We’ll kick off this day tour from Sharm el-Sheikh by picking you up from your hotel at 7.30am, and whisking you away in a mini bus to St Catherine, which is a 3-hour drive away (so yes, you can have a snooze on the drive over!). Our first stop will be at St Catherine’s Monastery, where you’ll get an introduction to this fascinating site from your local guide, and then have the chance to take a peaceful walk around the grounds. Make sure you take a peek inside the chapel, where you may well see some monks milling around. Your local guide will also take you outside the grounds to take a look at some infamous sights such as the Burning Bush, Well of Moses, and the Peace Treaties of all the conquerors and crusaders who have taken control of the Monastery throughout history. This spot has recently been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a testament to its beauty and incredible history.

Next up on this historical tour in Egypt, we’ll take a short drive to the Protectorate Visitor Centre, a group of 5 rooms set into the mountains, camouflaged by the stone they were made in, which matches the mountains themselves. The Rangers at the centre will give you a tour and talk, explaining each building’s significance: Bedouin Heritage, Flora & Fauna, and St Catherine’s Protectorate, to name a few. This is a great opportunity to really get to grips with the local history of the area, and with locals to fill you in you’ll get the very best information at hand. We’ll also stop by the Bedouin Handicraft Centre, where you can have a browse (without pressure to buy) and learn all about this EU project designed to empower local women and their ancient craft.

If you’re hungry by now, you’re in luck – it’s lunchtime! You’ll be invited into the home of a member of the local Jebeliya tribe, a group of people that have been living in the St Catherine area for 1,400 years. Here you’ll be treated to a plethora of local dishes, and plenty of Bedouin tea. This is a special experience that you might not find on many Egypt tours, so it’s definitely something worth savouring.

Lunch will be a leisurely affair, as we give you time to rest and digest, before we take on the trek up Mt. Sinai! This hike can be a little challenging, but with your local guide to help you and the reward of the views at the top, we promise it’ll be worth it. If you’re not confident on your trekking skills or would simply like a rest, you can hop on a camel to take you up part of the way, which will be an additional charge.

We’ll enter the hike up to the summit of Mt. Sinai from Wadi el Arbain, which is more of a scenic route than others. We’ll hike for 2.5 hours, taking in the views beyond and eventually reaching Elias Garden, where you can rest and buy refreshments. Then it’s time for the final push, up the 720 Steps of Repentance, after which you’ll be able to give yourself a big pat on the back – you’ve just reach the summit of Mt. Sinai! And if the personal glory wasn’t enough, the land of Egypt will congratulate you further by treating you to an epic sunset view.

We’ll take a little while to breathe in the views that surround us, then we’ll head back down to the bottom of the mountain, where your transport will await to take you back to Sharm el-Sheikh. We can stop off on the way back at a market for snack or drinks of you like, and we’ll drop you back at your hotel between 10 and 11pm. No doubt you’ll want to rest your legs after your Mt. Sinai adventure!