2 days / 1 night private tour · Sunrise summit climb · St Catherine Monastery and Burning Bush
The Mount Sinai overnight tour is the 2-day version that includes the sunrise summit climb, the standard package most religious-pilgrimage travelers and most travelers seeking the iconic Sinai experience choose. The itinerary leaves Cairo in the afternoon, drives the 6 to 7 hours across the Sinai Peninsula, arrives at the St Catherine guesthouse for dinner and sleep, begins the Mount Sinai climb in the early hours (typically 02:00 to 02:30) to reach the summit before sunrise, watches the sun rise over the Sinai peaks, descends, returns to the guesthouse for breakfast, then visits St Catherine Monastery in the morning before driving back to Cairo for evening arrival.
The sunrise from the Mount Sinai summit is the photographic and spiritual highlight of any Sinai tour. The night climb in lantern light, the cold summit waiting period, the golden glow spreading across the southern Sinai range — this is the experience travelers come to Egypt for. Customize Your Egypt Tour with your dates and we’ll quote the overnight package.
Day 1
Day 2
The schedule shifts seasonally — sunrise is later in winter, earlier in summer. Your guide adjusts based on the date.
The Mount Sinai climb in the dark is unlike any other element of an Egypt trip:
The sunrise itself is the moment. The eastern horizon glows, the granite peaks turn rose-gold, the Red Sea glints far to the south, and the valley directly below where you started 4 hours ago is shrouded in mist. The chapel doors open for a brief Orthodox liturgy at sunrise on some mornings. Most travelers stay at the summit for 30 to 45 minutes before starting the descent.
Pricing depends on group size, vehicle configuration, guesthouse tier, and the season. Per the EDT four-tier framework, the Mount Sinai overnight from Cairo sits in the Premium tier because of the combined cost of two-day private guide and vehicle, guesthouse accommodation, Bedouin climbing guide, meals, and monastery contributions. Request a custom quote on WhatsApp and we’ll send a fully itemised price within 4 hours during Cairo working hours.
“The Mount Sinai sunrise was the highlight of our three-week Egypt trip. The Bedouin guide kept us safe in the dark, the summit experience was unforgettable, and the monastery visit the next morning grounded the whole pilgrimage. Egypt Day Tours arranged everything perfectly.”
🇨🇦 Helen and Frank G. · Toronto, Canada
“We climbed in January when the summit was below freezing. The cold was real but so was the sunrise. The Bedouin tea stall halfway up saved us. Honest pricing, professional guide, the religious dimension came through respectfully without being heavy-handed.”
🇩🇪 Klaus M. · Munich, Germany
“Did the overnight with our 12-year-old. She made the climb without complaint and called the sunrise the best moment of her life. Egypt Day Tours adapted the pace for her and we never felt rushed.”
🇺🇸 Sarah and Michael R. · Denver, USA
Typically 02:30 to 03:30 depending on the season and the sunrise time. Your guide confirms the exact start time the evening before based on the date.
Moderate. Mount Sinai is 2,285 metres with a 750-metre gain from the monastery valley. Most travelers in reasonable walking fitness handle it without difficulty. The dark ascent and the cold summit are the unfamiliar elements, not the physical climb itself.
The Camel Path lower section can be done with camel assistance for the first 1.5 hours. The final 750 steps must be walked. If even the steps are too much, you can wait at Elijah’s Basin while the rest of your group continues.
Yes. Dinner on the arrival evening at the guesthouse and breakfast after the climb are both included. Lunch on day 2 in St Catherine is also typically included.
Simple but clean. Private room with private bathroom, hot water, A/C, traditional Egyptian breakfast. Not a luxury hotel — the only accommodations in the St Catherine area are basic guesthouses and one mid-range lodge.
Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Closed Fridays and Sundays. The overnight schedule is arranged to visit the monastery on a day it is open.
Yes, kids 10 and over typically manage it. The Bedouin guides adapt the pace. The early start and cold summit are the challenges, not the climb itself.
Light rain rarely stops the climb. Snow in the high winter occasionally affects the summit area. Heavy thunderstorms (very rare in Sinai) would cause us to reschedule. Your guide makes the call based on conditions.
The full Sinai overview with all tour formats. Read the Sinai pillar →
The single-day option without the summit climb. Read the day tour page →
The shorter version for Red Sea beach travelers. Read the Sharm version page →
Pair Sinai with a Red Sea beach holiday. Read the Sharm destination page →
Send us your dates and starting point for a Sinai overnight quote. Start the customizer →