- DurationApprox. 15–17 hours (overnight)
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsLate-evening pickup from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel
- PriceFrom $75 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private Mount Sinai tour from Sharm El Sheikh follows the route pilgrims have walked for centuries. You leave Sharm late in the evening, drive about three hours into the mountains of South Sinai and start climbing in the dark with a local Bedouin guide, aiming to reach the summit of Jebel Musa in time to watch the sun rise over a sea of granite peaks.
The climb follows the Camel Path, a wide, steady trail with small Bedouin rest huts selling tea, then finishes with about 750 rough stone steps. It takes most people two and a half to three and a half hours up. No climbing skills are needed, but you should be reasonably fit, and the summit is cold and windy before dawn in every season.
After the descent you visit St Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of the mountain, founded in the sixth century around the site of the Burning Bush. The monks set its opening days, so on some dates you will only see it from outside. You are back in Sharm by early afternoon.
Highlights
- Night climb of Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa, 2,285 m) with a local Bedouin guide
- Sunrise over the granite peaks of South Sinai from the summit
- St Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest working monasteries in the world, when open
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking guide or representative
- St Catherine protected-area fee included
- Camel ride for part of the climb available locally
Itinerary
22:00 – Hotel pickup
Your driver and guide collect you from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. Try to sleep during the three-hour drive to St Catherine. Bring your passport, as there are several police checkpoints on the road, and keep warm clothes in your day bag rather than in the boot.
01:30 – Start the climb
Meet your Bedouin mountain guide near the monastery and start up the Camel Path with a torch. The guide sets a steady pace with rest stops at the tea huts. Camels can be hired from local handlers for most of the path, paid in cash, but not for the final steps.
04:30 – Final steps and summit
Climb the last stone steps to the summit, where a small chapel and mosque stand side by side. Find a spot, wrap up in a blanket (they can be rented at the top) and wait for dawn. Sunrise times shift from about 05:00 in summer to 06:30 in winter.
06:00 – Sunrise and descent
Watch the first light spread over the surrounding peaks, then walk down in daylight, when you can finally see the valleys you climbed through. The descent takes about two hours and is harder on the knees, so take it slowly on the loose stones.
09:00 – St Catherine’s Monastery
If the monastery is open, your guide takes you inside the walls to see the sixth-century Church of the Transfiguration, the descendant of the Burning Bush and Moses’ Well. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. On closed days you see the walls and gardens from outside.
10:30 – Return to Sharm El Sheikh
Drive back through the mountains, with a stop for breakfast or coffee on the way at your own cost. You arrive at your hotel around 13:30 to 14:30, depending on checkpoints and your hotel location.
Good to know: St Catherine’s Monastery sets its own opening days and is normally closed to visitors on Fridays, Sundays and Greek Orthodox holidays; we confirm the day before. The summit can be close to freezing in winter.
What’s Included
Included
- Private hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- English-speaking guide or representative
- Licensed local Bedouin mountain guide
- St Catherine protected-area fee
- Visit to St Catherine’s Monastery on days it is open
- Bottled water
Not included
- Camel ride on the mountain (paid locally in cash)
- Blanket rental and tea at the rest huts
- Breakfast and other meals
- Tips
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $250 |
| 2 travellers | $140 |
| 3–5 travellers | $110 |
| 6+ travellers | $75 |
Per person in USD for a private tour. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the climb?
It is a long walk rather than a technical climb: about 7 km and 750 m of ascent, then about 750 uneven steps at the top. Anyone of average fitness can manage it at a slow pace. If you have heart, knee or breathing problems, ask your doctor first and consider a camel for the path.
What should I wear and bring?
Good walking shoes, warm layers, a hat and gloves, plus a torch or headlamp. Even in summer it can be around 5 °C at the summit before dawn, and in winter it can be below freezing. Bring water, snacks and some cash for tea, a blanket or a camel.
Is the monastery always open?
No. St Catherine’s is a working Greek Orthodox monastery and the monks decide when visitors may enter. It is usually open on some weekday mornings and closed on Fridays, Sundays and religious holidays. We check the day before and you see it from outside if it is closed.
Can children do this tour?
Children who walk well and cope with a sleepless night can manage it, usually from about 10 years old. Younger children often find the cold and the steps too much. Children under 6 are free and ages 6 to 11 pay half price.
Is there a cheaper shared version?
Shared group transfers to Mount Sinai do exist and cost less, but you travel with other hotels’ guests on a fixed schedule. This tour is private, so you have your own vehicle and guide and can climb at your own pace. Larger groups pay much less per person.
You May Also Like
Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
