Hello TTers,
I would like to visit Mt. Sinai and be there to enjoy the sunrise. My question is, can solo travellers do this or would I need a guide or join a tour? If possible, can anyone recommend where I can I stay (preferably budget and not the Monastery Guesthouse) in Al-Milga (I presume this is the nearest town) where I can get a really, really early start up the mountain? Lastly, is it safe for solo female travellers to do such an early climb? How is the weather like in the 1st week of November?
Would really appreciate it if anyone could give their input as to how I can go about doing this climb up Mt. Sinai.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers & happy travels :)
sister_moon
1
magdihanna
Sister Moon,
You can stay at any of the camps there, Sheikh Moussa is the best known, he also organizes trekking and camel trips in the mountains. You may be required to take a guide (approx. US$10). Talk with Moussa the night before, additionally you may want to skip the tourist stampede and climb for sunset instead, just as beautiful.
It is perfectly safe for a female solo traveler to do this. The weather is warm during the day and kind of cool at night, on top of the mountain it can be cold and windy so carry several layers of clothes in your backpack.
Enjoy!
2
fchiang
Arrange for a car to take you from Al-Milga to the Monastery at around 1:30am. The distance is only a few km so it should be cheap. Just talk to the camp. When I did it last Monday there were at least 1000+ people doing it so you don't need guide or direction, just follow everyone else. There are two paths up. Most if not all take the easier way up and the more difficult way down. It takes about 3 hours to do the climb (walk) then you wait for the sun rise. Bring something warm as it can be chilly and windy. Climbing for sunset is not a bad idea but it will be more straining because of the sun and heat, and you have to walk down in the dark using the easier route, the harder one may be too dangerous to walk down in the dark. I paid 55EGP (about US10) for a van to take me from Dahab (2 hours away) and back.
3
catw
You do not need a guide as the path when going up is quite easy but still I would not recommend climbing alone. The place is perfectly safe for a woman but the steps on the last part of the road can be slippy and you need to be with someone to check you have not fallen.
4
martinlunnon
I've just posted an account of climbing the mountain on this branch as a new topic (sorry - didn't think to connect it to this post).
From my post I'd suggest deciding whether you want a communal religious experience - in which case setting off around 1:30am may be best - or just a pleasant hike in a desert mountain (in which case a later start could well be better, as it was for us).
I'd have no qualms about doing it by oneself - the path is very easy to follow, and (especially the camel trail and the final steps) well watched by lots of bedouin hawkers.
Martin
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner