High Mountains
The High Mountain Region, home to the Jabaleya Bedouin, is located around the town of St. Katherine. The town itself lies at around 1600 meters from sea level, and many of the mountains around it are above 2000 meters, with Mt. Katherine the tallest at 2642 meters. The most famous attractions are the Monastery of St. Katherine and Mt. Sinai due to their religious and historical significance, but the larger area, little known for most Westerners, is a unique trekkers' paradise.Because of its elevation the area receives more precipitation than the rest of the Sinai peninsula and, despite the drought, is still relatively wet - it is a desert ecosystem, but there are hundreds of Bedouin orchards and a couple of permanent natural waterpools in which you can swim.
The area is mostly granite with the characteristic smooth red domes and hidden basins, although about 20% is newer volcanic rock, black-colored and covered with broken, loose gravel. The two rock types often combine, with half a mountain belonging to one and the other to the other rock type.There are many dykes, dark stripes of volcanic rock intrusions, cutting through the red granite. The whole region stands above the rest of the peninsula, and from its perimeter you can see down to the plains or smaller ranges surrounding it.The climate is cooler than the rest of Egypt's, making possible a unique flora and a wide variety of domesticated fruit species. In winter there might be snow and the temperatures can drop far below zero at higher elevations, although the days are usually still pleasantly warm. The area is full of attractions, all very different in nature, and interesting treks are possible.
To see a good variety of landscapes and places of interest, a minimum of 5 days is recommended, although even 2 days can give a good glimpse. To cover most of the area would take up to two weeks. The Jabaleya have a tribal monopoly over treks in the region and everybody, individuals or operators, must organize treks through Sheikh Mousa's office. Guides are allocated according a rotating system providing work for the whole community - they are generally good and will lead you the way, make tea and food, but communication is often limited.If you want a guide of your choice you still have to pay a guide whose turn it is, which makes treks more expensive for individuals or small groups. Either way, treks to the high mountains are highly recommended as it is indeed a very unique area.
Wadi el Deir – The Monastery of St. Katherine
Wadi el Deir, apart from the Monastery of St. Katherine, is home to other sights, including the Chapel of Aaron, the Golden Calf, the Maqafa garden and Gebel Muneiga.
Gebel Musa (Mt. Sinai)
Although Mt. Sinai is one of the main attractions in St. Katherine, most visitors do not realize how much more even this single mountain has to offer.
Wadi el Arbain
Wadi el Arbain provides an alternative to head for Gebel Musa (Mt. Sinai) from the town of St. Katherine, and is also on the route to Gebel Katharina.
Gebel Katharina
Gebel Katharina is the highest mountain in Egypt at 2642 meters, with a small Orthodox church on the summit. According to tradition this is the place where monks, after a dream, found the missing body of the martyred St. Katherina.
Abu Giffa (Abu Jeefa) – Wadi Tubug
Abu Giffa (Abu Jeefa) is one of the main gateways to the high mountains, with the steep and zigzag path starting in the town of St. Katherine at Ein Tufaha.
Wadi Quweiz – El Freish – Wadi Tilah (Wadi Itlah)
Another common way to the region is via Wadi Itlah, starting at St. Katherine town as Wadi Quweiz. It is a long and green valley, with many date palms, gardens and an Orthodox chapel, running towards distant lowlands. At the beginning there is the secluded basin of El Freish with an ancient garden.
Wadi Tilah (Wadi Talla) – Sid Daud
There are beautiful gardens and an ancient monastery in Wadi Talla, which connects higher and lower wadis via the adventurous Sid Daud gully.
Wadi Shagg – Wadi Mathar
Wadi Shagg is a short, narrow wadi branching off Wadi Tubug, but the name is often used for a larger area, including Wadi Mathar.
Wadi Zuweitin (Wadi Zawatin)
The name Wadi Zuweitin is used for a number of adjoining locations, and it is a major junction with many beautiful gardens under the smooth granite massif of Gebel Abu Mahshur.
Gebel Abbas Pasha
Located in the centre of the high mountains with stunning views all around, to the high mountains, the lowlands and to the town of St. Katherine with Gebel Musa (Mt. Sinai) towering above it.
Wadi Gibal
Wadi Gibal is the name frequently used by local Bedouins to include the whole High Mountain region.
Bab el Dunya – Gebel Bab – Ein Nagila
Bab el Dunya and Gebel Bab are two peaks of a longer range, on the perimeter of the high mountains.
Wadi Talla Kibira – Galt el Azraq
Wadi Talla Kibira is a long, steep and green valley, starting at Farsh Rummana and leading from the high mountains to lower wadis.
Wadi Abu Tuweita
Wadi Abu Tweita consists of a flat, sandy upper part, located above Wadi Tinya, with several Bedouin gardens, and a long, steep and narrow gully.
Wadi Tinya – Wadi Sagar – Gebel Naga
Wadi Tinya is a long wadi, wide at the beginning then getting narrower, which leads down from the pass below Abbas Pasha and ends before the pools of Kharazet el Shaq.
Wadi Shagg Tinya – Kharazet el Shagg
Wadi Shagg Tinya is a long and steep gully connecting high-mountain wadis to lower Wadi Itlah. The whole Wadi Tinya area, including part of Gebel Abbas Basha, drains through this single gully.
Wadi Ginab – Sheikh Ahmad – Wadi Madman (Wadi Madaman)
The final stretches of two long wadis coming from the high mountains meet at the tomb of Sheikh Ahmad and lead onto the hilly lowlands a little further down.
Wadi Raha – Naqb el Hawa – Sheikh Awad
This area represents the old pilgrims' route to St. Katherine's Monastery. The wide and sandy plain of Wadi Raha, starting in town, leads to the settlement of Sheikh Awad via the long and steep pass of Naqb el Hawa.
Wadi Gharba – Sida Nugra – Gebel Banat
Around the area of Sheikh Awad are several very interesting and beautiful points that can all easily be reached from Al Karm ecolodge. Wadi Gharba leads to Sida Nugra, where a high waterfall can flow after rainfall.
Farsh Faria (Wadi Freah) – Bustan el Birka – Wadi Abu Zaituna
Bustan el Birka, forming one area with Farsh Faria (Wadi Freah) and Wadi Abu Zaituna, is a large open basin surrounded by distant ranges.
Wadi Isbaiya – Wadi Sdud
On the opposite side of Mt Sinai to the town of St Katherine lies Wadi Isbayiya, a long wadi running from the main road, with unique views of Gebel Musa (Mt. Sinai).
