Mount Sinai draws two very different kinds of visitors for the same climb — pilgrims retracing where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, and travelers simply chasing one of the best sunrises in Egypt. Both leave satisfied.
Two routes lead to the 2,285-meter summit: the gradual Camel Trail, winding upward in switchbacks over about two hours, and the steeper Steps of Repentance, 3,750 stone steps carved by monks as a form of penance. Both converge at Elijah’s Basin before the final push to the top, where a small chapel and mosque sit side by side, reflecting the mountain’s shared significance across faiths.
At the base, St. Catherine’s Monastery is the real anchor of the visit — recognized as the world’s oldest continuously functioning Christian monastic community, home to an extraordinary collection of early Byzantine icons and a library of ancient manuscripts second only to the Vatican’s.
St. Catherine’s Monastery is the world’s oldest continuously functioning Christian monastic community.
Most visitors climb overnight to catch sunrise from the summit — genuinely cold even in summer, so warm layers are essential regardless of season. The monastery itself keeps limited visiting hours and closes on religious holidays, so check current times before planning your descent.
Most visitors base in Dahab or Sharm El Sheikh and join an organized overnight trip, since the climb itself starts around midnight to reach the summit before dawn. A local Bedouin guide is effectively required for the climb and can be hired on arrival; camels are available for the Camel Trail portion for those who’d rather not walk the full ascent.
