mount Sinai. It’s home to one of the world’s great collections of religious icons, and the biblical ‘Burning Bush’.
Adult price: £2
Best for ages 18+
Duration: 3-5 hours
St. Catherine’s is reached by car from Dahab (about 90 minutes), Sharm el Sheikh (about 2.5 hours) and Cairo (about 8 hours). Guided tours e.g. with Viator are the most convenient way to go – everything is organised for you. Hotels in the resorts can also arrange tours.
If you’re going independently, taxis are the easiest ways of getting there from the coast. Be sure to arrange your return journey before you leave, or face a haggle and inflated charges to get back to the coast. The Bedouin Bus service is another option. It runs each Tuesday and Friday between St. Catherine and Dahab.
The monastery guest house has a good restaurant serving simple soups and grills. Kiosks selling hot drinks, biscuits and chocolate have set up on the summit for dawn climbers.
If you’re planning a dawn climb, book a room at the monastery guesthouse the night before. Accommodation is simple but decent and includes meals. There are also other hotels nearby.
If you’re climbing Mount Sinai, note that the mountain is extremely cold between November and February, and extremely hot (on the way down) in summer.
The monastery is open Monday-Thursday and Saturday. Closed Wednesday, Sunday and on religious holidays.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Sharm el Sheikh
Price: $48
Rating 4.30 / 5 [42 ratings]
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Sharm el Sheikh
Price: $55
Rating 4.55 / 5 [9 ratings]
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Dahab
Price: $60
Rating 4.61 / 5 [13 ratings]
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Sharm el Sheikh
Price: $80
Rating 4.15 / 5 [51 ratings]
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Sharm el Sheikh
Price: $160
Rating 4.7 / 5 [10 ratings]
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Sharm el Sheikh
Price: $170
Rating 4.96 / 5 [26 ratings]
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Dahab
Price: $298
Rating 5 / 5 [15 ratings]
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Cairo
Price: $360
Rating 4.94 / 5 [18 ratings]
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