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DIFFICULTYEasyDISTANCE11.0 kmASCENT↑ 450 mELEVATION1,500–1,900 mDURATION2 days, 1 nightREGIONHigh Mountain Region

A two-day loop through Wadi Itlah behind St. Katherine. A short option for guests with limited time — scrambling on parts of the descent, or backtracking instead.

Wadi Itlah loop with Bedouin garden

Route Map

11.0km
450mascent 1900mhigh point 1500mlow point 2 days, 1 night
Ein Tufaha, St. Katherine town
Route data: Zoltán Mátraházi (sinaimaps.com, 2014)
Base map: MapTiler · OpenStreetMap contributors
Download GPX
  • Camels carry the heavy gear while you hike with a light pack. Best of all, they always know the way home
  • Explore at your own pace on a private adventure. Take it slow, skip a leg, or climb that peak over there
  • Adventures are available the next day and included in your daily rate. Just text your guide, and it’s done.

Key Information

Day 1 — Ein Tufaha to Wadi Itlah

The walk starts at Ein Tufaha and climbs the Abu Jeefa pass. On the far side, instead of continuing into Wadi Tubuq toward Wadi Zawatin, the path turns into Wadi Itlah. The wadi passes Bedouin orchards held by Jebeleya families. The ancient mulberry tree of Wadi Itlah stands on common land outside one of the gardens. Overnight in a Bedouin garden in the wadi.

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Nights are spent in Bedouin gardens in the high mountain wadis. The gardens are working orchards — the same Jebeleya families have walked the wells and pruned the trees for generations. Sleeping arrangements are mattresses laid on the ground inside the arisha, the open-sided shelter built from acacia and palm fronds. Blankets and pillows are provided. Toilets are pit latrines at a discreet distance from the arisha. Water for washing is drawn from the garden's well. Meals are cooked over the fire by the Bedouin guide and the operator. Bread is fresh, made on the fire each day. Tea is heavy black tea with sugar and a sprig of habak — desert mint, Mentha lavandulacea, which grows along the wadis on the route. Breakfast is bread with foul, tahina, jam, or olive oil and zaatar. Lunch is on the move — dates, nuts, bread, tinned cheese or canned tuna. Dinner is the longer meal: a vegetable and meat stew over rice, or pasta, or noodles depending on what the group prefers.
The High Mountain Region is the territory of the Jebeleya (الجبالية), one of the oldest tribes in Sinai. They descend from approximately two hundred families sent by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the sixth century to guard the newly-built Monastery of Saint Catherine. The families came from Wallachia, in what is now Romania, and from Alexandria. They are the only Sinai Bedouin tribe whose roots are not in the Arabian Peninsula. They converted to Islam in the seventh century, but until the eighteenth century some Arab Bedouin still refused to marry them, calling them "ruumi" — Byzantine. Today the tribe numbers around 4,600 people, divided into four Roba (quarters) descending from Selim, Emb, Hement, and Ntzinti. They are the only Sinai tribe who farm the land — the walled orchards in Wadi Zawatin, Wadi Tubuq, Wadi Itlah, Wadi Jibal, and Farsh Rummana are theirs. The system of trek guiding in this region is allocated by the sheikhs through a rotating cooperative — the guide for any trek is assigned through this system, not chosen by the operator. A Bedouin guide is on every trek, always from the controlling tribe, always with us from start to finish.
Wadi Itlah is one of the high mountain wadis that joins the system around Wadi Zawatin. The wadi floor is granite — sand and gravel between smooth walls. The ancient mulberry tree of Wadi Itlah is among the named landmarks of the high mountains; Zoltán's book lists it as one of eight original ancient mulberry trees planted hundreds of years ago on common land. Two of the eight may have died; the Wadi Itlah tree is among the surviving six. The scrambling section on the lower wadi return route runs through a narrower part of the wadi where the path is forced over and under granite obstacles. The book describes it as steep with hands-required sections.
The mulberry tree fruits red in June. The walk itself is best in late September through May. Summer is workable but the Abu Jeefa pass is exposed.
  • For the rope-assisted return option: leather gloves are essential for handling the ropes, and closed-toe shoes that grip rock are needed for the lowering sections.

Peace of Mind in the Wild

Comfort & Hygiene

Clean Water: We provide ample bottled mineral water for drinking. Mountain springs are reserved for washing only to keep your stomach safe.

Nature’s Bathroom: We practice Leave No Trace. Privacy is found in nature, and some garden stays feature eco-friendly dry latrines.

Fresh Food: All meals are cooked fresh over the fire—no processed trail rations.

Solo & Social Safety

Respectful Distance: Bedouin hospitality is rooted in honor. Your guide is trained to respect your privacy—giving you solitude when you want it, and company when you ask.

Private by Default: Unlike mass tourism, you set the pace. You don't have to worry about strangers or large groups in your camp.

Safety & Connection

Signal Spots: Mobile reception is available at specific high points. Your guide knows exactly where to check in.

Emergency Link: We maintain direct contact with the tribe in town. In the rare event of an emergency, camel or 4x4 rescue reaches extraction points within 90 mins.

The Network: You aren't alone; local gardeners and herders form a living safety net around you.

Driven by Community, Rooted in Dignity

Booksinai is a community-led movement with deep roots in the desert. We operate without outside investors or corporate influence. Our entire team comes from the local community, sharing the beauty of their home through honest hospitality.

Investing in the Next Generation

Your journey creates a lasting impact far beyond the trail. We pledge 25% of all profits to educational initiatives for Bedouin children. These funds support the brightest young minds in our community, providing the tools they need to thrive. By trekking with us, you directly invest in the future of Sinai’s hereditary knowledge.

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