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Tour info
Tour Highlights: Experience the historic St. Catherine’s Monastery, home to precious religious artifacts and supposedly Moses’ burning bush…
Tour Code: SSH-01
Duration: 07 ½ hrs
Activity Level: Strenuous
Tour Timings:
00h00 -> Depart from Sharm El Sheikh Port
00h00-> 03h00 Traveling time to the Monastery
03h00-> 04h30 Guided visit to the Monastery and its main features
04h30-> 07h30 Traveling time back to the Port
TOUR DESCRIPTION
Embark on a scenic drive through the dramatic desert landscapes and rugged rock formations of the Sinai Peninsula on your way to St. Catherine’s Monastery—Christianity’s oldest surviving monastic site, founded in 342 AD by Empress Theodora at the foot of Mount Moses and Megafa Mountain. The journey takes approximately three hours.
This revered site has been a center of worship and learning for over 1,600 years. The monastery is named after St. Catherine of Alexandria, a noblewoman and scholar who converted to Christianity and was martyred for her faith in 305 AD. According to tradition, her body was miraculously transported by angels to the peak now known as Mount St. Catherine. Centuries later, monks retrieved her remains and placed them in a gold-plated sarcophagus within the Basilica Choir.
Known since the 11th century as the Monastery of the Transfiguration, it houses a priceless library second only to the Vatican’s, with over 3,000 ancient manuscripts and 5,000 rare books. During your visit, explore Emperor Justinian’s 6th-century church, the Chapel of the Burning Bush, Jethro’s Well, St. Catherine’s shrine, and the exquisite Mosaic of the Transfiguration.
HELPFUL HINTS
- Comfortable walking shoes and sun hat recommended.
- Suitable for elderly but not physically challenged persons.
- The Monastery opens every day from 08:45 – 11:30 and closes on Sundays as well as during religious Holidays but on Fridays opens only from 10:45-11:30.
- Photography inside the monastery is allowed but no video. No fees for cameras.
- As tour visits a religious site, respectful attire is recommended – no bare shoulders, shorts, or skirts above the knee.
- An uphill 600 meters gravel road leads from the outer gate to the Monastery’s main entrance.
- Tour does not include lunch. A packed lunch will be prepared from the ship.
