Mount Sinai

Welcome to the shadow of Jebel Moosa, known to the world as Mount Sinai. As we stand here in the predawn darkness of the Southern Sinai Peninsula, we are walking onto a landscape that serves as the crucible of the Abrahamic…

The first leg of our ascent typically follows the Sikket El Basha, or the Camel Path, an easier though longer route established in the 19th century. As we wind our way up the gentle switchbacks, the rhythmic pacing of the camels…

As we reach an elevation of approximately 2,000 meters, we emerge into a high-altitude basin known as the Valley of Elijah, or Farsh Eliyahu. This serene hollow is home to a few ancient cypress trees and the sacred Safsafa tree,…

Leaving the Valley of Elijah, we confront the final ascent: the 750 Steps of Penitence. These are not modern, uniform stairs but uneven blocks of granite painstakingly laid by a 6th-century monk as an act of devotion and penance. …

We have reached the summit of Jebel Moosa, the traditional site where Moses is believed to have received the Ten Commandments from God. At 2,285 meters, we stand on a small, rocky plateau that houses both a 12th-century mosque…

As we descend and reach the base of the mountain, we find ourselves at the imposing walls of the Monastery of Saint Catherine. Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, this is the oldest continuously inhabited…

One of the most striking features of Mount Sinai is the coexistence of diverse religious structures on its very peak, symbolizing the mountain's universal significance. Side by side stand a mosque and a Greek Orthodox chapel,…

Our journey down Mount Sinai often takes place in the full light of day, revealing the intricate geological details we missed during our nocturnal ascent. The mountains, which appeared as dark silhouettes, now reveal their true…