Wadi Feiran is mostly visited for its Orthodox Convent. The functioning, newer complex is in a beautiful garden along the main road, located right next to some older ruins. Opposite is Jebel Tahouna, with some hermit caves at its base and the ruins of a church on top, marking the spot from where Moses is believed to watch the fight with the Amelekites below. The view from here is dominated by the towering mass of Jebel Serbal, possibly the most beautiful mountain in the Sinai – it was believed in early ages to be the true Mt. Sinai.
The Convent of Wadi Feiran, known locally as Deir el Banat, is in a beautiful, lush garden.
| Getting there and around
Going from Sharm el Sheikh to St. Catherine via El Tur or from Cairo to St. Catherine the road leads through Wadi Feiran. The daily East Delta public bus connecting Cairo and St. Catherine stops and picks up in Wadi Feiran on request. There are microbus services between Suez, El Tor and St. Catherine that also stop in Wadi Feiran.
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| Orientation
Wadi Feiran is a long settlement with the Convent, the Bedouin gardens and the center at some distance from each other along the main road.
Main locations: 1. the Convent of Wadi Feiran; 2. Jebel Tahouna; 3. Bedouin garden camps; 4. Ruins of old convent; and 5. Wadi Feiran center (Markez Feiran). View Wadi Feiran in a larger map |
| Accommodation
There is a guesthouse in the Convent and a couple of beautiful Bedouin gardens also provide simple and cheap accommodation, a couple of minutes from the Convent towards St. Catherine. None of the places has a website and booking in advance is not possible.
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| Food and drinks
There are little kiosks and shops selling very basic items all along the main road and a center (Markez Feiran) with more similar shops, a bakery and fruit market. There are no restaurants what so ever and only a few very basic cafeterias. People staying at the Convent receive meals on request. There are a couple of beautiful Bedouin gardens between the Convent and the center that offer authentic Bedouin tea and herbal teas, as well as accommodation and Bedouin food. The gardens are signposted and it is very well worth the stop even if only for a tea and a look-around in the garden.
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| Activities
Some tour operators on the coast include Wadi Feiran in their St. Catherine excursions and stop at the Convent. You do not need a guide to climb Jebel Tahouna, but for Jebel Serbal it is compulsory, as well as absolutely necessary for your own safety. The non-negotiable rate is quite high at 200 LE per day for the guide and same for any camels if needed, but Jebel Serbal is definitely worth the money and the effort. You can organize a guide at the Bedouin gardens. The Jebel Serbal trek is described in the guide Trekking in South Sinai.
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