Saint Catherine's Monastery

"Saint Catherine's Monastery is the oldest continually operating monastery in the world. Dating back to the 500's, the complex appears more like a fort than a church. The "centerpiece" of the complex is a drab shrub that supposedly was the Burning Bush through which the Divine spoke to Moses. While this little plant is incredibly underwhelming, the church and complex as a whole are not. When visiting, there are very limited hours to enter the church and its surroundings. You will likely finish your trek up Mount Sinai at 8 or 9 AM. After this, you will have an hour or two to relax, eat some food, drink some coffee, or take a nap. At this point, the monastery opens up for visitors. The church - while small - is a treasure trove of historic icons and fascinating old religious art and architecture. Also within the compound is an impressive museum filled with Eastern Orthodox icons and art; if you want to view the museum, mention this to your tour guide in advance as the museum hours do not always align well with the hours of the church visitation. As with visiting any Eastern Orthodox Church, dress modestly. This means no shorts, tank tops, or revealing clothes. If this does not describe your ideal hiking gear, make sure to bring a change of clothes to enter the monastery "