 |
Red Sea / Sinai |
|
|
|
|
|
Red Sea / Sinai
How many places can be navigated using a Bible as a guidebook? The Sinai Peninsula is just that kind of ancient place. In addition to Biblical sights like Mount Sinai and the possible location of Moses’ burning bush, the Peninsula offers luxury Red Sea resorts, rugged beauty, and what some consider the best diving in the world.
Activities and Attractions:
Biblical scholars consider Mount Sinai to be the place where Moses received the 10 Commandments. That, of course, is a matter of faith. What every visitor to the area can agree upon, though, is that the steep climb to the 7,500-foot summit is a beautiful, sometimes spiritual experience. Join the throngs hiking in the cool of the night in order to take in the sunrise from the top. You can rent a camel if you’re not up to the walk.
The Monastery of Saint Catherine, build in the sixth century, is another major attraction. There is a shrub here that the faithful claim is the very one Moses saw burning in the desert. Even skeptics make the trip to explore the grounds of one of the oldest functional monasteries in the world.
The Sinai Peninsula is separated from Saudi Arabia by the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba. The waters here shelter dazzling coral gardens and shipwrecks both ancient and modern. The reefs at the National Park at Ras Mohammed are among the most colorful in the world.
Insider Tip:
If you plan to cross into the Sinai Peninsula from Israel, and your stay in Egypt will be limited to inland Sinai sights such as St. Catherine’s and Mount Sinai, you won’t need a full Egyptian visa. A Sinai-only permit available at the border will suffice. However, if your trip includes Ras Mohammed National Park, or any part of mainland Egypt, you will need to get a regular visa before you leave home.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
|
|
|
|
|
|