St Catherine’s Monastery and Dahab Tour

St Catherine’s Monastery and Dahab Tour Itinerary

Your tour guide from AXA Tours will pick you up from your hotel to begin the st catherine’s monastery and dahab tour from sharm el sheikh, while enjoying a drive through stunning desert landscapes and breathtaking views of the Sinai Mountains.

The journey takes approximately 3 hours by car from Sharm El Sheikh to St. Catherine Monastery.

St. Catherine Monastery

Upon arrival at St. Catherine Monastery, you will explore its most important historical and religious landmarks:

Church of the Transfiguration

It is the main church inside St. Catherine Monastery and one of the most important Byzantine churches in the world. It is famous for its rare Transfiguration mosaic and ancient religious icons dating back many centuries.

The Sacred Burning Bush

Also known as the Burning Bush, it is one of the holiest religious sites in Sinai, where it is believed that Prophet Moses received the divine call.

Church of Queen Helena

A small historical church built by order of Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, above the site associated with the Burning Bush, and considered one of the oldest religious sites within the monastery.

Moses Well

An ancient natural well linked to the story of Prophet Moses during his stay in Sinai, and considered one of the most important historical and religious landmarks inside St. Catherine Monastery.

St Catherine Monastery Library

It is considered one of the most important Christian libraries in the world, housing over 6,000 rare manuscripts in multiple languages, including Greek, Arabic, Syriac, Georgian, and Coptic.

It contains extremely rare manuscripts 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.

The Fatimid Mosque Inside the Monastery

A historic mosque located within the monastery walls, built during the Fatimid era, and is believed not to have been regularly used for prayer due to the inaccuracy of the qibla direction.

Icon Gallery

It contains a rare collection of ancient Byzantine and Greek icons, including icons of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints, as well as religious artworks of great historical and artistic value, some of which date back many centuries.

Among the most notable are icons associated with the Cretan School and early Byzantine art.

St Catherine Monastery Museum

The St Catherine Monastery Museum contains a rare collection of ancient manuscripts, archaeological artifacts, church vessels, and historical crosses that document the monastery’s history spanning over 1,400 years.

It also holds the second-largest collection of Christian manuscripts after the Vatican Library.

Lunch Break

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant in the city of Dahab, where you can relax and experience authentic flavors of traditional cuisine.

Dahab City

After finishing lunch, your guide will accompany you to explore Dahab City, a quiet and unique resort on the Red Sea coast, where you can enjoy its stunning natural beauty.

Return

At the end of your st catherine’s monastery and dahab tour from sharm el sheikh, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.

Your Tour Map