Mount Sinai Sunrise Trek: What to Expect and How to Prepare

A glimpse of Mount Sinai’s golden history

This is one of the most important and significant locations within the larger grand story of redemption. Surely then, we can assume that archaeologists and experts have some relative agreement as to where this all took place.

The traditional location for Mount Sinai is south of Israel, deep in the Egyptian peninsula, today also called Sinai. But only a small minority of scholars today actually believe that is the correct location. Yet this is the mountain that Christendom has claimed is the real Mount Sinai for the past sixteen hundred years.

Tradition and Early Pilgrimages

After Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in AD 312, his mother Helena also converted to the faith. In 326, at nearly eighty years of age, she traveled to the Holy Land to identify various relics and locations associated with biblical history. During her trip, she commissioned two churches to be built.

There is also a tradition that at some point during her journey, Helena traveled to Sinai and commissioned a small church to be built to protect the monks living there, as well as a tower on the spot where the monks believed the burning bush was located.

The earliest record of this tradition is recorded in the Annals of Eutychius in the tenth century, six hundred years after the events are alleged to have happened. Several hundred years later, in the seventeenth century, the tradition is repeated in the writings of Bishop Nectarius, who wrote the traditional history of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, which sits on the mountain called the Epitome of Holy History.

Early Records and Pilgrims

The earliest record we have of anyone visiting this particular mountain with the view that it was Mount Sinai comes from Theodoret of Cyrrhus, who in AD 444 wrote about the journeys of two monks who had traveled to Mount Sinai several decades previously.

The first was Julian Saba, who is said to have built a small chapel on the mountain’s peak in AD 367. Today, a small Orthodox chapel stands on the peak that was built in 1934 on the ruins of a sixteenth-century chapel. Roughly a decade after Saba’s visit, Symeon the Elder also traveled there.

Mount Sinai Sunrise Trek

The Mount Sinai sunrise trek provides visitors a chance to explore the holy mountain’s vivid history. It offers you to explore its and beauty in a modern style with all sorts of vivid experiences. The Mount Sinai sunrise trek is generally done in the early morning hours. The intent of this practice is to reach the summit just in time to watch the sun rise.

The view of sun rising over the rugged landscape adds to the scenic beauty of Sinai. To witness the very first rays of sunlight illuminate the desert is a breathtaking experience for the trekkers. This holy site helps in connecting trekkers to centuries of spiritual devotion and timeless tradition of pilgrimage to this holy site.

All travelers should wear layered clothing to keep insulated from the cold while preparing for Mount Sinai sunrise trek. It is imperative that the travelers carry water and snacks, and consider hiring a local Bedouin guide for ensuring their own safety and insight.

The main route that is followed by the travelers to the summit is the Steps of Repentance which is a steep stairway. The longer and the gentler route leading to the summit is the Camel Path. Many climbers ascend via the Steps of Repentance and descend along the Camel Path to enjoy dynamic and varied views of this pilgrimage site.

At the summit, the panoramic desert views, combined with the knowledge of the mountain’s rich history, make the trek an unforgettable experience for all the pilgrims. Pilgrims and trekkers alike pause to reflect, take photographs, and soak in the sunrise of this beautiful landscape. For those willing to rise before dawn, the Mount Sinai sunrise trek is a deeply moving and memorable experience to cherish for the entire life.

Conclusion

Consider walking up-hill for 4 hours approx, there are also small huts selling snacks and coffees on the path to the top of mount Sinai, but it’s pricier if you buy it there Hiking shoes or shoes you feel comfortable walking long distances: In the beginning, you will walk a stone path, but later it will be just a dirt road to reach the mountain’s peak.

Consider bringing Warm Jacket- Ideally one which can protect you from cold wind. The air can get freezing at the peak, so if you are sensitive to the cold air, a scarf could save you. You’ll need to pay for everything in cash, cards are not accepted. Worst case, you need to go to the nearby town St. Catherine as there is one ATM before hiking up on Mount Sinai, but we strongly recommend you to bring some cash for supplies with you.