Climbing Mount Sinai

In all my Egyptian travels I found several spots that I could visit again and again. Mt. Sinai has made its way to my top five. Obviously, there are some religious stories attached to this location, but traveling here offers variety and unique experiences.

Both times I visited Mt. Sinai, the climb began with camels. Ahhh, but I must go back a little further to provide a more complete picture of the experience. You might want to start reading this blog at 3 am as that is where the story begins…

Sharm El Sheikh acts as the base for travels to Mt. Sinai. If you are interested in the sunrise experience, you have to leave in the middle of the night. Most hotels prepare meals for those who will leave at this time because, well, you’ll miss breakfast. I want to say we left at midnight, but it could have been earlier. FUN FACT: Both Sharm El Sheikh and Mt. Sinai are in Asia–not Africa.

When we arrived at the base of the mountain, it was dark. Our guides and drivers walked with us in the silence, but I’ll admit the only thing I knew was we’d find camels and begin. That process proved to be a little unnerving, for as we walked, we were flanked by the bedouin people. First, we were walking alone in silence…then multiple feet walked in step with us. I heard them before I saw them, and that takes talent!

The bedouins stayed beside us the whole time we rode the camels. I can only imagine how used to walking the path they were. Getting on a camel creates quite the spectacle. The camels sit on the ground, and you get on it like you would a horse. Then, their back feet stand up first. You have to lean forward but know that in a matter of seconds you’ll lean backwards when the front feet stand. You will have to shift your weight to accommodate the quick movement. Once on the camel, everything is smooth.

I loved the quiet peace that surrounded me. There was almost a reverence as we moved. The stars…how they shone upon us! Counting each star would have taken a lifetime as they filled the sky. I loved it. In addition, I spent some time contemplating the significance of this place. In the Christian religion, Mt. Sinai provided Moses with access to God. He received the Ten Commandments and heard God as a burning bush (more on that later). At any rate, I filled my time with thought and wonder.

While it would have been nice to have the dromedaries take us to the top of the mountain, the final trek had to be hiked because the path narrowed and grew more steep. We said goodbye to our friends, both human and animal, then began walking up the path. The markings provided visible assistance as we climbed.

Stairmasters would have prepared us for the climb in ways my muscles would have thanked, but nonetheless we enjoyed the final leg of our trip. Each of us had water and food to enjoy. The first time I ascended the mountain, we stopped at a store that rented blankets. I remember stopping there for a hot drink, a blanket, and a rest. However, the second time, we didn’t encounter the store. We still stopped along the way to catch our breath and take some water. We planned enough time to assure our guide we would make it to the top in time.

At the very top of the mountain is a Greek Orthodox chapel and a functioning mosque. We sat outside of both buildings on a rock railing and waited for the sunrise. I’ll never forget the first time I waited. The area was filled with more groups than the second time, and each one of the hikers was expressing their excitement in many different languages. I loved hearing “The Lord’s Prayer” in three and four languages. On the second visit, things were less crowded, but still, many different countries were represented. I love how travel brings people from all over the world together.

Eventually the moment arrived, and we watched the sun peek through the mountains. The brilliance astounded me. As the sun rose, warmth began to take over. While not freezing by any means, the top of the mountain felt a bit chilly before the sun made its way out for the day. You can catch a part of the sunrise on this video:

Much to soon it was time to descend the mountain. For this portion, we walked all the way to the bottom. We passed many locations, and I began to wonder…where were the people staying as they waited for Moses to return with guidace for their lives? Where did Moses encounter the burning bush? How close to the actual events was I? There was little to no foliage, so hiding from that once hidden sun was not possible.

At the base of the mountain is St. Catherine’s Monastery. Known as the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, St. Catherine houses incredibly valuable and important documents…and the burning bush. While no one can verify it is the exact burning bush, the people in the area will attest that no other plant resembles this one. Jenny and I (first visit) stood under the bush. We also could touch the burning bush. However, the increased tourism changed how people visited the bush. With Kara and Stephanie, we were able to stand near it. However, a fence kept us from approaching it directly.

The monastery provides tours of its grounds, but we arrived on a day when it was closed to the public. Our guide, though, was able to take us to parts of the monastery. That included the burning bush and a set of paintings that depicted Christian history. We also met some local children who desired any food we would give. Once again, our guide provided the information on how to safely interact with everyone.

While ascending a mountain is not part of everyone’s physical capabilities, I can’t tell you how meaningful the experience for me was. The first time I ascended, I fell in love and I felt the awe of everything around me. I will never forget Mt. Sinai.

Side note: We felt much safer using a company to travel throughout Egypt. The company we used was Egypt for Americans. My disclaimer is that this is the company founded by my ex-husband and me. While I no longer have a direct association with the company, I can assure you, the service is top notch. If you are looking to travel to Egypt, check them out. They will give you the best experience possible.