|
Mt. Abbas Basha - Kharazet el Shaq Trek (5 days) The unfinished palace of Abbas Hilmi Pasha is located atop one of the best summits for magnificent views of the high mountains, the distant lowlands, and the town of St. Katherine. Along the way, the hiker will encounter a leopard trap, inventive Bedouin gardens set among huge boulders, granite water pools, a narrow canyon with a source – the water dripping from a crack in the rock into a fountain, the tombs of local holy men Sheikh Ahmed and Sheikh Awad, Nabatean ruins, views onto the Northern lowlands, a seasonal waterfall emanating from granite pools and several well preserved Byzantine ruins and hermit cells. See trek in images  Inquiries and reservation | Day 01 |  Highlights: Abu Jeefa, Wadi Tubuq and Wadi Zawatin, Mt. Abbas Basha
- Morning departure from the town of St. Catherine’s
- Steep climb up Abu Jeefa on a path built by Abbas Pasha
- Bedouin Marriage proposal rock and ancient Leopard trap
- Descent through Wadi Tubuq, a sandy valley littered with boulders
- Gardens including a 1000 year old Mulberry tree
- Fountain source emanating from a rock
- Hike through Wadi Zawatin
- Climb to Mt. Abbas Basha
- Unfinished Palace of Abbas Hilmi – (viceroy of Egypt 1849-1854)
- Stunning views onto high mountains, lowlands and the village of St. Catherine’s
- Lunch and rest on the top of the mountain
- Descent through the long, wide Wadi Tinya towards Wadi Abu Tuweita
- Arrive at Campsite (cameleers have set everything up a few hours beforehand)
- Beautiful Bedouin orchard
- Dinner
|
| Day 02 |  Highlights: Canyon of Wadi Sagar, Mt. Naja, waterpools of Kharazet el Shaq
- Breakfast
- Descent through Wadi Sagar
- Easy yet adventurous climb down – Assistance available from guides if need be
- Grafted fig tree
- Fountain – The crystal clear water is safe for drinking
- Reenter Wadi Tinya
- Ascent toward Mt. Naja
- Interconnected mountaintop basins
- Beautiful view overlooking day 3 sights (Sheikh Ahmed, Wadi Jinab, Northern lowlands)
- Return to Wadi Tinya
- Lunch next to a spring
- Kharazet el Shaq
- Interconnected granite water pools
- Opportunity to bathe in the water
- Camp set up by a garden in Wadi Tinya
- Dinner
|
| Day 03 |  Highlights: Wadi Shaq Tinya, Wadi Itlah, Sheikh Ahmed, El Karm Ecolodge in Wadi Gharba
- Breakfast
- Descent through low lying wadis towards Wadi Shaq Tinya
- Water pools
- Byzantine Ruins
- Bedouin Cemetery
- Enter low wadis at Wadi Itlah and Wadi Jinab junction
- Dry riverbed with sandy floors
- Gardens and Date palms
- Walk up Wadi Jinab
- Sheikh Ahmed (local holy man) tomb
- Mt. Naja towers above
- Continue through Wadi Madaman
- Settlement of Sheikh Awad
- Arrival at Al Kahrm Ecolodge
- Solar heated showers
- Sanitary composting toilets
- Modern kitchen and dining facilities
- Dinner
|
| Day 04 |  Highlights: Wadi Gharba, water fall of Sidda Nogra, Mt. Banat
- Breakfast
- Depart through Wadi Gharba
- Granite Water pools
- Sidda Nogra - seasonal waterfall
- Short break
- Climb up a steep pass to the top of the waterfall
- Small Granite water pools
- Beautiful view onto the basin down below
- Massive rock formation providing shade for a short break
- Lunch
- Ascent of Mt. Banat
- One of the many granite peaks encircling a round basin
- Spectacular views - Sheikh Awad, Wadi Freah, Mt. Sinai, Mt. Katherina, Mt. Abbas Pasha and Mt. Naja
- Descent towards Milan El Widya
- Arrive at campsite (cameleers have set everything up a few hours beforehand)
- Dinner
|
| Day 05 |  Highlights: Wadi Freah, Bustan el Birka, Byzantine churches and monastic settlements, Abu Seila, handicraft workshop
- Breakfast
- Descent onto wide plains of Wadi Freah at Bustan el Birka
- Wide open sandy floors and singular rock formations
- Many Byzantine ruins
- Small clusters of old monastic settlements
- Hermit Cells
- Cut across the plain to reach the Abu Seila pass
- Final look onto the desert plain and the settlements of Abu Seila and Wadi Raha
- Descent to Abu Seila
- Visit handicraft workshop
- Car ride back to the town of St. Catherine’s
|
See trek in images Inquiries and reservation
|
