Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery Tour
Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery Tour
Follow in the footsteps of Prophet Moses on a Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery Tour from Sharm El Sheikh, and ascend at night to Mount Sinai, the mountain where it is believed that God spoke to Prophet Moses and where he received the Ten Commandments. Watch the magical sunrise and enjoy stunning panoramic views.
Visit St Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest and most famous monasteries in the world, and explore the Church of the Transfiguration with its rare Byzantine mosaics, the Church of Queen Helena, the Burning Bush, and the historic Well of Moses, along with rare manuscripts inside the monastery library and the Fatimid mosque within its walls.
You will also see an impressive collection of ancient Greek and Byzantine icons in the icon gallery, as well as religious artifacts, church vessels, and historical crosses displayed in the St Catherine’s Monastery museum.
Tour Highlights
| Tour Inclusions | Tour Exclusions |
| Hotel pickup and drop-off service in Sharm El Sheikh. All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle. Entrance fees to the mentioned historical sites. Private English-speaking guide. Bedouin guide during the climb up Mount Sinai. Bottled water during the tour. Lunch at a local restaurant in Dahab. All taxes and service charges. | Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary. Tipping. |
Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery Tour Itinerary
Your tour guide from AXA Tours will pick you up from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle to begin your Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery Tour from Sharm El Sheikh.
The tour takes approximately 3 hours, during which you can enjoy the charm of the desert and the stunning scenery along the way to Mount Sinai.
Mount Sinai
Upon arrival to Mount Sinai (Mount Moses), you will meet your local Bedouin guide, then begin the ascent to the summit of Mount Moses via a narrow mountain path, which takes approximately 3 hours on foot. You can also ride camels to make the journey easier.
Once you reach the summit, you can rest for a while and wait to watch the sunrise as it illuminates the peaks and deserts of Sinai, as well as capture stunning panoramic photos of the surrounding landscape.
Breakfast Time
After descending the mountain, you will stop to rest and enjoy a traditional breakfast.
St Catherine’s Monastery
After breakfast, you head to visit St Catherine’s Monastery, one of the most famous and oldest monasteries in the world, located within the sacred Valley of Tuwa, to explore its following historical and religious landmarks:
Church of the Transfiguration
The Church of the Transfiguration is the spiritual heart of St Catherine’s Monastery. It is distinguished by rare Byzantine mosaics, ancient chandeliers, and massive granite columns that reflect the grandeur of Byzantine architecture. It also contains a shrine holding the relics of Saint Catherine.
The Sacred Burning Bush
One of the most sacred sites within the monastery, believed to be the bush where God revealed Himself to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). Remarkably, its original roots are still present to this day.
Church of Queen Helena
Built over the site associated with the Burning Bush, it is named after Queen Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. The church is characterized by its simple and peaceful historical style and is considered one of the oldest religious sites within the monastery.
Moses Well
An ancient natural well believed to be where Prophet Moses drew water during his time in Sinai. The well still exists inside the monastery to this day.
St Catherine Monastery Library
It contains more than 6,000 rare manuscripts in multiple languages, including Greek, Arabic, Syriac, Georgian, and Coptic, such as the famous Codex Sinaiticus, one of the oldest copies of the Bible, as well as the Syriac Sinaitic manuscript dating back to the 4th century AD, which includes a translation of the Gospels.
Fatimid Mosque inside the Monastery
Located within the monastery walls, it was built during the Fatimid era in the 11th century and is believed not to have been regularly used for prayer due to an inaccurate qibla direction.
Icon Gallery
It houses an impressive collection of rare Byzantine and Greek icons dating back many centuries, some of which still retain their original colors and details today. These include icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and various saints, making it an exceptional artistic and historical treasure.
St Catherine’s Monastery Museum
The museum displays a unique collection of manuscripts, icons, religious artifacts, church vessels, and ancient historical crosses, as well as historic gifts presented to the monastery by kings and emperors over the centuries.
Return
At the end of your Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery Tour from Sharm El Sheikh, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, concluding a memorable experience.
Your Tour Map
What Makes This Tour Unique?
- Night ascent of Mount Sinai, with a magical sunrise over Sinai’s sacred peaks on the Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery Tour from Sharm El Sheikh.
- Visit St Catherine’s Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Holy Valley of Tuwa.
- Exploration of key religious and historical landmarks: the Burning Bush, Church of the Transfiguration, Queen Helena Church, Moses Well, and the ancient monastery library.
- Discovery of rare Byzantine icons, sacred manuscripts, and historical artifacts.
- Balanced journey of adventure, spirituality, history, and panoramic mountain landscapes.
Tour Prices
30$ Per Person
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