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

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Coming from Farsh Safsafa on the main path, after climbing a smallpass we will descend into Farsh Loza (9), named after the lonelyalmond tree with the twisted trunk that stands there near a little church.The main path carries on straight next to the church towards a higherpass, but to the north, hidden behind a small granite hill, is FarshA’rimziya, another basin worth to explore. A church stands there a bitabove the basin’s floor, as there is often some water in the basin. At theend of the basin there is a gully with a look-out point (10), from whereyou have a perfect birds-eye view of the Monastery of St. Katherine.When you return from the gully to the basin, make sure you don’t takethe wadi to the left – unless that’s your purpose. This way you wouldreach a big dam that cuts off another little basin – a fantastic view whenit is full – and the ruins of a Byzantine church above the Monastery. Ifthe reservoir behind the dam is empty you could cut across the basinand through the narrow gully get back to the main path. Otherwise goback as you came through Farsh A’rimziya. Either case, once you’re onthe paved path head for the high pass ahead, and you’ll get to Elijah’sBasin (Farsh Eliya).Although little dams were built to slow the flow of water (so it sinks inthe ground) and to channel it to gardens, the main purpose of the damson Mt. Sinai is to protect the Monastery which lies at the mouth ofgullies. Otherwise building big dams in the high mountains isunnecessary, a series of little dams, as in the past, is more effective.22
The path from Farsh Loza connects to the biggest basin of the range,Elijah’s Basin (Farsh Eliya) (11), located right below the peak of Mt.Sinai. The Stairs of Repentance from the Monastery also leads here,entering the basin through an arched stone gate. The path from FarshLoza and the Stairs of Repentance join at a massive dam, close to awalled court with tall cypress trees and a cafeteria. There are also afew Byzantine buildings in the basin and a couple of composting toilets,which are probably in a bit better state than the ones along the maintourist route further up. The basin is divided in the middle by a smallgranite hill, and from both sections you could get to the basin’s rim inthe south, offering great views on the Wadi Farah–Wadi Arbain junctionbelow and Mt. Katherina in the distance. There is a steep path fromhere to the junction, with some steps built by monks still remainingintact. The main path to Mt. Sinai, however, is to the east from thecypress trees and cafeteria, first leading to a cutting (12) in themountain a bit further up. A path branches off to the left through the23
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 and 14: Famous for the Monastery of St. Kat
Page 15 and 16: The Mt. Sinai - Safsafa range from
Page 17 and 18: The TrekEl Rasis area, St. Katherin
Page 19 and 20: The path from Wadi Farah becomes st
Page 21: around the top end of the garden. 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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