Mount Catherine (Arabic: Gabal Katrîne or Jebel Katrin), also known as Mount Saint Catherine, is the highest mountain in Egypt. Located in the rugged high-mountain region of the South Sinai Peninsula, it stands at an elevation of 2,642 meters (8,668 feet) above sea level.
While its neighbor, Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa), draws massive tourist crowds due to its direct association with the biblical story of Moses, Mount Catherine offers a quieter, more physically demanding experience with panoramic views of the entire peninsula.
Hiking & Logistics:
The Route: The most common ascent begins near the town of Saint Catherine, moving through Wadi El-Arbaein (Valley of the Forty Martyrs). The hike passes the active Monastery of the Forty Martyrs before beginning a steep, switchback climb up the rocky terrain
Duration & Difficulty: It is a challenging, strenuous 8 to 9-hour round trip (roughly a 4-hour continuous ascent to the peak). Unlike the gentle camel paths of Mount Sinai, this trail is more rugged, exposed, and physically taxing.
Regulations: Due to the complexity of the desert trails and local regulations within the St. Katherine National Protectorate, hikers are required to hire a local Bedouin guide (typically from the Jabaleya tribe) to summit the mountain. It is often tackled as part of a multi-day trekking itinerary through the high Sinai mountains.
Hiking the tallest peak in a country is rarely a straightforward affair. Mount Catherine, towering over the Sinai Peninsula, is no exception.
While its neighbor, Mount Sinai, draws massive crowds for sunrise tours, logistics for Mount Catherine are notoriously difficult. Because a guide is legally required to hike in Egypt, we initially looked into private tour companies. The quotes were high, and we there was a lot of miscommunication if we would hike mount catherine, or mount sinai.
Fortunately, the best travel experiences usually happen when you ditch the big agencies. While having Christmas dinner the night before, our Bedouin guide for Mount Sinai offered to take us up Catherine instead, arranging a local driver from his village. I always prefer putting money directly into the hands of local guides rather than corporate tour companies anyway. Just like that, our Christmas miracle was booked.
Into the Crisp Desert Morning
Our alarm shattered the silence at 5:30 AM. After a 1.5-hour drive from our hotel, we arrived at the trailhead and stepped out into the crisp, fresh morning air.
The scenery was instantly breathtaking. Massive, dark basalt rocks towered over us like ancient fortress walls as we began our ascent.
We settled into a steady rhythm, taking a few breaks along the way to fuel up on Egyptian peanut butter sandwiches and shared sweets. The absolute highlight of the ascent was watching our guide, Solomon, effortlessly build a small fire on the trail to brew us fresh, hot Bedouin tea. As we climbed higher, the morning freshness turned into a biting chill, and the wind began to howl, forcing me to start layering up.
We didn't see a single other soul on the way up. Having an entire national peak to yourself is a rare, magical feeling.
When we finally reached the summit, the elements were out in full force: a piercing 23°F (-5°C) wind chill paired with sustained 30 mph winds.
Thankfully, there is a small stone shelter at the peak. We ducked inside to escape the freezing gale, warming up with more hot tea and a steaming bowl of instant Chinese noodles.
With the wind pushing us from behind, we made our descent at speed. On the way down, we stopped at a tiny mountain village where I got to browse some incredible handmade local crafts. I picked up a traditional Egyptian bag—identical to the one Solomon used to carry his tea supplies—which is going to make the perfect new storage bag for my Jetboil.
Meeting Solomon
One of the greatest rewards of travel isn’t the landscape, but the people you meet. Our guide, Solomon, was an absolute fascinating human. He comes from a massive family of 12 brothers and sisters and speaks five languages fluently.
Here is a tribal guide who wears a traditional headscarf and lives in a remote village far from the chaos of Egypt's major cities, yet possesses a profound open-mindedness and an expansive understanding of the world—all without ever setting foot outside of his home country. Spending the day sharing stories with him was worth the trip alone.
Next Stop: The Red Sea
After nine strenuous hours on our feet, we made it back to the car, exhausted but buzzing from the achievement, and started the drive down to Dahab.
Tomorrow is our final day in Egypt, and we’re wrapping up this wild trip the best way possible: a full day of snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea.
Standing on top of Egypt reminded me that checking off a country's highest peak is never just about the physical hike. It's about the logistics, the cultural hurdles, and the people who help you get there. I'm incredibly grateful for a beautiful, challenging day in the wild.