St Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai at sunrise

What this is

The climb starts around two in the morning so you are at the summit for first light. The camel path takes about three hours to the col; from there it is 750 uneven rock steps, and the camels cannot help you. Coming down in daylight is harder on the knees than going up in the dark. The monastery opens at 09:00 and holds icons and manuscripts nothing else can match.

Highlights

• Sunrise from the summit of Mount Sinai at 2,285 metres
• The 750 Steps of Repentance below the summit
• St Catherine's Monastery, continuously occupied since 565 AD
• The Burning Bush and the sixth-century mosaic
• The icon collection and the manuscript library

What is included

Your itinerary

Good to know

• Wear closed-toe shoes; most sites are sand, gravel and uneven stone.
• Summer temperatures in Upper Egypt regularly exceed 40C. We start early for a reason.
• Bring your passport - several sites check ID at the gate.
• Photography is free at most sites; interior tomb photography sometimes carries a separate ticket.
• This is a genuinely hard night for anyone not used to walking. If you have knee trouble, the descent will find it.
• The summit is near freezing before dawn even in summer. Bring a proper jacket, gloves and a head torch.
• The monastery closes to visitors on Sundays and on Orthodox feast days. We check your date before confirming.

Questions

How do I book?

Send us the dates and how many people are travelling, by WhatsApp or the form on this page. We reply with a written itinerary and a fixed price, usually within a few hours. Confirming is a message, not a payment.

Do you take a deposit?

No. We ask for no deposit and take no payment to hold a date. Nothing is charged when you book and nothing is payable in advance - you settle with us in Egypt once the trip is running.

What if I need to change or cancel?

Tell us and we will change it, or cancel it, at no cost. There is no cancellation fee and no deadline to worry about, because nothing has been paid up front. If plans shift while you are already here, we will rearrange what we can on the day.

Is Egypt safe for solo and female travellers?

The tourist regions are heavily policed and we work in them daily. Your guide stays with you at every site. If you are travelling alone, tell us - we will match you with a guide accordingly.