For those looking for a true trekking experience but would like to forgo extreme grades this is the walk for you. The trek aims for Galt el Azraq, the largest of the many pools in the high Mountain region. Most are dried up as the last ten years have not seen much rain-fall, but this particular pool, being fed from the lush green valley after Farsh Rummana remains full year round.

Distance Vertical Ascent Day 1 9.46km (+3.12km) 538m (+400m) Day 2 11.19km 291m Day 3 10.35km 339m TOTALS 31km (34.12km) 1168m (1568m) Day 1: St. Catherine’s – Anshil - Bulia – option of Umm Loz Day 2: Bulia – Farsh Rummana - Galt El Azraq – Umm Sila - Abu Tuweita Day 3: Abu Tuweita – Zaiwateen – Sid Daud – Wadi Talaa

Itinerary

Day 1.

Departing from the town of St. Catherine’s and climbing the Abu Jeefa pass leading to the massive granite plateau, hikers enter a complex labyrinth of high mountain valleys, dotted with beautiful Bedouin gardens. Stops for tea and lunch in these oases keep the pace relaxed as you slowly get acquainted with the stunning scenery you will encounter over the next 2 days.  Continuing on past an old Byzantine monastic settlement, a hermit cell and more stone-walled Bedouin orchards, the day ends in Bulia at the base of Gebel Umm Loz, with the option to hike up for stunning views of surrounding peaks. Camp is set up and dinner is prepared by your cameleers on an open fire.

Day 2.

The next morning the hike to the pool will take us down a long green valley dotted with old Bedouin dwellings. A bit of a scramble up and down boulders eventually opens up into the hike’s ultimate destination right around lunchtime. A long break in the shade of the many trees the pool feeds is wonderfully relaxing. Jump in for a swim to wash off the morning sweat if you’d like but beware the water is ice cold! The rest and relaxation eventually has to come to an end and we begin a steep ascent up to the Umm Sila basin, filled with funny, quirky and often talented rock designs left by hikers-past.  The day ends in the beautiful garden of Abu Tuweita where your cameleers have prepared a cozy campand fire to welcome you “home”.

Day 3.

The last day begins with a windy ascent up Wadi Tinya and down the other side of the ridge towards a string of beautiful green gardens. Gebel Katreen, the highest peak in Egypt, towers in the distance. Stop for tea in one of the gardens and on to Sid Daud, a dried up waterfall, full of boulders and narrow passageways will take us down to the Monastery of Cosmas and Damianos just behind the town of St. Catherine’s. A stop for lunch in a nearby garden will be your last chance to take in the silence and beauty of the mountains before heading back to town.

Sheikh Sina reserve the right to modify all our treks without notice in accordance with changing conditions in the area.