Mount Sinai & St Catherine’s Monastery

These two attractions, and their surrounding majestic mountains, sum up the magic and diversity of the Sinai region. There are few places in the world where, a short trip away from diving and glorious beaches, you can be in such a stunning and awe-inspiring area. Even before written history, oral traditions strongly favour this as the real site, and that spoken history has been handed down to us today. It is certainly true that the sheer magnificence of these mountains, and their isolation from everyday life, has inspired people of all religions. 



The traditional Mount Sinai is actually the name of a collection of peaks, sometimes called the Holy Mountains. At its southern end is Mount Musa (the mountain of Moses), traditionally believed
to be the place where Moses communicated with God and received the Ten Commandments. Mount Musa is not actually the highest peak in Sinai.That honour belongs to nearby Mount Catherine which, at over 2500 metres high, is also the highest mountain in Egypt. If you wish to climb to these lofty positions,
there are several routes available. If you are planning to do this, be sure that you are in a reasonable state of fitness – the climbs are long and tiring. The shortest route (but the steepest), known
as Siket Syidna Musa, is a stairway consisting of 3,750 steps, known as the Steps of Penitence. These were cut out of the rock by the monks of St Catherine’s Monastery, located at the north-eastern foot of the mountain. Many people prefer to climb during darkness; it’s partly to avoid the heat of the day, but mainly to be at the summit in time to see the glorious sunrise beneath them. The longer route (El Bashait) may be climbed at night, either on foot or on the back of a camel. It takes about two and a half hours to make the climb, and there are little stalls along the way where climbers can buy food and water.


A typical trip would ivolve leaving Sharm- el-Sheikh in the evening and driving for about 2 hours to the foot of Mount Sinai. After the climb and a rest to watch that beautiful daybreak, it’s time to descend and take the chance to visit St Catherine’s Monastery. This stunning holy place was constructed by order of the Roman Emperor Justinian between 527 and 565 CE. It is built around the site believed to be the place where Moses saw the Burning Bush in the famous Biblical passage. The works of art contained within the monastery are amazing – and priceless. They include Arab mosaics, Greek and Russian icons, European oil paintings and many other religious artefacts. Famously, it also has one of the greatest collections of illuminated manuscripts in the world, second only to the Vatican. There are almost 5,000 volumes in a huge range of the world’s languages. It is still a working monastery and, of course, visitors are expected to respect this during their time there. The monastery’s spiritual heart is the Chapel of the Burning Bush, an unassuming structure of tremendous religious significance. A few feet away from the Chapel is the reputed bush itself, a rare species of the rose family called Rubus Sanctus. It is also essentially a fortress; its huge granite walls built to protect the monks and the treasures in more dangerous times.



The most striking thing about the monastery’s history is that, despite the often turbulent events around it, both military and religious leaders have always offered it special protection. Always check opening times before a visit to St Catherine’s as it does have some days when it is closed. Around the monastery, the St Catherine’s National Park is a fascinating area which supports an amazing diversity of plant and animal life, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. The mountains are home to Sinai rose finch from Asia, the ibex and wolf from Europe, and the striped hyena and Tristram’s grackle which came from Africa. Several species are unique to the National Park including two species of snakes and about twenty plant species, such as a beautiful native primrose. Through clever management, the Park is able to keep its unique character while allowing visitors to see its wonders. 

DID YOU KNOW? taba

The west south of Taba (along 3590 km2) declared as a National park stretches for each abandon natural and typographical features. The clownfish (made famous in recent years as the star of the hit film Finding Nemo) is, despite its name, one of the cleverer fish around. You’ll see many of them in the clear waters around Taba, but you might not know of the unusual relationship they have with sea anemones.

Taba Heights Golf Course

The Taba Heights Golf Course has the longest championship hole in Egypt. The 14th is 640 yards and is a challenge to the very best golfers in the world – and perhaps you too! On the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, you can enjoy a round against a backdrop of the dramatic Sinai Mountains and the sparkling Red Sea.
Even if you are not up to championship standard yet, the club offers driving ranges and high quality coaching whether you are a total beginner or more experienced.

don’t miss taba

Talking of travel and mountains, get inside the rocky grandeur instead of just admiring it from the pool or beach! Driving a quad bike through the stunning canyons is an experience you’ll always remember. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken on the short trip from Taba to your starting point.

Taba and Taba Heights

The Taba region really came to worldwide attention in the 1970s when it became a magnet for backpackers looking to enjoy the simple hippy lifestyle. There has been considerable expansion since those days, but the laid-back approach to life is still very evident, especially when compared to the more bouncy feel of Sharm el-Sheikh further south. The feeling of relaxation and being close to nature is one of the main reasons why the Taba region is so popular and there is no doubt that everyday routine will suddenly seem a long way off when you are enjoying life here. The small (and modern) downtown area of Taba Heights is worth a visit for an evening stroll around a few restaurants and shops, with live outdoor entertainment often available. Most of the larger hotels run a free shuttle service. Many people see Taba as the ideal family destination.

don’t miss Nuweiba

For a truly world class dining experience, make time to book a table at Castle Zaman, a little north of Nuweiba near Basata Camp – more in the Taba section. The Bedouin charm of this area, combined with new, modern resort hotels, makes this a unique place to visit, where visitors can experience the culture and traditions of
Egyptian life and architecture as well as the luxury of a first-class holiday, all surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery and dive sites in the world. The sunrise in the east over the Gulf of Aqaba and the distant mountains of Saudi Arabia, which is a sight you will never forget.

Easy Travel Nuweiba

As you would expect from a top resort destination, Nuweiba offers a wealth of activity for visitors to enjoy, whatever their age.
From Nuweiba, excursions can be easily arranged to places of interest in the area. A camel trek or jeep safari to the unspoiled
protected area of Ras Abu Gallum, where the only permanent residents are the Bedouin, and no hotels, shops, or
restaurants have been built, making it feel like a journey back through time to simpler days. It is from this area
that traditional Bedouin fishermen, the only people allowed to fish in this area, supply Nuweiba restaurants withfreshly-caught local fish and seafood. Probably one of the most popular excursions form Nuweiba it to St Catherine’s monastery, which often includes side trips to Nawamis with its early Bronze Age burial chambers. Other stops include the Stone of Inscriptions, with its ancient writings from many different civilizations from many eras. Other excursions include camel trips, some of three or five days to take in some of the wonders of the desert. However, the same tours can usually be arranged for one day by jeep for those who would prefer to sleep in the comfort of their hotel each night. The Coloured Canyon and Oasis Ain Hudra (biblical Hazeroth) treks take you to palm gardens and great landscape while the oasis of Ain Um Ahmad is the most beautiful and biggest oasis in South Sinai. Bedouins there grow fruits such as oranges, almonds, peaches, figs and dates, and also cultivate the land, farming corn, wheat and vegetables. Divers will find that the central locationof Nuweiba means that they can enjoy dives in a variety of sites, each with their own uniqueness and variety of coral and marine life. Whatever your experience level with diving, there will be a site ideal for you, with many able to accommodate everyone from beginners to experts simply because of the natural variety of the area. 

Nuweiba

Nuweiba is a resort on the coast of South Sinai, around 180 km north of Sharm el-Sheikh. It boasts an ideal central location and natural beauty both underwater and on dry land.


Nuweiba is surrounded by National Parks, other popular destinations to visit, and a  seemingly endless list of natural and historical places of interest. Not only that, but every day can be as energetic or relaxing as you desire, and no two days need be the same, or indeed even similar, such is the range of activity and sights here. 


If you are seeking a destination where the ultimate in hotel luxury can be easily combined with local charm, culture and character, Nuweiba should certainly be high on your list. Tarabin, to the north of Nuweiba, consists of a thick grove of palms, a shallow bay and the ruins of a Turkish fort. The well inside these ruins has served as a fresh water source for the Bedouin people who live here for many centuries. Tarabin has a wonderful and exciting atmosphere, with restaurants and bazaars clustered together for a lively and


colourful, Bedouin flavoured, experience. 


Restaurants here are furnished in Bedouin style, with carpets and cushions giving comfort and authenticity.


The Town area lies between Tarabin and The Dunes, and visitors can expect to find a bustling centre, complete with traditional bakeries serving warm pitta bread, bazaars and restaurants. The Dunes connect Nuweiba Town and Nuweiba Port. Along the shore, many camps and family owned hotels sit by the beautiful
sandy beaches with their spectacular coral reefs. The Dunes are further divided in Duna, where beach bungalows and smaller hotels and restaurants make the perfect romantic getaway, and Small Duna, where many of the larger hotels have been built. Nuweiba Port, also known as Nuweiba Muzeina, was originally the summer location for the Bedouin Muzeina tribe, until the construction of the port in 1985 attracted business and workers from all over the country. This boom encouraged the Muzeina clan to settle here, and today they are still the landlords to many shops and other businesses.

For this reason, Abu Gallum

For this reason, Abu Gallum is perfect for many different levels of diving expertise, and is among the best places to experience scuba diving and snorkelling away from the busier touristareas. Once underwater here, visitors may find turtles, eagle rays and giant barracuda which come in from the open sea.

DID YOU KNOW in Abu Gallum

On camel treks to Ras Abu Gallum, your diving equipment, as well as food, drink and baggage will be carried by your camel. A welcome bit of help from the Ship of the Desert!


As well as experienced dive leaders, treks to Ras Abu Gallum are also accompanied by experienced and very knowledgeable Bedouin guides, who will ensure that you take the best route.

EASY TRAVEL to Abu Gallum

Abu Gallum is reached from Dahab (about 15 km) on a characterful trek from the Blue Hole dive site along the coast. Visitors can take the journey on foot if they wish, or take the traditional form of transport by riding on camelback. Because of Abu Gallum’s protected status, travel must be on marked tracks, but
the views and experiences available are second to none.


From here, safaris can easily reach St Catherine’s monastery (one of the oldest in existence), Mount Sinai, where many believe Moses received the Ten Commandments in The Bible, turquoise mines, and the geological wonders at Gebel Fuga. Abu Gallum is a popular spot for mountain biking, with the trails and tracks making
a fascinating and exhilarating ride.

don’t miss in nabq

The unique diving experience offered here. The shoreline at Abu Gallum displays just how rich the marine life is here, with shells of a huge variety of molluscs washed onto the beach. These are just an indication of the diversity of sea-life here in the protected waters among the living coral. The area is suitable for many levels of diver, from snorkelling in the shallows to the awesome 90-metre coral wall, where Napoleon fish are just one of many species you will encounter.


Gebel Fuga is a large desert plateau surrounded by the desert mountains, reachable by safari from the Abu Gallum area or from resorts in Dahab. On a sloping hillside here lies one of the most interesting geological oddities to be seen in Sinai. This area has been named the Forest of Pillars, because it is covered with black lava-like columns of rock which appear to grow out of the mountain. The rocks range in size reaching to a metre or more in height, and many are crowded together as if they were supporting one another.
A perfect and unique exploration and photographic opportunity.

Abu Gallum National Park

To the north of Dahab, Ras Abu Gallum is a protected National Park area, making it one of the areas of Sinai where visitors will be the most awestruck by the unspoiled beauty of the Egyptian coast. With no hotels,


shops, loud music or big crowds, this four-hundred square kilometre protected area is a place where one can imagine stepping back in time and being the first to discover the beauty of both the land and sea here. The Park is home to a Bedouin settlement, and is a wonderful site for diving and snorkelling, and can only be reached from Dahab as part of a camel safari. The best area for diving is at the northern end of the Bedouin village. Divers enter at a split in the reef and head out towards incredible coral formations teeming with marine life. Experienced divers can head out to the deeper reef wall, although some would say that the most fascinating sights are
to be found in the shallows.

DID YOU KNOW in nabq

Nabq contains the largest mangrove forest in Sinai. These plants are remarkable for the way they purify salt water using their root system. The wreck of the Maria Schroeder, a vessel which sank on the coral reefs in 1965, is still plainly visible at Nabq, with much of the ship still above the water’s surface. The portion beneath the sea has become a new habitat for a rich array of coral and other marine life.

don’t miss in nabq

The incredible view across the desert, with Mount Sinai rising majestically out of its foothills. Visitors can go on safari excursions in to the desert, in four wheel drive jeeps, riding quad bikes, or on the back of a real desert camel. Bedouin hospitality awaits, with barbecue food under the stars before returning across the desert to the coast.

Nabq

A little closer to Sharm el-Sheikh, around 30km to the north of the bustling resort, is Nabq, where the coral reefs stretch along the length of the coast where the desert meets the sea. A protected marine reserve has been established here since 1992, in order to protect the coral reefs and the mangrove fringe which extends along the shoreline. The reserve also serves to preserve the way of life of the native Bedouin people, who are also responsible for much of the tourist services here.



Scuba diving is popular and well-served in Nabq, with unique and varied underwater landscapes, offering sandy slopes leading to the rich and amazingly well-preserved coral reefs, which boast a very rich and diverse variety of fish. The beaches are beautiful, as one would expect in a protected area, and activities such as beach volleyball, beach football and basketball are available all day, so visitors can enjoy some energetic exercise.

EASY TRAVEL to Nabq

Nabq is easily reached from the larger resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Only around 15 minutes from Sharm by car, this beautiful area offers a change of pace and scenery for those wishing to relax in tranquil surroundings.

DID YOU KNOW about dahab

Dahab has retained its youthful, alternative atmosphere in perfect balance with the arrival of tourism to the area, creating a relaxed and laid-back environment, but with facilities on hand that one would hope for in a top-class tourist resort.

don’t miss

Private dive guides will take individuals and groups to dive sites which are off the beaten track, giving a truly unique experience to those who choose to take this option. Standards of teaching and safety are very high here, but always check that your guide is part of a well established diving centre. Bicycles are available for hire, so visitors can take a leisurely ride along the beach or take to the backstreets of Dahab for exploration of Egyptian life.

Easy Travel

Dahab serves as an excellent starting point for visits to Mount Sinai, where many believe that Moses received the Ten Commandments in the Bible, and St Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest in the world.


Excursions into the desert are available, and are an unforgettable experience, culminating in a visit to a Bedouin settlement where guests will receive a warm welcome and enjoy a barbecue under the stars. Also on dry land, Wadi Gnai is a perfect spot for rock climbing enthusiasts, or simply a beautiful oasis in which to enjoy a
spot of tea