Sinai Discovered

Dahab has a long history of luring travelers – and trapping them for days or weeks on end – with its ocean-side camps, golden beaches and rugged mountain backdrop. Meaning gold in Arabic, a reference to the area’s sandy coastline, Dahab also boasts some of Egypt’s most spectacular diving and trekking and remains a tranquil ocean-side refuge from the unrelenting heat of the desert.
Enjoy a snorkel safari in the Southern Oasis, a remote and pristine area with a huge variety of colourful marine life and coral. There is also time to explore Dahab, its many cafes are perfect to chill out in. (BL)

You set off at 7am in a 4x4 to St Catherine’s Monastery where you spend the morning. The ancient monastery has been a place of pilgrimage since the 4th century when the original chapel was built beside what was believed to be the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses. It is considered one of the oldest continually functioning monastic communities in the world and has been declared a Unesco World Heritage site.

You will be able to enter the 6th century Church of the Transfiguration, ornately decorated with its nave flanked by massive marble columns and walls covered in richly gilded icons and paintings. Later on you will ascend Mt. Sinai (approx. 2.5 hours) for sunset.

The hike to the summit is fairly demanding and it takes around 2.5hrs to get to the plateau of Elias Garden, just beneath the summit. There will be a lot of other people also hiking up to watch the sunset, so it is important to follow your tour leader and not get seperated from the group. Your tour leader will arrange the group's pace so that it suits everyone. Upon reaching Elias Garden you can enjoy some refreshments in the Bedouin cafe before continuing up the 720 Steps of Repentence to the summit.

It can be windy so care may need to be taken, although camels can be hired to take you most of the way up the mountain. However, you will need to dismount in order to reach the summit as they are unable to climb the steps! This is a beautiful climb though, which offers a taste of the serenity and magnificence of Southern Sinai's high mountain region. You descend by the stepped path, which is a shorter route of 3750 rock steps back down to the village. Care needs to be taken as each step dates back to the 6th century AD, when they were cut by monks and are mis-shaped and random. Bedouin Camp - 1 night (BLD)

This morning morning a 4WD will take you to the top of the White Canyon. Descend the canyon on foot (option to go in the jeep) and walk through the canyon for approximately 90 minutes before emerging into Ein Hudra, a lush palm oasis and natural spring, where you stop for lunch. Following lunch, you will enjoy an afternoon trek to Mushroom Rock and the Narrow Canyon, (approximately one hour trek by camel or on foot) before returning to Dahab in the late afternoon. Hotel - 2 nights (BL)