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.
At a glance
- Departs
- Daily
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.
- New
- 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
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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.
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?
A full refund applies if you cancel at least 3 days ahead. Cancel between 3 days and 24 hours before and we refund half. Closer than 24 hours, or a no-show, is not refundable. Tell us as early as you can, because the refund depends on how many days remain before the trip starts.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
Plans change? We make it easy.
- More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit toward future travel with us, or take a refund.
- Between 72 and 24 hours: keep the full amount as credit, or take a partial refund.
- Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't show up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
- If we ever have to cancel, for weather or anything beyond our control, you lose nothing.
Credit is valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can be used on any tour, cruise or stay with us.Read our full cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Product ID: EXC-SHM-322531
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