In the waterفي الماء
- Ras Mohammed National Park — where the two gulfs meet. Shark and Yolanda Reef is a world-famous drift; the park also has mangroves and a salt lake on the land side.
- Straits of Tiran — four named reefs in the channel, strong coral and frequent current. Day-boat territory.
- The Thistlegorm — a Second World War supply wreck in the Strait of Gubal, still holding motorcycles and trucks. A long day boat or better on a liveaboard.
- Shore snorkelling — Ras Um Sid, Sharks Bay and many resort house reefs start metres from the beach.
- Glass-bottom boats and semi-submarines for non-swimmers.
On landعلى البر
| St Catherine's Monastery | Sixth-century monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai, about two hours inland. Opening hours are limited and change — check before setting out. |
|---|---|
| Mount Sinai sunrise | An overnight climb to be at the summit at dawn. Cold at the top, busy, and genuinely memorable. |
| Coloured Canyon | Sandstone canyon near Nuweiba, usually combined with a jeep desert day. |
| Desert safari | Quad, jeep or camel into the Sinai interior, often with a Bedouin dinner and stargazing. The stars out there are exceptional. |
| Dahab | 90 minutes up the coast — the Blue Hole, a laid-back seafront and better independent restaurants than Sharm. |
| Old Market | The Egyptian end of Sharm. Cheaper food, real shopping, worth an evening. |
Practical notesملاحظات
If you arrived on the free Sinai-only entry stamp, it covers South Sinai but not travel beyond it — check before booking anything that leaves the peninsula. Details on the visa page.
Water is warmest June to October and coolest in January and February. Wind picks up in spring. Reef-safe sunscreen matters here more than most places — the coral is close in and heavily visited. More on the town itself on the Sharm El Sheikh guide.
Common questionsأسئلة شائعة
What is there to do in Sharm El Sheikh apart from diving?
Desert safaris into the Sinai interior, St Catherine's Monastery and the Mount Sinai climb, day trips to Dahab and the Blue Hole, the Old Market, and glass-bottom boat trips for non-swimmers.
Is Ras Mohammed worth visiting?
It's the best-known dive and snorkel site in the region — sheer walls, strong marine life and the Shark and Yolanda drift. Reachable by day boat or by road for the land side.
Can you climb Mount Sinai from Sharm?
Yes, usually as an overnight trip timed to reach the summit at sunrise, combined with St Catherine's Monastery. It's cold at the top even in summer.
Do I need a full visa for excursions from Sharm?
If you entered on the free Sinai-only stamp, trips outside South Sinai require a standard visa. Confirm what your excursion covers before booking.