Egypt Attractions

Venue: Sinai    When: Daily

If it wasn't for the fantastically rich history surrounding the Sinai peninsular, few would brave a trek to this remote and arid mountain region in southern Egypt. But for Jews, Christians, Muslims (and geography fanatics) alike, it is an important place of pilgrimage.

Tourist and public buses have made the area more accessible although no less fascinating for that.

The region's name derives from its treasured mountain jewel, known variously as Mount Sinai, Mount Moses, Jebel Musa and Gebel Musa amongst others. Its role in the history of religion is large. And indeed, at 7497 feet high, it is a suitably lofty site for God to tell Moses a thing or two (notably the Ten Commandments), and further for Mohammed's horse Boraq to ascend to heaven.

The best way to experience the Mount is to get to the top. First off, you should offload heavy packs (either at St Catherine's monastery, or at the police station at the bottom) before you do anything. The journey skywards is not so easy - and there are two ways to do it. The shorter of the two paths upwards is (cunningly) the more exhausting one. Made up of 3000 randomly sized steps, it was cobbled together by a very guilty monk in a brave attempt to fulfill his pledge of penitence. The steps are hard work on the legs and can be dangerous at night if not properly lit. Climbing downwards can be just as exhausting too.

The other path on offer is the slightly longer camel path (and sometime donkey path) which can take you, with four-legged help, almost to the top (but for a price that is as steep as the ascent). The last stretch is for human legs alone. It's cheapest in the midday sun, but you have to be as mad as a dog or an Englishman to brave it.

To find either of these paths, head behind the monastery and follow the path, until a graphic sign shows you which way to take. There are always plenty of people on the trail if you ever get confused. The best time to start the trail is in the late afternoon, with the aim of reaching the top for sunset. After the sun goes down, it's then time to lie on your back (with warm cover) and marvel at the huge night sky. Before you know it, it's time to welcome the sun during an unforgettable sunrise over the mountains of Africa, Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. But be warned, don't spend too long looking at your feet - the debris of countless tourists is not as attractive as mother earth.

On the way down, take advantage of the daylight to check out Elijah's Hollow - a plain near ground level housing a 500 year old cypress tree. It is here that Elijah apparently heard God talk to him, and two chapels mark the spot. At the bottom, where you may have left your bags, you must venture inside St Catherine's Monastery. Believed to be the oldest unrestored example of Byzantine architecture in the world, it also houses the relic of the Burning Bush.

Mount Sinai offers something for everyone. Even if you aren't spiritual, be warned that nature's stunning backdrop is bound to make you slip into a contemplative mode at the very least.