Egypt’s best hikes range from epic multi-day trails (the Sinai Trail and Red Sea Mountain Trail) to classic peaks (Mount Sinai for sunrise, Mount Catherine the highest) and easy half-day walks (the Colored Canyon and desert wadis). There is something for every level.
Whether you want a gentle half-day or a multi-week expedition, Egypt has a walk for you. Here are the best, from the famous to the wonderfully obscure, with an honest word on difficulty.
The best multi-day hike is the Sinai Trail, Egypt’s first long-distance route, 550km across the territory of eight Bedouin tribes in South Sinai, walkable in stages or in full. The Red Sea Mountain Trail near Hurghada is its superb mainland counterpart.
Both are Bedouin-owned and offer true wilderness trekking. See the Sinai Trail and Red Sea Mountain Trail.
The best sunrise hike is Mount Sinai (Gebel Musa), the biblical peak climbed in the dark for a dawn that breaks over a sea of mountains, with St Catherine’s Monastery at its foot. It is achievable for most reasonably active people.
It is the most famous and accessible trek in Egypt. See the Mount Sinai sunrise trek.
For keen hikers, Mount Catherine, Egypt’s highest peak at 2,629m, is the prize: a tougher, quieter climb than Mount Sinai with vast summit views and an optional overnight. It rewards real fitness with real solitude.
It is the roof of Egypt. See the Mount Catherine trek.
Yes. The Colored Canyon near Nuweiba is a beautiful, easy-to-moderate half-day walk through narrow, vividly coloured sandstone, and there are gentle desert wadi walks around Dahab and Nuweiba suited to families and casual walkers.
These are perfect for a taste of the landscape without a major trek, and easy to combine with a Red Sea stay.
Choose by time and fitness: a half-day canyon walk or Mount Sinai for a short, accessible trip; Mount Catherine for a fit hiker’s summit; and the Sinai Trail or Red Sea Mountain Trail for a true multi-day adventure. We will match it to you.
Whatever your level, there is a Bedouin-led option. Tell us what you are after and we will recommend the right one.
October to April, when temperatures are comfortable for hiking. Summer is very hot and best avoided for serious trekking, although the high mountains stay cooler. Winter nights can be cold, with occasional snow on the highest peaks.
It depends on the hike. A Mount Sinai sunrise is achievable for most reasonably active people, while Mount Catherine (2,629 m, Egypt’s highest peak) and the multi-day trails need real fitness and comfort with long days on foot. Some training beforehand makes any trek more enjoyable.
Pack for hot days and cold nights: layers, a warm jacket and hat for the summits, broken-in hiking boots, sun protection, a refillable water bottle and a good sleeping bag. On the multi-day trails you sleep under the stars or in simple shelters, camels carry the gear, and your Bedouin team cooks fresh food over the fire. We send a full kit list once you book.
The hiking happens in South Sinai and the Red Sea mountains, which are well established for trekking and run with Bedouin guides. North Sinai is a separate region and off-limits. Always check your government’s current travel advice before booking. The trails are owned and guided by the Bedouin tribes whose land they cross; read more in our Sinai tours guide.
From a vividly coloured canyon to the roof of Egypt and the great Bedouin trails beyond, Egypt’s hikes are varied, wild, and almost crowd-free. Pick the one that fits your fitness and time, and walk it the Bedouin way.
Meet the Bedouin guides in our Sinai tours guide.
Plan this with a real person
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