Mountains, desert, and sea… Sinai has much more to offer than most people imagine. The High Mountain Region, with its religious and historical importance, orchard gardening tradition, and unique nature, is unlike anywhere else in the world. The desert is every bit as beautiful as those elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa, and within a relatively small area you will find an amazing variety of landscapes. The coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba are internationally recognised among the best in the world, while a number of coastal protectorates and their different ecosystems offer peaceful escapes from the resort towns.
Sinai is divided into two governorates: North Sinai Governorate and South Sinai Governorate. The administrative border runs roughly along the route from the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel to Taba, although the Bedouin traditionally place the divide further south along the edge of the Tih Plateau. Much of North Sinai is restricted for foreigners, but the vast majority of attractions are located in South Sinai anyway, which is generally peaceful and laid back.
Map of South Sinai
The capital of South Sinai Governorate is El Tur (1), although the largest and most developed city is Sharm el-Sheikh (2). Another popular destination is Dahab (3), a smaller and more relaxed town attracting mostly independent travellers. In Nuweiba (4), the gateway to Jordan, and further north along the coast towards Taba (5), there are many simple beach camps offering huts directly by the sea. Beyond Taba lies the border crossing to Israel.
In the centre of the mountainous interior is the town of Saint Catherine (6), famous for Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery. Wadi Feiran (7) and Serabit el Khadem (8) are smaller settlements with important historical and archaeological sites. The coastal town of Abu Zenima (9) is a small settlement with a few shops and cafeterias, from where transport can be arranged to Serabit el Khadem. Ras Sudr (10), further north, is a seaside destination popular with visitors from Cairo.
The road connects through the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel beneath the Suez Canal to Suez and Cairo (11), and from there another road continues towards North Sinai. A second road, once part of the ancient caravan route used by pilgrims travelling from Cairo to Mecca, cuts across the peninsula through the interior at Nakhla (12) before reaching the Gulf of Aqaba.
Cities, Towns & Settlements
The coastal resort cities, such as Sharm el-Sheikh, are well known, and most people have heard of St Catherine—although not all realize that it is actually a town and not just the monastery. This website also includes several smaller settlements, as they are relevant to visitors for various reasons.
Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is a sprawling resort city at the southern tip of the peninsula, and most visitors to Sinai arrive through its airport. Best known for water sports and its wide selection of high-end hotels, the city now stretches for more than 20 kilometers, from the port in the south to the Nabq Protectorate boundary in the north. For many visitors, off-road adventure means quad biking on the outskirts of the city, but we recommend spending at least a day on a genuine desert safari.
Dahab
Livelier and more developed than Nuweiba, Dahab is South Sinai’s second resort city, though on a more human scale and with more character than Sharm el-Sheikh. The best beaches are located either south or north of the town. The Laguna in the south, beside the high-end hotels, is a pleasant and largely undeveloped bay. It is not suitable for diving or snorkeling but is perfect for swimming, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. Suitable swimming areas north of Dahab begin around the location known as Eel Garden. Much of the coastline around Dahab offers excellent diving, but the most famous site is the Blue Hole between Dahab and Abu Galum Protectorate. In addition to outstanding diving and other water sports, Dahab also offers several hikes, most notably in Wadi al-Bida and Wadi Gnai. It is also possible to reach Abu Galum Protectorate on foot from the nearby Blue Hole.
Nuweiba
Nuweiba is a major port city, connecting Egypt with Jordan through the port of Aqaba. The city is spread out across four main areas: Muzeina Village, the Port (Mina), the Center, and Tarabin Village. Beaches can be found in the Muzeina and Tarabin areas, as well as at the high-end hotels located beyond the port. Often considered part of Nuweiba, the coast stretching north toward the resort town of Taba is lined with simple beach camps and remains a pleasantly undeveloped shoreline. Wadi Watir is the main route inland to the Tarabin areas and onward to Suez and Cairo. The city is also connected off-road to Jebel Mileihis via Wadi Saada.
Taba
The northernmost resort town on the Gulf of Aqaba, Taba is a popular holiday destination. It is also Egypt’s border town with Israel, and ferries connect it with Jordan. Apart from the resorts, beaches, and casino, there is relatively little to see and do in the immediate area, the main exception being Pharaoh’s Island, an excellent day trip just offshore. Along the coast toward Nuweiba are numerous simple beach camps offering an alternative to the area’s upscale hotels.
St Catherine
The town of St Catherine is famous for St Catherine’s Monastery, built on the site of the Burning Bush at the foot of Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa). This is the only place in the interior visited by most tourists, and it can become crowded. One of the best ways to avoid the crowds, at least on Mount Sinai, is to climb for sunset rather than sunrise and descend before darkness falls. A wide range of accommodations is available in town, from simple camps to upscale hotels. A new ecolodge, Mount Sinai Ecolodge, has also opened near the town in Wadi Isbaiya.
Sheikh Awad
The settlement of Sheikh Awad is best known for its ecolodge, Al Karm, one of the first establishments of its kind in Sinai. It lies where the high mountains meet the plains and is especially popular with visitors from Cairo during long weekends. With an off-road vehicle, it can be reached via Wadi Islaf from Wadi Feiran or from Tarfa Village. A good place to relax, it also offers treks to nearby Nabataean ruins and the seasonal waterfall of Sid al-Nogra. The footpath known as Naqb al-Hawa begins at the tomb of Sheikh Awad and connects the settlement to St Catherine. In the past, this was the main pilgrimage route.
Wadi Feiran
The main attraction in Wadi Feiran is its convent. The active modern complex stands in a beautiful garden beside the main road, adjacent to older ruins. Opposite rises Jebel Tahouna, with several hermit caves at its base and the ruins of a church on its summit. The view from there is dominated by towering Jebel Serbal, possibly the most beautiful mountain in Sinai. In early Christian times, it was believed by some to be the true Mount Sinai. Accommodations are available at the convent guesthouse and in a couple of beautiful Bedouin gardens farther along the road. Wadi Feiran is a very long settlement, with its center, Markaz Feiran, located on a broad open plain.
El Tur
Although it is the capital of South Sinai Governorate, El Tur is a relatively small town. It has a central market and several shopping streets around it. Foreign visitors usually come only to renew their visas, but the town has a certain charm and a few interesting sights. The old port district contains several neglected and fenced-off historic buildings, along with a few others in better condition. They are attractive structures, though much conservation work is needed to preserve them. El Tur is also home to a hot spring known as Hammam Musa.
Abu Zenima
Abu Zenima is a small town on the Gulf of Suez coast along the main Cairo–Sharm el-Sheikh road, with a few shops, cafés, restaurants, and possibly some basic accommodations. (More places to stay can be found a little farther north toward Ras Sudr.) Just south of town, an asphalt road branches off from the main highway toward Serabit al-Khadem. This is the shortest and easiest route to the site from the coast, although some sections remain unpaved. A 4×4 vehicle can be arranged through Sheikh Barakat’s family at their office in the Desert Falcon Restaurant, and possibly through some of the other cafés as well.
Serabit al-Khadem
Serabit al-Khadem is a small settlement in the desert, best known for the nearby Pharaonic temple and ancient turquoise mines. The family of Sheikh Salim Barakat operates a camp here and organizes treks and safaris deeper into the desert.
Ras Sudr
Located on the Gulf of Suez, along the Cairo–Sharm el-Sheikh road shortly after the tunnel, Ras Sudr is a popular holiday destination for visitors from Cairo, as well as for Egyptians and expatriates. The town itself is a simple place with a handful of shops, cafés, and restaurants, while most accommodations are located along the coast to the south. The area is known for its reliable winds, making windsurfing a particularly popular activity. Apart from the beach resorts, there is not much else to do in Ras Sudr itself, but local Bedouin operators can arrange safaris into the surrounding desert.
THE SINAI: The Sinai Peninsula > The Bedouin > Transport