St. Catherine's Monastery Tour with Private Transfers

St. Catherine's Monastery: the Burning Bush and two and a half millennia of stone

A private day tour from Sharm El Sheikh to St. Catherine's Monastery on the Sinai Peninsula, with round-trip transfers, an Egyptologist guide, and entrance fees included. You'll explore the Transfiguration Church, see the Burning Bush, and visit the Well of Moses inside one of the world's oldest working Christian monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit St. Catherine's Monastery and surroundings

• Pickup from hotel in Sharm El Sheikh
• Drive 2.5 hours to St. Catherine City
• Explore Burning Bush and Moses Well
• Visit Transfiguration Church
• Free time to climb nearby mountain
• Return drive to Sharm El Sheikh

The experience

The pickup happens at 6:00 AM from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle for the 230-kilometer drive to St. Catherine's City: two and a half hours across the Sinai Peninsula. The monastery sits at the foot of Mount Sinai in a gorge, and your guide (a qualified Egyptologist) will walk you through the grounds and explain what you're standing in front of. The Transfiguration Church encloses the Chapel of the Burning Bush, built on the spot where Moses is said to have seen the bush that burned without being consumed. The living bush on the monastery grounds is believed to be the original. You'll also see the Well of Moses, where tradition holds he met his wife.

St. Catherine's is Orthodox and was built by order of Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, making it one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries on earth. The site holds significance across three faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site. After you've finished exploring the main buildings, you have free time to climb one of the surrounding mountains if you want a panoramic view of the whole complex before the drive back to Sharm El Sheikh.

The tour includes all transfers in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle, your guide, entrance fees, and a professional photographer. Languages available are English, Spanish, Italian, French, and several others. Confirm your preference when you book. Children from age 5 are welcome.

What’s included

• All transfers by air-conditioned deluxe vehicle from your hotel.
• qualified Egyptologist guide and professional photographer.
• all entrance fees and taxes.
• pickup service from Sharm El Sheikh hotels.

Before you book

Lasts 8h, runs every day except Friday and Sunday at 05:00 and 06:00, from US$ 195 per person, with live guides in 8 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Friday and SundayDepartures at 05:00 and 06:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (13 to 98 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Romanian and Russian

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Etro tours

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want to avoid the crowds and pace of shared transport and group tours: the dedicated vehicle and guide mean you control the rhythm of the day. Children from age 5 are welcome, and the guide speaks multiple languages, so confirm yours at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Russian and Romanian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 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 the Burning Bush at St. Catherine's Monastery?

The Burning Bush is the site where Moses is believed to have seen a bush aflame that was not consumed by fire. The Chapel of the Burning Bush, built by order of St. Helen (mother of Constantine I), encloses the spot, and a living bush on the monastery grounds is considered to be the original.

How far is St. Catherine's Monastery from Sharm El Sheikh?

The monastery is 230 kilometers from Sharm El Sheikh, a drive of two and a half hours by air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup from your hotel starts at approximately 6:00 AM, with exact times confirmed locally.

Why is St. Catherine's Monastery sacred to three religions?

St. Catherine's Monastery is sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam because of its connection to Moses and the Burning Bush, a story central to all three faiths. The site has been a place of pilgrimage and spiritual significance for over 1,500 years.

Can I climb Mount Sinai during this tour?

The tour includes free time to climb one of the surrounding mountains if you wish and want a panoramic view of the monastery complex. The itinerary does not require the climb, so you can choose whether to attempt it based on your fitness and interest.

What else can I see inside the monastery besides the Burning Bush?

Inside St. Catherine's Monastery you'll explore the Transfiguration Church and visit the Well of Moses, where tradition says Moses met his wife. Your Egyptologist guide will explain the history and significance of each site as you move through the complex.