Major city · Egypt
Mount Sinaiجبل موسى
Go for one night: climb Gebel Musa by night for sunrise, see St. Catherine's Monastery at 9:00, then leave. Two nights only if you add Mount Catherine.Go for one night: climb Gebel Musa by night for sunrise, see St. Catherine's Monastery at 9:00 AM, then leave. Two nights only if you add Mount Catherine.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EGP
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (desert heat), Jan–Feb nights (subzero at the summit)
- Airport
- SSH
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
Mount Sinai (Gebel Musa, 2,285 m) is a pilgrimage mountain, not a town. Almost everyone arrives on a night tour from Dahab or Sharm el-Sheikh, climbs two to three hours in the dark and watches sunrise from the summit, then visits the UNESCO-listed Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot before driving back. One night covers it; the village of el-Milga has the beds, and the nearest airport is Sharm el-Sheikh.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mount Sinai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Egyptian pound (EGP, also written LE or £E).Egypt-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckVodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE sell tourist SIMs at Cairo airport with passport; about EGP 500–1,000 for 20–40 GB — check.Egypt-wide
- Tap waterTap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water.Egypt-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 10% even when service is added (it rarely reaches staff).Egypt-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Egypt-wide
- SafetyThe mountain itself is a walking risk, not a crime risk: cold, dark, uneven rock and camels.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; attendants at sites expect EGP 10–20.Egypt-wide
- Emergency numbers122 police · 123 ambulance · 126 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the weekend day (with Saturday for offices); sites open daily, some close earlier in Ramadan.Egypt-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSSH Sharm el-Sheikh International (About 230 km and 3 h by road; the closest airport with passenger traffic.).SSH Sharm el-Sheikh International (About 143 mi and 3 h by road; the closest airport with passenger traffic.).
- Getting aroundOn foot or by camel.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Museum or sight ticketMonastery museum donationEGP 25
- Budget bedBedouin camp, simple double, a night, per roomEGP 400
- Mid-range bedBedouin camp, simple double, a night, per roomEGP 700
- High-end bedBedouin camp, simple double, a night, per roomEGP 1,200
A day, not counting the bed: Budget EGP 700 · Mid EGP 1,500 · High EGP 3,500
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SSH Sharm el-Sheikh International (About 230 km and 3 h by road; the closest airport with passenger traffic.)SSH Sharm el-Sheikh International (About 143 mi and 3 h by road; the closest airport with passenger traffic.)
Weather and climate
Mount Sinai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
14°C57°F
2°C36°F
3 rd
Feb
15°C59°F
2°C36°F
2 rd
Mar
18°C64°F
6°C43°F
4 rd
Apr
24°C75°F
10°C50°F
4 rd
May
28°C82°F
14°C57°F
0 rd
Jun
31°C88°F
16°C61°F
0 rd
Jul
32°C90°F
18°C64°F
0 rd
Aug
32°C90°F
18°C64°F
0 rd
Sep
30°C86°F
16°C61°F
0 rd
Oct
26°C79°F
12°C54°F
1 rd
Nov
20°C68°F
8°C46°F
3 rd
Dec
16°C61°F
4°C39°F
4 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot or by camel. Two routes leave the monastery valley: the steep Steps of Penitence (about 3,750 steps, 45 min to 3 h) and the wider Camel Path (about 2.5 h on foot). Both meet at Elijah's Hollow, then a final 750 steps to the top. A local guide is required; the trails are poorly signposted at night. Cars and minibuses stay in the village.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Dahab
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Minibus or shared car over the mountains
Most night climbs are booked from Dahab; the coast is the natural place to sleep before and after.
Nuweiba
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Road via the coast
The direct minibus from Nuweiba is not running; go via Dahab instead.
Sharm el-Sheikh
goDoor to door: About 3 h
Road, 230 kmRoad, 143 mi
Airport and resort base; tours leave at night to reach the trailhead around 1:00.Airport and resort base; tours leave at night to reach the trailhead around 1:00 AM.
Mount Catherine
overnightDoor to door: 5–6 h up
Trek from the monastery via the monastery of the 40 Martyrs
Egypt's highest peak at 2,637 m; a guide is required and only one was working as of 2025 — arrange it in the village.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
el-Milga / St. Catherine village
Guesthouses, camps and the two- and three-star hotels, 2–5 km from the monastery gate; the practical base for a night climb.Guesthouses, camps and the two- and three-star hotels, 1.2–3.1 mi from the monastery gate; the practical base for a night climb.
Monastery guesthouse
Rooms outside the monastery walls, breakfast and dinner included; book ahead, it is small.
On the mountain
Mattresses and blankets can be rented near the summit for a few pounds; cleanliness varies. Not a substitute for a bed in winter.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- EGP 700–1,200 excl. bed
- Mid
- EGP 1,200–2,500 excl. bed
- High
- EGP 2,500+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse double with bathroom1 × 1 night × EGP 1,400 | EGP 1,400 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × EGP 1,500 | EGP 3,000 |
| Night tour from Dahab: minibus both ways plus guide2 × EGP 700 | EGP 1,400 |
| Local guide at the trailhead2 × EGP 250 | EGP 500 |
| Mattress and blanket on the summit2 × EGP 50 | EGP 100 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | EGP 640 |
| Trip total≈ EGP 3,520 per person per day, bed included | EGP 7,040 |
2026 estimate in Egyptian pounds; transport from Dahab or Sharm is usually sold as a package. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Tea at the Elijah's Hollow teahouse | EGP 20–50 |
| Simple meal in el-Milga | EGP 100–250 |
| Monastery museum donation | EGP 25 |
| Protected-area entry fee | EGP 17 adults / EGP 10 students |
| Camel ride on the Camel PathAgree the price first. | EGP 200–400 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- A local guide is required for the climb; agree the price before you start.
- The monastery opens to visitors 9:00–12:00 only, and closes Fridays, Sundays and Greek Orthodox holidays — plan the climb so you come down in time.The monastery opens to visitors 9:00 AM–12:00 PM only, and closes Fridays, Sundays and Greek Orthodox holidays — plan the climb so you come down in time.
- Summit nights are near freezing in winter, with snow possible; bring layers and a torch.
- The Sinai interior has had security incidents and checkpoints; access can be cut off without notice. Check your government's advisory and go with a tour or a known driver.
- Cash only in the village: bring Egyptian pounds, ATMs are unreliable.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 122
- Ambulance
- 123
- Tourist police
- 126
- Fire
- 180
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Mount Sinaiجبل موسى
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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إلى قرية سانت كاترين، لو سمحتTo St. Catherine village, please
Emergency
- Police122
- Ambulance123
- Tourist police126
Embassy
No embassies in the Sinai interior; the US, UK and most others run embassies in Cairo and a consulate in Sharm el-Sheikh (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Dahab → trailhead minibus, one way: about US$5
- Taxi Dahab or Nuweiba → St. Catherine: from about EGP 200
- Night tour from Dahab, minibus plus guide: about US$15–30 per person
Say or show
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكام؟ — How much is it? (bekam)
- فين الطريق؟ — Where is the path? (fein el-tari'?)
- أحتاج مرشد — I need a guide (ahtag murshid)
- مياه، لو سمحت — Water, please (mayya, law samaht)
- لا شكراً — No, thank you (la shukran)
Carry your passport: checkpoints on the road in and out ask for it.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mount Sinai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (desert heat), Jan–Feb nights (subzero at the summit) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-trailhead contract for SSH: night departure times, checkpoint delays, driver fallback.
- Two route pages with verified cutoffs: Steps of Penitence and Camel Path, plus the Elijah's Hollow teahouse.
- Monastery page with confirmed opening window, holiday closures and museum donation.
- Security fixture so the Sinai interior can be flagged red or green per advisory.