St. Catherine's Monastery & the Valley of Zaga (Private)
Overview
Leave after breakfast for a drive through the breathtaking Sinai Desert to St. Catherine's Monastery — the Greek Orthodox monastery built at the very place where, tradition holds, God appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush. Home to the relics of Saint Catherine, it is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery in the world, with over seventeen centuries of history. Then continue to Wadi Zaga for Bedouin tea and a guided 5 km trek through the valley: red granite cliffs, trickling springs and hand-built camel trails, centuries old, still linking the mountain gardens to the St. Catherine marketplace. The day ends with a traditional Bedouin lunch in a local home before the drive back to Sharm.
Highlights
- St. Catherine's Monastery — the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery
- The site of the Burning Bush, beneath the Mount of the Decalogue
- Guided 5 km trek through the Valley of Zaga's red granite scenery
- Bedouin tea in the valley and a traditional lunch in a Bedouin home
- Private tour with English- and Italian-speaking guide
Programme
- 1Morning hotel pickup
Pickup after breakfast and scenic drive through the Sinai Desert.
- 2St. Catherine's Monastery
Guided visit of the monastery and its historic treasures.
- 3Wadi Zaga — Bedouin tea
Arrive in the valley and pause for sweet Bedouin tea.
- 4Guided 5 km valley trek
Walk ancient camel trails past red granite cliffs and desert springs.
- 5Bedouin lunch
A traditional meal in a local Bedouin home (drinks not included).
- 6Return to Sharm
Drive back and drop-off at your hotel.
What's included
Included
- Round-trip bus to St. Catherine and Wadi Zaga
- Monastery sightseeing
- Guided 5 km trek of Wadi Zaga
- Bedouin tea
- Bedouin lunch at a Bedouin home (drinks not included)
- Entry tax, admission, parking fees
Not included
- Drinks except tea
- Tips (optional, appreciated)
- WiFi
- Personal expenses
Good to know
How fit do I need to be?
What's the dress code?
What's the cancellation policy?
How do I pay?
🎒 What to bring
- Water
- Camera
- Sunglasses, cap or hat
- Sunscreen
- Modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered)
- Trekking footwear
💡 Good to know
- Physical exercise involved — not suitable for mobility, heart or back issues
- Modest dress required at the monastery
- Light jacket recommended in winter months
- Private tour
