South Sinai is rich in natural heritage. Stunning mountain scenery, vast desert landscapes are home to a variety of plant and animal species as well as the once-nomadic Bedouin tribes who have made the desert oases their homes.
- St. Catherine’s Monastery and Mt Sinai
You will depart in the early morning by air-conditioned minibus or jeep on the journey to St. Catherine’s Monastery, which lies at the foot of Mt. Sinai. The Monastery is still lived in by a group of Greek Orthodox monks who look after the Monastery and its treasures.
A visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery is usually followed by a stop in Dahab on your return journey where you can lunch, have a swim or snorkel or enjoy a little ‘retail therapy’ in the many shops and bazaars which line the seafront. For more info on St. Catherine’s Monastery – click here.
The Coloured Canyon is reached by air-conditioned jeep. It is north of Dahab, inland from the port town of Nuweiba. Once you reach the Coloured Canyon, you leave the comfort of your jeep for a hike on foot through the 800m long fissure in the rocks. The Coloured Canyon gets its name from the amazing rock formations; bands of sandstone, limestone, granite and basalt lie stratified against each other and there is evidence of wind erosion, which has rounded off the edges resulting in smooth contours in the walls of the Canyon.
After your hike, rejoin your jeep for a visit to the beach at Nuweiba where you can swim or snorkel.
On the road to St. Catherine’s, you can turn off and head off across a stretch of sandy desert by 4-wheel drive until you reach the White Canyon. One is able to walk through the Canyon in the cool, winter months which then opens out at the Oasis of Ain Hudra, with its natural spring feeding the many date palms to be found there. A Bedouin community lives in the oasis and they are happy to provide their visitors with sweet Bedouin tea and lunch.
Horse riding is available from El Rancho’s Stables based at Mangroovy Club and Hotel, adjacent to Nabq Protectorate. Treks can be arranged into the nearby protected wilderness of Nabq. Enjoy the magnificent sunsets and sunrises from horseback! For complete beginners, tuition can be arranged.
Step back in time, with a 2 hour ride by camel ‘The Ship of the Desert’ into the Sinai mountains and marvel as the mountains gradually change colour with the setting sun. The Bedouin will lead you to their home in the desert where you can enjoy their sweet Bedouin tea and learn a little about their culture and their way of life. It is also possible to combine the camel ride with the Bedouin dinner.
Enjoy traditional fare in the desert with the Bedouin. Your dinner of chicken or goat’s meat will be cooked in the ground – the centuries-old method used by the Bedouin for cooking meat. The meat will be accompanied by rice, salad and traditional middle-eastern dips of tehina, babaganough or minted yoghurt as well as unleavened Bedouin bread. You may also see the bread being made.
After your dinner, relax with a glass of sweet Bedouin tea, shisha (water pipe with flavoured tobacco) and marvel at the night-sky.
Quad-biking is a popular and alternative method from camel-riding to venture into the desert. Trips usually start just before sun-down with a ride into the desert as the sun begins its descent behind the mountains, slowly changing their colour from the yellow of the day to pinks and reds.
Return is usually under the cover of darkness!
(Minimum age to participate is 16 years with KTM Quad Biking)
While land-based in Sinai, the vast desert, with its rugged yet dramatic mountains and undulating dunes, is right on your door-step waiting to be explored. 4-wheel drive safaris take you to some of the most dramatic landscapes you may ever encounter while the genuine hospitality of the Bedouin brings a welcome respite!
Only 1 hour by plane or 6 hours by air-conditioned coach, Cairo can be visited from Sharm in one day. Your excursion will include a visit to the Pyramids of Giza, a tour around the Egyptian Museum and a visit to the old souk district of Khan El Khalili. Longer stays in Cairo will enable you to take in a Sound and Light Show at the Giza Pyramids. For more info on Cairo – click here.
Luxor is an hour’s flight from Sharm. A day trip to Luxor will include a visit to the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank, a visit to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. You will also take in Luxor Temple and the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple. For more info on Luxor – click here.
