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

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Located about the same distance from St. Katherine, Dahab andNuweiba, this region is a very stunning desert landscape with erodedsandstone ranges and rock outcrops, canyons and wadis, sand dunesand big sandy plains. It is very different from but just as diverse as theHigh Mountain Region – it’s another true trekker’s paradise, offeringmany shorter and longer treks. The area is also very good for camelsafaris as there are long stretches of sandy wadis and open plains. Onmany treks camels are needed even if you only want to walk, as wateris scarce and larger quantities have to be carried. Some sights arevisited regularly by 4x4 tours, but it is easy to avoid them in mostcases. Only the Muzeina tribe live in the region – they are the biggestBedouin tribe in South Sinai, their homeland stretching from southNuweiba to Sharm el Sheikh and almost to St. Katherine.The highlights of the region:Gunna Plateau, a flat range with vivid colours and great views;Arada Canyon;the ancient mystical Nawamis buildings;Jebel Matamir, a surrealistic sandstone mountain;Ein Khudra oasis and the White Canyon;Jebel Barqa and Jebel Makharum, surrealistic sandstonemountains;Haduda sand dune, the biggest in Sinai;Jebel Mileihis, a flat topped mountain with great views.The most convenient places to organise a trek to this region is Dahab,Nuweiba and St. Katherine, but you could get a guide and camels fromthe cafeterias and settlements along the St. Katherine road. RasGhazala, the Nawamis settlement and Wadi Arada would be the bestbet, but English might be limited. You could also get a guide in EinKhudra, if there wasn’t any at Cafeteria Joma and you found your wayto the oasis yourself. Sometimes camels are not freely available, asthey let out to roam the area and graze alone. While the shorter 1-daytreks can be organised on the spot easily, if you plan a multiple daytrek, it is better is to have a guide in advance who you can discuss theprogramme with before setting off.28
Ein Khudra oasis and the White CanyonEin Khudra is a beautiful, lush oasis hidden in a low-lying sandy basinnot far from the main road between St. Katherine and Nuweiba/Dahab.The basin is connected to a big open plateau above (where the road is)via a little pass or the White Canyon. Either way it is a fairly easy andbeautiful walk, and you can make a nice circuit, as described further.Ein Khudra is one of the sights where mainstream operators like tooffer 4x4 excursions, but it is still a relatively unspoiled and truly lovelyplace. Vehicles approach the oasis a different way, making a big detourvia Wadi Ghazala and Wadi Khudra. Further north the two wadis join,this is the route from/to Ein Furtaga and the Coloured Canyon. Thereare several gardens in the oasis, they all offer cheap accommodationwith simple but adequate facilities if you want to stay longer. It is a goodbase to organise treks to other sights in the region.Orientation: the St. Katherine road, 4x4 trails and foot pathsaround Ein Khudra and Ras Ghazala (Sheikh Hmeid)29
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 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: Between St. Katherine, Dahab and Nu
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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