About Sinai Hikes
About Us
Sinai Hikes is a small family-run local team, led by Saint Catherine’s Jebeliya Bedouins, offering adventurous and authentic hiking experiences around the peninsula.
Our Mission
To provide guests of all skill levels with unique, unforgettable hiking experiences across Sinai. Led by local Bedouin guides who bring expert knowledge, exceptional hospitality, and great respect for nature, we at Sinai Hikes ensure every single one of our adventures is safe, authentic, and truly remarkable.
Our Vision
To place Sinai on the global adventure travel map, helping travelers from all over the world discover its untamed beauty through sustainable, culturally immersive outdoor experiences. All while empowering the local Bedouin community and preserving Sinai’s natural protectorates for future generations.
Our Story
Sinai Hikes was born out of a deep connection to Sinai, the land we call home. Growing up in Saint Catherine, in the heart of Sinai, surrounded by its rugged mountains, vast deserts, and untouched valleys, nature was more than just a backdrop – it was a lifestyle.
Co-founder Ahmed Mousa spent days working with his uncle in the mountains as a child, guiding visitors through Sinai’s stunning landscapes. At the time, he thought that the joy the guests felt, which was sometimes too strong and brought them to tears, was just the norm. It wasn’t until later, after studying Management Information Systems and meeting people from all over the world, that he began to see things differently. It became clear that it was all about the experiences he and his uncle had provided on their Sinai hikes and treks. While other operators treated trips as just another business transaction, the Mousas took pride in making each journey memorable.
Unlike other trips, those organized by the Mousas were anything but routine – flexibility was their edge. If nature surprised them with temporary waterfalls or natural lakes after rainfall, they’d share the magical hidden gems with their guests. Soon after, Mousa realized that this level of personalization wasn’t common, and that’s when he decided to launch Sinai Hikes.
Through our website, we wanted to raise awareness about Sinai’s unrivaled beauty and rich heritage and offer adventure travelers authentic, immersive experiences. So far, Sinai Hikes has led over 300 trips, most of which were booked through word of mouth, a true testament to the connection we’ve built with our guests.
One of our most memorable trips is this time we were booked by honeymooners who were hesitant to embark on the week-long adventure in the mountains. By the end of their trip, they told us how this was the honeymoon of their dreams and how glad they were to take that leap of faith. It’s stories like these that keep us doing what we do and help us stay passionate about it.
At Sinai Hikes, we don’t just guide you through routes and trails – we share the land, its stories, and its essence. This is beyond just another adventure – it’s an open invitation to experience Sinai as we’ve always known it.
Meet the Team Behind Sinai Hikes
Sinai Hikes is made up of a small team of Bedouins from the Jebeliya tribe, born and raised in Saint Catherine. We spend our days wandering through Sinai’s sweeping landscapes, hoping to share the beauty of our homeland with everyone who visits.
It’s worth mentioning that we also work closely with tribes like the Muzeina, Awlad Said, and Tarabeen when exploring other parts of Sinai beyond Saint Catherine. This collaboration ensures authenticity wherever our adventures take us, with our team always in the picture to maintain the quality and spirit of Sinai Hikes.
Ahmed Mousa of the Jebeliya Tribe
With 11 years of guiding experience up his sleeve, the co-founder of Sinai Hikes specializes in helping travelers navigate Sinai’s rugged landscapes and rich culture. He studied at the Institute of Management Information Systems and speaks English very well. His expertise extends beyond guiding and using stars to navigate Sinai’s trail to include knowledge of local plants, herbs, and wildlife. Whether you're exploring the highlands or learning about Sinai's nature, Ahmed is here to provide you with an authentic and insightful experience.
Nasser Mansour of the Jebeliya Tribe
Nasser is one of the most experienced guides on the team. A natural-born guide, Nasser has been leading hikes since childhood and he’s known for discovering new paths and trails. His deep knowledge of local herbs and plants adds a unique dimension to each trip. Aside from his guiding expertise, he also gives camel riding classes. Nasser guarantees an enriching experience to everyone who embarks on an adventure with him.
Taher Saleh of the Jebeliya Tribe
Taher is specialized in guided hikes to the summit of Mount Sinai. He also speaks English as he’s been working with Egyptians and Arabians for over 15 years. In addition to being a skilled guide, Taher is also a talented photographer, capturing stunning shots of guests with Sinai’s breathtaking landscapes in the backdrop.
Jabali Saleh of the Jebeliya Tribe
Born in the village of Saint Catherine City, Jabali is an experienced camel guide, specializing in supporting camping trips in the Sinai mountains. He’s also an excellent cook, known for preparing delicious traditional meals. His passion and love for his work shine through every journey, guaranteeing memorable trips for those who join.
Saleh Mousa of the Jebeliya Tribe
Born in the village of El-Sibaiea, Saleh is an experienced camel guide, specializing in supporting camping trips in the Sinai mountains. He’s also an excellent cook, known for preparing delicious traditional meals. His passion and love for his work shine through every journey, guaranteeing memorable trips for those who join.
Ahmed Mousa of the Jebeliya Tribe
An experienced guide, Ahmed has been working in the Sinai mountains and valleys from a very young age. He offers a unique ability to connect with travelers from around the world thanks to being multilingual – he speaks Arabic, English, and Indonesian. With extensive experience guiding pilgrims to Mount Sinai, Ahmed’s journeys are insightful and culturally rich.
No Hidden Fees:
Our Pricing Explained
Adventure travel pricing in Sinai is quite competitive; however, despite the abundance of tour operators in the region, we’ve noticed lots of dissatisfaction with the quality of service provided. Sadly, it’s become common for investors to run and start a business in tourism without considering the importance of quality. That’s why, when starting Sinai Hikes, we prioritized quality and made sure to factor that in every step of the journey.
Why We Stand by Our Prices at Sinai Hikes
Our trips may indeed be slightly more expensive than most tour operators in the market, but that’s only because the kind of service we provide at Sinai Hikes can only be matched by a few other tour operators in Egypt within the same price range.
Offering a premium quality service comes at a cost, which we think is fair. Here’s why we can’t compromise our rates:
- Our team consists of expert local guides with unmatched knowledge of Sinai’s trails and heritage.
- We prioritize your safety and invest in trained hiking experts and proper planning for every excursion.
- We offer immersive and authentic experiences that celebrate Sinai’s heritage and culture, ensuring exceptional, memorable adventures.
- It’s crucial to us to keep empowering the local community by providing job opportunities and offering fair wages.
- Our trips can be tailored to meet your interests and individual needs.
- We provide inclusive services such as delicious meals prepared on-site, comfortable camping setups, and more.
- We pay great attention to detail – each aspect of a trip is carefully planned to ensure a seamless experience.
- We’re committed to preserving Sinai’s nature by sticking to ethical outdoor practices.
The Risks of Booking With Low-Cost Operators
On the other hand, if you decide to opt for a cheap operator instead, here are a few things that may go wrong:
- To maintain cheap rates, low-cost operators often hire inexperienced guides due to their low wages, compromising the quality of service.
- As they employ low-paid workers who agree to work for below the minimum standard or rely solely on tips, due to financial trouble, you will be contributing to the exploitation of workers in Sinai.
- Guides may not even speak understandable English, leading to difficulty in communication.
- Most cheap tours do not include meals, which impacts hikers’ strength and energy levels, especially on multi-day treks with camping overnight.
- Dietary requirements are often overlooked when booking with a low-cost operator, totally neglecting the needs of vegetarians, vegans, and those gluten or lactose intolerant.
- You may be forced to join another group, in which case, your needs may not be fulfilled.
