Wadi Araba
St. Catherine
St. Catherine is best known for its monastery. Set beneath the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, Saint Catherine Monastery has been one of the world’s great centers of religious pilgrimage for over fifteen centuries. Within its imposing walls rests a citadel like no other, incredibly rich in important religious and historical structures. Among its treasures is a library of ancient manuscripts and icons second only to the Vatican's itself, and a 6th century church reputed to lie directly on the site of the Burning Bush. Quite simply, the monastery is a defining feature of the Holy Land.
Dahab
Dahab, Egypt, is a laid-back Sinai resort on the Gulf of Aqaba, 379 mi/610 km southeast of Cairo. You can spend the entire day lounging at one of the palm-shaded restaurants on the golden beaches, listening to reggae tunes and chatting with fellow guests, usually a diverse selection of Western travelers and Israelis with colorful stories to tell.
Traditional attractions for visitors include taking a swim in the beautiful turquoise water or one of the Bedouin-led camel rides into the surrounding desert, which is particularly stunning at sunset.
Experienced divers will enjoy the Blue Hole, a 165-ft/50-m drop inhabited by an incredible variety of tropical fish, sea slugs and even sea turtles. Play it safe, though: A number of divers, especially those with advanced standing in diving, have perished in Blue Hole because they underestimated its disorienting labyrinthine structure. Less-experienced divers, who typically follow rules, have rarely had problems with the site.
You'll find resort-style hotels near the beach and less-expensive accommodations in the nearby Bedouin village.
Madaba
The prime attractions of Madaba, Jordan—located on the King's Highway, 20 mi/30 km southwest of Amman—are its many sixth-century Byzantine mosaics.
The most famous and most impressive of these mosaics is the enormous sixth-century map of Palestine and Egypt that is located in St. George's Greek Orthodox Church.
A few blocks from the church is the Madaba Archaeological Museum, which contains the remains of several Byzantine churches, including some wonderful mosaics found there and in other parts of the region, as well as other ancient artifacts. The nearby mosaic school was established to teach the restoration of these rare artworks.
Residents of Madaba are reclaiming their once-endangered heritage thanks to efforts, aided by USAID, such as the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration. The area offers many shops for mosaics and other souvenirs. Cafes and restaurants also proliferate.
Madaba is a good base for exploring surrounding sights. You should definitely consider a jaunt to Mount Nebo—it offers an excellent view of the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea and (on clear days) Jerusalem. A sixth-century church marks the spot where Moses is said to have seen the Land of Canaan at the end of his life (he, too, enjoyed the view).
Other area attractions include Mukawir (20 mi/34 km southwest of Madaba) or Herod's Fortress, where Salome danced and John the Baptist was beheaded); the beautiful mosaics in the church at Siyagha; and more beautiful mosaics in Umm ar-Rasas.
Near Herod's Fortress is the Bani Hamadi Project, where Bedouin women continue an ancient tradition of making and working with simple looms.
Cairo
Cairo and the ancient monuments of the Egyptian empire have fascinated visitors throughout the centuries. The mystifying Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza, over four thousand years old, stand majestically on the outskirts of the city at the edge of the desert. Cairo's Museum of Antiquities holds one of the finest collections of artifacts in the world, including the astounding treasures of King Tutankhamen's tomb.
St. Catherine is best known for its monastery. Set beneath the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments, Saint Catherine Monastery has been one of the world’s great centers of religious pilgrimage for over fifteen centuries. Within its imposing walls rests a citadel like no other, incredibly rich in important religious and historical structures. Among its treasures is a library of ancient manuscripts and icons second only to the Vatican's itself, and a 6th century church reputed to lie directly on the site of the Burning Bush. Quite simply, the monastery is a defining feature of the Holy Land.
Dahab, Egypt, is a laid-back Sinai resort on the Gulf of Aqaba, 379 mi/610 km southeast of Cairo. You can spend the entire day lounging at one of the palm-shaded restaurants on the golden beaches, listening to reggae tunes and chatting with fellow guests, usually a diverse selection of Western travelers and Israelis with colorful stories to tell.
Traditional attractions for visitors include taking a swim in the beautiful turquoise water or one of the Bedouin-led camel rides into the surrounding desert, which is particularly stunning at sunset.
Experienced divers will enjoy the Blue Hole, a 165-ft/50-m drop inhabited by an incredible variety of tropical fish, sea slugs and even sea turtles. Play it safe, though: A number of divers, especially those with advanced standing in diving, have perished in Blue Hole because they underestimated its disorienting labyrinthine structure. Less-experienced divers, who typically follow rules, have rarely had problems with the site.
You'll find resort-style hotels near the beach and less-expensive accommodations in the nearby Bedouin village.
The prime attractions of Madaba, Jordan—located on the King's Highway, 20 mi/30 km southwest of Amman—are its many sixth-century Byzantine mosaics.
The most famous and most impressive of these mosaics is the enormous sixth-century map of Palestine and Egypt that is located in St. George's Greek Orthodox Church.
A few blocks from the church is the Madaba Archaeological Museum, which contains the remains of several Byzantine churches, including some wonderful mosaics found there and in other parts of the region, as well as other ancient artifacts. The nearby mosaic school was established to teach the restoration of these rare artworks.
Residents of Madaba are reclaiming their once-endangered heritage thanks to efforts, aided by USAID, such as the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration. The area offers many shops for mosaics and other souvenirs. Cafes and restaurants also proliferate.
Madaba is a good base for exploring surrounding sights. You should definitely consider a jaunt to Mount Nebo—it offers an excellent view of the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea and (on clear days) Jerusalem. A sixth-century church marks the spot where Moses is said to have seen the Land of Canaan at the end of his life (he, too, enjoyed the view).
Other area attractions include Mukawir (20 mi/34 km southwest of Madaba) or Herod's Fortress, where Salome danced and John the Baptist was beheaded); the beautiful mosaics in the church at Siyagha; and more beautiful mosaics in Umm ar-Rasas.
Near Herod's Fortress is the Bani Hamadi Project, where Bedouin women continue an ancient tradition of making and working with simple looms.
Cairo and the ancient monuments of the Egyptian empire have fascinated visitors throughout the centuries. The mystifying Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza, over four thousand years old, stand majestically on the outskirts of the city at the edge of the desert. Cairo's Museum of Antiquities holds one of the finest collections of artifacts in the world, including the astounding treasures of King Tutankhamen's tomb.
