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| Main places: 1. Town of St. Katherine; 2. Jebel Serbal; 3. Wadi Feiran; 4. Wadi Mukattab; 5. Jebel Fuga (Forest of Pillars); 6. Serabit el Khadim; 7. Abu Zenima; 8. Ras Sudr. |
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| There are many tribes in the area; in Wadi Feiran itself actually all the South Sinai tribes are
represented. Gebel Serbal is Qararsha territory and you are required to take a guide from
them - it is rather expensive and non-negotiable since tourism here is a marginal activity, but
still definitely worth doing. Wadi Mukattab, the turquoise mines at Wadi Magara and Sheikh
Suliman are also on Qararsha territories, while the area further north around Serabit el Khadim
is mostly Aligat. There are other smaller tribes and smaller communities of bigger tribes living
in the area as well. To visit the pharaonic site at Serabit el Khadim you are required to take a
Bedouin guide from the settlement - longer treks and safaris however can be organized
through any operator or guide. Serabit el Khadim can be reached by pick-up cars from Abu
Zenima (mix of asphalt and sandy desert road) and there are two camps, one in the settlement
run by the sons of Sheikh Selim Barakat, the other is at a secluded place in Umm Ajraaf, run
by Rabiya Barakat. Descending from St. Katherine there are two major ways towards the
coast. One of them is used mostly by 4x4s in the wide sandy belt below the Tih plateau,
visiting Gebel Fuga and Serabid el Khadim, and possibly including Wadi Feiran and Wadi
Mukattab. The other route, better suited for camels or walking, would start at the high
mountains at Sheikh Awad, reaching first Gebel Serbal and Wadi Feiran. To continue on to
Wadi Mukattab first you might have to take a car, then you can walk to Serabit el Khadim. You
can get to Serabit el Khadim other ways, but either case it will be a long walk. From Serabit el
Khadim you could get to Abu Zenima or Ras Sudr. |
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Wadi Feiran
The biggest oasis of South Sinai, running
along the main road for 6 kilometers.
There are some important cultural and
historical sites within the oasis, all
located close to each other and to the
commercial center. Three gardens and
the Convent of Feiran offer
accommodation. The impressive Gebel
Serbal massif towers above the oasis. |
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Gebel Serbal
The rugged peaks of Gebel Serbal,
because they are surrounded by low
wadis and ranges, seem higher then
any other mountain. The long and very
steep gully of Naqb Shaharani might
take a full day to cover. There are other
routes as well leading to the
interconnected basins and wadis at the
top, which harbour gardens and
permanent water sources. The views to
the coast and inland are stunning. |
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Wadi Mukattab – Wadi Magara
Historic sights in beautiful natural
settings - Wadi Mukattab, the valley of
the inscriptions, is in an open sandy
area, while the turquoise mines of the
Pharaohs are located in narrow Wadi
Magara, close to the shrine of Sheikh
Suliman, dotted with shady acacia
trees. |
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Gebel Fuga - The Forest of Pillars
Under the flat Tih plateau, running
across the peninsula from coast to
coast, is a sandy belt in which the Forest
of Pillars is located at Gebel Fuga. The
curious rock formations have been
badly damaged by tourism, but it is still
well worth a visit. |
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Serabit el Khadim
The most important pharaonic site in the
Sinai, it is located where the sandy
desert belt below the Tih plateau meets
the rocky ranges to the south. The
temple of Hathor is on the top of a flat
range, offering a magnificent backdrop
of the desert to the archeological sights. |
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