The Sinai Peninsula is something very well known from ancient history to modern times. The Sinai lies on Egypt’s Eastern edge (in Africa) between the Mediterranean Sea (to the north) and Red Sea (to the south), sharing a border with Israel, Jordan and Saudia Arabia (to the West) forming a land bridge to Southwest Asia.

Frankly speaking – we all hear something about the Sinai, have read the articles and the Bible about Moses and other stories. War with Israel; conflicts; and religion--all that underlies the history of the inhabitants of Sinai. For the last 30 years the Peninsula has become a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation, hiking, diving in the many coral reefs and of course it’s rich biblical history.

The Sinai “half island” closely connects Africa with the Middle East. This half island is wedged between the Gulf of Suez to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east. The charming landscape of this “half island” is truly the most beautiful place of Egypt. A desert plateau makes up the north, while the mountains of the south are built from the crystal rock and painted the whole spectrum of colours. Located here is the Silk Road, where merchants transferred their goods from the Far East to Egypt and farther.

Today, the Bedouins are the core population of modern Sinai. They move with a more settled style of life than in the past, but they religiously keep the old traditions. It is guaranteed that if you meet the Bedouins, you will be invited for a cup of tea near the fire, and a warm blanket will be on your shoulders.

CLICK HERE to view more photos by Alexander Orlov of climbing on the Sinai Peninsula