What is it?

Knowledge comes from memory, truth from emptiness. The desert dispels the unnecessary, revealing the true. All-encompassing silence. The beginning of beginnings. Enter full, emerge empty. Enter empty, emerge true.

Why?

On the body of the planet, there are certain Places. When we walk through this Place with utmost attention, pressing into this point of the planet with our right and left feet. When our heart beats in sync with these conscious steps, and inside, there’s an accepting emptiness.

Then, the Place begins to breathe through us. To hear with our ears. To be silent with us. To speak through our eyes and voice. It comes to life and appears within us. With all the volume of truth that our blood and consciousness can hold.

And when we leave this Place, it remains. It stays within us. It becomes encoded in our system, creating an indefinite thread along which we can find ourselves back there in a fraction of a second.

There, and here, at the same time. It’s not a memory, it doesn’t require effort or expense. It’s a natural coexistence. An instant attraction – love. Life weaves lives with these threads.

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Water and the land of transition

We call Sinai a land of transition, and indeed we tread it as such. This very region witnessed pivotal Biblical events: the Exodus, the parting of the waters of the Sea of Reeds, now known as the Red Sea. Here, Moses received the Law atop Mount Sinai. On a neighboring peak, the highest in Egypt, monks from one of the earliest Christian monasteries found the relics of Saint Catherine. Today, this is known as Saint Catherine’s Monastery. It is here that some of the earliest icons of Jesus Christ and sacred treasures from His time on Earth reside.

Portrait of the Inner World of the Planet

Here, the events of all times are recorded. From the beginning of beginnings. It so happens that in Sinai, one can witness all stages of the planet’s development. See its inner world and connect with it. From the roar of the Tethys Ocean waves, the artistry of the wind, and previous civilizations to today’s tourist construction by the monastery walls. All phenomena and ideas turn into equally beautiful patterns of the rainbow desert. Multicolored waves of time and its events. From here, it is clearer and simpler to observe all phases of one’s own life. The entire spectrum is visible, along with its boundaries. There is no hierarchy, only a sequence of waves. Circles from the water that once was. The desert – a place where water has passed to the sky. Here, one is drawn to love the desert within. And to know for sure that the world is good.

Creators of sand and thought

The land of the Moon, as the Bedouins call it. The land of the Dragon, said to be its name by the ancestors of the Bedouins. It was in Sinai that the first alphabet emerged. Proto-Sinaitic script – the creation of nomads. People of the wind, the path, and freedom. Creators of sand and thought.

The world changes, and so does the way of life of the nomads. But the heartfelt hospitality of the Bedouins, their connection with the sea and desert, and their unique perspective on life as an eternal gift, still endure. The freedom, courage, and profound tranquility of the “prince of the desert – a friend of time” are evident in every movement, even of a five-year-old child.

What to pack

.. Sunscreen and sunglasses
.. Light wetsuit and/or rash guard, neoprene socks, swimsuits, fins, mask, snorkel
.. Headgear: buff, bandana, hat, cap
.. Windbreaker, shorts, t-shirts, hiking gear for the mountains and/or trekking sandals for the desert, flip-flops

For sacred sites:

.. Men: lightweight pants
.. Women: lightweight pants and/or skirt/dress below the knee and with covered shoulders, scarf

Optional:

.. Convenient water bottle/thermos for water/tea
.. Quick-dry lightweight towel
.. GoPro/camera with waterproof housing

How to Prepare

Physical Preparation:

Trekking Mount Sinai is of moderate difficulty. We’ll ride camels halfway and climb stone steps to the summit. In the desert, we’ll travel by jeep and take short walks.

To enjoy the beauty of Dahab’s famous waters, you only need to know how to swim or comfortably float with fins. Confidently breathe through a snorkel and look through a mask.

Dahab is a haven for water and wind enthusiasts. People from around the world come here for diving, freediving, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. You can join in if you wish.

Trekking Mount Sinai is of moderate difficulty. We’ll ride camels halfway and climb stone steps to the summit. In the desert, we’ll travel by jeep and take short walks.

Anything else?

We’ve taken care of all the essentials. We have a beautiful and cozy place to stay, delicious meals, and comfortable transportation.

Water temperature: 21-24°C (70-75°F) up to 27°C (81°F); Air temperature: 25°C (77°F) to 35°C (95°F).

Favorite moments from the past Xpedition