Moses Mountain Sunset Hike & St Catherine's Monastery from Dahab

5.0(1)12 hoursArabic, EnglishBook 4 hours aheadDahab, Egypt

From

$180

Moses Mountain (Jebel Musa, 2,285 m) the way few groups do it: by day, with the summit almost to ourselves, and the sunset from the top.

We leave Dahab in the morning and start at Saint Catherine's Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where our guide explains the monastery, the Burning Bush and the story of Moses. Then we climb the Camel Path to the summit, with views over the high mountains and down towards Elijah's Basin. Lunch is a Bedouin meal on top. Our standard plan is to stay for the sunset, then walk down the Steps of Repentance in the evening light. If the whole group prefers to head down earlier, we vote on it. Back in Dahab between 6 and 8 pm.

Everything is included: transport, monastery entry and tickets, permits, a local guide and lunch on the summit. The only extra is an optional camel ride. Bring warm layers and a headlamp: the summit gets cold after sunset. The trip runs only on days the monastery is open; on Fridays we meet at 8:45, as it opens later.

Included

Private transportation
Professional guide to explain the monastery
Entrance fee
Two bottled water provided/each participant
A mouthwatering Bedouin lunch of rice, vegetables, salad, and optionally chicken, on the summit of Moses Mountain

Not included

Tips are optional
Camel ride (optional)

What you'll do

Mount Saint Catherine Monastery
Saint Catherine, Egypt
Saint Catherine's Monastery: At the foot of Moses Mountain (Jebel Musa), this 6th-century UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the world's oldest working monasteries. Highlights include: 1. Church of the Transfiguration: The main church, with the Chapel of the Burning Bush, where Moses spoke to God. 2. Additional Churches: Ten churches within the complex. 3. Library(optional, not included): Houses 4,500 manuscripts, including the Codex Sinaiticus, in Greek, Arabic, and Syriac. 4. Artistic Treasures: Renowned Byzantine icons and mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries. 5. Monks' Quarters: Living spaces and a refectory for meals. 6. Fatimid Mosque: A 12th-century mosque within the complex. 7. Ossuaries and Olive Press: Burial chambers and an ancient olive press. 8. Historical Significance: Built by Emperor Justinian I, it’s a key pilgrimage site. 9. Cultural Importance: Sacred to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, linked to biblical events.
1 hourAdmission included
Mount Sinai
Saint Catherine, Egypt
At the summit of Moses Mountain (Jebel Musa) 1. Church of the Holy Trinity: A chapel built in 1934, enclosing the rock where God gave Moses the Tablets of the Law. It’s not open to the public but holds great religious importance. 2. Mosque: A small mosque at the summit, reflecting the mountain’s significance in Islamic tradition. 3. Cave of Moses: A cave where Moses is believed to have waited to receive the Tablets. 4. Panoramic Views: At 2,285 meters (7,495 feet), the summit offers stunning views of surrounding mountains, valleys, and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba. 5. Elijah's Basin: ancient trees, a well and chapels below the summit; seen from the path, not visited. 6. Historical Significance: Traditionally regarded as the biblical site where Moses received the Ten Commandments, sacred to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. A deeply spiritual and historically rich destination for pilgrims and tourists worldwide.
6 hoursAdmission included