Hike Mt Sinai: My Lifetime Experience

Hiking to the peak of Mt Sinai was the highlight of my trip to Egypt, and definitely tops the list of some of my most magical life experiences.

I decided to do the hike to Mt Sinai at the last minute and I’m so glad that I did.

At first, I was worried about the lack of sleep and the discomfort of spending a night on top of a cold mountain. But then it hit- when will I ever be this close and have this opportunity to hike Mount Sinai again? So I went for it.

I was placed in a group with 9 other people – 2 from China and the rest from around Egypt. Getting to meet and spend time with these people enhanced the experience for me even more.

As we walked up the mountain, a couple of the Egyptian university students told me stories from the Quran relating to Mt Sinai. It was really special.

The most magical part of the trip came at 6 in the morning when the sun came up behind Mt Catherine and showed us the incredible landscapes that had been there all along but were covered by the shadows of the night.

Blues and pinks and oranges spilled out everywhere we looked and reflected on the jagged rocks. I closed my eyes and froze this moment in my memories forever. An experience I will never forget.

Hiking to Mt Sinai is easily one of the best things to do in Dahab, Egypt.

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My Personal Experience Hike Mount Sinai

I registered for the hike to Mt Sinai with a local tour operator in Dahab. They picked me up that night at 10 pm and dropped me off at the meeting point with all the others waiting to do the trip.

I was directed towards a van full of 9 strangers who were about to become my Sinia companions and future friends.

We drove for 2 hours from Dahab to St Catherine, at the base of the mountain. Once we got out of the van and passed through inspection (show IDs and get our bags checked), we were assigned a local guide to take us up the mountain.

We took the camel path up towards the peak for about 2 hours. It was a wide gravel path with several small dispensaries along the way. We stopped at several of them to drink hot tea and hot chocolate, and have a rest.

After a few hours of chatting, storytelling, and hiking, we reached the penultimate portion of the hike: 750 steps made from stone. By the time we reached the top of these steps, it was around 3:30 in the morning.

Two hours until sunrise. I rented a blanket and kept myself warm inside the little shop there while some of my companions slept.

At 5:30 am, we ascended the final push, the last of the stone steps, to the peak of Mt Sinai to watch the sunrise at the summit. We arrived in near-total darkness.

But as the sun began to rise, I was surprised to see the sheer number of people everywhere. So many other groups had arrived and were spread out all over the summit. 

We were all in awe as the sun came out and the light spread across the rocky cliffs and the other landmarks at the summer of Mt Sinai (a mosque, a chapel, the Cave of Moses, and Justinian’s Basilica).

As the sun rose, so did the temperature. It was no longer a chilly winter morning, so we all shed our rented blankets and began to walk around the summit, exploring every cliff and perfect photo location.

From the summit of Mt Sinai, I was so lucky to see the most beautiful sunrise in Egypt.

When the crowds up top started to thin out, we knew it was time to begin the descent. We dropped our rented blankets off at the shop on the way back down. Now with the sun fully up and no clouds in sight, the air started heating up and I started shedding layers. 

The initial descent down the stone steps involved a single-file line with hundreds of other people returning to the base who had the same sense of adventure and search for beauty as me.

Once the steps ended and the trail widened, people started spreading out more and walking down at their own pace. It took me about 1.5 hours to hike back down to the Saint Catherine Monastery.

Once we reached St Catherine, we had about 1 hour to explore the grounds of this continuously inhabited Saint Catherine monastery. This is the location of the burning bush where Moses spoke to God.

Then it was sadly time to leave this magical place and drive the two hours back to Dahab.

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All You Need to Know About Hike Mount Sinai

Hiking to Mt Sinai is an experience you should not miss out on. Below is all of the practical information you need to know about doing this hike.

If you’re planning to spend more time in Egypt, make sure to read up on the 13 necessary things to know before going to Egypt.

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Why Climb Mount Sinai?

Mount Sinai is a sacred place to people of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism alike. In each religion, the sacred text refers to Moses spending 40 days and 40 nights at the top of Mt Sinai.

This is where Moses received the 10 Commandments from God.

I am not religious, but it was really special to me to be able to share this experience with everyone in my group who were Muslim. I loved hearing them tell me historical stories from the Quran about this exact place we were walking in.

Their passion became my passion. 

If you worship nature more than a religious text, Mt Sinai offers something really special for you too. The views and landscapes at the summit of Mt Sinai are some of the most beautiful ones I’ve ever seen.

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What is the Real Name of this Mountain?

This mountain receives several names: Mt Sinai, Mt Horeb, Moses Mountain, Mount Mousa, St Catherine, etc. depending on who you ask and what their language and beliefs are.

In Arabic, the mountain is called Jabal Mousa, which is the most common name you’ll hear in Egypt.

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Where is Mt Sinai?

Mt Sinai is in the south of the Sinai Peninsula, which is located in the northeast of Egypt, in the northeastern corner of the African continent. The hike begins in the town of Saint Catherine, where the Saint Catherine Monastery is located.

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How to Get to Mount Sinai?

The best way to do the Mt Sinai hiking trip is with a group tour.

It is not impossible to do it without a tour, but it is much more complicated as you would need to find your own transportation there, get a permit, and find a guide to take you to the summit, which is required.

You can find group tours for the Mt Sinai hike from Sharm El Sheik and Dahab. I did it from Dahab. Several local tour operators in both of these towns offer this trip. They are easy to find and located in the main tourist centers.

When you pay for the tour, transportation is included both ways.

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How Tall is Mount Sinai?

Mt Sinai is 2285 meters above sea level.

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How Long Does It Take to Climb Mt Sinai?

The entire tour length was about 13 hours. I got picked up at 10 pm, and returned back to my hotel at 11 am the next day. The drive between Dahab and St Catherine was 2 hours each way (3 hours each way from Sharm El Sheikh).

The hike itself took 3 hours going up and 1.5 hours coming down. The hike is a total of 4.2 miles (7km) roundtrip.

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Is Mount Sinai Easy to Climb?

The Mount Sinai hike difficulty level really depends on your personal experience. I hike quite a bit and found the hike to be very easy.

That said, some of the guys in my group had never hiked before and found it to be extremely difficult. Overall I would say that this hike is easy to moderate.

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Can I Hike Alone without a Tour Group?

It is not suggested. It is much more complicated without a tour group. Not only that but it is required to hire a local guide to take you up the camel trail to the summit.

It is easy to find a tour to hike to Mt Sinai. Simply walk around the tourist centers of either Dahab or Sharm El Sheikh and see dozens of tour companies offering this trip. The group trip costs $25 and covers transportation, permits, and a local guide.

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What to Pack for the Mount Sinai Hike?

During the hike to Mt Sinai, you’ll experience both cold temperatures (you’re hiking in the middle of the night), and hot temperatures (once the sun comes up), so you need to be prepared for everything.

In the morning when the sun is out, you can shed your heavier layers. This is what you should pack:

• Hiking boots or sneakers;
• Pants: an inner and outer layer;
• A T-shirt;
• Long-sleeved shirt;
• A fleece jacket;
• A down jacket;
• A scarf;
• A beanie;
• A cap;
• Gloves;
• Earbuds;
• SPF;
• Phone;
• External battery + Charger cord;
• Backpack;
• Toilet Paper;
• Hand sanitizer;
• Cash.

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Tips for Climbing Mount Sinai

Here are a few things you should know before you do the hike:

1. Because this trip is 13 hours long over the span of 2 days, you will not sleep. Make sure you don’t have plans the next day because you’ll want to rest.
2. There are small dispensaries along the trail where you can buy water, snacks, hot chocolate, etc. If you want to save money, bring your own water and snacks.
3. There is a small shop near the peak of Mt Sinai where you’ll spend a few hours before going all the way up for sunrise. You can only stay in the shop if you purchase something, whether it be food or a blanket rental (highly suggested).
4. Try to get to the peak a little before the other groups do so you can choose a good spot for watching the sun come up.
5. Make sure you bring a backpack because you’ll be shedding layers and putting on layers the whole trip.

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What is the Best Time to Visit?

The best time to visit would be the spring or fall months. During this time the weather is not too hot or too cold yet and there will be less tourism.

In July and August, there will be many more people up top but the mornings will be much warmer. You can even sleep at the summit while waiting for the sun to rise.

I went in January, in the middle of winter. It reached -1C at the peak in the middle of the night. It was very cold. But once the sun came up, the air was warm and I was comfortable in a light fleece jacket.

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Where to Stay When Climbing Mount Sinai?

The best places to stay are in Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh.

These are the two most populated and visited cities in the area, which means the tour operators are located here. There are a number of great hotels in each location.

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FAQ

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Wrap-Up: Is Mt Sinai Worth Visiting?

Yes! Mt Sinai is absolutely worth visiting, whether you’re religious or not. It is peaceful to watch the sunrise over the incredible rocky landscapes.

It is a very affordable trip to do (about $25) and worth every penny of it. I made great friends, saw incredible views, and had one of the best experiences of my lifetime. I would do it again if I ever had the chance.

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