Practical Information and Food

The monastery of St. Catherine’s is hidden away, at an elevation of around 1600m, in the mountainous interior of the southern Sinai. Excellent roads run west to the Gulf of Suez and east to the Gulf of Aqaba, both about 100km away. Two km before the Bedouin village of Milga, the spur road leading 0.5km to St. Catherine’s Monastery and the base of Mt. Sinai branches off to the left. At the same point on the right side is the entrance to the expensive hotel known as the tourist village.

If you’re going straight to St. Catherine’s, ask the driver to let you off on the road to the monastery. Otherwise you’ll be deposited in Milga, which also boasts a few modern conveniences. The bus station is at the main square (it’s not a “station"per se, but a point in space where the bus habitually stops); on one side is an arcade with a Bank Misr, gift shops, supermarkets, and restaurants (which serve up a good meal of rice and chicken, LE7-8), and on the other side are tourist police and a hospital. The bank will exchange money or traveler’s checks (open Sun.-Thurs. 8:30am-2pm and 6-9pm, Fri. 9-ll:30am and 6-9pm, Sat. 10am-I:30pm and 6-9pm). The post office and telecommunications office are nearby, with telegraph and international phone service (open 24 hrs.). The Big Daddy police station is farther up the hill and they’ll willingly do a dance on your passport. Higher up on die hill are some picturesque Bedouin huts.

Buses make the trip from Cairo, Suez, and other Sinai sites. Leaving St. Catherine’s, you can chase the unreliable buses of the East Delta Bus Company to Cairo (LE35), Suez (LEW), Dahab (LE8), Sharm ash-Sheikh (LE12), and Nuweiba QMIO). Don’t count on catching any buses to the east after the 1:30pm run; the bus to Cairo is at lpm. Taxis occasionally fill up for runs to Dahab (about LE20-25 per person if you have a full taxi, more if there are less people, LE80-100 per car) and Na’ama Bay (more expensive) and Cairo (LE4O). Women should generally avoid them unless traveling in groups. If you want to take one, go to Milga’s central square during daylight hours and look around for a taxi. Ask at the market if you don’t see any, and bargain fiercely.