Discover Sinai

Originally posted on June 11, 2014 Mt Sinai (Gebel Mousa) and Jebel Safsafa form one massif, with Safsafa towering above the town of St Katherine, while the peak of Mt Sinai is located at the other end, not visible from town. Most people climbing the mountain never realise how many beautiful secrets this range holds, just a few steps off the main tourist path. There are hidden little basins harbouring chapels and hermit cells, gardens, wells and reservoirs, gullies offering a view to different directions, and the stunning sight of Wadi Raha and the town of St Katherine from Ras Safsafa. Instead of the usual route, you could visit all these places in a long day, finishing at the peak of Mt Sinai for the sunset, then either return to town or spend the night up to see the sunrise too. The best route is from Wadi Arbain, just off from the Rasis area of town, passing Hajar Mousa (Rock of Moses) and the Monastery of the Fourty Martyrs (Deir el Arbain). From there head to Kinist el Hmar, and ...

Originally posted on June 3, 2014 Most people climb Mt Sinai (Gebel Mousa) at night, starting from the Monastery of St Catherine. The usual Mount Sinai hiking trail starts via the Camel Path, then, after sunrise people descend to Farsh Eliya (Elijah’s Basin) and back to the Monastery via the Stairs of Repentance. You could do the hike during the day as well, it is actually a much more peaceful experience, and the colours at sunset in my opinion are even more beautiful. If you start descending after the sun dipped behind the horizon – it’s still not proper sunset – you have enough time to get back to the Monastery before total darkness. If you do the climb during the day, it’s better to do the circuit the other way around, starting via the Stairs of Repentance and descending via the Camel Path. The big and oddly shaped steps are difficult on the knees and dangerous at dusk, while the Camel Path is easy even when the visibility is not perfect. You could start 2 – 2.5 hours before sunset,...