St Catherine's & Mount Sinaiسانت كاترين وجبل موسى

Mount Sinai — known in Arabic as Jebel Musa, the "Mountain of Moses" — rises about 2,285 metres and is revered as the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments. The classic experience is to climb it before dawn: hikers set out in the small hours, guided by Bedouin and the stars, to reach the summit in time for a breathtaking sunrise over the desert peaks. Two routes lead up — the gentler camel path and the steeper Steps of Repentance, some 3,750 stone steps. Simple huts along the way offer rest and warm tea on the cold climb.

At the mountain's foot stands St Catherine's Monastery, built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian between 548 and 565 AD and still home to a community of Greek Orthodox monks — making it the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world. It was raised around the site traditionally identified as the Burning Bush, where God is said to have spoken to Moses, and also shelters the Well of Moses. Within its fortress walls are the sixth-century Basilica of the Transfiguration with its rare Byzantine mosaics, and one of the world's oldest libraries, holding thousands of priceless manuscripts and icons.

Few places on Earth are sacred to so many. The story of Moses on the mountain is honoured in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism alike, and for centuries pilgrims of all three faiths have made their way here. The monastery has survived wars, empires, and the passage of fifteen hundred years largely intact — a rare and precious continuity. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains a working house of prayer, not a museum, so visitors dress modestly and tread gently, sharing in the quiet reverence that fills the place.

St Catherine's lies about a three-hour drive from the Red Sea resorts of Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab. Because of military checkpoints and the remote terrain, travellers go with an organised tour or licensed guide rather than driving alone. The most rewarding way to visit is an overnight trip timed for the sunrise hike, followed by a tour of the monastery after dawn. Bring warm layers (the summit is cold before sunrise), sturdy shoes, water, and a torch. Despite occasional media worries, the area is well used to visitors and the route is carefully managed.

• What it is: the world's oldest working Christian monastery, below the sacred Mount Sinai.
• Arabic name: سانت كاترين وجبل موسى (St Catherine's & Mount Sinai / Jebel Musa).
• Where: the mountains of the South Sinai Governorate.
• The mountain: Mount Sinai (~2,285 m), where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments.
• The hike: a pre-dawn climb (camel path or the Steps of Repentance) for sunrise at the summit.
• The monastery: built by Justinian (548–565 AD); home to the Burning Bush, Byzantine mosaics, and an ancient library.
• Significance: sacred to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Getting there: about 3 hours from Sharm El-Sheikh or Dahab, with a guide; best as an overnight trip.

Sources include UNESCO, Wikipedia, and various Egyptian travel guides. Religious sites are described as held by tradition; travel details are approximate.