Sinai Desert - Driving Across the Sinai Desert from Sharm el-Sheikh

The Sinai Desert covers most of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, stretching from the Mediterranean in the north to the Red Sea in the south at Sharm el-Sheikh. While on a Red Sea cruise on the Silversea Silver Whisper, the luxury cruise ship ported in Sharm el-Sheikh. Many passengers made the pilgrimage north through the hot, dry Sinai Desert mountains to St. Catherine's Monastery (also St. Katherine's), the celebrated location of the burning bush where God spoke to Moses. The drive was three hours each way, but the time passed quickly because of the amazing scenery.

Security in the Sinai is very high, and we passed through a dozen checkpoints--both Egyptian and United Nations. Only a few roads cross the desert, and local residents use either 4-wheel drive trucks or the more traditional camel as transportation. Our modern coaches stuck to the highway, and we rode as a convoy with other tour groups from the Star Clipper and Sharm el-Sheikh hotels. Join me on a ride across the Sinai Desert.