2-Day Serabit EL Khadem - The Open Pharaohs Temple with Camping

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Highlights

Explore the ancient ruins of the Pharaonic and Hexus temples at Serabit el-Khadim

Unwind in a Bedouin hut while savouring traditional Bedouin tea

Drive through the scenic wadi to Jabal Ḩamāyir

Discover the Forest of Pillars sculpted by wind and water erosion

Sharm el Sheikh

historical, camping, Desert

Private Tour

2 Days

Medium

Arabic, English

Description

Embark on a journey through the Sinai Peninsula, exploring ancient ruins and natural wonders. Visit the Pharaonic and Hexus temple dedicated to Hathor at Serabit el-Khadim, then traverse El Dura and Jabal Ḩamāyir. Conclude with a serene drive through Wadis, from Wadi Siyh to Wadi Fieran, embracing Bedouin hospitality amidst breathtaking landscapes during your overnight camp stay.

Itinerary

Day 1: Pharaonic and Hexus temple
- Leaving Sharm El Sheikh at 6:00 a.m., you will drive to the temple located at Serabit el-Khadim mountain. This mountaintop is known for the ruins of an ancient Pharaonic and Hexus temple and is named after the area. In ancient times, the temple was dedicated to Hathor, a mother goddess associated with the arts. The turquoise miners, who discovered the rich veins of Serabit around 3500 BC, worshipped Hathor.
- You will have lunch in the village and then walk or drive around the area, including El Dura, in the afternoon.
- In the evening, you can unwind in your Bedouin hut or tent, sipping on some Bedouin tea and waiting for dinner time. You can enjoy the romantic firelight in the desert, bask in the open natural atmosphere, gaze at the shooting stars and meditate.
Day 2: Jabal Ḩamāyi
- In the Morning, drive through the wide wadi to Jabal Ḩamāyir, a granite and sandstone rock formation with a high dune, Acacias in the wadi and rainwater reservoirs.
- Continue to the Forest of Pillars – lava pillars left standing after wind and water eroded the surrounding sandstone.
- You will have lunch and then proceed from Wadi Siyh to the road at Wadi Fieran.
- Around sunset, return to Sharm El Sheikh.

What's Included

Experienced guide

Meals and mineral water during your trip

Camping in the desert

Pick up services from your hotel and return

All transfers by air-conditioning 4×4 Jeep

Bedouin tea

What's Excluded

Personal expenses

Gratuities

Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary

Know Before You Go

Serabit EL Khadem is a locality in the southwest Sinai Peninsula where copper and turquoise were mined extensively in antiquity, mainly by the ancient Egyptians. Archaeological excavations initiated by Flinders Petrie at the beginning of the 19th century revealed ancient mining camps and a long-lived temple dedicated to Hathor, the Egyptian goddess who was considered the protector of the mine workers in desert regions. Hathor was also referred to as the Turquoise Lady.

The temple, located at an altitude of 850 m above sea level, about 10 km north of Wadi Maghara and about 43 km east of Abu Zenima, is one of the most important temples of ancient Egypt. It was built during the XII Dynasty (1955-1750 BC) by the miners ruled by the Pharaoh Snefru. However, mining activity can be dated back to the III Dynasty (2670-2570 BC) and continued at least after the XVIII Dynasty (1550 to 1292 BC).

During this period Queen Hat-Shep-Sut and her stepson Tuthmosi III built the lower part of the Temple of Serabit and ordered to engrave numerous votive steles that are still visible. In ancient times, the Temple was also known as a place of worship and healing, as evidenced by the many votive steles found in the temple and the cave. Serabit el Khadem means "Columns of the Slave" and refers to the tall votive steles that dominate the ruins of the ancient Egyptian temple. The temple was built on a plateau and extends for about two thousand square meters, starting from a cave cut in the rocks dedicated to the goddess Hathor. Alberto Siliotti describes the temple and the Serabit EL Khadem area in his book Guide to Exploration of the Sinai. Close to the temple to the North, the entrance of the old mines is visible.

What To Bring

Casual wear with sports shoes

Hat

Sunglass

Original passport

Meeting Point

Sharm El-Sheikh, Second Sharm Al Shiekh, Egypt

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.

Price

Adult
1 to 40	/person
Child
1 to 40	/person
This is a private tour

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2-Day Serabit EL Khadem - The Open Pharaohs Temple with Camping

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Pharaonic and Hexus temple

Day 2: Jabal Ḩamāyi

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

What To Bring

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Price

Check Availability Hide

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2-Day Serabit EL Khadem - The Open Pharaohs Temple with Camping

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Pharaonic and Hexus temple

Day 2: Jabal Ḩamāyi

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

What To Bring

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Price

Check Availability Hide

Starting from

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

Create your own adventure!

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