Trekking in Egypt: Ancient Nomad Trails

You will start your first day after the breakfast from your hotel on the Red Sea coast or the Gulf of Aqaba, heading to the Sinai desert in a four-wheel drive vehicle to Ain Umm Saida, where you will meet the adventure team of Sinai Bedouins and help them load the luggage onto the camels. Then, you will take your first step into the Sinai wilderness, which will take you to another world.

You will trek from Umm Saida to El-Homr, then to Abo Rojom, followed by Naqb Ghatresh, and then onto the wadis, where you will spend your first night in either Sail Abeid or El-Qsouria, depending on the time.

After breakfast, we will pack our daily bags and leave the campsite to head toward El-Qsouria, where we’ll explore the old nomad trails. We’ll have lunch on the way.

Next, we’ll continue on to Wadi Remhan, our base camp for Mount Um Shomar, known for its small garden and an ancient monastery that once belonged to the monks of Saint Catherine Monastery. This will be our base for the two-night camp.

We will wake up early, have breakfast, and then begin our trek along a winding path to the top of Mount Umm Shomar, one of the most beautiful mountains in Sinai. Standing at 2,586 meters above sea level, it is the second highest mountain in Egypt after Mount Saint Catherine and was once believed to be the highest in ancient Egypt. Made of ancient volcanic rocks, Mount Umm Shomar is known for its steep slopes and distinctive rock formations.

The climb to the top is challenging, requiring scrambling and the use of your hands for balance. Careful steps are essential. Upon reaching the summit, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the Red Sea coast. Afterward, we will descend slowly to our lunch spot and continue on to Wadi Remhan, where we will camp and enjoy a peaceful night under the stars.

We’ll start the day with breakfast before setting off on our trek from Wadi Remhan to Wadi Zwatina. Along the way, we’ll be treated to stunning views of Mount Remhan and Mount Umm Shomar, two of Sinai’s majestic peaks. Our journey will take us through Naqb Zwatina and up to Wadi Al-Rahba, where we’ll trek through the expansive plains of Wadi Al-Rahba, a tranquil area where local Bedouins often graze their camels and sheep. Along the way, we may have the chance to meet these friendly nomads.

We’ll stop to enjoy a delicious lunch on the trail in Wadi Al-Rahba, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. Afterward, we’ll continue to Naqeeb Imran, then to Wadi Al-Rutq, a scenic spot where we’ll camp for the night amidst the ruins of an ancient garden. As the stars fill the sky, we’ll rest, preparing for the next leg of our adventure as we climb toward the heights of the Saint Catherine Mountains.

From Wadi Al-Rutq, we’ll follow the ancient old road up to Bir Farsh Al-Rutq, where we’ll stop to enjoy a delicious lunch amidst the stunning desert landscape. Afterward, we’ll continue our journey to the camping point at the top of Mount Abu Ramil, where we’ll set up our tents and prepare for a night.

Then we’ll make our way to the summit of Abu Ramil to witness a breathtaking sunset, with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. After soaking in the beauty, we’ll descend back to our camp for the night, resting up before our next adventure—climbing to Egypt’s highest peak.

Today is the long-awaited day! We’ll embark on the thrilling climb to Mount Catherine, the highest peak in Egypt, standing at an impressive 2,642 meters above sea level. The breathtaking views from the summit will make every step worthwhile. After soaking in the panoramic sights, we’ll descend toward Umm Seila and then continue on to Wadi Al-Ahmar, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch.

Our journey will take us down through Wadi Al-Ahmar, scrambling over rocks and boulders, and on to Wadi Al-Mutahar, eventually reaching Wadi Al-Shaq. Here, we’ll set up camp for the night in Awda Garden, surrounded by almond and apricot trees. After a rewarding day of trekking, we’ll have the luxury of a cold shower—an invigorating treat after the adventure

From Wadi Al-Shaq, we’ll make our way to Wadi Al-Zawatin, passing through ancient gardens along the way. Our ascent begins on a slippery, rocky trail, with some scrambling sections, as we climb to the summit of Mount Abbas Helmi. At the top, we’ll explore the ruins of an old palace and enjoty by the panorama of Saint Catherine city before enjoying a well-deserved lunch with stunning views.

After lunch, we’ll descend via a scenic mountain path into Wadi Tenya, then head towards Saqar Canyon. Our journey continues through Wadi Saqar, where we’ll set up camp for the night, surrounded by the tranquility of the mountains.

We’ll begin our trek from Wadi Saqar, following the Mount Na’ga trail up to the summit, where we’ll be rewarded with an incredible panoramic view of the El-Tih Plateau and the village of Wadi Sheikh Awad. After taking in the breathtaking scenery, we’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch before continuing our journey along the Wadi Shaq Tenya trail. We’ll then trek through Wadi Etlah, making our way to Abo Sela village, where we’ll return to the city life and civilization.

In Saint Catherine City, we’ll settle into a local camp where we can enjoy a refreshing shower and rest after a long and fulfilling trekking in Egypt’s stunning trails.

We’ll wake up to our first views of local Camp and the surrounding mountains, beginning the day with a delicious Egyptian breakfast. Afterward, we’ll explore St. Catherine Monastery, the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in Christendom, located at the foot of Mt. Sinai. We’ll see the imprint of Prophet Mohammed on the monastery wall and the mosque inside.

Next, we’ll enjoy a starting our ascent up the ‘pilgrim path’ of Mt. Sinai, climbing over 800 meters to the summit. From the top, we’ll take in panoramic views of the Sinai desert and mountais. Afterward, we’ll have our lunch and descend, navigating the sandstone mountains and canyons, before returning to camp for supper and rest.

After breakfast, we’ll bid farewell to the team, taking with us unforgettable memories from the adventure. Then, we’ll return to the hotel or airport, marking the end of our amazing journey through the Sinai wilderness.