Egypt · Desert Adventure

2-Day Serabit el-Khadim Camping Tour with Hathor Temple and Wadis

2 Days Round trip from Sharm El-Sheikh Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore the ancient ruins of the Pharaonic and Hexus temples at Serabit el-Khadim
02 Unwind in a Bedouin hut while savouring traditional Bedouin tea
03 Drive through the scenic wadi to Jabal Ḩamāyir
04 Discover the Forest of Pillars sculpted by wind and water erosion

Embark on a journey through the Sinai Peninsula to explore ancient ruins and natural wonders. Visit the Pharaonic and Hexus temple at Serabit el-Khadim, dedicated in ancient times to Hathor, then continue through El Dura and Jabal Ḩamāyir. This overnight desert experience combines archaeology, dramatic wadis, and Bedouin hospitality, with camping amid breathtaking landscapes before returning via Wadi Siyh and Wadi Fieran.

In the evening, unwind in your Bedouin hut or tent, sip Bedouin tea, and wait for dinner time.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

City Sharm el Sheikh

Languages Arabic, English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Serabit el-Khadim Temple and Desert Camp

Leave Sharm El Sheikh at 6:00 a.m. and drive to the temple at Serabit el-Khadim mountain. This mountaintop is known for the ruins of an ancient Pharaonic and Hexus temple and takes its name from the surrounding 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.
Have lunch in the village, then walk or drive around the area in the afternoon, including El Dura.
In the evening, unwind in your Bedouin hut or tent, sip Bedouin tea, and wait for dinner time. Enjoy the romantic firelight in the desert, bask in the open natural atmosphere, gaze at the shooting stars, and meditate.

Day 02

Jabal Ḩamāyir and the Forest of Pillars

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.
Have lunch, then proceed from Wadi Siyh to the road at Wadi Fieran.
Around sunset, return to Sharm El Sheikh.

Where this trip takes you

temple at Serabit el-Khadim mountain, Jabal Ḩamāyir, the Forest of Pillars

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Sharm El-Sheikh 1 city · 2 Days

The fine print

Trip details

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-conditioned 4×4 Jeep
Bedouin tea

What's Not Included

Personal expenses
Gratuities
Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary

What to bring

Casual wear with sports shoes
Hat
Sunglasses
Original passport

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 numerous votive steles to be engraved, many of which 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 into the rocks and 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.

Logistics