Mount Sinai Climb And St Catherine Monastery From Sharm El Sheikh

The sunrise is worth the lost sleep. This long night trip from Sharm el Sheikh combines a predawn climb of Mount Sinai with a visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery, giving you two of the Sinai Peninsula’s most important sights in one demanding day. I like the powerful mountain setting and the chance to walk beneath a clear night sky with Bedouin guides. I also like the low headline price of $35, though you must add a €10 cash entrance fee and prepare for a hard hike.

The main catch is the schedule. You leave your hotel late in the evening, climb around 2:00 a.m., descend after sunrise, visit the monastery, and return to Sharm around early afternoon. Cold summit temperatures, long bus rides, and a steep final staircase make this a poor choice if you want a relaxed excursion.

The five things to know before booking

• Sunrise comes after a serious climb: The route reaches 2,285 meters, with a long gradual path followed by about 700 to 750 final steps.
• A camel can shorten the climb: You can pay locally to ride most of the way, but you still walk the final steps to the summit.
• The summit can be bitterly cold: Bring a warm jacket, gloves, hat, and several layers, even if Sharm feels mild.
• St. Catherine’s adds real cultural value: The visit includes the Transfiguration Church, Burning Bush, and Well of Moses, although some areas may be closed.
• The advertised group size needs checking: The experience is listed for a maximum of 15 people, but some departures have been much larger.
• The $35 price is not the full cost: Budget another €10 per person in cash for the Mount Sinai entrance fee, plus optional camel rides and refreshments.

Leaving Sharm el Sheikh after dark

Pickup usually takes place between 7:30 and 9:00 p.m., with the stated meeting time around 9:30 p.m. The exact hotel pickup can vary, so keep your phone available and be ready well before the formal departure time. Some people were collected around 7:20 p.m., then transferred from a smaller vehicle to a larger, air-conditioned coach.

The road to the Saint Catherine area takes roughly three to four hours each way. That is a lot of time on the road for a 12-hour excursion, but the coach ride gives you a chance to sleep before the climb. Several stops may be made for toilets along the way. Carry toilet paper, since facilities on the route can be basic.

Transport is included, along with hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm el Sheikh. The vehicle is advertised as air-conditioned, but vehicle comfort has not been perfectly consistent on every departure. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where you usually feel best and bring anything you normally use to manage it.

The tour includes a handheld flashlight, although one account reported that not everyone received one. I would still pack a small headlamp or flashlight if you have one. You will be walking in darkness, and relying on another person’s light is not ideal on an uneven mountain path.

The Mount Sinai climb begins around 2 a.m.

The climb usually starts at about 1:00 or 2:00 a.m., depending on the arrival and organization of the group. A Bedouin guide leads the mountain section, while an Egyptologist guide handles the wider tour and the monastery visit.

The early part of the route follows a long, moderately rising path. It is not described as a technical climb, but it is lengthy and tiring. Estimates vary, with some descriptions putting the walking distance at about 7 kilometers to the summit and others describing a 14-kilometer or even 20-kilometer round trip. The useful point is simple: you should treat this as a serious mountain hike, not a casual stroll.

The final section is the real test. You face roughly 700 to 750 steps before reaching the summit area. The steps are uneven, and you will be climbing after several hours of walking, often in cold air and darkness.

The guides generally set a steady pace and stop at small coffee tents or rest points. These breaks let you catch your breath, buy a drink, and gather the group. One strong point of the experience is the care shown by the Bedouin guides. Guides have been praised for keeping the group together, helping slower climbers, and waiting when someone struggles. Mahmoud was singled out for being especially caring, while Saeed received praise during the monastery visit.

Still, do not assume the pace will be gentle. One person found it faster than expected, even with regular stops. You need a reasonable level of fitness and the ability to walk for several hours over uneven ground.

Camel rides help, but they do not remove the hard part

You can hire a camel for most of the route at your own expense. This can be useful if your legs are not ready for the full climb, but it is not a complete substitute for walking. The final section, including the steep staircase to the summit, must be completed on foot.

Camel traffic also affects the path. Watch your step carefully, especially in the dark. The route can be messy, and loose stones and animal waste are practical hazards rather than minor annoyances.

The camel option may also involve waiting and negotiation in a busy setting. If you plan to use one, carry enough Egyptian currency for the local charge and ask the guide about the current price before agreeing. The tour price does not include it.

Waiting for dawn beside the chapel and mosque

At the summit, you will wait for first light near a small Orthodox Christian chapel and a mosque. The setting is striking because the two places of worship share the mountain top, giving the sunrise a strong spiritual character for people of different backgrounds.

The summit view is the reward for the climb. You arrive before dawn, when the mountain is dark and quiet, then watch the first light spread across the surrounding peaks. The temperature can fall close to freezing. One November account recorded roughly 24 degrees Fahrenheit, or about minus 4 degrees Celsius, at the top.

Bring:

• A heavy jacket or warm coat
• Gloves and a hat
• Several thin layers
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Water and high-energy snacks
• A flashlight or headlamp
• Toilet paper

The mountain rest stops sell drinks and snacks, but prices are aimed at excursion groups. I would bring a thermos with a hot drink and food from Sharm. Chocolate-covered dates, sandwiches, nuts, and other compact snacks are easier to manage than a full meal.

You may be able to rent a blanket near the final rest stop, around 100 steps from the summit. The charge has been described as roughly $3 to $5, but cleanliness is uncertain. Pack enough clothing so you do not need to depend on a rented blanket.

Do not rush away from the view. The stay at the summit may be only around 30 minutes before the descent begins, so have your warm layers ready and keep your camera accessible. Sunrise is the part of this trip that receives the most praise, and it is easy to see why.

Descending in daylight reveals a different mountain

The descent gives you a clearer sense of the route you climbed in darkness. You will see the rock, the steps, the coffee tents, and the busy path that was only a chain of flashlight beams during the ascent.

Going down can be just as tiring as going up, especially after little or no sleep. The knees take plenty of strain, so use careful footing and do not race the group. If you hired a camel for the ascent, do not assume the return is effortless. You still have a substantial walk and the long transfer back to Sharm.

This is also the point when the full length of the excursion catches up with you. You may have been awake all night, climbed for several hours, and then still have a monastery visit ahead. Drink steadily, eat something, and use the rest stops.

St. Catherine’s Monastery adds history after the hike

After descending Mount Sinai, you meet the guide near the monastery gate. The visit is scheduled for about one hour and covers the Transfiguration Church, the Burning Bush, and the Well of the Prophet Moses.

St. Catherine’s Monastery was built in the sixth century at the place associated with Moses and the Burning Bush. It is regarded as the oldest continuously operating monastery in the world. That makes it more than a quick stop after the mountain. It gives the religious traditions connected with Mount Sinai a physical setting.

The monastery is especially meaningful for Orthodox Christian visitors, but you do not need to be religious to appreciate its age, setting, artwork, and surviving relics. The guide can explain the stories connected with Moses and the monastery, though the quality of spoken explanations may vary by guide and language. One person found it difficult to understand everything said during the tour.

Access is not guaranteed to every section. Some parts of the monastery have been closed at times, and one hour may feel short if you want a careful look at the church and grounds. I would treat this as an important introduction rather than a long, detailed museum visit.

The return to Sharm is part of the calculation

After the monastery, you board an air-conditioned vehicle for the journey back to your hotel. The return is listed as about two hours in the formal schedule, though the full trip from Sharm to the mountain and back can involve much longer road time. Actual return times have ranged to around 1:30 or 2:00 p.m.

That means you should keep the rest of the day free. Do not book a flight, spa appointment, or demanding activity immediately afterward. You will probably want a shower, food, and sleep.

Most transport feedback is positive, with people describing comfortable coaches, useful bathroom stops, and good help with hotel changes. At the same time, one serious complaint raised concerns about air conditioning, speed, and a sick passenger. This is an isolated account within the supplied comments, but it is still worth taking seriously. If the vehicle feels unsafe or uncomfortable, tell the guide promptly and clearly.

Is $35 good value?

At $35 per person, this is an inexpensive way to combine transport, guiding, a mountain climb, and a monastery visit. The price includes the air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, an Egyptologist guide, a Bedouin mountain guide, and a flashlight.

The extra €10 entrance fee is not included and must be paid in cash. The collection process has caused frustration because money may be gathered from people individually on the bus, adding waiting time. Bring the exact amount if possible and expect this charge as part of the real price.

You will also need to pay separately for a camel, blanket, snacks, or drinks if you choose them. Even after those additions, the tour can offer good value if you want both Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s without arranging separate transport.

The low price comes with tradeoffs: shared transport, a potentially large group, a strict schedule, and limited time at the monastery. The experience is listed for a maximum of 15 people, but some departures have included around 60 people. Ask Sun Tours Egypt to confirm the expected group size before you pay if that matters to you.

Who should book this mountain trip?

I would recommend it to you if you:

• Want a memorable sunrise rather than a comfortable night’s sleep
• Have good general fitness and can walk for several hours
• Are happy with basic mountain facilities
• Want to visit both Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s in one day
• Can handle a long coach ride and a demanding schedule
• Appreciate religious and historical places, even if you are not religious

I would think twice if you have a serious mobility problem, dislike uneven paths, struggle with cold, or need a quiet private tour. The camel option helps, but it does not remove the final staircase or the descent.

Families with young children and older people may find the route too demanding. The tour specifically requires a strong physical fitness level and operates in all weather conditions, so proper clothing matters.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather forces the operator to cancel, you should be offered another date or a full refund.

Final verdict: book it for the sunrise, not the comfort

I would book this tour if seeing dawn from Mount Sinai is high on your Egypt wish list. The combination of stars, silence, mountain air, helpful Bedouin guides, and the small chapel and mosque at the summit can create a powerful memory.

Go in prepared. Wear winter clothing, bring snacks and water, carry a light, expect extra cash costs, and confirm the group size and pickup time. If you accept the long road journey and the hard climb, this is a strong-value way to experience two remarkable places near Saint Catherine. If you want an easy day trip, choose something else.

FAQ

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

The experience lasts approximately 12 hours. Pickup begins in the late evening, and return to your Sharm el Sheikh hotel is expected around early afternoon the next day.

What time does pickup begin?

Hotel pickup generally takes place between 7:30 and 9:00 p.m. The stated meeting time is around 9:30 p.m., but your exact pickup time depends on your hotel.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Round-trip hotel transport from Sharm el Sheikh is included in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is the Mount Sinai entrance fee included?

No. An entrance fee of €10 per person must be paid in cash.

Can I ride a camel up Mount Sinai?

Yes. Camel rides are available for most of the climb at your own expense. You must walk the final section of roughly 750 steps to the summit.

How difficult is the climb?

The tour requires a strong level of physical fitness. The climb lasts roughly three hours or more, includes a long path and a steep final staircase, and the full mountain walking distance can vary.

What should I wear?

Wear warm layers, a heavy jacket, gloves, and a hat. The summit can be close to freezing, even when the weather in Sharm el Sheikh is mild.

Does the tour operate in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather conditions, but poor weather may lead to cancellation. If the operator cancels, you should be offered another date or a full refund.

What is included besides transport?

The price includes Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s Monastery visits, an Egyptologist guide, a Bedouin mountain guide, and a handheld flashlight.

How large is the group?

The advertised maximum is 15 people. However, some departures have reportedly been much larger, so confirm the expected group size with Sun Tours Egypt before booking.