Mount Sinai Hike & St. Catherine's Monastery from Sharm el Sheikh

Climb to the sunrise at Mount Sinai, then descend into one of Christianity's oldest sanctuaries

A full-day tour from Sharm el Sheikh combines a pre-dawn hike up Mount Sinai with a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery, the Byzantine-era monastery that has housed monks continuously since its founding. You'll reach the summit for sunrise over the Eastern Desert, then explore the monastery's frescoes, icons, manuscripts and the chapel built around the burning bush. Hotel pickup and a certified guide are included. A camel ride up the mountain is available as an alternative to hiking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. St. Catherine's MonasteryEntry included2h
2. Mount SinaiEntry included6h

Mount Sinai hike and monastery visit

• Pick up from hotel in Sharm el Sheikh
• Travel to St Catherine's National Park
• Visit St Catherine's Monastery
• Hike Mount Sinai or opt for camel ride
• Return to Sharm el Sheikh hotel

The experience

The day starts with a pickup from your Sharm el Sheikh hotel around 8:30 pm, when the air is cool and the drive to St. Catherine's National Park takes place under darkness. You'll arrive at St. Catherine's Monastery first, touring the medieval complex while it's still quiet. The monastery sits high in the Sinai desert and holds some of the earliest documents of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Inside you'll see frescoes, a functioning mosque and church, icons, and manuscripts. The building itself has been continuously inhabited since the Byzantine Empire.

After the monastery, the hike up Mount Sinai begins. The trail climbs to the highest peaks of the mountain, and you time your ascent to reach the summit just as the sun rises over the Eastern Desert. If the hike doesn't suit you, a camel ride is available as an alternative for the full route up. The guide (certified and fluent in English, Italian or Arabic) walks with you and explains the landscape and its biblical significance. Once you've watched the sunrise and spent time at the peak, the descent begins, and you're driven back to your hotel in Sharm el Sheikh by mid-afternoon.

The tour runs 14 to 15 hours total and includes an air-conditioned minibus for all transfers, bottled water and a soft drink, entrance fees to the national park, and all taxes. Children from age 5 are welcome. The hike demands moderate fitness. The camel option removes the physical demand but still requires comfort with heights and desert conditions.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm el Sheikh.
• air-conditioned minibus transport.
• entrance fees to St. Catherine's National Park.
• a certified guide fluent in English, Italian or Arabic.
• bottled water and a soft drink.
• all taxes and fees.

Before you book

Lasts 14h–15h, runs Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 20:30, from US$ 50 per person, with a live guide in English, Italian and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesWednesday, Friday and SundayDeparts at 20:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (10 to 65 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Sun 'N Fun Sharm

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Italian or Arabic, so choose based on which language you're most comfortable with for the full day. The camel option means the hike doesn't have to stop anyone: families with younger children or travelers who prefer not to climb can reach the summit by camel instead.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is St. Catherine's Monastery and why is it important?

St. Catherine's Monastery is the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in Egypt, built during the Byzantine Empire and home to monks ever since. It holds some of the earliest written documents of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and its interior contains Byzantine frescoes, a functioning mosque and church, icons depicting saints, and manuscripts that trace the roots of three major religions.

Do I have to hike all the way up Mount Sinai, or are there other ways to reach the summit?

You can hike the trail to the summit, or you can opt for a camel ride up the mountain instead. Both options get you to the peak in time for sunrise over the Eastern Desert. The choice is yours at booking.

What time do we reach the summit of Mount Sinai?

You're timed to reach the summit at sunrise, which allows you to watch the sun come up over the Eastern Desert from the highest peaks. The exact time varies slightly by season, but the guide coordinates the pace of the hike to arrive at this moment.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm el Sheikh, all transport in an air-conditioned minibus, entrance fees to St. Catherine's National Park, a certified guide, bottled water and a soft drink, and all taxes. A camel ride up the mountain, blanket rental on Mount Sinai, and additional drinks or snacks are not included and can be arranged separately.