Written by the Egypt Day Tours team and reviewed by our licensed Egyptologist guides. Last updated July 2026.
A Bedouin-guided Mount Sinai sunrise trek, climbing the biblical Gebel Musa to watch dawn break over the South Sinai mountains, with a visit to the ancient St Catherine’s Monastery, done thoughtfully and authentically rather than as a rushed package.
Watching the sun rise from the summit of Mount Sinai is one of those experiences that stays with you forever. As the first light spills across an ocean of jagged peaks, it is easy to feel why this mountain has been sacred for thousands of years. This is the biblical Mount Sinai, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, and climbing it for dawn is the most accessible and moving of all Egypt’s treks. We do it the proper way, with Bedouin guides and a little care, rather than as a rushed crowd-packed package.
The climb itself is manageable for most reasonably active people. There are two routes up Gebel Musa: the gentler, winding camel path, and the steep, direct Steps of Repentance, some 3,750 stone steps cut by monks. Many ascend by the camel path in the dark and descend by the steps in daylight. Your Bedouin guide sets a comfortable pace, and camels are available on the camel path for part of the way if needed. It is an effort, but a very achievable one.
At the foot of the mountain sits St Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world, home to priceless icons and the living bush traditionally identified with the burning bush. A visit here, woven into your trek, adds a profound layer of history and faith to the adventure, whatever your beliefs.
We are honest about the realities. The summit is cold before dawn, even in summer, so layers are essential, and the classic sunrise climb can be busy. Where possible we time and route things to soften the crowds, and we can suggest quieter alternatives for those who want solitude over the famous sunrise. With genuine Bedouin guides, even the well-trodden Mount Sinai becomes a richer, more authentic experience.
It is the perfect introduction to trekking in Egypt and pairs naturally with the tougher Mount Catherine trek next door. See it among all the options on our best hikes in Egypt guide, prepare with our trekking in Egypt guide, and find it within our Bedouin trekking in Egypt collection.
| Group size | Standard | With monastery & extras |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveler | On request | On request |
| 2 travelers (per person) | On request | On request |
| 3-4 travelers (per person) | On request | On request |
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