If you decide you don't want to take part in the Mt Sinai sunrise climb on the Jewels of Egypt trip, how does your day look? What can you do in St. Catherine? How much time do you have as we can't see what time the climbers usually end? Do the climbers come back to the hotel to meet up with the people who stay back or do we have to find our way to them? If anyone can help that would be appreciated.
Options if not participating in Mt Sinai climb
Hi DonnaM
After the group has climbed Mt Sinai they return to the hotel to have breakfast, shower and check out of the rooms. The group usually arrive back at the hotel at 8:30/9:00am.
So if you decide not to get up in the early hours of the morning to head up the mountain you will see the group at breakfast.
The other main site in St Catherine is the 6th century monastery of St Catherine, it's closed on Fridays(the day you are there) but you could still view it from the outside. Your tour leader will be able to help with arranging transport.
Best wishes
David
Not climbing Mt. Sinai
There were three on our trip that did not climb to the top of Mt. Sinai -- one of them being myself. We did, however, climb to the first rest stop -- can get hot choc, tea, etc. and decided to stay there -- the climb gets higher and higher and less and less "air". The rest stop is run by Bedouins who sleep there with their camels and the camels kept watch over night of the three of us. Have photos to prove it -- eyes open! The three of us were able to watch the sun rise over Mt. Sinai and the change in colour of the mountains from browns to purples and reds. It was spiritual without all the hard work to get to the top.
For those of you with bad legs or knees or breathing difficulties, this climb is "strenous" and the hardest of all activities for the whole tour as it is rocky and uneven. You do have the option of hiring a camel to take you up most of the way to the top but will still have the climb the last bit yourself to get to the top.
The mountain is very cold at 2:30 a.m. (the time of our departure from Morganland to St. Catherines) and you will need to wear clothes for layering and take water as once the sun comes up it is hot.
If St. Catherines is not open -- it is a walled location then there isn't much to see. Of course, there is a shop by the parking lot where you start to walk past the Monastery to follow the trail up to the top of Mt. Sinai.
A sleep-in might be in order!
Have a great time, whatever you decide to do.
Maureen
Vancouver, BC Canada