Looking at Jebel Safsafa and Wadi Shrij from the former Fansina building. The route to Wadi el Arbain, also known as Wadi Leja, is via the steep Wadi Shrij under the Safsafa-Mount Sinai massif. There are Bedouin gardens along the way and in Wadi Arbain, as well as one of the ancient Orthodox monasteries known as Dier el Arbain or the Monastery of the Forty Martyrs.
The view of Mt Katherina, Egypt's highest peak, from El Zirri. A long walk to visit the remote Wadi Tinya, starting from the main route from St Catherine via Abu Jeefa and Wadi Zawatin. From the latter, passing El Zirri, the route leads to the high pass of Iskikriya, and on the other side descends to Wadi Tinya. Locations worth visiting but not visited this time include Wadi Abu Tuweita and Wadi Sagr. Wadi Tinya drains to Kharazet el Shaq, a series of pools at the top of the very steep and long gully known as Wadi Shaq-Tinya, which connects to the end of Wadi Itlah. Two ways exist to the village of Abu Seils, and this time the adventurous little canyon, Ubugiya, was chosen.
The view of Saint Catherine from the ridge of El Freish. The nearest Bedouin garden from St Catherine is El Freish, a secluded and cute basin with a single garden, separated from the city by a small ridge. The basin is also called Farsh Shama' - or Farsh Abu Aluan, named after the family who owns the garden. The basin drains to the junction of Wadi Qweiz-Wadi Talaa-Wadi Itlah. The latter is a straight and long valley with many gardens and a little Greek Orthodox church next to the Cave of St John the Ladder. Wadi Itlah ends at Wadi Shaq-Tinya, a steep gully coming from the high mountains, and from here you can also get back to St Catherine via the village of Abu Seila.