Baraka Gardens (Mountain and Desert Garden Retreats)
St. Katherine, South Sinai, Egypt
Life, where you wouldn’t expect it – deep in the arid and rugged Sinai mountain range there are lush gardens in sandy desert escarpments, along long rocky valleys, in hidden granite basins. It is a Biblical land, where Jethro’s daughters tended their sheep, where Moses fetched water from the rock, where God delivered his commandments. Since early Byzantine times it has been inhabited by hermits and desert nomads. Monks, and the Bedouin likewise, used to seek quite retreats, where they could escape the busy life of the world. The Bedouins of the mountains became expert gardeners, self-reliant and free. Today the tradition lives on, and the Jabaleya Bedouin of the mountains still tend their gardens and prefer life out in nature then in the towns.
"Baraka Gardens, located in the rugged Sinai mountains, provides
accommodation and a relaxing holiday in any of the traditional Bedouin
gardens which have been subtly upgraded to meet Western requirements.
We also organize garden tours to visit some or all of them as part of
a comfortable hike in the mountains. The retreats are simple but
adequate, built using mostly traditional and natural techniques and
materials, and are located in or next to organic gardens and orchards.
The region is a UNESCO World Heritage Area for its natural and
cultural importance, and lies within the St. Katherine Protectorate.
It is a holy landscape, with many religious sites dating back to
Biblical times and still functioning Greek Orthodox monasteries. The
distinctive desert garden culture, passed on by Byzantine monks, still
lives on and the Jabaleya Bedouin are keen gardeners. It is a unique
high altitude desert ecosystem, with many endemic medicinal and
aromatic herbs, natural water pools, stunning mountain vistas.
The area is ideal for a relaxing stay, to slow down and absorb nature,
as well as for a more active holiday with hikes and easy walks
tailored to your needs. The gardens are also a highly suitable
location for groups undertaking workshops, courses or retreats focused
on meditation, yoga, healing or various other activities."
What is Baraka-Gardens?
• Mini eco-lodges and organic gardens
• Unique high altitude desert ecosystem, pleasant climate
• Traditional culture and positive development
• Tranquil retreats, ideal for yoga, meditation, relaxation
• Silence, fresh mountain air, medicinal and aromatic herbs
• Easy nature walks, at your own pace
• Stunning settings, powerful energies
• Socially and environmentally responsible, eco-tourism in a real sense
