Mt. Sinai (Jebel Musa) and the Safsafa basins - Discover Sinai

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1. Mt. Sinai (Jebel Musa) and the Safsafa basinsMt. Sinai is visited by up to a thousand people on most nights, but thecrowds can be avoided easily if you go for the sunset and not thesunrise. The view and colours are just as beautiful – I believe they’reactually nicer – and there are only a handful of people around, if any.But there is more to Mt. Sinai than just its peak. Only a few steps off themain tourist path, between Mt. Sinai and Ras Safsafa, there are littlemagical basins with shrubs and trees, ruined and intact Byzantinechapels, wells, dams and gardens, as well as stunning views down thegullies to different directions. There are a number of routes to Mt. Sinai,here two are described: the usual one from the Monastery and analternative route via Wadi Arbain. The climb from the Monastery can beorganised on the spot as a guide cooperative is located there.However, the guides from the Monastery usually do Mt. Sinai only, so ifyou want to add the basins you will have to find the right guide and paya bit more than the usual rate. The trek via Wadi Arbain, through thelittle interconnected mountain-top basins, is described in more detail. Itis a full day trek which you have to organise in town in advance. Thiswalk can be connected to the Mt. Katherina trek if you want a multipleday programme.Orientation: St. Katherine town and the Mt. Sinai - Safsafa range14
The Mt. Sinai - Safsafa range from the MonasteryThe usual route to Mt. Sinai is from the Monastery, either via the CamelPath or the Stairs of Repentance (steps). If you, against all advice, dothe climb at night, use the Camel Path – otherwise start from the Stairsof Repentance. While very steep, it is a more direct and much shorterroute, and going up the big steps is easier on the knees than comingdown. You can also find shady spots along the way to catch yourbreath. The steps lead to Elijah’s Basin (Farsh Eliya) from where a pathon your left will take you to a cutting in the mountain a bit further up.(See map 1.5 further.) A path branches off to the left through thecutting, the way to the Monastery or Wadi Arbain, but you carry onstraight passing a cafeteria on your right. Another flight of steep stepsbegins here, all the way to the summit. If you start descending from thesummit as soon as the sun goes down you will have enough time toreach the Monastery before total darkness sets in. Descend to thecutting and this time take the path that goes through it, and you will beon the Camel Path which leads back to the Monastery. This is a good,wide path that is safe even when the visibility is not perfect. If you onlywant to climb Mt. Sinai, you need to start from the Monastery 2-3 hoursbefore sunset. It means that in the morning you can visit the Monasteryand the Visitor Centre, have lunch and start the climb. If you want tovisit the basins as well, you have to skip the Monastery and start in themorning. Once you get to Elijah’s Basin, instead of heading to the peakon your left, take the path on your right. It is a nice path paved with bigrocks – still, don’t do this or any walk without a guide. Apart from that itis not allowed by the National Park, the landscape is indeed confusingand can lead to dangerous places. On the other hand, even if you havea guide you might need the maps that are included further in thischapter, so you can orientate yourself and tell the guide what you wantto see. Often guides pass the hidden little gems without telling aboutthem, so you have to be aware what’s there to see and where. If youwant to visit the basins the best is probably to organise a trek inadvance in town and start from Wadi Arbain, as described next.15
Page 3 and 4: Table of contentsPrefaceThe Sinai t
Page 7 and 8: Organising your trekIn the Sinai, a
Page 9 and 10: • Basic accommodation in garden:
Page 11 and 12: Further informationTrekking resourc
Page 13: Famous for the Monastery of St. Kat
Page 17 and 18: The TrekEl Rasis area, St. Katherin
Page 19 and 20: The path from Wadi Farah becomes st
Page 21 and 22: around the top end of the garden. T
Page 23 and 24: The path from Farsh Loza connects t
Page 25 and 26: Trek in imagesThe Rock of Moses (Ha
Page 27 and 28: Between St. Katherine, Dahab and Nu
Page 29 and 30: Ein Khudra oasis and the White Cany
Page 31 and 32: The TrekCafeteria Joma Rock of Ins
Page 33 and 34: To the south-east of the gardens of
Page 35 and 36: After a short walk the paths starts
Page 37 and 38: Bedouin-Arabic phrasebookNote that
Page 39 and 40: RelationsTribe gabiilaقبيله Fa
Page 41 and 42: Hot بارد sokhnساخن Coldbard
Page 43 and 44: Fine sandburqa' برقه Sand dune
Page 45 and 46: Rest and eatingShadow dalظل Rock
Page 47 and 48: Mosquito namuusa, ba’uudaنامو
Page 49: Trekking in South Sinai: the highli

Mt. Sinai (Jebel Musa) and the Safsafa basins - Discover Sinai

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