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The travel and service partners who help us deliver smooth journeys across Egypt.
Tour details
Trade one night in Sharm for sunrise above the Sinai mountains, a guided Mount Moses hike and a visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery when open.
A sunrise worth the climb
Leave the resort lights behind and discover a very different side of Sinai. This overnight journey from Sharm El Sheikh brings together an exhilarating mountain walk, wide-open sunrise views and the remarkable setting of St. Catherine’s Monastery.
Your adventure begins with an evening hotel pick-up and a drive to the Saint Catherine area. Meet your mountain guide, prepare your layers and torch, and start walking while the landscape is still dark. The steady climb gives you time to settle into the rhythm of the trail before tackling the final stone steps on foot.
At the summit of Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Moses or Jebel Musa, pause as daylight reveals the surrounding ridges. At approximately 2,285 metres above sea level, the view stretches across a dramatic mountain landscape. Bring your camera, but leave a little time simply to enjoy being there. Sunrise visibility depends on the weather.
After descending, visit the areas of St. Catherine’s Monastery open to visitors, subject to its schedule and local access arrangements. Founded in the sixth century, the monastery forms part of the UNESCO-listed Saint Catherine Area. This is a living place of worship, so visits follow the monastery’s rules and are limited to permitted spaces. Library access and entry to restricted areas are not included.
Why choose this experience?
• A memorable overnight escape from Sharm El Sheikh.
• A guided hike to one of Sinai’s best-known summits.
• Mountain views that change completely with the morning light.
• Time at a historic monastery in a remarkable desert setting, when open.
• Hotel pick-up and return drop-off arranged for your journey.
Is this hike right for you?
This is an active mountain excursion with several hours of uphill and downhill walking, uneven ground and approximately 750 final steps. Good walking fitness is essential. A camel, if arranged separately, covers only part of the approach; the summit steps must still be walked.
Plan for an overnight outing of approximately 16 hours, with the final schedule confirmed before departure. Choose your experience with Intours Egypt and make this the morning you remember long after your holiday.
• Hotel pick-up and return drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh.
• Round-trip transportation by air-conditioned vehicle.
• Local mountain guide for the Mount Sinai hike.
• Sunrise viewing from the mountain, subject to weather and trail conditions.
• Visit to the permitted public areas of St. Catherine’s Monastery when open.
Any reserve entry fees, equipment provision and additional guide languages will be specified in the final confirmed tour arrangements.
• Meals, snacks and drinks.
• Optional camel ride on the approach trail; it does not cover the final summit steps.
• Blanket rental, if available locally.
• Optional museum entry and access to restricted monastery areas.
• Personal purchases and optional gratuities.
Optional services are subject to availability and their prices must be agreed before purchase.
• Original passport and booking confirmation.
• Sturdy, closed hiking shoes with good grip.
• Warm layers and a windproof jacket; hat and gloves for cold conditions.
• Working head torch or flashlight with spare batteries.
• Drinking water and easy-to-carry snacks.
• Small backpack, personal essentials and any prescribed medication.
• Clothing that covers shoulders and knees for the monastery.
• Sun protection for the descent and daytime return.
• Camera or phone, power bank and a small amount of cash for optional purchases.
Overnight timing
The outing starts in the evening and finishes the following day. Your booking date should refer to the evening of hotel pick-up. Exact pick-up, return and hiking times are confirmed before departure and can change with season, road arrangements and group pace.
Walking and fitness
Expect several hours of walking on uneven mountain paths, a sustained ascent, approximately 750 final stone steps and a downhill return. This is not a short sightseeing walk. The hike is not wheelchair accessible. Contact Intours Egypt before booking if you are unsure about your ability to complete the route. A camel covers only part of the approach and does not replace the summit climb.
Monastery access
Visits are subject to current access rules. The monastery normally closes to general visitors on Fridays, Sundays and major Greek Orthodox feast days. These are visit days, not the preceding evening’s departure days. Cover shoulders and knees, respect worshippers and follow local photography restrictions. The library and restricted areas are not part of a standard visit; guided commentary may take place outside.
Mountain conditions
The summit can be very cold and windy, including before sunrise. Visibility, summit access and the final route depend on weather and local authorities. Bring suitable layers, sturdy footwear and a working torch.
Travel documents
Carry your original passport and confirm current permit or document requirements with Intours Egypt before departure.
Policy
Meet your driver at the agreed hotel entrance and travel to the Saint Catherine area. Your exact collection time is confirmed before departure. The tour date refers to the evening you leave Sharm.
Prepare your torch, warm layers and drinking water before following your local guide onto the mountain trail. Expect a sustained uphill walk with pauses according to the group’s pace.
Complete the final stone steps on foot and find a place to watch the mountain landscape emerge in the morning light. Sunrise colours and visibility vary with weather conditions.
Walk back down with your guide, taking care on the uneven ground and steps. Daylight reveals the ridges and rock formations that were hidden during the ascent.
Explore the permitted visitor areas of this historic place of worship, subject to opening hours, religious observances and current access rules. Commentary follows monastery rules; the library and restricted areas are not included.
Rejoin your vehicle for the return journey to Sharm El Sheikh and hotel drop-off. Return time varies with road arrangements and the pace of the outing.
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