Things to Do in Egypt: Saint Catherine's Monastery & Mount Sinai.
You have the opportunity to ascend Mount Sinai after visiting St Catherine's Monastery. The ascent can be done either on foot or by came.
Saint Catherine's Monastery & Mount Sinai.
Sharm El Sheikh, The Red Sea, Egypt
St Catherine's Monastery is a Greek Orthodox foundation, dating back to 337AD. During the sixth century, the Monastery was fortified by walls and a basilica, and two hundred guards were supplied to protect the monks and the monastery. Although the Prophet Mohammed is said to have granted the monastery protection after the Muslim conquest, the number of monks gradually dwindled and there are now around twenty monks currently in residence.
You enter the monastery through a small gate in the northern wall and continue through a passageway to Moses' Well and the transplanted descendant of the Burning Bush. You also have the opportunity to look around St Catherine's Church with its ornate carvings and icons, and the charnel house which is heaped with monks' skeletons.
Also open for viewing is a small museum and library, showing a selection of icons, books and manuscripts from the monastery's extensive library.
You have the opportunity to ascend Mount Sinai after visiting St Catherine's Monastery. The ascent can be done either on foot (approx 3-4 hours) or by camel (approx 2 hours). You can stock up on water at the monastery shop before heading off, and there are refreshment stalls along the way with increasing prices the higher up the mountain you go.
On reaching the summit, you have time to relax and watch the spectacular sunset, before descending.
More about Sharm El Sheikh, the Red Sea
