From the gardens of the guest house at St Catherine’s Monastery in spring, cherry trees blossom and doves coo and brilliant blue skies frame a sparkling platinum sun unique to this sacred peninsula.

Under the custodianship of Greek Orthodox monks, St Catherine’s is the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in the world and houses the largest library of ancient Christian texts outside of the Vatican.

Whispering throughout this land is the story of Moses and the journey of the people of Is-ra-el through initiation to sovereignty in a promised land. Memories of Hathor worship. The burning bush. Mount Sinai. The Bedouin. There is a reason why thousands of pilgrims journey here every year: it is a transformative desert land that leaves one forever changed.