Sharm El Sheikh: Mount Sinai & St. Catherine’s Monastery

Mount Sinai is at its best before sunrise, when you climb in darkness beneath a sky full of stars and reach the summit as the first light spreads across the bare mountains. I like the quiet night ascent and the sense of purpose it gives the trip. I also like that the day pairs the mountain with St. Catherine’s Monastery, so you get scenery, faith, and history rather than just a hard walk.

The catch is simple: this is a serious overnight outing, not a relaxed sightseeing trip. The final 750 steps can test even fit walkers, and the summit may be below freezing with strong wind in winter. You need proper shoes, warm layers, and enough energy for a 15-hour day.

Key points to know before you book

• The climb begins around 2 AM: You leave Sharm El Sheikh in the evening, drive roughly three hours, and start walking while it is still dark.
• The final 750 steps are the hardest part: The route includes a longer gradual climb, followed by a steep stair section near the summit.
• Winter conditions can be severe: Bring gloves, a hat, a hooded coat, warm socks, and several layers. Blankets can be rented near the summit for about 200 to 300 Egyptian pounds.
• Bedouin guides lead the ascent: Guides such as Jamal, Yusuf, Zacaraiah, and Youseff have been praised for patience and care, though the guide assigned to you may differ.
• The monastery visit adds real historical weight: You have about two hours at St. Catherine’s Monastery after the descent.
• Cash is useful all night: You may want drinks, snacks, camel assistance, blankets, and paid toilet stops. Toilets along the route have been reported at 10 Egyptian pounds per use.

Why Mount Sinai before sunrise is worth the effort

I understand why this excursion earns a 4.1 rating from 58 reviews. The sunrise is the main prize, but the experience begins long before you reach the summit.

Your hotel pickup in Sharm El Sheikh is scheduled between about 8 and 8:45 PM. From there, an air-conditioned bus takes you toward St. Catherine in South Sinai. The drive lasts roughly three hours, with toilet stops along the way. It is not glamorous transport, but the coach matters after a full night without sleep and gives you a place to rest before the climb.

Around 2 AM, you begin walking up Moses Mountain. The darkness changes the character of the route. You see only the ground ahead, the lights of other walkers, and the occasional glow from a small Bedouin refreshment stop. The climb becomes less about scenery and more about rhythm: walk, pause, drink, and continue.

I like this part because it feels like a shared undertaking without needing much talk. You are out in the cold mountain air, moving slowly with your group, while the summit remains hidden. Guides lead the pace and stop regularly, which helps, although large groups can make the breaks feel crowded.

The climb: gradual walking, then 750 difficult steps

The route is demanding but not technical in the mountaineering sense. You walk uphill for about three hours, then face the final stair section. The 750 steps are uneven and steep enough to become the day’s biggest test.

If you are relatively fit and used to walking, you can manage the route with patience. A 10-year-old completed the trip with frequent breaks, while two 72-year-old participants finished it but wished they had used more help. That gives you a useful picture: age alone does not decide the matter, but you should be honest about your knees, balance, and stamina.

A walking pole can help if you feel unsteady, especially on the final ascent and the descent. Use a rubber-tipped pole rather than one meant for ice. Proper hiking shoes are more important than speed. An ankle was twisted during one descent, so take care on the way down when tired legs and loose footing work against you.

Camels are offered during the climb and can make part of the route easier. They do not remove the final stairs, which you still climb on foot. Prices vary, with one report putting a ride at about $20, so ask clearly before accepting. You should treat a camel as an optional aid, not a guaranteed part of the package.

Bedouin guides and the pace of the night

The local Bedouin guides are one of the strongest parts of the arrangement. Jamal, Yusuf, Zacaraiah, and Youseff are among the names associated with recent groups, and they have been praised for staying patient, encouraging slower walkers, and keeping large parties together.

Your exact guide will depend on the group, but the setup is clear: a Bedouin guide accompanies the climb, while the main tour guide handles the wider schedule and group coordination. Guides named Ahmed and Ramadan have also received praise for clear organization, language skills, and friendly support.

Do not expect a private mountain walk. You may be part of a sizeable group, and one person found that friends were separated before the climb. The problem was corrected, but it is sensible to keep your group together and confirm the meeting point before walking off.

The stops are useful but basic. Small stands sell tea, coffee, water, chocolate, and snacks. Some sellers may charge tourist prices, and one warm chocolate cost about $3. Bring small Egyptian notes if you want refreshments without fumbling for change. Water was not always supplied as promised, so carry your own backup even though bottled water and soft drinks are listed as included.

Waiting for sunrise at a cold summit

Reaching the top is only half the summit experience. You may arrive before dawn and wait in a simple shelter or outside on the rock until the sun appears. This waiting period can be colder than the climb because you stop generating body heat.

In December and January, the summit has been described as below zero, with strong wind. Even in milder months, you should not assume Sharm El Sheikh’s warm coastal weather continues in the mountains. Pack a winter jacket or coat with a hood, gloves, scarf, hat, long trousers, and warm socks. Wear layers so you can remove clothing while climbing and put it back on when you stop.

A heavy wool blanket can be rented near the top, with prices reported between 200 and 300 Egyptian pounds. Bring cash. The blanket is not a luxury if you are sitting still in the wind. It can make the difference between enjoying the sunrise and spending the whole wait shivering.

The sunrise itself is the emotional center of the trip. You look across the rugged South Sinai peaks as daylight slowly separates ridges and valleys from the dark sky. The setting is stark rather than lush, and that is exactly its appeal. You earn the view through effort, cold, and a very early start.

Bring a headlamp if you have one. It is useful on the dark ascent and makes uneven steps easier to see. The tour details do not promise headlamps, so do not count on receiving one.

St. Catherine’s Monastery after the descent

After the sunrise, you descend, usually beginning around 7 AM, then visit St. Catherine’s Monastery for about two hours. By this point you may be tired, cold, and ready for breakfast, but the stop is an important reason to choose this trip over a mountain-only outing.

St. Catherine’s is one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries and one of its best-known monastic sites. Its connection with Saint Catherine gives the visit a personal story: she embraced her Christian faith and was tortured and killed for it. The monastery was dedicated to her, and the sacred setting adds meaning to the earlier climb up Moses Mountain.

Your visit includes a guided tour and free time. The experience is historical and religious rather than theatrical. Do not book it expecting a special ceremony or a guaranteed service. One person visiting around Christmas had hoped for a ceremony and did not find one.

The monastery also gives your body a break from the mountain. You can look around at a slower pace, listen to the guide, and take in the age of the site without another uphill section immediately ahead. Still, you should remember that this is not a short add-on. The monastery comes after a night of limited sleep and several hours on your feet.

The return to Sharm El Sheikh

After the monastery, you return by air-conditioned bus to Sharm El Sheikh. The full activity lasts about 15 hours, so your hotel arrival will be much later than a normal morning excursion.

That long schedule is the main logistical drawback. You leave in the evening, climb through the night, watch sunrise, descend, tour the monastery, and then ride back. You should avoid placing an important appointment or another demanding tour immediately afterward.

The bus transfer is included, as are hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm, the St. Catherine National Park entrance fee, the Bedouin mountain guide, bottled water and soft drinks on board, taxes, and service charges. Tips, personal purchases, optional camel rides, snacks, blankets, and paid toilets are not included.

At $51 per person, I consider the price good for what is covered. You are paying for a long round trip, park access, a guided climb, local mountain support, and a monastery visit. The value drops if you must add a camel, several drinks, a blanket, and many snacks, so carry a little extra cash. Even then, the package remains reasonably priced for a full night and day outside Sharm.

Clothing, food, and cash: what I would pack

I would prepare for the summit, not the seaside. Your small day bag should include:

• Warm layers, including a coat, gloves, hat, scarf, and hood
• Proper hiking shoes and warm socks
• A headlamp or strong flashlight
• Water and food you know you will eat
• Cash in Egyptian pounds for drinks, snacks, blankets, camel rides, and toilets
• A small backpack with room for clothing you remove during the climb
• Walking poles if you have balance or knee concerns

Do not dress in one heavy layer and hope it solves everything. You may feel warm while walking, then become very cold during the summit wait. Layers let you adjust without carrying a second full outfit.

The available refreshments are convenient, but the stops are basic and crowded. Bring your own food if you need a proper meal or have strict dietary needs. One family brought sweets for local children, but you should use your own judgment about giving items to children.

Who will enjoy this Mount Sinai trip?

This suits you if you want a physical challenge tied to a major religious and historical site. It works especially well for people who enjoy night walks, early-morning views, and simple local stops rather than polished sightseeing.

It can also suit families with older children who are comfortable walking uphill. A 10-year-old completed the climb with breaks, but you should judge your own child’s stamina and tolerance for cold. The guides can slow down, yet they cannot remove the steep steps or the long schedule.

You should think twice if you dislike heights, cold, crowded paths, or overnight travel. It is also a poor choice if you have an injury or find several hours of uphill walking difficult. The tour is not presented as wheelchair accessible, and the mountain route includes uneven ground and 750 steps.

The monastery visit makes the outing more than an exercise challenge. If you want only a sunrise view, the long transfer and historical stop may feel excessive. If you want the mountain and the religious setting together, the combination is much stronger.

Should you book it?

I would book this Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s trip if you are fit enough for a long uphill walk and willing to prepare for real cold. The best parts are the night climb, the sunrise from Moses Mountain, the patient Bedouin support, and the chance to visit one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries in the same day.

I would not book it casually because the $51 price makes it look easier than it is. Check the overnight mountain weather, pack serious winter clothing in the colder months, and keep cash for blankets and refreshments. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and reserve-now-pay-later terms make planning less risky, but they do not make the climb less demanding.

If you accept the physical challenge, this is a memorable and fairly priced day from Sharm El Sheikh. If you want a comfortable excursion with plenty of sleep, choose something else.

FAQ

How long does the Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s tour last?

The activity lasts about 15 hours. Pickup from Sharm El Sheikh is scheduled around 8 to 8:45 PM, and you return after the night climb, sunrise, monastery visit, and bus ride back.

What time does the Mount Sinai climb begin?

The ascent begins at about 2 AM after the drive from Sharm El Sheikh to South Sinai.

Is the Mount Sinai hike difficult?

It is a challenging uphill walk that takes about three hours, followed by roughly 750 steps near the summit. Regular breaks are taken, and camels may be available for part of the route, but the final steps must still be climbed on foot.

What languages are available on the tour?

Live guiding is available in English and Arabic. Individual guides may speak additional languages.

Are drinks and entrance fees included?

Entrance to St. Catherine National Park, bottled water and soft drinks on board, and the monastery-related tour services listed in the package are included. Snacks at mountain stops, blankets, camel rides, personal purchases, and paid toilets are extra.

Can I cancel the tour if my plans change?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying at the time of booking.