2-Day Serabit al Khadem Camping Adventure from Sharm El Sheikh

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore the ancient mining site of Serabit al Khadem in the Sinai Peninsula
• 02 Discover the Temple of Hathor, the "Turquoise Lady," and its votive steles
• 03 Enjoy Bedouin hospitality with authentic meals, tea, and a night in a desert camp
• 04 Travel through the landscapes of Jabal Ḩamāyir, with its high dune, acacias, and rainwater reservoirs
• 05 See the Forest of Pillars, where lava pillars remain after wind and water eroded the sandstone

Discover the ancient mining site of Serabit al Khadem in the Sinai Peninsula, where turquoise and copper were mined by the ancient Egyptians. Explore the Temple of Hathor, the "Turquoise Lady," built during the XII Dynasty and adorned with votive steles, and visit the plateau extending from a sacred cave dedicated to Hathor. Witness the tall votive steles that dominate the ruins and observe the northern entrances of the ancient mines near the temple, revealing remnants of early mining history. Continue through the desert landscapes of Jabal Ḩamāyir and the Forest of Pillars, and spend the night enjoying Bedouin hospitality in a desert camp under the stars.

In the evening, relax in a Bedouin hut or tent, drink Bedouin tea, and wait for dinner by the romantic firelight in the desert.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Sharm el Sheikh

Languages Arabic, English, Italian, Russian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Serabit el-Khadim and Bedouin Desert Camp

• Leave Sharm at 6:00 a.m. and drive to the temple at Serabit El Khadem, the mountaintop ruins of an ancient Pharaonic and Hexus temple that gave the area its name. In Pharaonic times, the temple was dedicated to Hathor, an ancient mother-goddess especially associated with the arts. She was also the goddess of the turquoise miners who discovered the rich veins of Serabit around 3500 BC. Lunch in the village.
• In the afternoon, enjoy walks and a drive around the area, including El Dura.
• In the evening, relax in a Bedouin hut or tent, drink Bedouin tea, and wait for dinner by the romantic firelight in the desert. In this open natural atmosphere, watch the shooting stars and meditate.

2

Day 02

Jabal Ḩamāyir and the Forest of Pillars

• Morning drive through the wide wadi to Jabal Ḩamāyir, a granite and sandstone rock formation with a high dune, acacias in the wadi, and reservoirs of rainwater.
• Continue to the Forest of Pillars, where lava pillars were left standing after wind and water eroded the surrounding sandstone.
• Lunch.
• Finally, travel through Wadi Siyh to the road at Wadi Fieran.
• Around sunset, return to Sharm.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Experienced guide
• Meals and mineral water during your trip
• Camping in the desert
• Pick-up from and return to your hotel
• All transfers by air-conditioned 4x4 Jeep

What's Not Included

• Guide service fee
• Driver service fee
• Any private expenses
• Room service fees

Know before you go

• Jeep safari by 4x4 Land Cruiser.
• The Temple of Hathor.
• Wadi (Valley) of Maghara.
• Mine of turquoise.
• Hiking and bouldering.
• All meals included.
• Soft drinks.
• Camping in a hut or tent.
• Serabit al Khadem is a locality in the southwest Sinai Peninsula where copper and turquoise were extensively mined in antiquity by the ancient Egyptians.
• Archaeological excavation, initiated by Flinders Petrie in the 19th century, revealed ancient mining camps and a long-lived temple dedicated to Hathor, the protector of mine workers in desert regions.
• Hathor, also referred to as the "Turquoise Lady," was venerated as the goddess of the temple.
• The temple is located at an altitude of 850 m above sea level, about 10 km north of Wadi Maghara and 43 km east of Abu Zenima.
• Built during the XII Dynasty (1955-1750 BC) under Pharaoh Snefru, mining activity in the area dates back to the III Dynasty (2670-2570 BC) and continued after the XVIII Dynasty (1550-1292 BC).
• Queen Hat-Shep-Sut and her stepson Tuthmosi III constructed the lower part of the temple and ordered numerous votive steles to be engraved, many of which are still visible.
• The temple was a place of worship and healing, as evidenced by numerous votive steles found in the temple and its cave.
• The name "Serabit el Khadem," meaning "Columns of the Slave," refers to the tall votive steles dominating the ruins.
• The temple, built on a plateau, spans approximately two thousand square meters, starting from a cave dedicated to Hathor.
• A detailed description of the site is provided in Guide to Exploration of the Sinai by Alberto Siliotti.
• To the north of the temple, the entrances to the ancient mines are still visible.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Sharm El-Sheikh, Second Sharm Al Shiekh, Egypt

Tour start

Sharm El-Sheikh, Second Sharm Al Shiekh, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.