It is a hard night, and most people say it is worth it. The Mount Sinai trip from Sharm El Sheikh is 17 hours from your hotel door and back, with no sleep in a bed, a climb in the dark, and sunrise from a summit at 2,285 meters. This guide takes you through the timings so nothing on the night surprises you.
Fitness matters less than pace. You do not need to be an athlete, but you do need to walk steadily uphill for hours in the cold, in the dark, with a Bedouin guide setting the speed. If you can walk a few hours on a hilly path at home, you can do this. If you cannot, ask us before you pay.
The timeline, hour by hour
- 21:00 – pick-up from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.
- 21:30 to 00:30 – drive to St Catherine, about 3 hours with checkpoint stops.
- 01:00 – start the climb on the camel path with a Bedouin mountain guide.
- 04:00 – the last 750 steps to the summit.
- 05:00 to 06:30 – sunrise at the top; the time changes through the year.
- 06:45 – walk down, about two hours.
- 09:00 – breakfast, then St Catherine's Monastery when it opens.
- 11:00 to 14:00 – drive back to Sharm.
The drive
The minibus is air-conditioned and shared with other guests, with a maximum of 16 people on the trip. The road runs through the Sinai mountains, and checkpoints along the way are why your passport must be on you. Expect to be tired when you arrive. Some guests doze, but it is not a comfortable way to sleep, so bring a light layer and a small pillow if you have one.
The schedule is built backward from sunrise. Leaving at 21:00 gives time for the drive and the checkpoints, and the 01:00 start gives you around three hours to climb at an easy pace and still find a place at the top before dawn. If your group is slow, the guide will not rush you, but it is better to be early than to arrive after the light.
The climb and the last 750 steps
The path is the camel path, a wide track that winds up the mountain. You walk with a Bedouin guide, and for part of the way you can pay a camel owner on the spot for a ride; this is not included. The camel does not take you to the top. The final stretch is 750 rock steps, and you do those on foot, slowly, with your torch.
The way down takes about two hours, and for many people it is harder on the knees than the way up. Daylight helps, because you can finally see the loose stones. Walking shoes with grip matter here more than anywhere else on the trip. Take small steps, drink water, and do not race to be first to breakfast; the monastery opens when it opens.
There are huts on the way where you can rent blankets and buy hot drinks. Those are extras, so carry some cash in small notes. You will stop often, and you should. The ascent takes around three hours, and the summit is reached before dawn so you can find a place to sit and wait.
The cold at the top
The summit is near freezing in winter, and even outside winter it is cold before the sun comes up, especially after a climb that left you sweaty. Bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves, and put them on the moment you stop. Sunrise time varies from about 05:00 to 06:30 across the year, so you may wait a while in the dark.
The wait is part of it. The sky turns gray, then pink, then the rocks light up one ridge at a time. Crowds gather at the top, so find your spot early and be patient. The descent starts at 06:45 and takes around two hours, and the light on the way down lets you see the path you climbed in the dark.
St Catherine's Monastery
After the walk down you have breakfast, then visit St Catherine's Monastery at the foot of the mountain. Entrance is included, along with the Protectorate fee. The monastery is closed to visitors on Fridays, Sundays and Orthodox feast days, so on those days the second half of the trip changes. Cover your shoulders and knees for the visit, and expect the opening hours to decide your timings.
St Catherine's Monastery dates from the 6th century and sits in a narrow valley at the foot of the mountain. Visitors see only part of it, and the guide explains what you can enter. Keep your voice low, follow the signs about photographs, and remember that it is still a working religious community, not only a sight on the itinerary.
Who should skip it
Skip this trip if you have trouble with heights, knees, your heart or your breathing, or if you cannot go a night without sleep. The minimum age is 8 and younger children cannot join. If you are unsure, ask our team before you pay. For current prices and dates, open the trip page, since the price depends on the date and your party.
Plan with us
Mount Sinai sunrise climb from Sharm: what the night is really like
A 17-hour night: 21:00 pick-up, a 3-hour drive, a climb in the dark, sunrise at 2,285 m and St Catherine's Monastery. Read before you book.