Sunrise from the summit of Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai rises to 2,285 m near the town of Saint Catherine, with the 6th-century Saint Catherine’s Monastery at its foot. Many climb after midnight to watch the sunrise from the summit.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- Saint Catherine’s Monastery, at the northern foot of the mountainMount Sinai (Wikipedia)
- GPS coordinates
- 28.53942, 33.97542Mount Sinai (Wikipedia)
- Duration
- About 2.5 hours up the longer, gentler path; the other route climbs the 3,750 “steps of penitence”Mount Sinai (Wikipedia)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
A local guide is required, even though the trails are well signposted.
Mount Sinai (Wikivoyage)It is much cooler at the summit than on the coast: in winter, subzero night temperatures and even snow.
Mount Sinai (Wikivoyage)To avoid the crowds, climb the night before a Friday or Sunday, when the monastery is closed to visitors.
Mount Sinai (Wikivoyage)
Plan the trip
Our recommended partners
One link per need, chosen for reliability. Prices and availability are the partner’s, in a new tab.
Keep exploring
Egypt
The pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
The Giza plateau holds the Great Pyramid, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx.
The Khan el-Khalili bazaar
In the historic centre of Cairo, Khan el-Khalili began as a centre of trade in the Mamluk era and is named after one of its caravanserais.
The Karnak temple at Luxor
Temples, pylons and chapels: Karnak was the main place of worship of the Theban Triad, headed by the god Amun.
Sources · 2 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- Mount Sinai (Wikipedia)
It is a 2,285-meter (7,497 ft) mountain near the city of Saint Catherine […] Immediately north of the mountain is the 6th-century Saint Catherine's Monastery. The longer and shallower route, Siket El Bashait, takes about 2.5 hours on foot, though camels can be used. The steeper, more direct route (Siket Sayidna Musa) is up the 3,750 "steps of penitence" in the ravine behind the monastery. Many tour companies offer tours ascending after midnight in the dark, in order to reach the summit for sunrise. (coordinates 28.53942, 33.97542)
- Mount Sinai (Wikivoyage)
[…] opened in the morning from 9AM to noon only (daily except Friday and Sunday). […] if you want to avoid crowds, climb the mountain in the night before a Friday or Sunday when the monastery is closed to visitors. […] A local guide is required despite the fact the trails are well signposted once you get onto them. […] It will be much cooler at the summit than on the coast, and in the winter subzero temperatures at night and even snow are not unknown.
Opening hours, prices and access conditions change: check them with the official source before you go. Viafro publishes no price without a source and a date.