Mount Sinai & St. Catherine Monastery from Dahab: Climb at night

Climb in darkness, watch sunrise from the peak

An overnight tour from Dahab that departs at 11:30 p.m., drives 90 minutes to Mount Sinai, and guides you up the mountain starting at 2 a.m. to reach the summit before dawn. After descending, you visit St. Catherine Monastery, one of the world's oldest Christian sites, then return to Dahab with breakfast and all park fees covered. A Bedouin guide leads the climb in your choice of language.

Step-by-step itinerary

Night trip to Mount Sinai and monastery

• Pick up from Dahab hotel at 11:30 p.m.
• Drive to St. Catherine (1.5 hours)
• Climb Moses Mountain starting at 2:00 a.m.
• Watch sunrise from mountaintop
• Descend Moses Mountain by 7:00 a.m.
• Visit St. Catherine Monastery
• Return to Dahab hotel after breakfast

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel in Dahab late at night and driven 90 minutes south to the foot of Mount Sinai. The climb begins at 2 a.m. in darkness: a deliberate choice that puts you on the summit as the sun rises. The ascent takes roughly five hours, and you descend by 7 a.m. This timing is what makes the sunrise possible without a midday scramble in heat.

After coming down the mountain, you head to St. Catherine Monastery, one of the oldest functioning Christian monasteries in the world. The site sits at the base of Mount Sinai and was built in the 6th century. You tour the monastery grounds before breakfast is served on-site. The whole experience (climb, descent, monastery visit and meal) wraps up by mid-morning, and you're driven back to your hotel in Dahab.

A Bedouin guide accompanies you throughout the climb and can speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or seven other languages. The vehicle is private and air-conditioned for the drive portions. Bottled water and soft drinks are provided during transport. Park entry fees, breakfast and all service charges are included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup at 11:30 p.m. and return transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Bedouin guide throughout the climb.
• bottled water and soft drinks during the drive.
• breakfast at St. Catherine.
• entrance fees to St. Catherine National Park and all service charges.

Before you book

Lasts 15h, runs every day except Thursday and Saturday at 21:00, from US$ 215.39 per person, with live guides in 11 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Thursday and SaturdayDeparts at 21:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Japanese and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by This Is Egypt

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're arriving in Dahab and want to climb at night. The late pickup lets you use an overnight window instead of sacrificing a full day, and you'll descend to visit St. Catherine Monastery before returning to Dahab.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and Greek.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long does it take to climb Mount Sinai on this tour?

The climb begins at 2 a.m. and you descend by 7 a.m., so the ascent and descent together span about five hours. The total tour from pickup in Dahab to return is roughly 15 hours, since you also visit St. Catherine Monastery and have breakfast before heading back.

What is St. Catherine Monastery and why is it significant?

St. Catherine Monastery is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, built in the 6th century at the base of Mount Sinai. It was dedicated to Saint Catherine, an early Christian martyr, and remains one of the most famous monastic sites globally.

Why does the climb start at 2 a.m.?

Starting the climb in darkness gets you to the summit by sunrise, which is the main reason to make the ascent. Reaching the peak before dawn means you see the light break across the landscape from the mountaintop rather than climbing in daylight heat.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and return transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, a Bedouin guide for the climb, bottled water and soft drinks during the drive, breakfast at St. Catherine, and entrance fees to St. Catherine National Park.

Do I need to be fit to climb Mount Sinai on this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The climb is steady rather than technical, and you set your own pace with the guide. The five-hour ascent and descent are manageable for most people, though the early morning start and nighttime conditions require stamina.