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| SINAI SITES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER |
Ain Khurda and
the Nawamis
Along the asphalt road, which goes from Sharm el-Sheikh to Saint
Katherine via Dahab, you can visit archaeological and naturalistic
sites of great interest. There is a good panoramic point, by a
crossing, from which you can enjoy the view of the huge Wadi Ghazala
or "Valley of the Gazelles". After eight kilometers, on the right, a
short but very sandy track-a cross-country vehicle is necessary –leads
to an isolated outcrop of sandstones, known as the Rocks of
inscriptions. Their name derives from the presence of numerous
graffiti dating back to the Byzantine, Medieval and Nabatean ages.
After a few hundred meters you will arrive at the so-called Observation
point, a panoramic point overlooking the small oasis of Ain
Khurda. You can get there on foot via the narrow path going down to
Wadi Khurda or by driving a cross-country vehicle along the difficult
track in the Wadi Ghazala. Despite its tiny size, Ain Khurda is one of
the most beautiful oases in Sinai, with its green palm trees surrounded
by sand of an intense yellow, its springs and the dwellings of the
Bedouin tribesmen who live there it is also a place of great historical
interest, since it was along the itinerary followed in the Byzantine
age by pilgrims on their way from Eilat (the ancient Aila) to Saint
Katherine and to the Wadi Feiran. A very interesting archaeological
site is located a few Kilometers from the Observation point, in that
part of the desert going in the opposite direction to the asphalt road/
there you can see one of the most beautiful concentrations of Nawamis
(this term means "files" in Arabic ) in Sinai. These small, circular,
dry-stone buildings with west-facing entrances were employed as
burial-grounds between the Chalcolithic and the Bronze Age in the
fourth millennium B.C.
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Blue Desert and
the Wadi Feiran
 About ten
kilometers from the Monastery of St. Katherine is a unique
place in Sinai the remarkable Blue Desert or Blue Valley. You
can reach it by car (a 4WD is not necessary) along the track, which
starts near the tomb of Sheikh Nabi Sala (a Muslim saint whose true
identity is not entirely clear), near the crossing between the road
leading to the monastery and that which takes to the Wadi Feiran.
The Blue Desert owes its name to the numerous rocks scattered across an
area of nearly 15 square kilometers- that the Belgian artist Jean Vera
me painted blue in 1980. This was dome to commemorate the end of the
conflict between Egypt and Israel. A good 10 tons of paint were needed
to complete the work. The asphalt road that goes down into the Wadi
Feiran leads to the largest and most magnificent Wadi ("valley") in the
Sinai Peninsula. After a long stretch it opens out onto the coast of
the Gulf of Suez. This was the ancient route covered by pilgrims on
their way to Saint Katherine and which, according to tradition, had
been covered by Mousa himself. In the Wadi Feiran you can see the
largest palm grove in the Sinai Peninsula. Besides, you can also visit
a small nunnery and an archaeological site that is situated nearby.
Excavations have revealed the ruins of several churches, which date
back to the IV-VII centuries AD, and that demonstrate the importance of
this place in ancient times.
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Colored
Canyon
About twelve Kilometers north of Nuweiba, going
back up the Wadi Watir (one of the most beautiful
wadi of the peninsula, connecting Nuweiba
with Nakhl and near the small oasis
of Ain fruitage, is the beginning of the track
leading to one of the geological wonders of Sinai:
the Colored Canyon with its very narrow walls
– which, in some points, are 40 meters high
and a little more than a meter wide-are made of
sandstone possessing an incredible range of hues;
dark brown, red and straw yellow. This is due
to the presence of manganese and iron oxides.
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Dahab
The coral peninsula of Dahab – a Bedouin word meaning "gold" with
reference to the yellow color of its rock and the sand of its
magnificent beaches – lies between Qura Bay to the south and the
smaller Ghazala Bay to the north. Here you can find the most
picturesque Bedouin Village in Sinai, Assalah, surrounded by
very tall palm trees, the numerous Bedouins of this area gather here
together with the ever-increasing number of tourists (usually young
ones) in search of adventure in an informal and exotic environment. The
local handicrafts are of some interest. The mountains rising
immediately to the north of Dahab enable visitors to make interesting
excursions (for example to Wadi Qnai and Wadi Connection
in cross-country vehicles. Divers can extensive coral reefs. All the
diving sites can be reached by land, although it is possible to hire
boats at the various local Diving Centers. Among the most interesting
sites are Canyon and Blue Hole; the latter should be
explored only by experienced divers.
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El-Arish and
northern Sinai
 El-Arish,
situated on the Mediterranean coast of the Sinai peninsula,
is the chief town of northern Sinai and Has a population of over 70,000
inhabitants, it is a famous tourist resort by a palm grove extending
for several kilometers. The town, which represented the farthest
Egyptian outpost during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, was fortified
during the Middle Ages and subsequently in the Ottoman era. Of its
ancient buildings only a few traces have now remained. They are located
near the area where, on Thursdays, the great Bedouin market that
gathers all the nomads of the region is held. El-Arish is now
considered as the most important center for Bedouin handicrafts in
Sinai; its Sinai Heritage Museum is the sole museum in the
peninsula that is dedicated to Bedouins and their culture. About thirty
kilometers west of El-Arish is the Protected Area of Zaranik.
Migratory birds stop here and in the nearby Bardawil Lake; many other
species of birds build their nests in these areas. Further west are the
imposing ruins of the ancient Roman town of Pelusium, known today as Tal
el-Farama or Farma. These ruins extend over a very wide area which
has been excavated and studied in a systematic way only for a few
years. Pelusium, whose name derives from the Greek term Pelusion
meaning "marsh", was an important town already in the Pharaonic period.
In the 7th century B.C it was considered as the "door of Egypt", since
it controlled the important caravan route that connected the Nile delta
with Palestine and Syria, According to tradition, the Holy Family
stopped in Palestine while escaping from Palestine. The town was an
important cultural and commercial center also in the Christian period,
when it became a diocesan canter.
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Mangrove Forest of Nabq
 The zone of Nabq, a few
kilometers north of the international Airport
of Ras Nasrani, is a veritable extension
of the Ras Mohammed Park, together with the island
of Tiran and the area of Ras Abu Galum, between
Dahab and Nuweiba. These three protected areas
are all of great biological and naturalistic interest.
The region of Nabq, which comprises an area of
600 square kilometers, was declared a protected
area in 1992. The delicate natural balance of
this coastal strip justifies the tough environmental
policy carried out by the Park authorities. These
places of great beauty offer an alternative to
the empty silence of the neighboring desert. Different
types of birds can be observed here, ranging from
while and gray herons to ospreys and storks. At
Nabq there is the largest mangrove forest in Sinai
and the most northern one of the whole Red Sea
– Indian Ocean region. The mangrove trees,
which belong to the vicena marina species, have
a peculiarity: they filter seawater through their
roots, discharging salt crystals via their leaves.
Nabq can be reached with any type of vehicle by
following the track that starts after the airport
of Ras Nasrani. Do not leave this track,
as a part of it is surrounded by unmarked mine
camps.
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Moses’ Mountain
One of the classic excursions in St. Katherine’s region is the ascent
of Gabal Mousa (Moses' Mountain), sometimes inappropriately
called "mount Sinai" as a result of a medieval custom. To go up the
holy mountain you must take the path that starts from the monastery and
follows the Wadi el-Deir for a little way before climbing the
mountainside. It is advisable to be equipped with mountain boots, an
anorak (even in summer) as well as a torch. So as to be able to enjoy
the incomparable sight of dawn breaking from the summit. On the peak of
the mountain you can see a chapel (the "holy Trinity Chapel") built in
1934 on the remains of a little church dating back to the fifth
century. There are also a small mosque and a cave where, according to
legend, Moses spent 40 days. To go back to the monastery you must
follow a different route, known as Sikket Saydna Mousa, or the
"path of our lord Moses". This ancient route, which was usually covered
by monks, is shorter but steeper than the other one and includes 3,700
steps cut into the mountain. This path is of great interest as it
crosses the beautiful Amphitheatre of the Seventy Wise Men of Israel.
According to tradition, in this clearing surrounded by cypresses the
old men of the tribes of Israel had to stop to wait for Moses to come
down the mountain. Here there is also a small hermitage dedicated to
Saint Stephen.
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Nuweiba
The small town of Nuweiba, with its large commercial port, is known as
"the pearl of the Gulf of Aqaba" for the beauty of its golden sand
beaches surrounded by large palm trees. A regular service of liners to
Aqaba in Jordan, and also – more recently – of hydrofoil boats, have
made Nuweiba the ideal starting point for trips to Petra, a large
desert caravan center and the legendary capital of the Nabatean Kingdom.
Nuweiba is made up of two parts: a southern one, known as Nuweiba
Muzeina as it is inhabited by the Bedouins of the Muzeina as its is
inhabited by the sultan El-Quri in the 16th century at the end of the
main track connecting the gulf of Aqaba with the monastery of St.
Katherine and the Gulf of Suez. It was erected to protect caravan
routes towards Mecca and Jerusalem in the last few years the number of
tourists coming to Nuweiba has increased considerably owing to a new
attraction. A huge, friendly dolphin has established its home in a bay
situated in the southern part of the town neat the end of the track
connecting Nuweiba to Ras Abu Galum. Local Bedouins have virtually
adopted it. When you visit Nuweiba you can therefore swim with a
dolphin and watch it at close quarters in its natural environment.
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Pharaoh's island
 Going from Nuweiba
towards Taba, at the extreme northern point of the
Gulf of Aqaba where the Israel-Egypt border is situated, and following
the coastal road, you come across a fascinating inlet, known as "Salah
ed-Din's". Its water has an incredible turquoise color. After a few
kilometers you reach the beautiful pharaoh island (Geziret el-Faraun in
Arabic), a site of great interest from an historical and naturalistic
point of view. A fortress was built on the island in the Byzantine
period. It was occupied by the Crusades in 1116 and enlarged at the
time of the Sultan Salah ed-Din better known as Saladin who seized it
in 1182. The fortress was restored by the Egyptian Antiquity
Organization and opened to the public in 1986. Pharaoh Island was once
known as Coral island owing to the particularly well-developed coral
reefs of its northeast coast. Here there is an underwater site
especially suitable for diving at a depth of 10-15 metros. It is
possible to see the coral formations of the southern coast simply by
snorkeling.
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Ras Abu Galum
 The protected
area of Ras Abu Galum, like that of Nabq, is included in
the program-enacted by the ministry of the Environment-to safeguard the
territory. Its importance for the natural environment of Sinai has been
acknowledged only recently Ras Abu Galum, whose area belongs to the Ras
Mohammed National Park, is far from the customary tourist routes. It is
a territory of wild beauty, inhabited by Bedouin people whose economy
is almost exclusively based on the fishing industry. Ras Abu Galum can
be reached by covering the track, which starts from the asphalt road
seven kilometers before Nuweiba and goes down towards the sea through
the Wadi Rasasa. Here there are some reservoirs and the Bedouin
village of Bir Zureir (an off-road vehicle is necessary). You
can then reach Nuweiba from Ras Abu Galum along the coastal track.
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Ras Mohammed
The peninsula of Ras Mohammed is located at the southern end of Sinai,
about 20 kilometers from Sharm El-Sheikh (8 miles by sea). It is an
unspoiled place of extraordinary beauty and great naturalistic
interest, which was, declared a National Park in 1983. There are
several different routes to follow inside the Park, which enable
visitors to discover all its beauties; each route is marked with
different colors. Those who wish to explore the fascinating seabed will
find many beautiful dive sites; among them are the very famous Shark
Reef and Yolanda Reef. In the second half of August tens of
thousands of storks (Ciconia Ciconia) and other migratory birds stop
off at Ras Mohammed during their long, annual journey from northern
Europe to southern Africa. The Park is open from dawn to sunset. The
entry ticket costs 5 USD per person; there is an extra charge of 5 USD
for cars. It is possible to camp in designated areas after informing
the ticket office or one of the Park offices. There is a cafeteria at
the Visitors Center, although it is not always open. To enter Ras
Mohammed you have to show your passport at the Egyptian checkpoint on
your way out of Sharm El-Sheikh.
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Serabit el –
Khadem
The temple of El-Khadem is one of the most fascinating and important
archaeological sites in Sinai. You can get there either by covering the
easy track beginning from Abu Zenima (4WD is not necessary) or
by going up the Wadi Mukkatab, whose name mean "Valley of the
inscriptions" owing to several Byzantine and Nabatean graffiti carved
on its walls. The Wadi Mukkatab starts in the 'southern part of the Wadi
Feiran; a cross-country vehicle is necessary.
The temple is at a height of 850 meters on a plateau, which ends with a
mighty rocky rampart. You can reach it by following the steep path that
goes up the mountainside. In this zone there are the large copper and
turquoise mines that were exploited intensively during the Pharaonic
age. They are concentrated in a circular area having a diameter of 1.2
kilometers, to the southwest of the temple. Some of their galleries,
well and tunnels with inscription mostly dating back to the Middle
Kingdom (2056-1750B.C) are still visible today. The temple was built
during the IX Dynasty (1955-1750 BC) by people –probably semi-nomadic
Semites – who worked in the nerdy mines. Originally, at the time of the
XII Dynasty, it consisted of a stone chapel dedicated to Hathor, "Lady
of Turquoise". Then other rooms were added; they were dedicated to the
God Sopdu, "Lord of Foreign Lands". New extension work was then
undertaken during the XVIII Dynasty (1550-1292 BC) when the long series
of rooms which gave the temple of Serabit el-Khadem its current
appearance were built. The last two rooms, the western-most ones, were
added during the Ramesside time. The last king mentioned in the temple
is in fact, a pharaoh of the XX Dynast (1295-1188B.C) (Ramses) VI.
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Sharm EL-Sheik
& Naama Bay
 The present town
of Sharm El-Sheikh (in Arabic means "Sheik's
Bay") was built in 1968 on a high coral spur that dominates tow large
and well sheltered bays which are veritable natural harbors: Sharm
El-Mays and Sharm El-Sheikh: Subsequently hotels and other tourist
facilities sprang up both around the beaches surrounding Sharm El-Maya
and some kilometers to the north, around a beautiful bay located where
a large Wadi joins the sea. This bay, named Marsa El-Art by the
Bedouins living there and known today as Naama Bay, soon become
a very important seaside resort. Situated at a distance of a few
kilometers from the international Airport of Ras Nasrani, NAAMA Bay is
now one of the most popular tourists resorts owing to its beauty,
climate and geographical position. In fact it is both the ideal
starting point for several trips to the mountains and the desert of
southern Sinai and – because of its several diving centers – the most
significant center for underwater sports in the whole region.
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St. Katherine
The Monastery of St. Katherine is located in the
heart of Sinai Peninsula at a height of 1,570
meters. It was built in the place where, according
to tradition, Mousa saw the bush on fire,
which did not burn up the foot of Gabal Mousa
(Moses’ Mountain), on whose summit the Prophet
received the tables of the law. The monastery
dates back to the age of the emperor Justinian
(VI century); the massive walls that still surround
the complex were erected in that period. It was
only at the beginning of the eleventh century
that the monastery was named after Saint Katherine,
a young Christian from Alexandria who died as
a martyr in the fourth century. According to legend,
her body was miraculously discovered on the peak
of a mountain near Gabal Mousa. From then on,
this mountain was known as Gabal Katherine; with
its 2,637 meters it is the highest mountain in
the Sinai Peninsula. Only a very small part of
the monastery is currently open to the public.
The areas that can be visited are the Basilica
in the Byzantine style, with three naves and the
famous "Mosaic of Transfiguration"; Moses'
Well, a spring where according to tradition,
the prophet met his future wife for the first
time the garden and the ossuary.
The library (second only to that of the
Vatican in worldwide importance), the icon
Gallery, the ancient refectory, the
treasure and the Chapel of the Burning
Bush are all virtually inaccessible. The monastery
is open from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. except on Fridays,
Sunday and feast day. The ten monks who live here
follow the Eastern Orthodox Church liturgy.
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Taba
The small town of TABA lies near the Israeli borders, which bounds the
Egyptian coasts of the Red Sea to the north. In ancient times caravans
following the Aqaba track stopped here owing to the presence of a
freshwater well. The toponym "Taba" appeared for the first time only at
the beginning of the twentieth century, and precisely in 1906, when the
English marked out the eastern border between Egypt and the Ottoman
Empire according to a line staring from Rafah, on the Mediterranean
coast, and arriving at Taba, on the Red Sea .In more recent times,
after Sinai was returned to Egypt in 1982. Israel continued exercising
control over Taba until 1989, when the border took on its present
position .The town is characterized by the structures of the hotel
Hilton Taba, which was built by the Israelis and subsequently sold to
Egypt. In recent times Taba has become a significant tourists resort,
owing to both the nearby international airport of Nakab and the
building of new hotels. Since 1998 Taba and its surrounding region have
been included in the protected areas of the Sinai Peninsula in order to
preserve their naturalistic beauties. Among them is the color valley,
rich in multicolored sandstone and now crossed by a large asphalt
scenic road going to wards El-Arish, a seaside resort of the
Mediterranean Sea. On the walls of one of Color Valley's side wadis are
important engravings dating back to the Nabatean and Roman periods.
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