Mount Sinai Mountain

Address: Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa), South Sinai Governorate, Egypt

Mount Sinai, also known as Jebel Musa, is a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt rising to about 2,285 m and revered in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions as the site where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

The mountain is best known for two principal features: the summit, accessed by established trails for sunrise views, and the adjacent monastic complex at the base that attracts pilgrims and visitors. Trails vary in steepness and length; the summit climb typically takes a few hours round-trip from the monastery area.

The mountain has been a pilgrimage destination since antiquity and became a major Christian pilgrimage site after the foundation of St. Catherine’s Monastery in the 6th century under Byzantine patronage. The monastery preserved manuscripts and relics through medieval and modern times and remains continuously inhabited by monastic communities.

Mount Sinai sits in South Sinai Governorate in a rugged desert-mountain landscape; the nearest town is Saint Catherine a few kilometers from the monastery, and the area lies inland from the Red Sea resort towns of Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab.

• Ascent options: Climbing routes include a stepped path of about 3,750 steps and a longer donkey track; many visitors aim for sunrise on the summit, which is cold and busy at that hour.

What to See#

• St. Catherine’s Monastery: A Greek Orthodox monastery founded in the 6th century and rebuilt under Emperor Justinian I; it sits at the foot of the mountain and houses an important library and church.
• Summit of Jebel Musa (Mount Sinai): The rocky summit traditionally identified as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments, reached by a stepped trail and offering sunrise views over the surrounding desert peaks.

Mount Sinai is typically reached from the town of Saint Catherine (approx. 20-30 minute drive to trailheads). From Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, organized tours and minibuses run daily; private cars and taxis are also available.

• Start the ascent at night if planning a Sinai sunrise hike - guides and local Bedouin can arrange safe, guided treks.
• If climbing in daytime, set off early to avoid heat and bring layers: summit temperatures can be much cooler.
• Respect local customs at nearby St. Catherine's Monastery; footwear and conduct guidelines are posted.