The 8 Best Things To Do In Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
Looking for more to do in Egypt than just the pyramids? Do some of the best excursions and other things to do in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt!
Egypt was the second country that I ever got to travel to, and after visiting Cairo, I was so thankful I parted ways and looked into Sharm El-Sheikh for some other adventures. After some long backpacking and other events, I was ready to go somewhere to relax and do something more fun than just visiting a museum or historical site. A friend of mine recommended Sharm El-Sheikh, but I had a difficult time trying to figure out what I’d do once I arrived. Here’s what I’ve learned about what the area has to offer.
1. Snorkeling
Sure, you could go snorkeling anywhere with water, but doing it in the Red Sea is an experience you won’t forget. The water surrounding Sharm El-Sheikh is clear, and there are so many reefs to explore. There are a lot of places to pick from, but one of the most popular is in the Straits of Tiran, which has a total of 4 different reefs to explore leading up to the shores of Tiran Island.
The reefs are the Gordon Reef, Thomas Reef, Woodhouse Reef, and Jackson Reef, all of which are unique in their own way. To get to one of these reefs, you’ll need to hire a boat, and there are a lot of companies available to choose from. I would highly recommend combining snorkeling one of these reefs with scuba diving, or a scuba diving lesson if it is your first time.
If you’d like to find somewhere along the shoreline, Ras Nasrani can be accessed by land and is about a 10-kilometer drive north of Na’ama Bay.
2. Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is a fantastic way to get the most out of your time in Sharm El-Sheikh. If you haven’t been before, don’t worry, there are tons of lessons available in the area. Tons of diving centers and clubs run along the coastline and offer a variety of packages for experienced divers and first-time divers alike. For visitors with a little more time on their hands, many of the companies offer packages to get dive-certified.
On my own trip, I went scuba diving for the very first time and had a blast. Especially if it’s your first time, I would book a scuba diving experience in the Straits of Tiran, where the company will take you out on the boat and often provide a nice lunch. Most places will adjust the price based on how many dives you’d like to complete at the different reefs that are stopped at, but when you aren’t diving, you can go snorkeling, have a float, or soak up some sun.
3. ATV Quad Biking
While visiting the area, you certainly should go out and get dirty, and there’s no better way to do it than taking a quad biking tour in the desert. Chances are that you didn’t bring your own ATV, so you’ll need to rent one. The best bang for your buck is going to be to find an organized tour that provides more than just quad biking on its itinerary.
Many companies offer combined packages for riding out into the Sinai Desert and Wester Desert, along with breaks, photo stops, sandboarding, camel rides, and more. Most tours will start sometime around noon and end sometime in the evening, but more extensive and focused quad rides are available.
Make sure to bring some sunglasses to keep the dust out of your eyes, and ask for a face mask when you arrive. The operator will show you how to tie the mask to keep the dust off your face and out of your mouth. It’s called many different things depending on where you are, a headscarf, shawl, bandana, so pay attention to how to wear it for if, and when, it gets undone.
4. Camel Rides
If you’ve never ridden a camel before, you need to. Sure, it’s extremely touristy, but just hop on and get the photo for yourself, your family, or social media. I can’t say that I would pay only to ride a camel and that’s all; but paired with other experiences in Sharm El-Sheikh, or on a longer route somewhere, it’ll be a great experience for you.
Be mindful of the instructions that you’re given so you don’t find yourself falling off and lying flat on your back, because camels are taller than you might expect, and it’ll certainly hurt.
5. Horseback Riding
How many people get to say that they rode horses through the Egyptian desert? Well, not too many. I am not an avid horse rider, neither in Western style, English style, or any other. I am more of a tell-the-horse-to-go and hope I don’t fall off style rider. That said, horse riding experiences are available in Sharm El-Sheikh, and I recommend trying one of them out.
The instructors will give you a small rundown on how to ride, and plenty of dos and don’ts. They’ll let you set the pace for what you’re comfortable with and pick out a horse tailored to your riding experience to ensure that your ride concludes safely. For visitors with more riding experience than myself, which is most people, the instructors will likely just ride with you and let you have your fun, particularly if you are familiar with riding English.
6. Bedouin Tent
If you’re going to explore the desert, book an experience in a Bedouin tent. If you don’t know, a Bedouin is the general term for nomadic Arab person(s) in this area of the world. Make sure to check this experience off your bucket list and pair it with some other activities on the way there and back.
Plenty of companies offer an experience to take a quad bike or camel to or from your experience. While you’re there, take part in a BBQ and stick around till the evening for some prime stargazing in the desert. While you’re eating, most Bedouin tent experiences will have a show including a myriad of traditional dances including a fire dance, which is a blast to see in the evening.
7. Other Outdoor Activities
There’s a lot to do in Sharm El-Sheikh, so if you haven’t found what you’re looking for just yet, check out this small list of additional things to do in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Parasailing
For adventurers who need some airtime, parasailing is widely available in the area. Take a boat out with some friends and float off into the sky for some incredible views from above.
Dune Buggies
Perhaps quad biking is not quite enough to get your adrenaline up. If not, consider something a little faster and taking a dune buggy out into the desert for some fun.
Glass Bottom Boat Tours
If you’d like to get out on the water, but maybe aren’t adventurous enough to want to snorkel or scuba dive the reefs, try taking a boat cruise on one of the many boat tours available with glass bottoms. You’ll get great views of the reefs and wildlife without even getting wet!
8. Day Trips from Sharm El-Sheikh
Should you find yourself looking for more to do and have the time for it, there are a lot of day trips running from Sharm El-Sheikh. Depending on how far out you’re going, the mode of transportation ranges from air, land, or sea. There are many available to choose from, and vary from a one-day excursion to several days.
Pyramids of Giza
No list of day trips in Egypt would be complete without mentioning the Pyramids. Even if you only have one day free, this would be the top thing to do for a day trip from Sharm El-Sheikh. Be aware, that taking a trip to Cairo will require flights and a long day of travel, but will be well worth it. Several companies offer a roughly 15-16 hour day trip including roundtrip flights from Sharm El-Sheikh where you’ll see both the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum of Antiques in Cairo.
Dahab & The Blue Hole
If you like to scuba dive, Dahab is the diving gem of Egypt, containing one of the world’s best places to scuba dive, the Blue Hole. You can choose to either snorkel or dive but be aware that some areas of the Blue Hole are for experienced divers only. Dahab is definitely worth a day trip to explore, especially if you want to get out in the water.
Colored Canyon
The colored canyon is a popular hiking location just north of Dahab and just outside of Nuweiba. Some of the rocks and the canyon are as tall as 40 meters tall and during sunrise and sunset, the reflection of the light makes for some spectacular colors throughout the walls of the canyon. If you want to combine the day trip with something, consider doing Dahab and the Colored Canyon in one tour!
Mount Sinai & St. Catherine’s Monastery
Located in the middle of the Sinai peninsula, Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine’s Monastery can be found. The monastery is the oldest Christian monastery of its kind that is still in use today. Legend has it that Moses himself transcribed the 10 commandments atop Mt. Sinai, and that the site where St. Catherine’s sits today was built atop where to burning bush was said to be. If you’re a history buff, taking a day trip to this world heritage site is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Luxor & The Valley of Kings
The city of Luxor and the Valley of Kings, where King Tutankhamun’s tomb is located, is a must-see for anyone visiting Egypt. Despite being across the Red Sea, many tour operators organize one-day trips, including airfare, to get visitors to the area. Bear in mind taking a day trip here from Sharm El-Sheikh will be a long day, but I am sure that you will consider the time well spent.
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