Sunrise on Mount Sinai
Climb through the night to the summit for dawn, then walk down to the oldest working monastery in the Christian world.
- Where
- Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery, South Sinai
- Length
- Overnight, about 14 hours from Sharm El Sheikh
- Needs
- A steady night climb; no technical skill
The story
Mount Sinai rises to 2,285 m. Climbers take the gentler camel path, about 2.5 hours on foot, or the 3,750 Steps of Penitence behind the monastery, and many set out after midnight to reach the summit for sunrise (Wikipedia).
At its foot, St Catherine's Monastery was founded in the 6th century and is the oldest Christian monastery still used for its original purpose; the area is sacred to Christianity, Islam and Judaism (UNESCO).
What happens
Collection late in the evening and the drive to St Catherine.
Climb the camel path by torchlight with a Bedouin guide, and the final steps to the summit.
Watch the sun rise over the Sinai mountains.
Walk down to St Catherine's Monastery when it opens, before the drive back.
A proposed shape, not a fixed programme. The final arrangements and order are agreed before booking.
Who it suits
A night without sleep and a steady climb at altitude, then the descent. It is cold on the summit in every season, and freezing in winter.
- Previous experience
- A steady night climb; no technical skill
- Minimum age
- Teenagers used to walking
- Best season
- Year-round; the summit is freezing in winter
- What you see
- Sunrise over the Sinai mountains, then St Catherine's Monastery
Time and travel
- Starting location
- St Catherine, from Sharm El Sheikh or Dahab
- Total time
- Overnight, about 14 hours from Sharm El Sheikh
- Active time
- About 2.5–3 hours up and 1.5 hours down
Times are planning estimates. Confirm pickup, travel from your accommodation and the time you need to be back. Our effort judgement: active.
Our recommendation
It is a long night, and rushed tours cut the monastery short. We plan the timing so that you have both.
What we confirm before you go
- A registered Bedouin guide for the climb
- Warm layers, a torch and water; blankets can be hired near the top
- The monastery's opening hours for your date, which change with religious holidays
- The route to St Catherine, which stays outside the area the UK government advises against
Every item is settled in writing before anything is arranged.
Where it fits
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Questions?
Ask about “Sunrise on Mount Sinai”
Tell us your dates, where you will be and who is coming. We confirm the host, the timing, the price for your party and the terms before anything is booked.
Sources and review
Reviewed on by Deluxe Trips Egypt. Facts are attributed to their sources; where we give a judgement, we say so. Arranged on request; we confirm every detail before anything is booked.
Photography credits (4)
Sara Nabih, CC BY-SA 4.0; Norhan Elmaghrabi, CC BY-SA 4.0; Egy2030, CC BY-SA 4.0; Fadyhesham0, CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and cropped for display.
