Bucket list experience:
Sharm el-Sheik, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
At the base of Mount Sinai, set amid a dramatic and harsh desert landscape, is the Greek Orthodox monastery of St. Catherine. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this remarkable monastery was built by order of Emperor Justinian I (527-565) to protect the biblical ‘Burning Bush’, where Moses received his instructions to lead the Israelites out of Egypt in Canaan. The living bush in the grounds – now surrounded by a protective fence – is apparently the original.
The monastery is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world, and it is still used by a religious community. It remains a holy pilgrimage site.
St. Catherine’s owns one of the world’s great collections of religious icons – from each period of religious art – housed in a separate gallery within the monastery compound.
Just behind the monastery, also high on religious significance, is Mount Sinai, the rocky summit where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments. Take an early-hours tour to climb the 3-mile trail to see the sunrise and dramatic colour shifts in the surrounding desert landscapes.
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.
The monastery is open Monday-Thursday and Saturday. Closed Wednesday, Sunday and on religious holidays. 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.
Sharm el-Sheik, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
A 3-mile trail, high on religious significance, leading up to the rocky summit where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments.
Best for ages: 13+ | £35 | 3-5 hours
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Dahab
$60 | Rating 4.66 / 5 [12 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Cairo
$360 | Rating 4.94 / 5 [18 ratings]
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