Sinai is a Biblical land and many visitors come for this sole reason. The Monastery of Saint Katherine welcomes pilgrims of the Orthodox fate, and Mount Sinai – Mount Horeb or Gebel Musa – is a peak holy to all three Abrahamic religions. But most visitors don’t realise that there are many more ancient Christian sites around the town of St Catherine, including dozens of churches and chapels, several more monasteries, and hundreds of Byzantine monastic ruins.
Hidden Mount Sinai
1 or 2 days, moderate with three steep climbs
Along the way: Monastery of the Forty Martyrs, Kinst el-Homar, Farsh Safsafa, Farsh Loza, Farsh Armziya, Farsh Eliya, Steps of Repentance upper gate, summit of Mt Sinai.
Monastery of Kozmas and Damianos & Chapel of St John Climacos
1-day, easy-moderate, mostly downhill
There is an easy and a more difficult start, depending on the visitors’ preference. From where the two alternative routes join, it is downhill all the way, except the finish which involves a moderate climb – over a hill or through a canyon. The two main sites are the Monastery of Kozmas and Damianos and the Chapel of St John Climacos next to the hermit’s cave, but we’ll pass several other Monastery properties.
Pray at the Highest Chapel in Egypt
2 days, difficult
Located right on the summit of Jabal Katherina, Egypt’s highest mountain, the chapel overlooks the whole of South Sinai’s rugged interior. Mount Sinai is just below you, but unlike that holy peak, here you can pray in solitude. There is a simple shelter below the chapel where we may sleep, or descend to a mountain garden for the night (recommended when colder).
Wadi Feiran
1-day, road trip
Wadi Feiran is the biggest oasis in South Sinai and believed to be the Biblical Rephidim where Moses overlooked the battle from Jabal Tahoun. The hill still stands with the ruins of an ancient chapel, and at its foot are the ruins of the old and the new Convent. There are many hermit caves in the rock faces of the wadi.
Bustan el Birka
1-day, moderate
There are many ancient byzantine ruins scattered around the basin of Wadi Freah, in an area known as Bustan el Birka. You can only get here on foot or camel, after a fairly short but steep climb. It is an area for people with a good archaeological understanding as the ruins don’t look that much different from newer Bedouin structures. Which is understandable, as the Bedouin learned their craft from the Byzantine settlers and used the same materials (stone and earth). There are some telling signs which our guide should be able to point out.
Wadi Rahaba & the Monastery of Rumhan
1 or 2 days, moderate
The first part of the trip is by car, passing the area known as Wadi Rahaba. Here, similarly to Bustan el Birka, there are many Byzantine monastic ruins, some are in quite a good shape. From the end of the dirt track through fairly flat and open terrain, we will descend on foot into a steep gully. After 40 minutes of descent we reach Wadi Rumhan where the ruins of the monastery stand. Next to it is a newer building built by the Monastery of St Katherine, so their visiting monks and guests can stay over. The return is via the same gully, but now it’s all uphill. Camels can be organized but it needs to be arranged ahead. You have the option to stay overnight in a simple Bedouin garden or camp site.
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