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Day Tours in Egypt

Mount Sinai Sunrise Express from Eilat

Full day
Pickup: Taba border
4.4/5 company rating on TourRadar

DurationFull day
Starts09:00 PM, hotel pickup
GuideEnglish
Group sizeUp to 9 travelers
CancellationFree cancellation up to 36 hours before the start time.

Overview

The Mount Sinai Sunrise Express is our best value Mount Sinai tour from Taba. You meet your guide at the Taba border near Eilat in the evening, climb Mount Sinai through the night and watch the sun rise from the summit. After breakfast and a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery you head back through Nuweiba and reach Taba by 15:00 the next day.

Here is how it works. You make your own way to the Taba border for 21:00, and an English-speaking guide and an air-conditioned car take it from there. After a coffee and tea break in St. Catherine you start the climb at 02:00, reach the top for sunrise, walk down for breakfast at Santa Plaza and visit the monastery. The return drive includes a lunch stop in Nuweiba on the Gulf of Aqaba.

This tour suits hikers, pilgrims and travelers on a budget who want the classic Mount Sinai sunrise without a hotel night in Egypt. Prices are per person and drop as your group grows: $250 for 2 to 3 travelers, $150 for 4 to 6 and $100 for 7 to 9. Border fees ($120), lunch and the monastery museum ($5) are paid locally. A Spanish or Russian-speaking guide is available for $70 per day.

Want hotel pickup in Eilat instead? See our Mount Sinai Sunrise and St. Catherine tour from Eilat. You can also cross into Jordan on the Petra tour from Eilat or see the pyramids on the Cairo day tour from Eilat. Free cancellation up to 36 hours before the start. Pick your date and book your Mount Sinai tour from Taba today.

Highlights

Meet your guide at the Taba border at 21:00, a short ride from Eilat
Night climb of Mount Sinai starting at 02:00
Sunrise from the summit over the granite peaks of South Sinai
Breakfast at Santa Plaza and a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery
Lunch stop in Nuweiba on the Gulf of Aqaba
Back at the Taba border by 15:00 the next day
From $100 per person in groups of 7 to 9

Itinerary

09:00 PMMeet your guide at the Taba border
Make your own way from your hotel in Eilat to the Taba border crossing, a short taxi ride from the city. After passport control on both sides you meet your English-speaking guide, who stays with you until you are back at the border the next afternoon. Have your passport and cash for the border fees ready.
Late eveningNight drive to St. Catherine with a coffee and tea break
An air-conditioned car takes you inland across the Sinai Peninsula to the village of St. Catherine, known locally as Santa. On the way you stop for coffee and tea. Use the drive to rest, because the climb starts in the middle of the night.
02:00 AMNight climb of Mount Sinai
With your guide you start up Mount Sinai in the dark on a rocky trail. The climb usually takes 2 to 3 hours at a steady pace with short breaks. A headlamp or flashlight and warm layers make the walk much more comfortable.
DawnSunrise from the summit
You reach the top in time to watch the sun rise over the granite peaks of the Saint Catherine Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is the mountain linked to the Ten Commandments in Jewish, Christian and Muslim tradition. It is cold at the summit before sunrise in every season, so keep a warm jacket handy.
MorningBreakfast at Santa Plaza and St. Catherine's Monastery
After the walk down you have breakfast at Santa Plaza, which is included. Then you visit Saint Catherine's Monastery, one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. Entry to the museum inside the monastery costs $5 per person and is not included. The monastery keeps its own opening hours and closes on some days and religious holidays, so your guide plans the visit around them.
MiddayDrive to Nuweiba and lunch break
The road leads east through the mountains to Nuweiba on the Gulf of Aqaba coast. You stop here for a lunch break. Lunch is not included, so bring some cash.
03:00 PMBack in Taba and cross to Eilat
You arrive back at the Taba border by 15:00 and cross into Israel. From the border it is a short taxi ride to your hotel. Still have energy? See our list of things to do in Eilat for the evening.

What's included

Included

All transfers in an air-conditioned car, from the Taba border to St. Catherine, Nuweiba and back
Entrance fees to St. Catherine
Guided climb of Mount Sinai and visit to St. Catherine's Monastery
Breakfast
English-speaking guide

Not included

Border fees ($120)
Museum entrance inside the monastery ($5 per person)
Lunch in Nuweiba
Transport between your Eilat hotel and the Taba border
Tips
Any item not listed as included

Pickup & meeting point

Taba border 21:00No pickup fee

You choose your pickup city when you book. We confirm the exact pickup time and place by email or WhatsApp the day before the tour.

Tour ends with: Back in Taba and cross to Eilat

Know before you go

Meeting Point and Times

You meet your guide at 21:00 at the Taba border crossing, a short taxi ride from Eilat. The exact meeting point is sent after booking. Transport between your Eilat hotel and the border is not included. The climb starts at 02:00 and you are back at the Taba border by 15:00 the next day. Book the date of the evening you meet at the border.

Accommodation

There is no hotel night. You travel and climb through the night.

Group Size and Prices

Prices are per person: $250 for 2 to 3 travelers, $150 for 4 to 6 travelers and $100 for 7 to 9 travelers. The tour needs at least 2 travelers and the maximum group is 9.

Border and Visa

Bring a passport valid for at least 6 months. Border fees ($120) are not included and are paid at the crossing. Many nationalities can enter South Sinai with a free Sinai-only entry stamp at Taba, but check the rules for your passport before you travel. We need your nationality, passport number, issue and expiry dates and date of birth for the reservation.

Not Included

Border fees ($120)
Museum entrance inside the monastery ($5 per person)
Lunch in Nuweiba
Tips

What to Bring

Passport
Cash for border fees, lunch, the museum and tips
Headlamp or flashlight
Warm layers and a hat for the summit
Good hiking shoes
Water and snacks

Physical Requirements

Good fitness is needed for a night climb of 2 to 3 hours on a rocky trail and the walk back down. Take breaks and drink plenty of water.

Age and Children

The supplier advises that its tours are not suitable for children under 4, and the night climb is demanding for young children. Children pay the same per person price as adults.

Language

Guided in English. A Spanish or Russian-speaking guide costs $70 per day, charged once per booking.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation up to 36 hours before the start time. Cancel the day before and 75% is refunded. Same-day cancellations are not refunded.

Cancellation policy

When you cancel	Cancellation fee
36+ hours before the start time	Free cancellation
The day before the tour	25% fee
On the day of the tour, or no-show	100% fee (no refund)

Need to change your date instead? Message us before the tour and we will do our best to move your booking. If we cancel or materially change a tour, you can choose an alternative date, a credit or a refund. Read the booking terms.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in the Mount Sinai Sunrise Express?

You get all transfers in an air-conditioned car from the Taba border and back, entrance fees to St. Catherine, the guided climb of Mount Sinai, a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery, breakfast and an English-speaking guide. Border fees ($120), lunch, the monastery museum ($5 per person), tips and transport between Eilat and the border are not included.

How much does the tour cost?

The price per person depends on your group size: $250 per person for 2 to 3 travelers, $150 per person for 4 to 6 travelers and $100 per person for 7 to 9 travelers. Choose the package that matches your group in the booking form. The tour needs at least 2 travelers.

Where and when does the tour start?

You meet your guide at 21:00 at the Taba border crossing, a short taxi ride from Eilat. The exact meeting point is sent after booking. You are back at the Taba border by 15:00 the next day.

Which date should I book?

Book the date of the evening you want to meet at the border. For example, if you book 10 March, you meet at Taba at 21:00 on 10 March, climb overnight, watch the sunrise and return on 11 March by 15:00.

Do I need a visa for Sinai, and what are the border fees?

Bring a passport that is valid for at least 6 months. Many nationalities can enter South Sinai at Taba with a free Sinai-only entry stamp, which covers this route, but the rules depend on your passport, so check them on the official Egypt e-visa portal. Border fees of $120 are not included and are paid at the crossing.

How hard is the climb?

The climb follows a rocky trail and usually takes 2 to 3 hours up, plus the walk down. You walk at night, so you should be in good health and used to walking for several hours. Good hiking shoes and a headlamp help a lot.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport, cash for the border fees, lunch, the museum ticket and tips, a headlamp or flashlight, warm layers and a hat for the summit, water, snacks and comfortable hiking shoes. Nights on the mountain are cold even in summer.

Can I have a guide in Spanish or Russian?

Yes. A Spanish or Russian-speaking guide costs $70 per day, charged once per booking. Add it as an extra in the booking form.

How is this different from your other Mount Sinai tour?

The Sunrise Express starts and ends at the Taba border, lunch is on your own, and it is our best value way to climb Mount Sinai. If you prefer pickup from your Eilat hotel and more help at the border, see our Mount Sinai Sunrise and St. Catherine tour from Eilat.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel for free up to 36 hours before the start time. If you cancel the day before, 75% of the price is refunded. Cancellations on the day of the tour are not refunded. Read our booking terms for the full details.

What else can I add from Eilat?

Many guests pair this tour with a day in Jordan on our Petra tour from Eilat or a few days on the Red Sea in Eilat. Our travel guide has more tips for planning your trip.

Why book with Booking-Tours

Local operator in Eilat since 2008Our own office and team on the ground, not a call center abroad.
Licensed local guidesSmall details, good pacing and real stories at every stop.
Real people on WhatsAppHelp in English, Russian and Hebrew before and during your trip.
Secure online paymentPay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe.