Mount Sinai & St. Catherine's Monastery

Mount Sinai (Gebel Musa, 2,285 m) is one of the holiest places in the world — it is said that Moses received the Ten Commandments from God here. Equally significant for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, the ascent to the summit at sunrise is a spiritual and unforgettable experience.

The Ascent

There are two routes:

• Camel Path (Siket el-Bashait): The easier, longer route (7 km). A wide path where you can ride a camel up to just before the summit (150–250 LE). The last 750 steps must be done on foot. Duration: 2.5–3 hours up.
• Steps of Repentance (Siket Sayidna Musa): 3,750 steep steps carved into the rock — the direct, strenuous route, built by monks of St. Catherine's Monastery. Duration: 2 hours. Only for the fit, and only in daylight (too dark and steep for a night ascent).

Typical Schedule: Departure at 2:00–2:30 a.m. Camel Path in moonlight (flashlight/headlamp required!), last 750 steps on foot, reaching the top around 5:00 a.m. Sunrise at 5:30–6:30 a.m. (depending on the season). Descent via the Steps of Repentance (in daylight). Arrival at St. Catherine's Monastery around 7:30–8:00 a.m.

It can get extremely cold at the summit — even in summer below 10 °C. Bring a warm jacket, hat, and gloves! Blankets can be rented at the top from Bedouins (20–30 LE).

St. Catherine's Monastery

At the foot of the mountain lies the St. Catherine's Monastery — the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in Christendom (founded in 527 AD by Emperor Justinian). Behind its fortress walls, it houses the Burning Bush (Rubus sanctus, supposedly the bush in which God spoke to Moses), one of the largest collections of ancient icons in the world, and the second most important library of ancient manuscripts after the Vatican (including the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest Bible manuscripts).

The monastery is only open to visitors in the morning (9:00–12:00, not on Fridays and religious holidays). No entrance fee, but appropriate clothing (covered shoulders and knees) is required. About 20 Greek Orthodox monks still live here.