Add dates

Dahab Culture & history

Our most recommended Dahab Culture & history

From Sharm: Mount Moses Trekking, Sunrise & Monastery Visit

1. From Sharm: Mount Moses Trekking, Sunrise & Monastery Visit

You will be picked up from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh city between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Then you will travel in an air-conditioned vehicle for around 4 hours to reach the Moses Mountain.  When you arrive at Mount Sinai you will start your trekking tour to the sacred place where the Prophet Moses received the 10 commandments. Reach 2,285 meters by climbing up 750 steps, strolling through the night (approx 2-3 hours depending on the customers). Depending on the performance of the group, you may arrive at the summit earlier than expected. This will give you a chance to really relax and marvel at the rising sun slowly scattering across the mountains in all its splendor.  While gazing at the sunrise, snap awesome photos or pray if you wish to, then begin the descent back down. Remember, it will take around 2 hours to reach the bottom. Enjoy some time to rest after the long trail and then have breakfast.  Next, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Catherine's Monastery. Browse through the old manuscripts displayed in the library and icons excavated from the Vatican.  It is the oldest functioning Christian monastery in the world situated on the Sinai Peninsula along with the Monastery of Saint Anthony which is located across the Red Sea in the desert of South Cairo. After you've finished touring the monastery, you can relax on the drive back to your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.

From Dahab: St. Catherine's Monastery and Mt. Sinai Tour

2. From Dahab: St. Catherine's Monastery and Mt. Sinai Tour

Visit Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery, the oldest Christian monastery in the world, on a tour with roundtrip transportation from Dahab. Watch the sunrise from the summit after an early-morning hike and then uncover the ancient history of St. Catherine's monastery. Start your trip from your hotel in Dahab and begin your journey to St. Catherine's National Park. Climb to the top of Mt. Sinai with a Bedouin guide to watch the sunrise. Explore St. Catherine's Monastery at your own pace and discover its ancient architecture. Relax on the way back to your hotel in Dahab at the end of your tour.

From Sharm el-Sheikh: Saint Catherine and Dahab Guided Trip

3. From Sharm el-Sheikh: Saint Catherine and Dahab Guided Trip

Earrly morning pick up you from the hotel in Sharm El Sheikh to Saint Catherine, start trip to this truly a beautiful place with your guide, this place has been significance to many faiths including Christianity, Islam and Judaism. At the site you can see the oldest working Christian Monastery that is still home to the same order of monks who constructed it in the 4th Century. You will also see the burning bush, a mosque and a really weird room that contains the bones and skulls of all the monks that have ever lived there! There is also a piece of St Catherine’s finger bone on display. Furthermore will go to Dahab, for lunch here, Dahab is the biggest shopping area in South Sinai, where you will get the chance to browse for local Egyptian handicrafts, carpets, jewelry, perfumes, papyrus and other souvenirs. At the end of the tour will transfer you back to the start point your hotel.

From Dahab: Day Trip to Petra by Ferry with Hotel Transfers

4. From Dahab: Day Trip to Petra by Ferry with Hotel Transfers

Explore Petra on a guided tour of the archaeological city, take in the views from the hill of Al-Habis in Wadi Musa, and have free time to shop and explore in seaside town of Aqaba. Savor a local lunch at a restaurant which includes a soft drink.  Be picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in Dahab. Relax on the air-conditioned drive in a spacious bus on the 1.5-hour drive to the port in Taba. Hop aboard a ferry and relax on the cruise to Aqaba. Travel by bus for about 2-hours to Petra.  Follow your guide on a 2-3-hour walking tour of the archeological site. Enter Petra on foot, though the Siq, a narrow, winding gorge that is over 1 kilometer in length. Visit the Great Treasury (Al-Khazneh Farun), the Roman Theatre, the Royal Tombs (the Rainbow Tomb is a must for photographers). Admire hundreds of monuments, tricliniums (formal Roman dining room), and obelisks, which are all carved from the multi-shaded, rose-red sandstone. A walk through the colonnade of Roman Byzantine Petra brings you to the city center.  Continue to the hill of Al-Habis in Wadi Musa which is crowned with a crusader-era fort). Take in breathtaking panoramic views of deep gullies and uniquely colored rock formations. Rest with a buffet lunch where you can try local specialties paired with a soft drink.  Drive back to Aqaba where you will have an hour of free time for shopping before boarding the ferry back to Taba and transferring back to your hotel in Dahab late at night. 

From Sharm-El-Sheikh: Day Trip to St. Catherine and Dahab

5. From Sharm-El-Sheikh: Day Trip to St. Catherine and Dahab

Immerse yourself in history at the ancient St. Catherine's monastery in Mount Sinai on this day trip from Sharm-El-Sheikh. Discover the beauty of the seaside town of Dahab which beckons travelers with is chill vibe and stunning shoreline.  Enjoy the convenience of being picked up directly from your accommodation. Sit back and relax as you are driven to the St. Catherine monetary which is nestled in the base of Mount Sinai. Stop for a guided tour of this site which houses the oldest known working library in the world. Learn about the treasures and ancient manuscripts which rival the collections at the Vatican that are locked away here. Explore this Greek Orthodox monastery that was built by Empress Helena on what was thought to be the site of the biblical burning bush.  Head to the laid back city of Dahab for a tour of the city highlights. Snap some pictures of the Red Sea coast and get some souvenir shopping done before returning to your accommodations in Sharm El Sheikh.

Frequently asked questions about Dahab

What top attractions are a must-see in Dahab?

The must-see attractions in Dahab are:

What are the best indoor activities in Dahab for rainy days?

What are the best inexpensive tours in Dahab?

What are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in Dahab?

Other Sightseeing Options in Dahab

Want to discover all there is to do in Dahab? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Dahab

Overall rating

5.0 / 5

based on 3 reviews

I did this at 24 weeks pregnant, which is why I chose to ride up on a camel, which cost me $20 USD each way. Turns out I probably way overpaid, as I found out another woman only paid $20 total. Our tour guide told us a fair price was $20-25, and I didn't ask if that meant one way or total - so that is my bad. Riding a camel for that long is incredibly uncomfortable, but I don't think I would have been able to do the hike otherwise being pregnant. The camel will take you up to the top, but then you need to hike the final 750 steps by yourself- what a workout but WOW, the view is amazing! There are about 6 stops on the way up the mountain to buy drinks or snacks. I bought a hot chocolate and ramen noodles at one of the stops. There are also bathrooms along the way - think very primitive latrine, disgustingly dirty, and with no toilet paper or sanitizer or soap. I would definitely advise bringing your own toilet paper and sanitizer- otherwise you will be twerking the pee off like I was.

Overall great experience. The view from top of Mount Sinai at sunrise is really worth it! What to consider before you go: in November, nights are pretty cold, so lots of layers + gloves (optional, but quite useful). Once the sun comes out, on the descend, it will start to get warm and pleasant. There is a looot of idle time, stops at coffee shops (local shops with tea, coffee, snacks), waiting for the right time to do the final climb to catch the sunrise. Do prepare to get up there a bit early to catch a good spot, as it gets crowded. At the last coffee shop you can actually rent a blanket :) The trip: not the highlight, although the road is pretty straight, you'll feel like sleeping all the time anyway (on the way there as it's during night time; on the way back as you'll be tired after trekking). The guide: explains exactly what to expect from the trip, makes sure everyone is ok. There are 2 guides: one for the road trip and Monastery and a second guide for the trekking part.

Most exhilarating. An experience of a lifetime Very exciting to do a hike starting just after midnight and being up on top of Sinai mountain for a magnificent sunrise. What an experience .The tour was well organised .This activity is highly recommended .Just a warning :in winter make sure you have warm clothing ,beeny hat and warm gloves .It is very cold on a snow covered mountain

Great tour guide and driver. Most incredible sunrise I've ever seen and the manuscripts in the monastery museum are priceless.

Everything went smoothly and was well organised, highly recommend trip the views were beautiful!