One of the most beautiful, and often overlooked, destinations in Egypt is hands down Saint Catherine. This place brings together historic tourism, religious tourism, and adventure travel, so no matter what your interests are, you’ll surely enjoy St Catherine, Egypt. That’s why I’m here to tell you all about it.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will earn a small commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Please see full disclosure for more information.
About St Catherine, Egypt: A Quick History Lesson
Saint Catherine is a mountainous bedouin town in the heart of South Sinai, Egypt. The town holds a sacred status for all three Abrahamic religions as it’s believed that the Biblical story of the Burning Bush had taken place there. In fact, the famed Saint Catherine Monastery was built at the site of the Burning Bush. The Greek Orthodox Monastery also sits at the foot of Mount Sinai, one of the highest mountains in Egypt, where Moses received the 10 commandments.
The Jebeliya Tribe
St Catherine is home to a Bedouin tribe called the Jebeliya, which is one of my personal favorite tribes in South Sinai. Not just because they’re friendly people with interesting traditions, but their history is just as interesting. You see, the Jebeliya’s ancestors were actually Roman soldiers who first came back in the 6th Century AD to guard the St Catherine Monastery. Over the years, they intermarried with other Arab tribes and converted to Islam.
I also love the Jebeliya people because when it comes to hiking their knowledge of the mountains, they blow my mind the most! After all, they live in the mountains, not tents, so they know every corner like the back of their hands.
Want to learn more about the Jebeliya tribe? Read all about them here.
Things to Do in St Catherine, Egypt
Visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery
The Greek Orthodox monastery, also known as the Sinai Monastery, is the oldest functioning Christian monastery in the world – its history can be traced back to more than 17 centuries ago. It was built by the order of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 548 – 565 AD at the site of the Burning Bush where Moses spoke to God.
The monastery is also home to one of the oldest libraries in the world, which boasts around 6,000 rare books and manuscripts. Aside from the library, the lovely garden, and the beautifully illustrated murals, there’s also a church to visit on site. This is hands down one of the most wonderful churches I’ve ever been to – unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed inside.
For its spiritual inheritance, cultural importance, and scenic significance, the monastery’s been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To learn more about the monastery’s interesting history, check out its official website.
Hiking
The unique mountainous landscape of St Catherine, Egypt, makes it a hiking haven in the heart of Sinai. In fact, it’s one of the top hiking destinations in the whole country. Check out some of the coolest hiking spots below:
Mountains in St Catherine, Egypt
- Mount Catherine: The highest summit in Egypt (2,637m)
- Mount Sinai (2,285m)
- Mount Abbas (2,346m)
The interesting story behind the mountain also known as Jebel Abbas: The mountain was named after Abbas Pasha, a former Wali of Egypt. He had suffered from asthma and the doctors at the time had advised him to spend some time somewhere with dry weather. To test the weather conditions, he ordered his people to place a piece of meat on several peaks to see how fast east would go bad. This experiment helped them choose this mountain, in particular, to build him a castle for him to stay in for a while. However, the construction was stopped upon the death of Abbas Pasha.
- Mount Safsafa
- Bab El Donia
- Jebel El Banat
Valleys and Canyons in St Catherine, Egypt
- Wadi El Arbae’een
- Wadi Tlah
- Darb Ahmar
- Farsh El Loza
- Wadi Shreej
- Farsh Um Silla
- Wadi Abu Jifa
- Wadi Tubuk
- Farsh Elias
- Wadi Abu Zeituna
Camping
Just like the great outdoors is a great place for hiking, it’s also perfect for camping. After all, both adventurous activities go hand in hand! The alternative to campsites in St Catherine is something called a “karm”, which is the name given to the yard or garden in a Bedouin’s home in the middle of the mountains.
Need help planning your trip to Egypt? Click here to learn more about my travel planning services.
Where to Stay?
There are three options when going to St Catherine: 1. Go on a day trip, aiming for a single hike. 2. Go on a camping/hiking trip and camp in the mountains. 3. Stay in a camp in town – here are my go-to lodging facilities:
- Sheikh Mousa Bedouin Camp
- Fox Camp
How to Get There?
The only way to get to St Catherine is by land. If you’re coming from Sharm El Sheikh, it’s around a 2-hour ride if you take the Sharm El Sheikh-Dahab road, followed by Dahab-Nuweiba road and then take the fork that leads to St Catherine. On the other hand, if you’re coming from Cairo, there’s a road that takes you to St Catherine from the Sharm El Sheikh road.
To reach the isolated town, it’s best to travel with a tour operator. In this case, you’ll be traveling with a group in a private van or bus. I personally recommend Hamsa Mansour and Nour El Din Sherif over any travel agency or company. Coming from personal experience, they’re both the most professional when it comes to the outdoor business. They usually organize 2-3 hiking trips every year, but they can also design one for you that’s just as adventurous if you reach out.
FUN FACT: The St. Catherine-grown almonds, honey, and olive oil are absolutely the BEST. You can’t go back home without bringing some with you.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!
Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.
SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.
This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.
GET INSURED NOW – Nomad Insurance
Sharing is caring!
You might also like:
- Jebeliya: The Story of the South Sinai Ancient Tribe
- Mount Sinai, Egypt: A Complete Guide to an Epic Hike
- 9 Proven Tips for Hiking Beginners – First Time on Trail
- Unusual Egypt Itinerary: A South Sinai Road Trip
Meanwhile, if you like my content and would like to see more of it, subscribe to my newsletter here.
Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
