From the floors of the world's richest coral reef to the summit of one of history's most sacred mountains. Sharm, Dahab and the dawn of Mount Sinai in one extraordinary week.
Your Journey Route
The Sinai Peninsula offers three worlds in one week: the warm turquoise reef system of the Red Sea coast, the hippie-diving-capital of Dahab with its Blue Hole, and the granite mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. This seven-day circuit begins with three days of reef life at Sharm El Sheikh, moves to Dahab for snorkelling and windsurfing, then heads inland to St. Catherine's Monastery and the predawn summit of Mount Sinai, arriving back in Cairo in time for your flight home. Equal parts adventure, spirituality and underwater beauty.
A one-hour domestic flight from Cairo lands you on the Red Sea coast. Private airport transfer to your four-star resort. Settle in, explore Naama Bay's beachfront at your own pace, and watch your first Red Sea sunset. A relaxed arrival day before the week ahead.
Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of Sinai has some of the finest coral reef in the world. A full-day guided boat trip visits Shark Bay and Yolanda Reef, a shipwreck whose cargo of bathroom tiles sits in the coral at snorkelling depth. Equipment is included. Lunch is served on the boat.
A free morning in Sharm El Sheikh to enjoy the resort at your own pace. The resort's dive centre offers PADI introduction dives for non-certified swimmers. Parasailing and glass-bottom boat trips are also available from the beach. The afternoon is yours to explore Naama Bay's shops and restaurants.
Drive 1.5 hours north along the Gulf of Aqaba to Dahab, the Red Sea's most relaxed diving town. Check in to your beachfront guesthouse, then visit the Blue Hole: a 130-metre deep submarine sinkhole accessible by swimming from the shore. Non-divers snorkel the surface and edge; the clarity and colour are extraordinary. The Blue Lagoon offers windsurfing and kayaking.
Drive from Dahab into the Sinai highlands (1.5 hours). St. Catherine's Monastery, founded by the Emperor Justinian in 565 AD, is one of the world's oldest uninterrupted Christian communities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the exterior, the grounds and the Chapel of the Burning Bush. Check in to the mountain guesthouse and rest for a 1:30am wake-up call.
A 2am departure on foot with your guide, ascending the camel path to the summit over 2.5–3 hours. The light over the Sinai mountain ranges at dawn from 2,285 metres is extraordinary. Descend via the Steps of Repentance (3,000 stone steps carved by a monk). Visit the interior of St. Catherine's Monastery, then depart for Cairo by road (4.5 hours).
Arrive in Cairo in the morning after the overnight Sinai circuit. Private transfer to Cairo International Airport for your international departure. For guests with an afternoon or evening flight, optional Cairo sightseeing can be arranged on request.
A 2-day beginner course at Sharm's PADI centres. Certification is valid worldwide and the Red Sea is one of the best places on earth to earn it.
Add a day trip to Giftun Island's pristine reef from Sharm. One of the Red Sea's most spectacular marine environments, possible on a rest day extension.
A Sinai day trip to this extraordinary narrow canyon of red, yellow and purple sandstone. Reachable from St. Catherine in a morning, worth adding to the programme.
Upgrade your Sharm El Sheikh nights to a Rixos, Hyatt or Four Seasons property on the Red Sea for a fully premium Sinai experience.
After the Sinai section, cross to Aqaba, Jordan for 2 nights in Petra. We coordinate both sides seamlessly. See our Egypt & Petra Jordan tour for the full itinerary.
Capture the Blue Hole's extraordinary clarity and marine life with a rental underwater camera from Dahab's dive centres. Pre-bookable through us.
The camel path (the standard route) is 7km and takes 2.5–3 hours uphill at a gentle gradient. It is rocky and uneven but does not require technical climbing. Most people of moderate fitness complete it comfortably. The 3,000-step descent via Steps of Repentance is steep and requires care. Hiking poles are available in St. Catherine village.
Not at all. The monastery (founded by Emperor Justinian in 565 AD) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's oldest uninterrupted Christian communities. It houses an extraordinary library and remarkable early Byzantine mosaics. It welcomes all respectful visitors.
The Blue Hole is a 130-metre deep submarine sinkhole 100 metres offshore from Dahab, accessible by swimming from the shore. Divers consider it one of the world's most beautiful dive sites. For non-divers, snorkelling the surface and edge of the hole is completely safe and visually spectacular.
Yes, without question. Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of Sinai has some of the finest coral reef in the world. Shark and Yolanda Reefs (a wreck with visible toilet seats and tiles still in position) are among the Red Sea's most famous snorkel sites. The boat trip makes a full day of it.
The Red Sea coast (Sharm, Dahab) is warm year-round: 22–28°C water, 20–35°C air. The Sinai mountains (St. Catherine) are significantly cooler, especially at night: temperatures can drop to 0–5°C in December–January. Warm layers are essential for the Mount Sinai hike regardless of the season.
Yes. This tour begins and ends in Cairo, and it is easy to add 2–3 Cairo days (Pyramids, GEM, Old Cairo) before or after the Sinai circuit. Contact us for a combined quote.
Yes. After the Sinai section, you drive to Taba, cross the Egyptian-Jordan border to Aqaba, and continue to Petra. We coordinate both sides. See our Egypt & Petra Jordan tour for the full Jordan itinerary.
Warm layers (it can be very cold at the summit even in March), a headlamp (mandatory: 2am start), water, snacks, comfortable hiking boots or trainers with good grip, and a camera. The guide carries first aid supplies. Camels are available for rent partway up (optional).
The Red Sea reef at Ras Mohammed is world-class; Dahab's Blue Hole is legendary.
Mount Sinai at sunrise is one of the great dawn hikes of the world.
St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai carry profound religious significance for three world faiths.
Sharm sunsets, Dahab beachfront evenings, and dawn above the Sinai mountains. Genuinely romantic.
Every journey we build is private, guided and crafted around you. Tell us your travel dates and group size and we'll send you a personalised itinerary within 24 hours.
