Trek 2: Mt. Katharina (1-2 days)

With its peak towering at 2642 metres above sea level, Mt. Katharina is Egypt’s highest mountain. It offers stunning views over the whole South Sinai region, as far as the Tih Plateau to the north, mainland Egypt to the west across the Gulf of Suez and the Saudi mountains to the south across the Gulf of Aqaba. Believed to be the place where the body of the martyred Saint Katherine was found after a monk had a dream, the mountain is part of the religious landscape of the region, with a small Greek Orthodox church on the peak marking the event. The trek is often done in a single day, going and returning the same way via Wadi Arbain. While this is the most direct route, a lot is missed. Some of the highlights of the trek are hidden in the Wadi Shaq-Wadi Mathar area, on the other side of the range, so a circuit involving those high mountain wadis is recommended.

Read more: Mt. Katharina.



You can click waypoints marked with a green camera symbol to see a photo taken at, near or of the given location. 

Trek photos


waypoint 01: Wadi Arbain (Wadi Arbaein, Wadi Leja) 

waypoint 02: Hajar Musa (Rock of Moses) and Greek Orthodox chapel

waypoint 03: Monastery of the Forty Martyrs (Deir el Arbain)

waypoint 04: Ramadan’s Garden

waypoint 05: top of Wadi Shaq Musa (Farsh Umm Silla)

waypoint 06: Mt Katharina plateau

waypoint 07: Mt Katharina summit

waypoint 08: Farsh Umm Silla junction

waypoint 09: Wadi Umm Silla junction

waypoint 10: Wadi Rhazana

waypoint 11: Wadi Umm Silla waterfall

waypoint 12: Wadi Rhazana, Sbah’s garden

waypoint 13: Wadi Ahmar

waypoint 14: Wadi Mathar, Sbail’s garden

waypoint 15: El Hrezi, Farhan’s garden

waypoint 16: garden and mulberry tree

waypoint 17: Wadi Shaq junction

waypoint 18: Wadi Shaq, Oda’s garden

waypoint 19: Wadi Shaq – Wadi Tubuq junction

waypoint 20: Ein Shkaya

waypoint 21: Islibet

waypoint 22: Abu Jeefa top

waypoint 23: Abu Jeefa bottom, Ein Tufaha

Popular posts from this blog

Geographical features: Jidda / Dyke (Dike)

Image
Originally posted on February 7, 2015 The whole southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula is a mountainous area, while the High Mountain Region proper, sometimes called the Central High Mountains, is the area in the middle around the town of St. Katherine. (See Google Earth screenshots below.) Up to 80% of the massif is granite of different types formed as far back as 600 million years, but there are also mountains that are made of newer, about 10 million year-old black volcanic rock. Sandstone and limestone are found north of the mountainous tip, forming surrealistic rock formations, sandy plains and eroded layered plateaus. In the mountainous area red granite and black volcanic mountains are often found together, as we can see with the Jebel Safsafa-Mt. Sinai, the Jebel Raba-Jebel Ahmar-Mt. Katharina or the Jebel Abu Mahashur-Jebel Abbas Basha ranges. In each case much of the mass of the mountains is made of hard and smooth red granite, but the famous peaks are actually softer crumbling bl
Read more

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in South Sinai

Image
Originally posted on November 16, 2015 South Sinai features more attractions than most people think, and not all is under water. Known mostly for its Red Sea resorts, coral reefs and great diving, there is a lot to see in the interior too. Following are the 10 best known tourist attractions, the must-see places in South Sinai. 1. Ras Mohamed National Park Located near the resort city of Sharm el Sheikh, Ras Mohamed was the first National Park in the Sinai. It is famous for its underwater life and coral reefs, and so is usually visited for snorkeling and scuba diving, either by car or boat. It is a pleasant spot even if you are not into water sports. It is the southernmost point of the Sinai Peninsula and there are a number of beaches in little cute bays, as well as lookout points. Most tour operators organise programs to Ras Mohamed. >>> See photos 2. Blue Hole The Blue Hole is one of the most famous diving spots in Sinai, found near Dahab. It is submarine sinkhole, around 130
Read more

Garden of Ramadan Abu Sayyed

Image
Very easy to reach from the town of St. Katherine, it lies just below the holy peaks of Mt. Sinai on one side and of Mt. Katherine on the other side. Mt. Sinai can be reached different ways, and the full day program is definitelly recommended. There is an ancient small Orthodox monastery next to the garden, with a big stone-walled orchard, olive groves, tall cypress trees. The rock of Moses is also in the same valley. Ramadan, the owner of the garden, sometimes plays the traditional stringed intrument, the simsimiyya. He also breeds Rock Hyraxes, a cute hairy mountain creature. The terraced garden has many secluded areas away from Ramadan's family tent, with stone rooms for winter use and shady-windy open arishas for summer. There are clean toilets and showers. There are many fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, all grown organically. The garden is ideal for individuals and smaller groups who want to relax on holy land but don't want to - or unable to - walk too much or too hard.
Read more