Egypt
Sunrise on Mount Sinai, a night among the White Desert's chalk formations
Egypt
Far from the Nile and the crowds, a desert and spiritual side of Egypt. A night ascent of Mount Sinai for a summit sunrise, a visit to Saint Catherine's Monastery, one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world, then a flight to the Bahariya Oasis and a night camping in the heart of the White Desert, a lunar landscape of wind-carved chalk formations.
When
Oct to March
Price
From 3 100€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
6 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-2
The first chapter unfolds in the Sinai Peninsula, sacred ground for three monotheistic religions. The ascent of Mount Moses (2,285 metres) begins in the middle of the night to reach the summit before dawn, in the complete silence of the desert mountains. Saint Catherine's Monastery, founded in the 6th century at the mountain's foot, holds one of the oldest religious libraries in the world, second only to the Vatican's.
Day 1
Night ascent of Mount Sinai
A late-night departure to climb Mount Sinai on foot or by camel up to the final 750 steps. Sunrise at the summit, then a descent for a Bedouin breakfast at the mountain's base.
Day 2
Saint Catherine's Monastery
A morning of rest, then a visit to Saint Catherine's Monastery, built around the site traditionally identified as the burning bush. Its collection of Byzantine icons and its isolation make it a unique place, still home to a small community of Orthodox monks.
Days 1-2
A flight to the Bahariya Oasis, then a drive to the White Desert, where wind has carved immense chalk formations over millennia into shapes resembling giant mushrooms or frozen animals. A light camp is set up at sunset right among the formations, for a dinner cooked over an open fire and a night under the stars in one of Egypt's most singular landscapes.
Day 1
Flight to Bahariya and the Black Desert
A morning flight to the Bahariya Oasis. A 4x4 drive through the Black Desert, named for the dark volcanic rock scattered across the golden sand, before entering the White Desert late in the day.
Day 2
A night in the White Desert
A free day among the wind-carved chalk formations, including the famous "Mushroom" and "Chicken" rocks. Camp is set up at sunset, a Bedouin dinner is cooked on site, and the night unfolds under one of Egypt's clearest skies.
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