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DIFFICULTYEasyDISTANCE9.1 kmASCENT↑ 350 mELEVATION1,652–1,939 mDURATION2 days, 1 nightREGIONHigh Mountain Region

Two days in the high mountain Bedouin orchards of Wadi Zawatin — pomegranate, almond, walnut, and mulberry trees in walled gardens behind St. Katherine.

Wadi Zawatin and the Bedouin gardens

Route Map

9.1km
350mascent 1939mhigh point 1652mlow 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 Zawatin

The walk starts in the town of St. Katherine. The Abu Jeefa pass is the only steep section — about half an hour of climbing on a winding path before the saddle. From the top you see town below for the last time on the trek. The descent leads into Wadi Tubuq, past the first of the walled orchards. The path passes Ein Shkaya, where water drips from the cliff face into a small pool. The mulberry tree of Wadi Tubuq stands on common land, fruit ripening red in June. From Wadi Shaq junction the path turns sharper and steeper for a short stretch, then opens into Wadi Zawatin. Overnight in a Bedouin garden.

Day 2 — Wadi Zawatin and return

The morning is unhurried in the garden. The walk back retraces the path through Wadi Zawatin and Wadi Tubuq, over the Abu Jeefa pass, down to Ein Tufaha and the town.

One night in a Bedouin garden in Wadi Zawatin — the same orchard used on the longer routes through this area. 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. Water for washing is drawn from the garden's well. Meals cooked over the fire. Bread fresh, made on the fire. Tea is heavy black tea with sugar and a sprig of habak — desert mint, Mentha lavandulacea. Breakfast: bread with foul, tahina, jam, or olive oil and zaatar. Lunch on the move — dates, nuts, bread. Dinner is the longer meal: vegetable and meat stew over rice, or pasta.
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.
The High Mountain Region is granite. Wadi Zawatin runs between Mt. Katharina (2629 m, Egypt's highest peak) and Mount Sinai (2285 m). The wadi floor is sand and granite gravel. The walls are smooth granite, hundreds of metres high. The walled Bedouin gardens are built into the wadi where underground water meets the surface — generations of low stone walls that hold the soil and channel the water from hand-dug wells to fruit trees.
Best from late September through early May. Summer is workable but the Abu Jeefa pass is exposed in midday sun. The garden itself is shaded.

What to bring

  • Hiking shoes that have already broken in your feet — not new ones. The Abu Jeefa pass on day one tests boots.
  • A 30–40 litre daypack. The operator, the guide, and the camel carry the camping gear and food.
  • A warm layer for the evening — fleece or light down. Even in October the wadi cools quickly after sunset.
  • A windproof shell. The upper sections are exposed.
  • Long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt for the day. Sun is the bigger problem than cold on the walking hours.
  • Sun hat with a brim, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen.
  • A wide cotton scarf — useful for sun, dust, and warmth in the evening.
  • A reusable water bottle (1.5 L minimum). Water is refilled from the garden wells along the route.
  • A small head torch with a red-light setting.
  • Personal toiletries. Toilet paper. Wet wipes if you want them.
  • Any personal medication. The nearest pharmacy is in St. Katherine town.

What to leave behind

  • Cotton socks. Wool or synthetic only.
  • Heavy jeans. They take days to dry if they get wet at a well.
  • Anything you can’t carry comfortably for five hours.

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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