Mount Sinai, Egypt: The Complete Guide

Located near the city of Saint Catherine on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Mount Sinai is known by many different names; Har Sinai, Mount Horeb, Jabal Musa... these are just some of the names given to the mountain in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic literature.

However, one thing that all three religions agree on is that this is the mountain where God appeared to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments.

Prophet Muhammad also visited the mountain in the 6th century, making it a pilgrimage site for members of all three religions.

For secular visitors, a hike to Mount Sinai is rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding desert landscape.

NOTE: The current US State Department travel advice advises American tourists not to travel to the Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of air travel to Sharm El-Sheikh) due to the threat of terrorism.

Check the latest updates before booking your trip.

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The history of the mountain

There is no archaeological evidence that the mountain, which is 7,497 feet high, is the mountain that Moses visited more than 3,000 years ago.

Some scholars debate his identity due to different interpretations of the route the Israelites took in their exodus out of Egypt; however, the general consensus in the traditions of the three churches is that this is the sacred mountain mentioned in the scriptures.

Moses allegedly climbed onto him on several occasions: first when God's voice spoke to him from the Burning Bush and directed him to return to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery, and later when he received the Ten Commandments.

The belief in the sacred status of Mount Sinai was established around the 3rd century when Christian hermits began to settle in caves located on its flanks.

The Monastery of Santa Catarina (see below) was built at the northern foot of the mountain in the 6th century.

Climbing the mountain

There are two main routes to the top of Mount Sinai, both starting at the trailhead in the Santa Catarina Monastery parking lot.

It is mandatory to walk in the company of a local Bedouin guide; You will find them for rent at the beginning of the trails.

Both routes offer spectacular views of the surrounding desert peaks and valleys, including Mount Saint Catherine, the highest mountain in Egypt.

The original route is known as the Staircase of Penance and has 3,750 hand-carved steps into the ravine behind the monastery during the 6th century.

Steep and rugged, this route is only for those in good shape, although the views are well worth the extra effort.

The second route is known as the Camel Trail. Created in the 19th century, it offers a long and gradual ascent.

It takes about two hours to complete on foot, although it is possible to ride a camel from the trailhead to the point where the Camel Trail meets the Steps of Penance for the last 750 steps to the top.

The mountain is littered with the remains of chapels built to worship various saints and prophets.

One of the most famous is in a natural basin below the summit and is dedicated to the prophet Elijah.

It was built in a place where he would have experienced God's revelation.

What to do at the summit

Once you reach the top, there are several historical points of interest to explore after you are done admiring the view.

The first is a mosque that is still used by local Muslims; the other is a Greek Orthodox chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

The latter was built in 1934 on the ruins of a basilica built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century.

The church is said to contain the rock from which God created the Tablets of the Law; however, it is no longer open to the public.

Other sites include two caves associated with Moses' visits to the mountain.

One is the cave in which God hid Moses to protect him from his glory when he gave the Commandments to Moses.

Visiting the Monastery of Santa Catarina

A visit to Mount Sinai would not be complete without a tour of the Saint Catherine Monastery.

The fortified complex that exists today was built in 530 AD. by Emperor Justinian and is an excellent example of Byzantine architecture.

It was built to protect an earlier chapel, erected by the Roman Empress Elena in 330 AD. C. in the place where Moisés found the burning bush.

Helena was the mother of Constantine, the emperor who would legalize Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

The burning bush is believed to be a rare species of blackberry (Rubus Sanctus), which still grows on the monastery grounds and is considered by its monks to be the same one that God spoke to Moses with.

The monastery complex comprises several buildings, including the original Church of the Transfiguration, several smaller chapels, a museum, and a library.

It also includes accommodation for the Mount Sinai Orthodox Church monks who still worship here, making Saint Catherine one of the oldest inhabited Christian monasteries in the world.

It is home to many priceless treasures, including the relics of Santa Catarina.

According to Christian tradition, the martyr's remains were carried by angels to the top of nearby Mount Santa Catarina after his death, where they were discovered by some of the monks of the monastery in the 9th century.

Relics (including the decapitated head and the saint's left hand) are brought in only on special occasions.

The museum houses a world-famous collection of early religious art, including a number of very rare icons from the 5th and 6th centuries.

The library is one of the oldest in the world and ranks second after the Vatican Library in the number of early Christian codices and manuscripts it houses.

Among them was the Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest known manuscript of the Bible.

Most of this manuscript was discovered in the monastery by a German Biblical scholar in 1859 and later sold to Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

The Soviet government, in turn, sold it to the British Museum, where it has been on public display since 1933.

However, fragments of the Codex Sinaiticus can still be seen in St. Catherine's Monastery.

The monastery has strong ties to the Muslim community and even includes a mosque.

It was visited by the Prophet Muhammad at the end of the 6th century and was granted its formal protection in 623 AD.

How to visit Mount Sinai

In the past, pilgrims wishing to visit Mount Sinai and the monastery had to make a grueling eight-day journey from Cairo on foot and by camel. However, modern tourists find the region much more accessible thanks to an airstrip and paved roads built during the Israeli occupation in the mid-20th century.

Many tour companies offer day trips from the popular Red Sea resort towns of Dahab (1.75 hours drive) and Sharm El-Sheikh (2.5 hours drive).

Check with Viator or ask your hotel or travel agent about the best options.

Typically, visitors climb the camel trail in the dark to reach the top in time for sunrise.

You can then ascend in the same way or descend the staircase of penance, which is more picturesque.

For a less hectic experience, it is also possible to climb the mountain in time for sunset.

However, the Penance Steps should not be attempted in the dark, so hikers choosing this option should hike up and down the Camel Trail or climb the steps in daylight.

For those who want to spend the night in the mountains, there is a camp with compost baths at Elijah's Basin.

The mountain can be climbed all year round. Hikers should be aware that the weather can be cold and windy even in summer (especially before sunrise), while winter often has freezing temperatures and even light snowfalls.

Be sure to wear warm clothing and special grooming on the stairs in cold or wet weather.

The Monastery of Santa Catarina is open from 9:00 am to 11:30 am every day, except Friday, Sunday, and religious holidays.

Since it is still a functioning place of worship, visitors should be careful to dress modestly; that means no shorts and covered shoulders.

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