Climbing Mount Sinai: Everything You Need to Know
Headed to the Sinai Peninsula? I highly recommend you add climbing Mount Sinai to your itinerary. It is an experience you won’t soon forget as you typically start the climb in the middle of the night to watch the sunrise over the mountains.
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About Mount Sinai
You’ve likely heard of Mount Sinai if you’re already interested in climbing it, but for those of you who haven’t heard of it… Mount Sinai is located in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and rises 7,497 feet (2,285 meters)above sea level.
It is said to be the peak where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. It is also called Mt. Horeb and Jebel Musa (the Mountain of Moses) and is a popular pilgrimage destination. It includes the Monastery of Saint Catherine and the Burning Bush, Elijah’s Plateau, and the Plain of ar-Raaha.
Read more about Mount Sinai and the religious significance of this mountain in the World Pilgrimage Guide.
Know Before You Go to Mount Sinai
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that can help you determine if climbing Mount Sinai is for you.
1. Why climb Mount Sinai?
Whether you are interested in Mount Sinai from a religious perspective or you are intrigued by the stunning scenery and the climb itself, climbing Mount Sinai is an experience I urge you to consider when visiting the Sinai Peninsula.
Please note that while it may not be a religious experience for you, it is for many. Please be respectful to others and keep your noise levels down.
2. How many routes are there to the summit of Mount Sinai?
There are technically two paths to get to the top of Mount Sinai. The Steps of Penitence and the Camel Path.
- The Steps of Penitence or Steps of Repentance (Siket Sayidna Musa) is a steep path carved out of the rocks by monks. It is the shorter but more challenging path with 3,600 stairs to climb. It can be done in as little as 45 minutes or could take up to 3 hours depending on your pace.
- The Camel Path (Siket El Bashait) is the more traditional route and is a winding path up the side of the mountain. This is the route most people take, and it will take 2.5 – 3 hours to get to the top with 750 stairs to climb at the end. This is the path we’ll be focused on in this post.
3. Is the climb to the summit difficult?
The Camel Path climb is not super difficult, but it is a consistent uphill battle through the night to arrive at the top for sunrise. It is only about 7km to the top and another 7km miles down, but there are no handrails along the way, much of the ground is loose gravel, and there are 750 steep steps at the end. If you have a medical condition that makes hiking difficult, you may want to pass on climbing Mount Sinai.
If the climb is too difficult for you, but you still want to make it to the top, there is the option of riding a camel up. However, you will still have to climb the 750 stairs at the end by foot.
4. How long does the climb take?
The climb itself only takes about 3 hours of hiking uphill and 1.5 hours of hiking down. However, that’s only part of the story. It’s about a 2 hour drive from Dahab, Egypt or 3 hours from Sharm el-Sheikh. And, you’ll have to factor in additional time to enjoy the sunrise and explore Saint Catherine’s Monastery and the Burning Bush. All in all, my journey took from 11:30pm until about noon the following day, so 12.5 hours.
Other Things to Take into Consideration for Mount Sinai
- You’ll want to plan time to visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery also. It is right next door and home of the Burning Bush.
- You are required to have a local guide, whether hiking on your own or with a group. This is part of how the local Bedouin community stays employed. Remember to negotiate and tip your guide.
- While sunrise is the traditional time to hike up Mount Sinai to avoid the heat of the day, you can hike it at other times. Perhaps a mid-day hike is more for you, or catching sunset at the top. There have even been people who stay at the summit overnight to experience sunset and sunrise. The advantage of “off hour” hiking is skipping the crowds.
How To Plan Your Trip to Mount Sinai
Ultimately, the best way to plan a trip to Mount Sinai is through a guided tour. You can usually book your trip as late as the day before. When booking, be clear on what the trip includes:
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel
- Transportation to Mount Sinai
- Entrance fee
- Guide
- Breakfast
For a trip with pick-up, transportation, a guide, and entrance fee, we paid 120EGP.
There are also options for fully guided tours that you can prebook before your trip to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Packing List for Climbing Mount Sinai
Climbing Mount Sinai requires a little bit of preparation as you will encounter a variety of temperatures and be climbing at night. Here’s a short list of what to take with you.
- Closed toed shoes for climbing: Between the sand, rocks, and camel feces, you’ll want to protect your feet and keep from sliding.
- A flashlight (torch): You’re climbing a pitch black mountain, you’ll want a flashlight or headlamp. If you do not have one, there are flashlights for hire at the base of the mountain.
- A sweater and or jacket: As you start climbing up Mount Sinai, the temperature will drop. Even in the summer the summit requires a sweater of some kind. There are warm ponchos for rent at the bottom of the mountain and blankets for rent at the top.
- Food and water: Take a snack. It’s a long climb but between the climb, watching sunrise, and getting down, it is a multiple hour round trip. There are some Bedouin run tea houses along the way selling snacks and drinks as well.
- Cash (Egyptian Pounds): This gives you the option to buy water, tea, coffee, or snacks or to rent a blanket, mattress, etc.
What to Expect When Climbing Mount Sinai
To give the best sense of what to expect on the climb, I’ve laid it out as a timeline.
Day Before: Reserve Your Space
If you haven’t already, book your trip! Your hotel or hostel should be able to assist you.
11:30pm: Pick Up at Your Hotel
If coming from Dahab, like me, you’ll be picked up at about 11:30pm to start the two-hour drive to Mount Sinai.
1:30am: Arrival at Mount Sinai
At this time you are given some time to prepare for your trek. Last minute bathroom use (2EGP), time for a quick drink or snack, and preparation for the dropped temperature.
1:40am: The Climb Begins
We opted to take the Camel Path, the winding gently ascending path, as a group of about twelve people. The path is sandy with thousands of small rocks, which are very hard on the feet, along with being a minefield for camel feces.
Taking the 7km path, it is about three hours to reach the top, all of which is of course uphill. The cool thing about climbing at night, aside from being spared the feeling of being boiled alive by the sun, is that it is a very peaceful journey with only flashlights lighting the path and the occasional Bedouin offering camels to reach the top if you are tired.
4:40am: Reaching the Summit
After 7km and 750 stairs, it’s very exciting to reach the summit. At the top you’ll find a Chapel, a Mosque, and the place Moses received the 10 Commandments from God, according to the Bible.
The Chapel is closed, but the Mosque is open for visitors. You’ll also find vendors selling snacks and drinks, renting blankets, and selling trinkets. As day is slowly breaking, find a comfortable spot to watch the sunrise.
5:15am: Sunrise on Mount Sinai
The best part of the summit is watching the sun slowly rise over the horizon lighting up the mountains around you. This is the magical moment that makes hiking a mountain instead of sleeping worthwhile. Of course timing of sunrise will vary based on time of year, but in early August, it’s around 5:00am.
6:00am: Starting the Descent
The descent is perhaps the least exciting part of the journey as everyone starts descending at the same time creating a queue going down the 750 stairs.
At the bottom of the 750 stairs, you again get the choice of which path to take, the 3,600 stairs or 7km path. Here people start spreading out so you can proceed at your own pace down the mountain. Just a note, by this time the shops selling drinks and snacks are closed.
7:30am: Reaching Saint Catherine’s Monastery
By 7:30am, the sun is up fairly high in the sky, and it’s starting to get warmer. The monastery doesn’t open until 9:00am so there’s time to sit and relax or take a quick nap.
9:00am: Visiting Saint Catherine’s Monastery
At 9:00am, Saint Catherine’s Monastery opens and all of the sunrise hikers flood in to check it out. It’s still a working monastery, but it is also one of the oldest monasteries on record. It’s famous for being home of the Burning Bush, but it also features an Icon Museum, a church, and a well.
For those not familiar with the Burning Bush, it is of significance in the Bible as God appears to Moses in the form of the Burning Bush to tell Moses to deliver his people from Egypt.
There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
– Exodus 3:2“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
– Exodus 3:5
Learn more about Saint Catherine’s Monastery on its official site.
10:00am: Return to the Your Transportation
Once you’ve thoroughly explored Saint Catherine’s, head back to the parking lot to meet your van or bus. It’s time to return to Dahab or wherever your point of origin was.
12:00pm: Arrive Back in Dahab
If staying in Dahab, you’ll arrive back at your hotel around noon.
Additional Resources for Your Time in Egypt & Surrounding Areas
Now that you know everything you need to know for climbing Mount Sinai, here are some other posts to help you plan your time in Egypt and the surrounding areas.
- 14 Best Things to Do in Dahab & the Sinai Peninsula
- How to Spend 3 Days in Dahab: Paradise on a Budget
- How to Get an Egyptian Visa in Aqaba, Jordan
- Taking the Ferry from Jordan to Egypt: A Local Experience
- One Day in Cairo + Dozens of Scam Artists
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