The Sinai Peninsula, located between Asia and Africa, has long been in the forefront of many a battle. Today, it has some of the best hotels and infrastructure in Egypt, and is no longer the sole domain of determined backpackers.
There are daily flights from Cairo, Hurghada and Luxor and a high speed catamaran that conveniently links Jordan and Egypt together.
The South Sinai is frequented by many a western tourist, whether it be to visit St Catherines Monastery, or do bathe in in the crystal clear waters, or to take advantage of the world class diving site at Ras Muhammed National Park.
Essentially the Sinai is a desert, and as you drive down the Gulf of Suez and then into the interior, there is little evidence of much domesticity or inhabitants. The Bedu have lived here for many years, and you may well be fortunate enough to be invited into one of their camps. Sadly, there is evidence of the battles, in the form of abandoned artillery. Check points do still exist and you be asked for your passport several times.
St Catherines Monastery was built in 537AD by order of Justinian. It was built as a fortress monastery, in order to protect the Sinai passes against invasion. The Church built within the fortress was named after St Catherine, after her body miraculously appeared atop the Sinai's highest peak. By the 14th C up to 400 monks lived here, which over the years has decreased somewhat, with approximately 20 monks living there permanently. It is the oldest active Christian monastery in the world and its library can reasonable claim to be the oldest surviving library in Christendom. It holds a unique collection of manuscripts written in many languages (Arabic, Ethiopic, Georgian, Greek, Slavonic and Syriac).
Ras Muhammad is a coral peninsula at the southern tip of the Sinai. It is a nature reserve and one of the most outstanding snorkeling and diving areas on the world. Sharm El Sheikh and Na'ama Bay are the most famous centres in this region. It is fair to say that it is very developed, but the reason for visiting this area is the water, and it is preserved and pristine.
