Mountains, desert, and sea… Sinai has much more to offer than most people imagine. The High Mountain Region, with its religious and historical importance, orchard gardening tradition, and unique nature, is unlike anywhere else in the world. The desert is every bit as beautiful as those elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, and within a relatively small area you will find an amazing variety of landscapes. The coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba are internationally recognised among the best in the world, while a number of coastal protectorates and their different ecosystems offer peaceful escapes from the resort towns.
Sinai is divided into two governorates: North Sinai Governorate and South Sinai Governorate. The administrative border runs roughly along the route from the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel to Taba, although the Bedouin traditionally place the divide further south along the edge of the Tih Plateau. Much of North Sinai is restricted for foreigners, but the vast majority of attractions are located in South Sinai anyway, which is generally peaceful and laid back.
Map of South Sinai
The capital of South Sinai Governorate is El Tur (1), although the largest and most developed city is Sharm el Sheikh (2). Another popular destination is Dahab (3), a smaller and more relaxed town attracting mostly independent travellers. In Nuweiba (4), the gateway to Jordan, and further north along the coast towards Taba (5), there are many simple beach camps offering huts directly by the sea. Beyond Taba lies the border crossing to Israel.
In the centre of the mountainous interior is the town of Saint Catherine (6), famous for Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery. Wadi Feiran (7) and Serabit el Khadim (8) are smaller settlements with important historical and archaeological sites. The coastal town of Abu Zenima (9) is a small settlement with a few shops and cafeterias, from where transport can be arranged to Serabit el Khadim. Ras Sudr (10), further north, is a seaside destination popular with visitors from Cairo.
The road connects through the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel beneath the Suez Canal to Suez and Cairo (11), and from there another road continues towards North Sinai. A second road, once part of the ancient caravan route used by pilgrims travelling from Cairo to Mecca, cuts across the peninsula through the interior at Nakhla (12) before reaching the Gulf of Aqaba.
Cities, towns, settlements
The coastal resort cities, such as Sharm el Sheikh, are well known, and most people heard of St Katherine – although not all realise it is actually a town, not only the Monastery alone. On this website some other, even smaller, settlements are also included, as they are relevant for different reasons from a visitor’s perspective.
Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh is a sprawling resort city at the tip of the peninsula and most visitors to Sinai arrive through its airport. Mostly noted for water sports and the wide selection of high-end hotels, the city now stretches over 20 kilometres from the port in the south to the Nabq Protectorate fence in the north. For many visitors off-road adventure means quad-biking on the outskirts of the city, but we recommend to take at least a day on a real desert safari.
Dahab
Livelier and more developed than Nuweiba, Dahab is the second resort city of South Sinai, but on a more human-scale and with more character than Sharm el Sheikh. The best beaches are located either south or north of the city. The Laguna in the south at the high-end hotels is a pleasant and undeveloped bay, not suitable for diving or snorkeling, but perfect for swimming, wind-surfing and kite-surfing. Places suitable for a swim in the north start at the location known as Eel Garden. Most of the coast at Dahab offers great diving but the most famous spot is the Blue Hole between Dahab and Ras Abu Galum. Apart from excellent diving and other types of water sport, Dahab offers a few hikes, most notably in Wadi el Beda and Wadi Gnai. You could also reach the Abu Galum Protectorate on foot from the nearby Blue Hole.
Nuweiba
Nuweiba is a major port city, connecting Egypt to Jordan at their port of Aqaba. The city is spread out with four major hubs: the Muzeina village, Port (Mina), Centre and Tarabin village. There are beaches in the Muzeina and Tarabin areas, as well as at the high-end hotels located after the Port. Often considered part of Nuweiba, the coast to the resort town of Taba in the north is lined with simple beach camps and it is a pleasantly undeveloped sea shore. Wadi Watir is the main route inland to the Tarabin areas and also to Suez and Cairo. The city is also connected off-road to Jebel Mileihis via Wadi Saada.
Taba
The northernmost resort town on the Gulf of Aqaba, Taba is a popular holiday destination. It is also the border town with Israel, and you could also take a ferry to Jordan. Apart from the resorts and sea, and a casino, there is not much to see and do in this area, with the only exception being Pharaoh Island, a nice day-programme just off the coast. Along the coast, towards Nuweiba, there are many simple camps with huts on the beach, offering an alternative to the upmarket hotels.
Saint Catherine
The town of Saint Catherine is famous for the Monastery of St. Katherine, built on the site of the Burning Bush at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Jebel Musa). This is the only site most tourists visit in the interior, so it can get crowded. The best way to avoid the crowds, at least on Mt. Sinai, is to go for the sunset instead of the sunrise and descend to town before total darkness sets in. A wide range of accommodation is available in town, from simple camps to up-market hotels. A new ecolodge, called Mount Sina Eclodge, has also opened its doors near town in Wadi Isbaiya.
Sheikh Awad
The settlement of Sheikh Awad is mostly known for its ecolodge – Al- Karm was the first such place. It lies where the high mountains and the plains meet. Popular with Caireens on long weekends, it is indeed a beautiful place. With an offroad vehicle it can be approached via Wadi Islaf from Wadi Feiran, or from Tarfa village. A good place to relax, it offers treks to nearby Nabataean ruins or the seasonal waterfall at Sida Nogra. The foot pass, known as Naqb el Hawa, starts at the tomb of Sheikh Awad, connecting the settlement to St. Katherine – in the past this was the main pilgrims’ route.
Wadi Feiran
The main sights in Wadi Feiran is its Convent. The functioning, newer complex is in a beautiful garden on the main road, right next to older ruins. Opposite is Jebel Tahoun, with several hermit caves at its base and the ruins of a church on top. The view from there is dominated by towering Jebel Serbal, possibly the most beautiful mountain in the Sinai. It was believed in early ages to be the true Mt. Sinai. A guesthouse in the Convent and a couple of beautiful Bedouin gardens a bit further on along the road provide accommodation. Wadi Feiran is a very long settlement, with the centre, Markez Feiran, in the middle at an open plain.
El Tur
Although it is the capital of the Governorate of South Sinai, El Tur is quite small. It features a central market and a few shopping streets around it. Foreigners usually visit it only to renew visas, but the town does have some charm and a couple of sights. The old town at the port consists of a few neglected and fenced off buildings and another few in better conditions. They are beautiful but need some effort to be saved. There is also a hot spring in El Tur, known as Hamam Musa.
Abu Zenima
Abu Zenima is a very little town on the coast along the main Cairo- Sharm road with a few shops, cafés, restaurants and possibly basic accommodation. (You find more places to stay bit north of town towards Ras Sudr.) An asphalt road branches off from the main road just outside town in the south, the way to Serabit el Khadim. This is the shortest and easiest route from the coast, although some parts are not paved. You can organise a 4×4 vehicle with Sheikh Barakat’s family at their office in the Desert Falcon Restaurant, and possibly at the other cafés.
Serabit el Khadim
Seabit el Khadim is a settlement in the desert, where the archaeological site of a Pharaonic temple and turquoise mines are found. The family of Sheikh Salim Barakat runs a camp and organises treks and safaris further into the desert.
Ras Sudr
Located on the Gulf of Suez, on the Cairo- Sharm road shortly after the Tunnel, it is a popular holiday spot for Caireens, Egyptian and ex-pat. The town itself is a simple little place with few shops, cafes and restaurants – places to stay are mostly on the coast to the south. The area is known for its wind and windsurfing is a popular activity. Apart from these few beach resorts, there is not much else to do in Ras Sudr itself, but local Bedouin operators can organise safaris into the desert.
THE SINAI: The Sinai Peninsula > The Bedouin > Transport > Safety & Security