2 Days Hiking in the Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine

East Delta Bus Company operates a daily bus to Saint Catherine Town from Cairo El-Torgoman Bus Station. The bus departs at 11:00 and arrives at 18:00 the same day. Ticket fare varies from EGP170 to EGP360 based on different bus types and seat classes. As there is only one bus available each day, you are advised to buy the ticket at least one day in advance from the bus station and arrive there one hour earlier on the departure day. El-Torgoman Bus Station is also called Cairo Gateway Station, located at 3 Wabour El-Torgoman St., Ard El-Torgoman, Boulak, Cairo; its contact number is (002) 0225778347.

After arrival, we recommend you to check in the Sheikh Mouse Bedouin Camp, a traditional Bedouin style guest house in the center of the town and within 2 minutes' walking from the local market. The room is clean and comfortable.

Most hiking lovers to Mount Sinai wouldn't like to miss the sunrise up there, so they usually start hiking very early in the morning, or say at midnight. If interested, you'd better hire a private car and a local Bedouin guide in advance. The hotel staff will be glad to assist you.

Usually, the guide and the driver will pick you up from the hotel at 02:00 and drive to the starting point of the hiking - Saint Catherine Monastery. Then the guide will accompany you to hike to the top of the Mount Sinai. The hiking trail is about 3 miles long, among which 2.5 miles are gentle slopes and wide enough for camels to pass, so nicknamed "Camel Trail". The rest 0.5 mile is made up of about 800 steps leading to the mountain top. The whole hiking needs about 2-2.5 hours.

After appreciating the amazing sunrise up on Mount Saint, it's time to go back. All hikers need to go along another trail to go down, which consists of about 3,800 steps. It is said that they were built by a monk to repent of his sins, so also called "Steps of Repentance". It takes about an hour to reach the mountain foot. Then, take the car back to your hotel, have breakfast, and take a short rest.

After, you may pay a visit to the Saint Catherine Monastery, open from 09:00-11:30 every Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and from 10:45-11:30 every Friday. Most tourist groups visit the monastery from 09:00-10:00, so to avoid the crowds, you are recommended to visit it after 10:30. Several must-sees inside include the Burning Bush, the Well Where Moses Met His Wife and its Museum. The monastery is open for free; however, if you plan to visit the museum inside, the entry ticket fare is EGP80.

► Useful Information:
• The East Delta Bus departs from the Saint Catherine Town at 06:00 every day to go back to Cairo. So if you prefer bus, you need to stay one more night in the town. 

• If you want to extend your visit, you may go to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab or Nuweiba from Saint Catherine Town. However, no public bus is available. Tourists usually take a taxi or book a seat on the private bus from the local travel agency.