St. Catherine (or Katherine) Protectorate

Covering the mountainous interior of South Sinai, St. Catherine Protectorate encompasses a vast area of some 4,350sq km. At the heart of this protected zone is the highest mountain in Egypt, Gebel Katherina, whose summit reaches 2,641m and the smaller, nearby Mt Sinai (also called Mt Moses) at 2280m. It is here that Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments from God and, consequently, the site has been a place of religious pilgrimage ever since. At the foot of Mt Sinai lies the monastery of St. Catherine, built in 527AD.

The Monastery contains ancient religious manuscripts and icons, which are second only in their religious and historical importance to those held within the Vatican in Rome. Within the Monastery walls lies a Byzantine Basilica, reputed to have been built directly on the biblical site of the Burning Bush. Visitors to the Monastery are permitted to enter the Basilica where they will be awe-inspired by its ornate interior, rich in works of art including a myriad of silver lamps hanging down from the ceiling.

The Monastery and Mt Sinai are popular visitor attractions. Many people who visit Mt. Sinai, do so to climb the mountain overnight and then wait for the dramatic sunrise over the range of mountains. For others, the Monastery itself with its huge amount of artefacts is the main attraction. Certainly, visitors to South Sinai should try to make a trip out to St. Catherine’s and Mt Sinai.

The mountainous environment of St. Catherine’s Protectorate supports about 1000 plant species, representing some 40% of Egypt’s total flora. As with other protected areas within South Sinai, there is a significant amount of fauna in the area. Other parts of the Protectorate frequented by tourists include the White Canyon and Wadi Feiran which can be visited by 4-wheel drive.