Mount Sinai Sunrise & St Catherine's Monastery from Sharm
17 hours overnight, shared minibus for up to 16. Bedouin guide, breakfast and monastery visit, with hotel transfers.
The short answer
A 17-hour overnight trip from Sharm El Sheikh to Mount Sinai, with about 3 hours of climbing in the dark, sunrise at 2,285 metres, breakfast and a visit to St Catherine's Monastery.
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- Small group
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Sharm El Sheikh · Mount Sinai · St Catherine's Monastery
- Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market) · Air-conditioned minibus shared with other guests · Guide (English) · Bedouin mountain guide for the climb · Breakfast after the descent
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
Spring and autumn give the most comfortable climb. Winter is very cold at the summit, and summer nights are mild but the day is hot. Sunrise time varies through the year.
- Egyptian tour operator working since 1988
- ETAA Licence 718, Category A, and IATA member
02Overview
A first look
This is a 17-hour overnight trip from Sharm El Sheikh to climb Mount Sinai for sunrise and visit St Catherine's Monastery, in a shared minibus of up to 16 guests. Pickup is at 21:00, the drive takes about three hours and the climb starts around 01:00 with a Bedouin guide. The summit is 2,285 metres, and the last 750 steps are on foot. Breakfast, guide, protectorate fee, monastery entrance and transfers are included. It is cold and tiring, and it suits fit travelers aged 8 and over.
Background
The facts
Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery are in the mountains of South Sinai, about 3 hours by road from Sharm El Sheikh. The overnight trip lasts about 17 hours from pickup to drop-off.
Named in this entry
Mount Sinai·St Catherine's Monastery·St Catherine·Bedouin guide·Sinai
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Fit travelers, hikers and pilgrims aged 8 and over who want sunrise from the summit and accept a night without sleep.
Maybe not, if
- Anyone with heart, knee or breathing problems, or who cannot walk uphill for hours.
What lingers
- 01Night climb with a Bedouin mountain guide on the camel path, starting about 01:00
- 02Sunrise from the summit of Mount Sinai, 2,285 metres above sea level, in the cold
- 03The last 750 rock steps to the top are climbed on foot, as camels cannot manage them
- 04Breakfast after the descent, then St Catherine's Monastery when it opens
- 05St Catherine Protectorate fee and monastery entrance are already included in the trip
- 06Shared air-conditioned minibus for up to 16 guests, with an English-speaking guide
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Sunrise from the summit
- Bedouin guide on the climb
- Monastery entrance and breakfast included
Things to Consider
- No sleep, with a very long day
- The monastery is closed on Fridays, Sundays and feast days
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
The minibus collects you at 21:00 from your hotel in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba or the Old Market. Bring your passport, because the road to St Catherine has checkpoints. Eat dinner before you go, and use the drive to sleep if you can.
- 2
From about 21:30 to 00:30 the minibus drives across South Sinai to St Catherine, about three hours with checkpoint stops. The road climbs into the mountains and the air turns cold. Dress in layers before you get out, because the temperature at the foot of the mountain can be near freezing in winter.
- 3
At about 01:00 you start the climb with a Bedouin mountain guide on the camel path, which is the gentler route. It takes roughly three hours in the dark, with rest stops at huts along the way. Bring a headlamp and warm clothes. A camel can carry you for part of the way, paid on the spot.
- 4
At about 04:00 the camel path ends and the last 750 rock steps begin. These are on foot, steep and uneven, and camels cannot go up them. Go slowly, rest when you need to and watch your footing in the dark. The steps are the hardest part of the climb.
- 5
Between about 05:00 and 06:30 you wait at the summit for sunrise, and the exact time varies through the year. It is cold and windy up there, even in warmer months, so wear a jacket, hat and gloves. Blankets and hot drinks can be rented at the huts.
- 6
At about 06:45 the group walks down, which takes around two hours. In daylight you can see the path and the mountain landscape that you climbed through in the dark. Your knees will feel the descent, so walking shoes with grip and a steady pace matter more than speed.
- 7
At about 09:00 breakfast is served after the descent. The group then visits St Catherine's Monastery when it opens. It is closed to visitors on Fridays, Sundays and Orthodox feast days, so dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Entrance is included in the day.
- 8
From about 11:00 the minibus drives back to Sharm El Sheikh and drops each guest at their hotel, arriving between roughly 14:00 and 15:00 depending on the route. You will have been awake for a very long time, so plan a quiet afternoon and sleep.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market)
- Air-conditioned minibus shared with other guests
- Guide (English)
- Bedouin mountain guide for the climb
- Breakfast after the descent
- St Catherine Protectorate fee and monastery entrance
- Bottled water
Not included
- Gratuities
- Camel for part of the ascent (paid to the camel owner on the spot)
- Blanket rental and hot drinks at the huts
- Flashlight
- Personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Bring a headlamp, since the path is not lit
- 02
Rest on the camel path stage so that you have strength for the last 750 steps
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. The minimum age for the climb is 8. Children need good stamina, because the night is long and cold and the last 750 steps are steep.
Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On the ground
Where it is
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How does the price work for the Mount Sinai trip?
The price is per person for a seat in a shared minibus of up to 16 guests. It covers transfers, guide, Bedouin mountain guide, breakfast, the protectorate fee and the monastery entrance. Prices are provisional until our team confirms your request. A camel for part of the climb is paid on the spot.02When do we leave Sharm and when do we return?
Pickup is at 21:00 from hotels in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba and the Old Market. You return to Sharm between about 14:00 and 15:00 the next day. Our team confirms the exact times once your request is accepted, and you should expect almost no sleep.03Is the climb suitable for children?
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. The minimum age for the climb is 8. It is a hard night, with three hours of climbing in the cold and the last 750 steps on foot.04What should I wear and bring for the summit?
Bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves, because the summit is near freezing in winter, plus a headlamp, snacks and your passport. Wear walking shoes with grip. For the monastery, cover your shoulders and knees. Blankets can be rented at the huts.05What if I need to cancel, or the weather turns bad?
More than 72 hours ahead, keep 100% as credit toward future travel or take a 100% refund, less bank charges. Between 72 and 24 hours, keep 100% as credit or take a 50% refund. Within 24 hours, or if you don't show up, there is no refund or credit. If we have to cancel, you lose nothing.06Are there any days the monastery cannot be visited?
Yes. St Catherine's Monastery is closed to visitors on Fridays, Sundays and Orthodox feast days. On those days the climb and breakfast still run, but the monastery visit cannot happen. Tell our team your preferred date and we will check it against the monastery's opening days.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Last updated Product ID: EXC-SHM-322531
At a glance
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