Private Mount Sinai tour from Dahab: Climb Moses Mountain

Climb Moses Mountain in darkness, descend to sunrise over the desert

A private Mount Sinai tour from Dahab begins with late-night hotel pickup and a two-hour drive to St. Catherine, where you start climbing at 2 am with a local guide. You descend at 7 am and visit St. Catherine Monastery, one of the world's oldest, before returning to your hotel. The tour runs 12 hours total and includes entry fees, a guide, bottled water and snacks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mount Sinai and St. Catherine Monastery Tour

• Pick up from Dahab hotel at 11:00 pm
• Drive to St. Catherine (2 hours)
• Start climbing Mount Sinai at 2:00 am
• Descend Mount Sinai at 7:00 am
• Visit St. Catherine Monastery
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Dahab hotel at 11 pm in a modern air-conditioned vehicle. The two-hour drive to St. Catherine takes you inland from the coast, arriving in time to begin the climb of Moses Mountain at 2 am. A local guide leads the ascent in darkness, and you reach the summit as dawn breaks. The descent takes about five hours, bringing you down by 7 am when the desert is already warming.

After coming down the mountain, you visit St. Catherine Monastery, one of the most famous monasteries in the world. The site was dedicated to Saint Catherine, an early Christian martyr. You then return to your hotel in Dahab, completing the full 12-hour experience. The tour includes entry fees to both sites, a guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, German or another language, bottled water and a snacks bag with Pepsi, chips, water and cake.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Dahab.
• local guide at Mount Sinai.
• entry fees to Mount Sinai and St. Catherine Monastery.
• bottled water and snacks bag with Pepsi, chips, water and cake.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 22:00, 23:00 and 00:00

Book up to1d before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Italian and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by EMO TOURS EGYPT

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your own group rather than joining strangers, and the guide is yours alone for the full 12 hours. Choose it if you want the flexibility to set your own pace on the climb and prefer not to navigate the mountain in a large group.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

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

What time does the Mount Sinai climb actually start and finish?

The climb begins at 2 am and you descend by 7 am, so you spend roughly five hours on the mountain itself. The full tour runs 12 hours from hotel pickup at 11 pm until your return.

Why does the tour start so late at night?

Starting the climb at 2 am means you reach the summit as the sun rises, which is when most climbers want to be at the top. The timing also avoids the intense midday heat on the mountain.

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

St. Catherine Monastery is one of the world's oldest and most famous monasteries, located near Mount Sinai. It was dedicated to Saint Catherine, an early Christian martyr, and the tour visits it after you descend the mountain as part of the full day's experience.

What food and water do I get during the climb?

The tour includes a snacks bag with bottled water, Pepsi, chips and cake. You'll have these provisions during the climb and descent to keep your energy up.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the mountain, or is it included?

Private transportation is included: the operator picks you up from your Dahab hotel at 11 pm in an air-conditioned vehicle and drives you to St. Catherine, then returns you to your hotel after the tour ends.