Sinai Mountain Challenge

Sinai Mountain Challenge is a limited-entry event taking place in the St. Katherine Protectorate mountain range in the heart of Sinai, Egypt. The 2026 edition features the Four Peaks Challenge, tackling Mt. Abbas, Mt. Moses, Mt. Saint Katherine (Egypt’s highest peak at 2,642 metres), and Mt. Sefsafa. An exciting adventure for runners and hikers alike. Three and Two Peaks Challenges are also available to suit different fitness levels.

The cut-off time is generous enough for power walkers and hikers who want to complete this spectacular scenic course without less time pressure.

Sinai Mountain Challenge 2026 edition will take place at the same mountain range in St. Katherine Protectorate, Sinai, Egypt. The terrain is rocky and semi-technical in a few sections. The final challenge distance/elevation is not yet confirmed. This year might feature a stronger challenge for the more experienced, while still keeping the shorter options for those who prefer a more manageable challenge.

This year’s challenge highlights the renowned peaks of Mt. Abbas, Mt. Moses, and Mt. Saint Katherine, Egypt’s highest peak at 2,642 meters above sea level. For seasoned adventurers seeking an even bigger challenge, we’ve added a fourth peak, Mt. Sefsafa, to the route. For those preferring a shorter course, there is also a Two Peaks Challenge option. Choose your challenge below.

Distances and elevations are subject to change. The final route will be provided in GPX files.

All challenges start at 6:00 am on Friday 1 May 2026

All challenges and distances will have a cut-off time of 12 hours. This means the race ends at 6:00 pm on Friday 1 May 2026 for all runners, regardless of distance.

The challenge starts at the Secret Garden (Base Camp 1), a mountain lodge situated at 1,900 meters above sea level. To reach the start line, participants will do a short hike from St. Katherine’s city shortly after lunch.

The finish line is located at Ramadan Garden (Base Camp 2), another mountain lodge located at the foot of Mt. St. Katherine. 

Four Peaks Challenge

The route starts with an ascent up Mt. Abbas, passing through Wadi Abu-Wali’a valley, and continues toward Mt. St. Katherine via the Zawateen area, ascending Wadi Lahmar Valley to St. Katherine balcony and all the way up to Mt. St. Katherine, Egypt highest peak. From there, runners descend through Wadi Elarb’een valley to Ramadan Garden for a quick water refill at the checkpoint / aid station before heading up Mt.Sefsafa ascent via the historic Christian Monks’ staircase. Down from Mt. Sefsafam, past the Byzantine Dam and Farsh Elijah Basin, the final ascent climb is 800 rock steps up to the top of Mt. Moses followed by a short and fast downhill to the finish line.

Three Peaks Challenge

This challenge follows the same route as the Four Peaks, but excludes Mt. Sefsafa. 

Two Peaks Challenge

This route includes the most iconic two peaks of the St. Katherine mountain range: Mt. Katherine and Mt. Moses.

• Thursday 30 April: Runners will depart from Maadi neighborhood, Cairo by bus and arrive at St. Katherine by early afternoon. Lunch at a local restaurant followed by a hike up to Camp 1 before sunset to relax before the challenge brief and dinner.
• Friday 1 May: This is Challenge Day. Starting from Camp 1 and ending at Camp 2, where we feast on a large Bedouin dinner and celebrate our achievement at the medal ceremony around the campfire.
• Saturday 2 May: No pressure to rise early. Easy breakfast at the camp and hike back to the town to take the buses back to Cairo. We should reach Cairo around 6:00 PM.

*Friday lunch is served after they finish their challenge

GPX route files will be provided to all participants for navigation purposes. Runners must download the files onto their sports watches and/or GPS navigation apps. No participant will be allowed to start the challenge without the GPX file uploaded and saved on their device.

These elevation gains reflect the unique terrain of the Saint Katherine Protectorate in Sinai, combining hard-packed trails, sandy areas, and rocky paths to provide an exciting and dynamic trail running experience. Please note that these figures may be updated as the race date approaches.

The challenge’s routes primarily consist of rocky trails, with technical mountain sections and hard-packed valley paths interspersed with some softer ground. Participants will experience breathtaking scenery, with the iconic peaks of St. Katherine protectorate providing a stunning backdrop and excellent photo opportunities. This combination provides a versatile and dynamic trail running experience. The uneven terrain, paired with varying elevations, ensures a unique, rewarding and unforgettable challenge.

Checkpoints along the route will be stationed approximately every 6-8 km and will offer only water. These checkpoints are critical to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants while navigating the trail. 

• Support and Hydration: Each checkpoint will provide water to keep participants hydrated. Runners should carry their own nutrition and electrolytes throughout the challenge. 
• Mandatory Entry: All participants must pass through and check in at each checkpoint.
• Safety Monitoring: At the checkpoints, race marshals will determine if any runner requires assistance and/or fit to continue or stop the challenge

Mandatory Gear

For your safety, we require you to bring all mandatory gear listed below at all times during the race. While trail running is a fun and adventure-filled sport, we aim to make sure that all participants understand the importance of safety first and are well-equipped to endure the challenges and risks of the event. 

• Running vest with at least 1L water capacity in a bladder and/or bottles
• Electrolytes – at least 3,000mg sodium + other electrolytes
• Nutrition – at least 1,000 Kcal of energy gels, bars or equivalent
• Whistle
• Emergency blanket
• Trail running-specific shoes in good condition, with socks
• Comfortable, moisture-wicking clothing
• Fully charged phone
• Sports watch or smartphone with pre-uploaded GPX route file
• Headlamp or flashlight with primary and spare batteries, for the longer distance runners
• A small first aid kit

Recommended Gear

These items are for your comfort and convenience during the race. We leave the choice to you to bring the following:

• Running cap or hat, preferably with neck protection or a buff
• Sunglasses
• Sand gaiters
• Sunscreen
• Trekking poles
• Removable arm sleeves
• Blinkers
• Power bank to charge your phone

There are no race requirements to join the races of this event. However, because of the high elevation gains, we strongly recommend you train well. Please note that the race organizers may recommend you to join a shorter race, depending on your fitness level.

When you pay the registration fee, we will reserve a spot for you at the following lodges:

• The Secret Garden mountain lodge (1st night)
• Ramadan Garden mountain lodge (2nd night)

Both lodges have running fresh mountain water, a squat toilet shed, several stone rooms and semi open sheds. Runners can sleep in the rooms, under the sheds or fix their personal tents in the garden. The weather will be perfect during daytime and a bit cold at night. Aside from the mandatory race gear, runners should pack the following items to use at the accommodations:

• Sleeping bag, sleeping mat
• Warm layers, jacket
• Headlamp, primary batteries and spare batteries
• Toiletries, towel, toilet paper
• Own medication, ear plugs, preferred beverages (coffee, tea, etc.), personal items
• A swimsuit

St. Katherine sits at approximately 1,600 metres above sea level, giving it a notably different climate from the rest of Egypt. During the race weekend at the end of April and early May, expect warm and sunny days with temperatures typically reaching 22–27°C (72–81°F) and cool nights that can drop to around 8–12°C (46–54°F).

May is one of the driest and least humid months of the year in St. Katherine, with virtually no chance of rainfall and very low humidity. Skies are typically clear with strong UV levels — sunscreen, sunglasses, and a cap with neck protection are essential on race day.

Pack warm layers for the evenings and overnight at camp. A sleeping bag rated to at least 5°C is strongly recommended.

Your registration fees include bus services from Cairo to the race venue and back. If you are flying into Cairo, please plan your arrival on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 and book your accommodation in the Maadi neighbourhood, South Cairo. Do not plan flights out of Cairo before 9:00 pm on Saturday, 2 May 2026.

Nearby Airports

• Cairo International Airport (CAI) — primary recommended airport for international arrivals
• Sphinx International Airport (SPX) — convenient for domestic flights

Recommended Airport-to-City Transportation

Cairo Shuttle Bus — an affordable and reliable shuttle service operating 24/7 between Cairo International Airport and destinations across the city. Book online at cairoshuttlebus.com.

Recommended Hotel in Cairo (Maadi Area)

Holiday Inn Cairo — we will share an exclusive promo code for our runners upon registration confirmation.

Recommended Travel Agent for International Runners

Khaset Expeditions — for travel coordination, tours, and local logistics, contact Mahmoud Noureldin at mnoureldin@khaset.com.

Your registration includes all meals starting from Thursday lunch until and Saturday breakfast. Vegetarian and vegan options are available upon request. Please make sure to inform us if you have any food allergies. Participating runners must provide their trail nutrition during the race.

Your registration fees includes:

• Bus transportation from Cairo to St. Katherine and back
• All meals starting Thursday lunch and ending Saturday breakfast
• Water and Bedouin beverages
• Personalized challenge shirt
• Finisher’s Medal
• Checkpoints support
• Professional photography of runners

This is a limited entry challenge. We will give priority to securing runners’ accommodations and bus spots. We do not guarantee availability of accommodations and transportation for families and support crew.

Only basic first aid will be available during the race. If need arises, injured participants will be transported to the nearest hospital for additional care. We recommend you have personal medical insurance to ensure you receive the best care in a medical facility if necessary.

We would love to have you at our race and experience the adventure of running at the heart of Egypt! It is easy to join — all you need is to register here. When filling out the registration form, please ensure you upload a screenshot or photo of your passport. That’s it!

If you are flying into Cairo, please plan your arrival on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 and book your accommodation in the Maadi neighbourhood, South Cairo. Do not plan flights out of Cairo before 9:00 pm on Saturday, 2 May 2026.

For airport-to-hotel transfers, we recommend Cairo Shuttle Bus, a reliable 24/7 shuttle service bookable online. For travel planning assistance — including tours, logistics, and local coordination — contact our recommended travel agent Khaset Expeditions: Mahmoud Noureldin at mnoureldin@khaset.com.

Runners must be at least 18 years old to join any distance in this Sinai Mountain Challenge. Younger participants must be accompanied by their parent/guardian.