Leave Time to Visit Saint Catherine’s Monastery While in Sharm El Sheikh

If you want to escape from everyday life by booking last minute holidays then a break in Sharm el Sheikh could offer everything you are hoping for and more besides – not least the chance to visit the renowned Saint Catherine’s Monastery.

This walled place of worship is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and no wonder, as it is widely believed to be built on the spot where Moses saw God as the burning bush.

If that wasn’t enough, many people also believe that it was the nearby Mount Sinai that Moses climbed in order to retrieve the tablets of stone inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

Acknowledged as a sacred spot by the Christian, Islamic and Jewish faiths, it is no wonder that Saint Catherine’s Monastery proves such a draw for holidaymakers staying at the nearby resort of Sharm el Sheikh.

Indeed, the whole experience of visiting the site can be a real adventure for travellers – who could choose to journey across the desert by camel or Jeep to visit their destination.

Once they reach the city of Saint Catherine – also known as Saint Katherine – many people choose to get up at dawn and climb the mountain in order to see the sun rise, before heading to explore the monastery.

The hills themselves hold plenty to see and do and are among the highest mountains in all of Egypt.

Along with the unusual rock formations that are home to both narrow ridges and wide valleys dotted with water pools and springs, visitors may spot some of the small gardens locals have successfully cultivated in the desert climate.

Some of these may be home to native plants that are still used for their medicinal purposes.

Once you have taken in this breathtaking landscape, you can make your way to the monastery, which holds both an Orthodox church and Fatimid mosque within its walls.

It is claimed that Saint Catherine’s is the oldest working and inhabited monastery in the world – which alone makes it worth a visit.

With so much to see and do, you could be forgiven for forgetting about all of the other fun-packed activities that wait for you on cheap Sharm el Sheikh holidays.

The resort is popular with holidaymakers for its world-class scuba diving, while it is also brimming with shops, restaurants and a busy nightlife.

It may be a last-minute break, but a holiday in Sharm el Sheikh is unlikely to be one you will ever forget.