Climbing Mount Sinai is the main objective for most visitors.
A local guide is required despite the fact the trails are well signposted once you get onto them starting price at the entrance 85egp, feb 2011 but bargain it.
There are two routes to choose from, entrances to which are rather poorly signposted, so choose carefully especially if climbing at night. Both paths lead to natural amphitheater known as Elijah's Hollow or the Seven Elders of Israel, where you'll find a teahouse for a break. From there, it's a final 750 steps 30 minutes to reach the summit.
Camel Path
siket el bashait. a gentler, winding, wide path that snakes its way up to the summit that can be completed by the average traveler in 2.5 hours. as you can guess from the name, you can also climb up this way on the back of camel, and the "sawdust" that appears to coat much of the length of the path is in fact dried camel byproducts from the many trips before you. be warned that the camel will bite you if it doesn't like you, so be nice, and a 3-hour ride up a mountain — going on foot is actually faster for most people — may not be the easiest introduction to the notoriously swaying gait of these camels. you'll also have to dismount about a kilometer before you reach the top and cover the last 700 steps on foot. take care at the top also, as the surface is uneven.
Steps of Penitence
This aptly named steep path has been quite literally carved out of the rock by monks, and with 3750 steps to climb is the shorter but more challenging of the two. no mountain-climbing equipment required though, just strong thighs, and the views back down into the valley are superb even in the middle of the night. if the sky is clear the stars above can also be a spellbinding sight, as there are no major cities for miles and miles around. the route can be climbed in as little as 45 minutes, or as long as three hours, depending on your pace.
At the top you will find a small chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity, constructed in 1934 on the ruins of an older 16th-century church. Better yet, if you timed your ascent right, you can see the sunrise over the parched, rocky expanse of the Sinai.
Note that it will be much cooler at the summit than on the coast, and in the winter at night subzero temperatures and even snow are not unknown. Dress warmly in layers, a flashlight is also a must. Blankets and mattresses can be rented at the top for circa 10 Egyptian pounds per piece, however, their state of cleanliness may be objectionable.
The intense silence of the mountain as well as its spiritual history makes it a popular spot for yoga and meditation groups. The local 'Gebeliya' Bedouin also run silent retreats for visitors, as well as trekking trips (http://www.sheikmousa.com/) or (http://www.zytuna-tours-s...) also offering individual trips in cooperation with Sheik Mousa, German website.