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

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Ein Khudra and the White Canyon from the main roadWhile most people visit it by 4x4, and you are made believe there is noother way, in fact it is very straight forward to get to the oasis on footfrom the main St. Katherine road. It is an easy 40-50-minute walk fromCafeteria Joma via the Ein Khudra pass (El Gaby Shee). The area isalso known as Sharafat Ein Khudra or Hajar Maktub. In the past youcould get a guide and camels from the cafeteria, but these days it oftenstands empty. If that’s the case, you are not taking too much risk bytrying to get to the oasis alone: you have to spot the pass to the northeast,the little gap in the small range across the plain, and head for it.There are actually car tracks in the sand from the cafeteria leading tothe pass, and once you’re at the pass it all becomes clear: suddenly theview of the basin with the green oasis opens up in front of you. Alongthe 20-25-minute walk you pass a rock outcrop encircled by a smallstone wall. This is the Rock of Inscriptions (Hajar Maktub) with ancientcarvings and ugly modern graffiti. From the pass descend to the basinand walk another 20 minutes or so to reach the oasis. To get to theWhite Canyon, or other attractions, you need to have a guide which youcan organise in the oasis. You can enter any of the gardens – first youwill be sat in an arisha and offered tea. The welcome tea is free, but ifyou need water, soft drinks or food, you will have to pay for it. If youhaven’t bought anything, do offer something for the tea. Once youdiscussed what you want, feel free to explore the gardens and basin abit. There are a lot of date palms in the gardens, water tanks (suitablefor a splash!) and simple facilities. In the basin there is a spring in acave, and another one dripping from a crack to a fountain, with theoverflowing water supporting a green trail of vegetation. There is also alook-out point over the oasis, but don’t try to reach it alone. And, whenyou’re ready, continue your trek into the White Canyon.30
The TrekCafeteria Joma Rock of Inscriptions (Hajar Maktub) EinKhudra pass Ein Khudra White Canyon Cafeteria Joma1. Cafeteria Joma (28º52’25” 34º24’28” elev. 775m); 2. Rock of Inscriptions(28º52’46” 34º24’40” elev. 776m dist. 0.7km); 3. Ein Khudra pass (28º53’01”34º24’52” elev. 795m dist. 0.6km); 4. Cave (28º53’43” 34º25’17” elev. 690mdist. 1.6km); 5. Fountain (28º53’52” 34º25’22” elev. 685m dist. 0.3km); 6. Gap;7. Mouth of White Canyon (28º53’41” 34º25’23” elev. 695m dist. 0.4km);8. Path up (28º53’26” 34º25’31” elev. 710m dist. 0.6km); 9. Path down(28º53’16” 34º25’34” elev. 730m dist. 0.4km); 10. Ladder; 11. Shelter(28º52’45” 34º25’47” elev. 780m dist. 1.2km); 1. Cafeteria Joma (dist. 2.4km).31
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 and 28: Between St. Katherine, Dahab and Nu
Page 29: Ein Khudra oasis and the White Cany
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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