The region

The High Range of the Sinai is a region of massive, barren, granite peaks rising up to 2600 m, amidst deep, narrow and steep gorges. A trek in the region will take you to the impressive, rounded, red granite summits while in many of the dry river beds- wadis- you will delight in a landscape of streams, pools and waterfalls lined with lush vegetation. In wider areas of the valleys there are orchards, some of which date back to Byzantine times.

At the centre of the range is Mount Sinai. At its foot stands the Monastery of St. Catherine, a unique treasure of Byzantine art and culture, dating back to the sixth century A.D. The entire High Range is strewn with hermitages, chapels, gardens, paths and other remains of the great early monastic movement.

The awe inspiring landscape and the profound spiritual experience it engenders are as powerful today as they were hundreds of years ago for the thousands of Christian hermits who chose to spend their lives in the area. This atmosphere will add to your group’s special experience.

You will be thoroughly acquainted with the local inhabitants, the Bedouin of the Jabaliya and Awlad-Sa’id tribes. They are noted for their hospitality, as well as for their services as mountain guides, camel drivers, and cooks on our treks.

Suggested ways of touring the Region

The central valley of the High Mountain Range, the monastery of St. Catherine and the Milga Bedouin village can be accessed by bus or by jeep. You can visit the area, climb Mt. Sinai and get a taste of the region as a part of a general Sinai Peninsula desert safari.

The mountainous area around this valley is impenetrable by vehicles. The only way to have an intensive tour of the High Mountain Range is by trekking.

A trek in this region is an on- going hike on foot. Camels carry food, equipment and personal gear of the participants from one night camp to the next. Short treks last 3 days while more intensive treks can take 7 to 9 days.

A trek in the region of the High Range offers you a unique experience. It combines traversing rugged wilderness, an intensive encounter with a friendly and yet un-spoilt Bedouin population and a visit to a spiritual site of the three major religions of the world.

We place special emphasis on group relations, and consider this a highly significant part of any desert experience. Our groups, led by professional guides and escorted by a Bedouin team of camel drivers, mountain guide and cook, enjoy an adventurous yet safe tour with personal care given to the needs and interests of each member of the group.

Grades of difficulty

Very Easy - Hikes in valleys out of one or two fixed night camps. Suitable for family, study and pilgrimage tours.

Easy - Hikes in valleys and mountain passes including some easily accessible peaks. Suitable for family, study and pilgrimage tours and easy trekking groups.

Moderate - Hiking through valleys and on some ridges. Reaching several peaks. Some scrambling on steep rocky slopes. No technical climbing. Suitable for rugged study and pilgrimage tours and moderate trekking groups.

Strenuous - Ridge hikes and peaks that necessitate some technical climbing. Suitable for rugged trekking groups.

Special trekking groups

• Family trekking tours.
• Pilgrimage trekking tours.
• Study trekking tours.
• Meditation, group dynamic, trekking tours.

Recommended season

April – October.
See climate map(in flash site) for detailed information on around the year temperatures.