Mount Catherine Trek

Written by the Egypt Day Tours team and reviewed by our licensed Egyptologist guides. Last updated July 2026.

A Bedouin-guided trek up Mount Catherine (Gebel Katherina), Egypt’s highest peak at 2,629m, a tougher and quieter climb than Mount Sinai through the high South Sinai mountains, often with a summit overnight for an unforgettable sunrise.

For hikers who want more than the famous sunrise, Mount Catherine is the prize. At 2,629m it is the highest mountain in Egypt, and climbing it is a tougher, wilder, and far quieter experience than neighbouring Mount Sinai. From the summit, the whole of southern Sinai falls away beneath you in a sea of granite peaks, and on a clear day you can see across to the mountains of mainland Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It is a genuine high-mountain achievement.

The trek climbs through the dramatic high country around St Catherine, on ancient paths known intimately to the local Jebeleya Bedouin who guide it. The route is long and steady, gaining real altitude, and rewards every step with grander and grander views. Many travelers choose to camp near or on the summit, waking for a sunrise even more spectacular and far more peaceful than the crowds on Mount Sinai, with the dawn light setting the peaks ablaze and almost no one else around.

We are honest that this is a demanding hike. It is a long, steep day, or a tough day plus a cold summit night, and it suits hikers who are fit and comfortable with sustained effort and altitude. The reward is proportionate: solitude, scale, and the satisfaction of standing on the roof of Egypt. Your Bedouin guides handle the route, the camp, and the mountain craft, so you can focus on the climb.

Mount Catherine pairs perfectly with a Mount Sinai sunrise, the accessible classic and the high summit together, or as a powerful finale to a Sinai Trail stage. It is a highlight of the wider trail, and a worthy goal in its own right for any keen hiker visiting Egypt.

Combine it with the Mount Sinai sunrise trek or the Sinai Trail, prepare with our trekking in Egypt guide, and find it within our Bedouin trekking in Egypt collection.

Included

• [check icon] Bedouin-guided ascent of Mount Catherine
• [check icon] Summit-area camp if chosen
• [check icon] Meals on the trek
• [check icon] Transfers
• [check icon] Bottled water
• [check icon] Trail and entrance fees on the itinerary

Excluded

• [x icon] International flights
• [x icon] Egypt visa
• [x icon] Warm kit and sleeping bag for the summit night
• [x icon] Some meals
• [x icon] Travel insurance
• [x icon] Personal expenses and tips

Tour Highlights

• [peak icon] Egypt’s highest summit at 2,629m
• [quiet icon] Tougher and far quieter than Mount Sinai
• [sunrise icon] Optional summit overnight for a peaceful dawn
• [view icon] Vast views across Sinai and beyond
• [guide icon] Guided by the local Jebeleya Bedouin

Pricing

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Frequently Asked Questions

How high is Mount Catherine?

It is Egypt’s highest peak at 2,629m, noticeably higher and tougher than Mount Sinai next door.

How hard is the trek?

Demanding. It is a long, steep day, or a hard day plus a cold summit night, best for fit hikers comfortable with sustained effort and altitude.

Can I sleep on the summit?

Yes, many do, camping near or on the top for a spectacular and peaceful sunrise. Warm kit is essential.

Is it less crowded than Mount Sinai?

Far less. It is a quieter, wilder climb, which is a big part of its appeal.

Who guides it?

The local Jebeleya Bedouin of the St Catherine area, who know these high paths intimately.