Mount Sinai
Also known as: Jebel Musa
Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa) - the biblical peak, climbed pre-dawn for a desert-mountain sunrise, above St Catherine’s Monastery
The route
The line through Sinai Peninsula, Egypt - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Season & conditions
Year-round (cool nights; hot by day)
Cold pre-dawn and at the summit, hot by day; wind
Open year-round; a pre-dawn climb for sunrise; a local Bedouin guide is required. Confirm.
On the trail
A camel path or ~3,750 stone "Steps of Repentance" to a sacred summit
Non-technical walking/hiking; confirm any exposed or scrambly sections locally
Marked/waymarked route; navigation generally straightforward - carry a map and confirm locally
Suitable for reasonably fit hikers; not wheelchair accessible - confirm specifics
A popular, well-known route - busier in peak season
The camel path (gentler) or the Steps of Repentance; visit the monastery
Getting there & staying
St Catherine’s Monastery
Out-and-back/loop - no shuttle needed
Day route - none needed
Day-hike kit, water, sun/rain protection, sturdy footwear; coverage varies
Services in Saint Catherine; limited or none on the trail
Mandatory local Bedouin guide
Permits & safety
A local Bedouin guide is required; St Catherine’s Monastery below. Confirm.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Cold at the summit, the dark descent, crowds at sunrise
Retrace the route to exit; dial local emergency services; carry a means of calling for help where remote
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.