Mount Sinai Sunrise Climb and St. Catherine’s Monastery from Dahab

This Mount Sinai sunrise tour leaves Dahab late at night, so you climb in the dark and reach the summit as the sun comes up over the Sinai mountains. On the way down you visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, then drive back to Dahab the same day. It runs every day with private transport, from $69 per person.

What you will see and do

Mount Sinai is the peak where, by tradition, Moses received the Ten Commandments, and the climb draws walkers of many faiths. You set off from Dahab before midnight and begin walking at about 2 a.m. with a Bedouin guide, who leads you up by torchlight. At the top you wait for first light and watch the ranges around you change color.

After the descent you have breakfast in St. Catherine and visit St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of the mountain. Founded in the 6th century, it is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then you drive back to your hotel in Dahab.

How this differs from our trip from Sharm

If you are staying in Sharm El Sheikh or arriving by ship, our St. Catherine shore excursion from Sharm El Sheikh is a daytime visit to the monastery with a stop in Dahab, with no night climb. This trip is for travelers already based in Dahab who want the summit at dawn. A daytime climb to catch the sunset is also possible on request.

Who this trip suits

You should be in good health and used to walking uphill on rough paths, because the climb is done on foot in the dark. Families and groups get better value, since the price per person falls as the group grows. It fits well into a longer stay on the coast; our Red Sea Egypt travel guide covers Dahab and Sharm, and you can see more Sinai tours or other Egypt day tours and excursions.

Practical details

• Pickup: from your hotel in Dahab late at night, with return to the same hotel.
• Included: private air-conditioned transport, a Bedouin guide for the climb, St. Catherine National Park entrance fees, breakfast in St. Catherine, bottled water and a soft drink in the vehicle, and all taxes.
• Not included: any extras outside the program and tips.
• What to bring: sturdy walking shoes, a warm jacket for the summit, a small flashlight or headlamp, and some cash for drinks on the way. Nights in the high desert can be cold even when the coast is warm, especially in winter; see our guide to the best season to visit Egypt.

Comparing options? See also our Dahab and Blue Hole Tour.

Photos: Sunrise over the mountains from Mount Sinai. Photo: Mohammed Moussa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · View of the Sinai summits from Mount Sinai. Photo: Ahmed Azam / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chapel on the summit of Mount Sinai. Photo: Florian Prischl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai morning. Photo: Abraham / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Saint Catherine’s Monastery below the Sinai mountains. Photo: Berthold Werner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · A full view of Saint Catherine’s Monastery. Photo: Dr. Ondřej Havelka (cestovatel) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0