 exploring the high desert mountains of the Sinai |
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| Taking a three day trek through the high desert mountains~! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 zultan Jean Dehaene Post Count: 3 Msg: #1 151 days ago, August 11th 2008 | I was a little weary of heading off the east coast of the sinai in the middle of the summer, as Dahab and Nuweiba are pleasant to say the least (Snorkeling in Dahab costs 10 guinea for the whole day and sleeping in a dormitory costs the same!) Anyway, so i headed up to St. Catherine, as i often sometimes get bored of the hot beach and touristy atmospheres. I have been to the alps, rockies, himalayes, central american range, apalachians, atlas range, and pyrenees. Trekked all of them and did not expect much from the so called High Desert Mountains of the Sinai. | When i arrived (1.5 hours from Dahab) i was immediately stunned at the jagged peaks that surrounded the town and the mountain air was much cooler and breezier (sounds obvious! i know, but it was still a nice surprise) than i imagined. So i hooked up with a trekking organization and went on a 3 day trek with one british guy and a bedouin guide. I wanted to climb the highest peak in the area (Mt. Katreen - 2,650 meters - overlooks Mt. Sinai) which is actually only a one day trek from St. Catherine - but we continued to Gebal Bab El Dunya (The Gateway to the Universe) and got a full taste of the most rugged ancient spiritual mountains i have ever encountered. Our stops were typically at 'lush' bedouin gardens with water pools or Mulberry trees... Anyway after this three day trek in the Galt region I went on a one day camel trek through the expansive planes of the high desert - it was fun guiding a camel by myself, being able to make it sit and stand at my will and galloping... as camel kind of do! I also visited the Ain Khondra (actual sand desert - with sand dunes, oases, and spectacular rock formations) for 2 days, visiting the closed canyon - where you walk for about 30 minutes through the narrowest canyon i have ever seen... literally squeezing between sedimentary rock walls. Needless to say i much enjoyed the high desert ecosystem. There is so much history and religious significance in this area... it attracts 'feeling people' who gaze upon these granite peaks with spiritual wonder. It is incredibly peaceful and experiencing the brilliant night sky (a shooting star every 30 seconds!) with the cool mountain air is a feeling like no other...  Mell Mel Fla Post Count: 5517 Msg: #2 151 days ago, August 11th 2008 | Hello Jean :) | I moved this to the forum for those wanting to share travel related links or information in your case. The above looks suitable for a blog. If you make a blog in your profile then others can see it everytime they look in your profile while this thread will move down the queue. Mel Ludmilla Lucy Miller Post Count: 2 Msg: #3 150 days ago, August 12th 2008 | Hi Jean, | that sounds great. My boyfriend and I are in Dahab right now and were thinking about climbing Mount Sinai for Sunrise. But your experience sounds more unique and not so touristy. Maybe we want to go on the two day hike Ain Khondra. Did you do this hike by yourself or with a group? Thanks for your answer. zultan Jean Dehaene Post Count: 3 Msg: #4 146 days ago, August 16th 2008 | Hello Lucy, | Coming from Dahab to Kathreen is certainly a pleasant climate and scenery change. I probably wouldn't go to Ain Khodra this time of the year as it is still quite hot. The high mountains (Galt region) would be cooler and quite the visual experience... there are also pools up in the mountains and numerous bedouin gardens to relax in. If you go up into the high mountains ecosystem, as they call it, you really feel like you are out there... especially at night. The silence is really cool. Ofcourse the guide would take care of your meals and show you where you can get well water (and pull it out yourself!). If you want camels, lots of trekking companies (like Sheikh Sina - the one i went with) can help you out. I hope this was helpful... if you have more questions, feel free to ask. sincerement, jean Ludmilla Lucy Miller Post Count: 2 Msg: #5 145 days ago, August 17th 2008 | Dear Jean, | thanks for your advise. I was looking at the homepage from sheikh sina and found the galt region trek. Maybe we will try that one. Do we have to book in advance or can we just show up? The homepage looks very nice and they offer really intersting hikes. Have a nice day and thanls a lot. Ludmilla zultan Jean Dehaene Post Count: 3 Msg: #6 145 days ago, August 17th 2008 | it's probably better to book in advance... but i am sure showing up is fine as well. you may have to wait one day in Kathreen before heading out in high desert... t'is all. | sincerement Josue Joshua Lohnes Post Count: 1 Msg: #7 126 days ago, September 5th 2008 | I just got back from a hike with Sheikh Sina as well with a group of 4 friends I've been travelling the middle east with - It was amazing. Those guys really take care of you and make you feel like you're a part of this little desert community. I got to know gameel my guide over the three days really well, I'll be sending him some photos to st. catherine's eventually - if it ever gets there! Seriously, I was not expecting such breathtaking scenery in a desert. We jumped in cold water pools and rested in the shade of century old gardens. The views from Abbas Pasha and Gebel Umm Loz (Mountain of the mother of almonds) were stunning. I recommend this region and this company! I'll be back next year to try the Ain Khodra 10 day! | Felicia Felicia Post Count: 1 Msg: #8 29 days ago, December 12th 2008 | Jean, Hi there, I have wanted to travel to Egypt for a long time, and a camel trek is definitley on my list. However, most of the things I've found were either short rides, or someone was walking alongside the camel guiding it for you. I would like to do what you did...control the camel on my own, and gallop. Do they usually let you do that on a trek? I can just imagine myself on a galloping camel in the desert :) A dream come true.. | [Edited: 03:21 - Felicia ] Number of Users: 5 | Number of Posts: 8 | ||||||||||||||||
