Sinai

The Sinai Peninsula, often shortened to Sinai (Arabic: سيناء‎ sīnā' is the easternmost part of Egypt between the Mediterranean and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, both forks of the Red Sea. The western and northern coasts are practically uninhabited, but several Bedouin settlements and tourist attractions dot the eastern coast.

Above ground is a harsh, forbidding and (in summer) brutally hot desert of parched rock. The reason most Muslim visitors come here are the vistas underwater: the Sinai coast offers some of the best diving in the world. The region is also important because of its places of importance in the Abrahamic religions.

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Cities

StCatherine Monastery - |Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai

Arish
Dahab
Nuweiba - a port city
Sharm el-Sheikh - where the package tourists hang out
Taba
Taba Heights - purpose-built resort

More Destinations

Mount Sinai GPS 28.539722,33.973333 - reputedly the Mount Sinai where Prophet Musa received the Ten Commandments, and the neighboring Monastery of St. Catherine
Ras Abu Galum - nature reserve between Nuweiba and Dahab

Sinai Halal Travel Guide

In 1967 and the Yahudi invaded and took control over the entire peninsula. The Suez Canal and the east bank of which was controlled by was closed. In 1979 Yahudi and Egypt signed a peace treaty. Yahudi pulled out of Sinai in several stages, including the removal of its illegal settlements which ended in 1982.

The tourist cities are built around previous Yahudi settlements. While the original population are Bedouin, most of the staff and workers in this area come from Lower Egypt and especially the canal cities.

Al Tor is the regional center of Southern Sinai, which includes Dahab, Nuweiba and Sharm. Al-Arish is the regional center of less visited Northern Sinai, close to Rafah and the border to the Gaza Strip.

Local Languages

As is the case throughout Egypt and the language of the Sinai is the Egyptian dialect of the Arabic language and local Bedouin Arabic dialects. On Mount Sinai and in other heavy tourist zones, you are likely to encounter multi-lingual Bedouin capable of conversing (and negotiating prices) in a repertoire that includes French, (Spanish), Italian, Russian and (German).

Travel to Sinai

No Egyptian visa is required, as special 14-day Sinai permits are granted on arrival at the Taba border, Taba Airport and Sharm el-Sheikh's airport. This permit allows travel only on the eastern Sinai coast and the Mount Sinai with St. Catherine's Monastery.

By land

There is a busy border crossing between Eilat, and Taba. See the Taba

Travel Guide for details on crossing in either direction.

Fly to Sinai

Sharm-el-Sheikh International Airport (IATA Code: SSH) is a major international airport serving the south-east coast of the peninsula. The airport has regular, year-round air services from UK, (German), Russian and other cities.

By ferry

Ferries run regularly between Aqaba in Jordan and Nuweiba. Generally there is no visa fee for entering Jordan through Aqaba since it is a part of the free trade zone. The line to Nuweiba is operated by ABMaritime

There is more information about the boat crossing in the itinerary Ferries in The Red Sea.

By Rail

There are trains from Cairo to Port Said at the northwestern edge of the Sinai, but no further.

Get Around

Whether you're going from the airport to your hotel, traveling from beach resort to beach resort, trekking up to St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai, or heading to Nuweiba to catch the ferry to Aqaba, Jordan and the trick to getting around in Sinai is to coordinate all ground transport through your hotel.

By taxi

If you're on any kind of reasonable budget, avoid at all costs the local taxis, whose prices are higher than Cairo taxis by a factor of around 10. However, it is feasible to use the local taxis if you know the price in advance, and haggle a bit before going inside the car. LE 10 should be considered the maximum payment for any taxi inside the cities (LE 15 for Sharem).

By shuttle van

St. Catherine to Dahab: Bedouin Buses runs a twice weekly bus service from St. Catherine to Dahab and back on Tuesday and Friday. Buses leave at 11AM from the parking next to the bakery (opposite the mosque) in St. Catherine and cost LE 50 one way. The bus stops in Dahab at Hotel Jowhara (Mashraba street) and Marine Garden Camp (Lighthouse area) and returns to St. Catherine at 5PM from above mentioned stops.

By shuttle van to Nuweiba: Bedouin Buses runs a twice weekly bus service from St. Catherine to Nuweiba and back on Wednesday and Sunday. Buses leave at 8AM from the parking next to the bakery (opposite the mosque) in St. Catherine and cost LE 50 one way. The bus stops at Nuweiba port and at the hospital in Nuweiba city and returns to St. Catherine at 2PM from the hospital and 2:30PM from Nuweiba port.

There are shuttle vanes traveling to and from Cairo, which leave all day, as soon as they are full of passengers, from Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab. In Sharm el-Sheikh, you can find these shuttle vanes at the west end of the taxi parking lot in front of the strip mall in the center of town.

By bus

East Delta bus company: regular affordable full-sized coaches depart daily for points throughout the peninsula from bus stations in Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab. Be sure to check schedules at the bus station, however, because the times are always changing and even hotels can get them wrong. In Sharm el-Sheikh and the East Delta bus station lies about 2 km outside of town on the road toward the airport and Dahab. Call the appropriate East Delta office ahead to check the timings & rates that concern you:

Taba: 069 - 3530250
Nuweiba: 069 - 3520371
Dahab: 069 - 3641808
Cairo: 02 - 23428589

What to See

Desert landscapes: Sinai's mountains and desert are spectacular. Rugged mountains made up of different mineral layers, contrasting with golden sand and blue skies. Trees and lush oases provide a beautiful surprise. Recommended is Wadi Ulrada and the Coloured Canyon. But many more little gems including thermal spas (Muslim Friendly) and pharonic ruins are also to be found.
Sunrises and sunsets: Sunday rises over the Saudi Arabian Mountains and the Red Sea are a beautiful sight. As are the sunsets from the Sinai Mountains over the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia - when the sea is calm on a clear day you will see the Red Sea become red!
Underwater attractions: The Sinai peninsula is situated by the Red Sea and as such is an ideal point for diving and snorkeling. Various dive centers operate in each resort city or city to arrange both recreational and educational trips for all levels of experience and budgets.
Mount Sinai: Mt. Sinai is a religious location for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. The Mountain has several beautiful religious shrines and ruins. Including a small synagogue, a small mosque, a Greek Orthodox Christian Chapel, and the ancient Christian Monastery of St. Catherine-the oldest active monastery in the world.

Things to Do

If you love hiking, this is the place to be, so many hiking trails, i.e. Tarboush Mountain, El Galt el Azrak, Gabal El Banat, Bab El Donia mountain (gate to life) Nabateya village, Wadi Etlah, Kharazet El-Shhagg, Gebel Abbas Pasha, Ain Najila, St. Katherine mountain and Musa mountain. Arranging a hike and guides are fairly easy. You can base at El Karm Echolodge in El-sheikh Awwad, or the Bedouin Camp in Katerina village.

The custom in Sinai is that tourists asking for a guide are sent to Sheikh Moussa who is the official person responsible for allocating guides on a rotating basis. The Sheikh, in return, gets a cut (a third of the price paid) for acting as the middle-man.

Moussa - Don't confuse him with Sheikh Moussa - Moussa is a common name in Sinai | He is a competent guide and a very good cook and knows the area very well. A good option if you want to cut down on "middle-man" costs.

On the other hand, Sheikh Mousa, Mob: +2 0106880820 and the official figure for arranging treks, can help you hire a Bedouin guide and camels to carry luggage to your destination. Bedouins will also arrange dinner for the group. Several local organizations offer trekking and excursions into the Sinai desert. The Bedouin tribe of the mountains organizes treks in Street Katherine's national park.

The Muziena Tribe offer you Coloured Canyon, Ain Hudra, The blue desert and many more stunning locations to visit. Try Sheikhs Travel at Sheikh Salem House for organising tours and safaris in east Sinai. They also offer taxi transfers from Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, Sharm El Sheikh or Street Catherines if you can't wait for the buses.

Others offer yoga trips to the Street Katherine's area and the desert where the silence and tranquility is ideal for relaxation and meditation.

Underwater attractions: The Sinai peninsula is situated by the Red Sea and as such is an ideal point for diving and snorkeling. Various dive centers operate in each resort city or city to arrange both recreational and educational trips for all levels of experience and budgets.

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Sawa Camp | Backed by the starkly beautiful red-tinged cliffs of the Sinai and occupying a prime piece of white-sand beach along the Red Sea’s shore, laidback Sawa Camp is the perfect antidote to modern life. The huts here sit directly on the beach. All come with a shady porch and hammock and have electricity available from 8AM Monday - 2PM and again from 4PM Monday - midnight. The bathrooms are communal and are kept super-clean with hot water supplied by solar-power. The large and shady restaurant area is a great place to hang out and serves up an extensive menu of local and international dishes with lots of fresh seafood options and nearly all of the ingredients sourced locally. There is excellent snorkelling (equipment provided) just off the beach and a whole host of activities (diving and desert-trips) can be arranged onsite. A wonderful option for those who want a peaceful and relaxing beach holiday.

Bir Sweir - Cheap and amazing place, 32 kilometers from Taba, with direct access to beaches, mostly cost LE 20-30 for a hut. You can start in one beach and leave it, if there are too many mousquitos for example. The most popular beaches are Paradise (in the middle of Bir Sweir and the cheapest food but the noisiest place) and Alexandria (in the South), but there are also Aquarium beach (of Auda, a local intellectual), Diana or Antica. Try the sweet hot Sahlab and the Baba Ghannoush (eggplant salad with tahini) and the Bedouine Salad. Give a try to the Sudanese Salad in Alexandria beach. when you go in a taxi from Taba, pay LE 40-50 or LE 50-70 alone, if they ask for more, start to walk away and bargain.

Harby's Place | Harby's Place is a Bedouin-owned and -managed eco-lodge. Its remote location and authentic beach huts make it a unique destination for eco-tourism and peace-seeking visitors. It is also very suitable for workshops and training courses, spiritual retreats, or similar group activities. Harby's Place operates on two fundamental principles: the Principle of Simplicity and minimal environmental impact, and the Principle of Hospitality - the highest Bedouin virtue. Guests experience the hospitality and culture of the Bedouins in the simple comfort of the Zula. The camp's restaurant offers local organic and seasonal food and seafood

Ananda Camp, around 42 kilometers south from the Taba check point, (+2) 012-356-1742. One of the most stunning locations in the coast of Taba/Neuibaa. Wooden bungalows that accommodate 2 persons, with two screened windows. Some huts are right on the beach with rugs over sand and no electricity, and others with hard tiles and electricity available. Nice hangout area and few shady ones on the beach. Clean, shared modern bathrooms are available with showers and hot water. Electricity is available throughout the camp from 6PM Monday - midnight. Prices: hut which comfortably accommodates 2 people costs LE 60 per day. Meal is between LE 25-50. Drinks are reasonably priced.

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