South Sinai · Egypt

Dahab and Saint Catherine

Dahab, on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, with the Blue Hole and reefs next to the beach, and Saint Catherine, in the mountains of Sinai, with the monastery and Mount Sinai.

Sinai

In the photo: Dahab coastline, with reefs and the Sinai mountains in the background.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Dahab is on the eastern coast of the southern Sinai, on the Gulf of Aqaba, about 85 km from Sharm el-Sheikh. It began as a Bedouin fishing village and grew around a bay, with a seafront promenade of cafés and dive schools. The reefs start a few meters from the sand, and the Blue Hole, to the north, is one of the Red Sea’s best-known diving spots.

South of Dahab, a shallow lagoon sheltered from the wind attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers. North of the Blue Hole, the coast continues to the protected area of Ras Abu Galum, with beaches, reefs and a Bedouin settlement reached on foot, by camel or by boat.

In the interior of the peninsula, about a two-hour drive from Dahab, is the village of Saint Catherine, high on the central massif. There is an Orthodox monastery built in the Byzantine period beside the mountain that the Bible associates with Moses and the Ten Commandments. The monastery, the mountain and the surrounding peaks form the Saint Catherine area, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The traditional excursion is the night ascent of Mount Sinai, arriving at the summit before dawn. With more time, Bedouin guides take visitors to other peaks and to valleys with walled gardens and springs.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Dahab, Saint Catherine.

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The cities on this trip

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Where Dahab and Saint Catherine is

Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors, via Wambacher / geoBoundaries (ODbL 1.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Dahab and Saint Catherine

✈ Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH), in Sharm el-Sheikh · 95 km to Dahab

The arrival town is Dahab, about 95 km from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) by car, taxi or bus via the mountain road. Saint Catherine is about 130 km from Dahab and about 220 km from Sharm el-Sheikh. From Cairo there are overnight buses to Dahab that go through the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel beneath the Suez Canal.

Suggested arrival point: Dahab

Sinai do Sul · Dahab and Saint Catherine Suggested arrival point

Dahab

Town on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba in the southern Sinai that grew from a Bedouin fishing village. It has a seafront promenade with cafés and dive schools, coral reefs a few meters from the sand, the Blue Hole to the north and a shallow lagoon in the south used for windsurfing and kitesurfing. It is a departure point for Ras Abu Galum and for Saint Catherine.

Sinai do Sul · Dahab and Saint Catherine

Saint Catherine

Bedouin and pilgrim village high in the granite mountains of the southern Sinai, next to Saint Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai, which together form a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bedouin guides depart from here for the night climb of Mount Sinai and for longer hikes, such as Mount Catherine.

The local experience

Things to do in Dahab and Saint Catherine

Dahab · South Sinai · Diving

Blue Hole (Dahab)

A sinkhole more than 100 meters deep in the reef, north of Dahab, connected to the open sea by a shallow rim. It is one of the best-known diving and freediving sites in the Red Sea.

Saint Catherine · South Sinai · Monastery

Saint Catherine's Monastery

Greek Orthodox monastery commissioned by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, at the foot of Mount Sinai, featuring the chapel of the burning bush, ancient icons and a library of manuscripts. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dahab · South Sinai · Protected area

Ras Abu Galum Protected Area

Protected stretch of coast north of the Blue Hole, between the Sinai mountains and the Gulf of Aqaba, with beaches, coral reefs and a Bedouin village. Accessible on foot, by camel or by boat.

Saint Catherine · South Sinai · Mountain

Mount Sinai

A 2,285-meter mountain next to Saint Catherine’s Monastery, where tradition places the giving of the Tablets of the Law to Moses. The predawn ascent to watch sunrise from the summit is done with Bedouin guides.

See 2 more places in Dahab and Saint Catherine

Dahab · South Sinai · Beach

Dahab Lagoon

A shallow, sheltered lagoon in south Dahab where the steady wind and calm water attract windsurfers and kitesurfers; there are schools and equipment rentals on the shore.

Saint Catherine · South Sinai · Mountain

Mount Saint Catherine

The highest point in Egypt, over 2,600 meters, southwest of the village of Saint Catherine, with a chapel on the summit and views over the Sinai mountains. The ascent is a long hike, with a Bedouin guide.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From October to May temperatures are milder for walking in the mountains; from December to February early mornings in Saint Catherine frequently fall below 0 °C. The sea at Dahab is suitable for swimming and diving year-round; from June to September the coast is very hot, and the constant wind favours windsurfing.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three to four days allow you to see the Blue Hole and Dahab’s reefs, go to Ras Abu Galum and spend one night in Saint Catherine for Mount Sinai. Visitors who come to dive typically stay a week in Dahab.

Which city to stay in

In Dahab, the Mashraba area and the Masbat promenade are on the seafront, near dive schools and cafés; Asala, to the north, is quieter; the lagoon area in the south gathers the larger hotels and the windsurfing and kitesurfing schools. In Saint Catherine there are guesthouses and Bedouin camps in the village and in the El Milga valley near the monastery, from where departures for Mount Sinai take place at dawn.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Dahab and Saint Catherine

How many days to spend in Dahab and Saint Catherine?

Three to four days: two in Dahab for the Blue Hole, the reefs and Ras Abu Galum, and one day and one night in Saint Catherine for the monastery and the pre-dawn ascent of Mount Sinai. For diving, one week in Dahab.

Can you do Dahab to Mount Sinai as a day trip?

Yes. Tours leave Dahab late at night, climb Mount Sinai at dawn for sunrise and return after visiting the monastery when it is open. The trip is about two hours each way. Sleeping in Saint Catherine makes the day less tiring.

Do you need a car in Dahab?

No. The promenade and beaches can be covered on foot, and taxis and organised tours take you to the Blue Hole, the lagoon and Saint Catherine. A car is only useful if you want to explore the coast independently.

When is the best time for Dahab and Saint Catherine?

From October to May, when temperatures are milder for the mountains. The sea is suitable for swimmers year-round; in summer the coast is very hot, and in winter the nights in Saint Catherine are cold.

How to get from Sharm el-Sheikh to Dahab?

By car, taxi or bus via the road that crosses the mountains: it’s about 85 to 95 km, just over an hour’s drive.

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Dahab and Saint Catherine

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip