Sharm el-Sheikh is in the south of the Sinai peninsula, on the Red Sea shore, and people come here mainly for the water. The reef begins a few steps from the shore, which means you put on a mask and drop straight into a coral garden. Even in winter the water stays mild, and this is the resort’s main advantage. Below I have written what to pay attention to when planning the trip.
The reef, diving and the sea tours
Ras Mohammed national park is counted among the best-known diving spots in the world and is less than an hour from the town by boat. The area around Tiran island is more suitable for beginner level, because the current is weak. The boat tours usually leave in the morning and come back in the afternoon, with lunch included in the price.
Observe one rule without fail: touching the coral and standing on it is forbidden, because coral is a living organism and damage takes years to repair. Buy reef shoes; they protect both the coral and your feet. Taking the sea tours in advance works out cheaper than negotiating on the beach.
Choosing a hotel and a zone in Sharm el-Sheikh
The resort is divided into several zones and the choice changes the experience completely. Naama bay is the liveliest part, with restaurants and shops within walking distance. Sharks bay is quieter and suits families, while the Nabq zone is far from the town but has wide beaches in exchange.
When choosing a hotel, look separately at the access to the water; comparing the beach photographs on the hotel pages shows this clearly. At some hotels the reef starts straight from the shore and you enter the water by a pontoon, while others have a sandy entry. If you are going with a child, choose a place with a sandy beach, because getting down from a pontoon is not comfortable for a small child.
Away from the water: the desert and the mountain
The narrow gorge called the Coloured Canyon is in the desert and its walls really are coloured in layers. You go there by quad bike or jeep tour and it takes half a day. Choose the morning hours, as walking through in the midday heat is hard.
Saint Catherine’s monastery and Mount Sinai are further away; you set off at night and meet the sunrise at the summit. The climb takes three or four hours and requires preparation, so take warm clothing, because towards morning it is cold up there. The town of Dahab is an hour away and has an entirely different, quiet atmosphere.
Read more: An Egypt travel guide: Cairo and the pyramids, Luxor, the Nile cruise, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh
Budget and practical rules in Sharm el-Sheikh
| All-inclusive hotel | A night for two, roughly 60–140 euros |
| Boat tour | 25–45 euros a head, lunch included |
| Desert tour | Half a day, 25–40 euros |
| Taxi | The price is agreed in advance, there is no meter |
Do not drink the tap water; bottled water is cheap everywhere. From the airport to the hotel, booking a fixed-price transfer is easier than haggling with a taxi. Haggling over prices at the market is considered normal and it is possible to come down considerably from the first figure quoted. If your flight dates are flexible, following Baku–Sharm el-Sheikh ticket prices in advance changes the budget. Official tourism information about the country is on Egypt’s official tourism portal.
Season in Sharm el-Sheikh
March–May and September–November are the most comfortable period, the weather is 25–33 degrees and the water stays warm. In July–August the temperature passes forty and staying on the beach at midday is difficult, but in exchange prices come down. In December–February the weather is 20–24 degrees, the evenings cool and the wind picks up, but the water is still fit for swimming. The best visibility for diving falls in the autumn months.
In short
Sharm el-Sheikh is a place you go for the water, the reef and the sun, while the cultural programme is secondary. Choose your hotel by the type of beach, do not touch the coral, agree the taxi price in advance, and stay away from the tap water. If you also want to see the historical part of Egypt, you can look at combined tour programmes for Egypt. For entry rules and a route, fill in the application form.
Note: the entry regime and prices are changeable, so check from an official source before travelling.
