St. Catherine´s monastery and mountain:
A well liked destination for trips is St. Catherine´s monastery. The southern part of the Sinai peninsula is dominated by mountains and right there lies the monastery. Already in the fourth century, many christians wandered the biblical paths, searching for enlightenment and solitude. They settled as eremits at this barren spot. During the sixth century the emperor Justinan had the monastery with its 15 meter walls build at this site, where Moses is said to have been spoken to by god at the burning thorn-bush. 400 monks once lived here. Today there are some 25 left. The monastery sits between the two highest mountains on the Sinai peninsula, the Catherine´s mountain and Mount Sinai. On Mount Sinai, Moses is said to have received the 10 commandments, therfore it is sometimes called Mount Moses.

Mount Sinai (Mt. Moses):
From the monastery there is a steep ascent up Mount Sinai, called ""The Path of Moses" or the "steps of penitence" with more than 3500 steps.  Two arches guard the way to the top, one of them called the "gate of Stephanos", who, in the sixth century, heard the confessions of the pilgrims and giving them absolution before letting them pass. On the top you find a chapel from 530 A.D. which was built on the ruins of an earlier one, dated 363 A.D.

Colored Canyon:
One of the most stunning wonders of the Sinai peninsula is the "Colored Canyon". A walk between the narrow, up to 40 meters high sandstone walls, reveals colors of yellow, purple, red and gold. Erosion, the influence of wind and weather have over thousands of years exposed different layers of sandstone, which now amaze the visitors by their multicolored appearence. The walls of the canyon show the colors of different oxides and form a natural labyrinth.

More trips on request !