Everything you need to know before climibing Mount Sinai

Climbing Mount Sinai: What you need to know before going?

Mount Sinai, also known as Jebel Mousa, is one of Egypt’s most iconic and important mountains. Whether you visit for a religious reason or just want to discover this amazing mountain, climbing the mountain is a rewarding experience. But before this amazing experience, you need some tips.

Why is Mountain Sinai important?

• Spiritual Importance

Mount Sinai has a significant religious importance for all of the Abrahamic religions. Muslims, Christians, and Jews view it as a very significant destination as it is the place where Prophet Moses received the 10 Commandments from God.

• Unique experience

 Today, it's not just those who care about religion; it is travellers coming from all over the world to visit the place, to experience the feeling of climbing a mountain like Sinai and to enjoy the amazing view, especially during the sunrise.

How to reach Mount Sinai?

There are two ways to reach Mount Sinai:

• Join a tour group: This is the most fun and safe option, as you will not stress about many things related to travelling. You will be chill and ready just for the hiking and the enjoyment of your trip. Many hotels and travel companies offer inclusive tours for hiking Mount Sinai at sunrise; they will take care of everything, often including transportation, a hiking guide, and maybe a camel ride.

• Ride a bus or a car from Cairo: The distance between Cairo and Mount Sinai is 446.2 km. The journey time will be 6 to 8 hours depending on the traffic.

Best Season to Climb Mount Sinai

You can go there any time of the year, but we do believe that spring is the best time to go there as it is not too hot nor too cold. As Sinai is a desert place, it could be very hot in the morning and very cold at night.

Also in the spring, flowers and trees grow, creating amazing scenery for the people going there.

How hard is it to hike Mount Sinai?

There are two routes for the hikers; 

• Camel route (Siket El Bashait): The longer and shallower route takes about 3 hours on foot. The route is also called the camel route, as you can take a camel to go there if you are not able to go there on foot.
  There are cafés along the way for you to relax and drink water, get some snacks, and during your journey.

• Siket Sayedna Mousa (The way of Prophet Moses): It is steeper and harder, but it is definitely worth it for people who love to experience the whole thing and are fans of challenges.

What to pack for Mount Sinai?

• Hiking Shoes: It is vital to wear hiking shoes while hiking the Sinai mountain as they provide the best ankle and underfoot support, even though they might be heavy.

• Warm blanket: It might be a little cold on the mount.

• Food and Water: You need to be hydrated during the process of hiking.

Visit the Saint Catherine Monastery

Don’t forget to visit one of the oldest Christian monasteries, as it houses ancient manuscripts and icons.

At the end of this blog, it is important to hire a Bedouin guide to help guide you through the mountain, try to go there early to avoid the crowds, and lastly, respect the place and nature there.

It is not just a hike; it is a journey through spirituality, history, and nature. Cherish the moments of this journey and don’t forget to take as many photos as you can. Lastly, don’t forget to check our past blogs and wait for the next.