St. Catherine Monastery from Sharm el Sheikh Port

Description

Port pick up
As soon as your ship harbored at Sharm Marine, our representative will be standing in front of the exit door holding a sign of your name. Meet & greet your group and ascend the modern air-conditioned bus parking there to start your long journey through the sand of the vast desert of Sinai to St Catherine’s Monastery Tours from Sharm El Sheikh Marina. Refresh yourself by cold drinks served to you throughout your trip.

Through the desert
From city of Sharm we will drive about 142 miles (230 kilometers) to St. Catherine Monastery.

Enjoy the view of sun reflecting its rays on the yellow sands of the sunny desert. Look from your window and witness the mountains, oases, hills and plains on your way to the heart of the peninsula.

St. Catherine Monastery
“Egypt’s St Catherine’s Monastery proves Sharm-el-Sheikh is more than sand and glitz”. Built between 527 and 565 A.D, St. Catherine monastery (also called Monastery of Transfiguration) is the oldest working monastery in the history of Christianity worldwide.

Surrounded on all sides by a massive wall which is made of huge dressed granite blocks except for the upper sections, the entrance is now through a smaller, original, gate to the left of the main gate. Wander through Moses Well; the Burning Bush, where God is supposed to have spoken to Moses; Basilica of the Transfiguration, the 6^th century church; and Icon Gallery. Because of Mt. Sinai’s importance in three major world religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

Our offer for this excursion is the library of the monastery. You enter the holy library for free to watch unique icons.

The library at St. Catherine’s is the oldest in the Christian world and preserves the second largest collection of early codices and manuscripts in the world (outnumbered only by the Vatican Library).

Its collection includes more than 3000 manuscripts and more than 5000 early religious books. Take a tour inside!

Lunch time
As usual in any excursion of Egypt, an Egyptian lunch is inserted in the program to know more about the Egyptian culture and cuisine.

Try a traditional lunch at a local Bedouin restaurant. According to our guests’ opinion it is one of the most delicious food worldwide, isn’t it?

To Dahab
After your impressive tour in the holy peaceful area of Saint Catherine let’s head now to Dahab, the best and largest shopping spot in all south of Sinai.

Like Khan El- Khalil in Cairo, the colored crowded shops display all kinds of traditional goods and accessories. Walk around bazaars and have a look at the statuettes, carpets, papyrus, handmade workings, jewelry, custom clothes… etc.

Do watersports
Located on the Gulf of Aqaba, you have a golden chance to do watersports in the deep Gulf if it still remains time. Go snorkeling, swimming and even diving if you desire. Equipment is free for you.

Port drop off
If you finish your tour in Dahab you finish then your trip for this day. Ascend the bus to drive back to Sharm Marine. In front of the entrance door you will be dropped off. Let’s be informed when you board your ship to make sure everything is ok. Thanks also to attach your comments on that trip.