Introduction
While you are staying in a resort, there are a multitude of activities available to you beyond the perimeter of the pool. The resort of Sharm El Sheikh is situated on the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula, bordering the Red Sea with its crystal clear waters and coral reefs.
The sea forms the core of any holiday. Spend one day discovering the underwater world of coral and fish and the next day can be spent discovering the vast expanse of the desert inland. Evenings can be spent at Naama Bay, SOHO Square or in the Bustling atmosphere of the Old Market.
The town of Sharm El Sheikh is distributed over several areas rather than all of them being centered in one single location. Therefore, depending on where you are staying, your trip can be of a completely different nature such as having a beach, nightlife, diving, etc. in addition to a resort-type setting.
Table of content:
Which Sharm El Sheikh Attractions Should You Prioritize?
- Ras Mohammed National Park
- Red Sea snorkeling and diving
- Boat trips
- Naama Bay
- SOHO Square
- Old Market area
- Nabq Bay
- Shark's Bay
- Desert safaris and quad-bike excursions
Naama Bay
SOHO Square and Shark's Bay
What Are the Best Things to Do in Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea?
Most activities below water offer great insights and fun times. Snorkeling, scuba diving and many boat trips give visitors a deeper look at some of the best reefs and most interesting underwater environments in the world.
Snorkeling in Sharm El Sheikh
Trips can be set up so that you can enter the water from the beach, off a jetty or even by boat in the middle of the reef.
The activities, equipment, number of stops and amount of supervision can vary between operators, so it is best to compare the descriptions of the different activities, such as a snorkeling trip to Ras Mohammed. Also, bear in mind the level of swimming of the participant and how comfortable they are in the open sea.
These marine excursions generally depart from Sharm El Sheikh to locations like Ras Mohammed, and the surrounding areas of the Strait of Tiran.
Diving in Sharm El Sheikh
Diving in Sharm El Sheikh offers something for the experienced diver as well as for the beginner. Introductory dives are carried out under proper supervision using the correct equipment and a structured program.
There are lots of different dive sites to visit in Sharm, but they need to offer the right kind of dive for the diver. Introductory dives are offered by a number of different operators and a big focus is put on the proper supervision of students as well as the use of quality rental equipment.
Some people even travel to Sharm El Sheikh just for the diving, so plan for more than a few days of diving and book good quality operators that can provide the correct dives for your experience level.
Boat Trips and Tiran Island
In addition to diving, there are many different Boat Trips around the Red Sea that you can go on. Depending on the duration of your trip, there are often many different activities and stops for snorkeling, swimming, etc. before returning back to land to continue your holiday.
Tiran Island, which is part of the off-shore waters around Sharm El Sheikh, is also one of the most popular destinations offered on boat trips, from Sharm El Sheikh. As with all trips offered from Sharm El Sheikh, it is best to read the full tour itinerary before booking your place.
What Can You Do Away from the Beach?
There are many advantages of staying in Sharm El Sheikh while traveling to the Red Sea and the Sinai desert. In the morning, guests can spend time exploring coral reefs, while in the afternoon they can travel inland in search of open desert and mountain landscapes.
Desert Safaris and Quad Biking
Most Desert Safaris in Sharm El Sheikh depart from Sharm El Sheikh. As a rule of thumb the Desert Safari Program determines the mode of transport, such as Quad Bike, Four Wheel Drive etc., of the Safari Operator.
Content for each of the Safaris offered can vary including means of transport, number of hours for activities, range of activities and even what will be included in the price of the Safari.
These types of excursions are also suitable for people who are on a beach-focused holiday and are looking to add a completely different landscape to their travels.
Old Market Area
Old Market Area - Shopping in the Old Market Area of Sharm El Sheikh. This area comprises of shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and retails outlets on a commercial street. Unlike Naama Bay, the resorts and the Marina this is a local shopping area that can be visited in the evening.
However it is also possible to just visit the Old Market area for a night out in town, instead of spending a whole day of sightseeing there. This way, people can go and visit other parts of the city as well, for example Naama Bay, and still have time to go to other places and explore the rest of the city.
Which Day Trips Can You Take from Sharm El Sheikh?
From Sharm El Sheikh you can make longer trips from your base. It depends how much traveling around you want to do.
Dahab and Other Sinai Excursions
Dahab is located on the Gulf of Aqaba, elsewhere in the Sinai. A day trip to Dahab can be organized from Sharm El Sheikh and compared for example with respect to the means of transport as well as the activities to be executed.
Depending on how much time you have left to travel to get to your destination, Desert, Coastal and even other areas of the Sinai can be organized from Sharm as well.
Cairo, Luxor and Petra Excursions
The longer excursions are provided by some tour operators. These can be to historical destinations and would require a lot of traveling and therefore would need to be considered in terms of how much of a sightseeing day it would actually be.
If ancient Egypt is a major priority, it can often make more sense to incorporate Cairo or Luxor into a broader itinerary instead of compressing them into a single excursion from a resort stay. Browse Egypt tour packages when comparing multi-destination routes.
How Should You Plan Your Time in Sharm El Sheikh?
Using a Sharm El Sheikh itinerary helps to spread out active days and to leave space for other things. Many activities like snorkeling, diving, a desert safari and more, take up a complete day. So there’s not much time left for relaxing on the beach.
By alternately spending days at sea, on the beach, or in the desert and exploring different parts of the city in the evenings, you can experience a varied Sharm El Sheikh holiday. Families may prefer to spend shorter periods of time on activities in between stays at their resort, while divers may wish to organize a number of consecutive days of underwater excursions.
Getting around is also worth a thought since most areas of Sharm El Sheikh are spread out. Naama Bay, Nabq Bay, Shark's Bay, SOHO Square and the Old Market are not located within walking distance of each other and thus require transfers and/or local transport, depending on where you are staying.
FAQs
1- What are the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh?
The main things to do in Sharm El Sheikh include snorkeling, diving, boat trips, beach time, Ras Mohammed, desert excursions, and visits to areas such as Naama Bay and the Old Market. Longer day trips can also be arranged depending on your itinerary.
2- What are the main Sharm El Sheikh attractions?
Popular Sharm El Sheikh attractions include Ras Mohammed National Park, Naama Bay, SOHO Square, the Old Market, Shark's Bay, Nabq Bay, and the surrounding Red Sea marine areas. Many visitors also consider snorkeling, diving, and desert safaris essential parts of the destination.
3- Is Sharm El Sheikh good for snorkeling and diving?
Yes. Sharm El Sheikh is strongly associated with Red Sea snorkeling and diving. Visitors should select excursions based on their swimming or diving experience and check the supervision, equipment, and itinerary provided by the operator.
4- Can you take day trips from Sharm El Sheikh?
Yes. Excursions can range from local boat and desert trips to longer journeys within Sinai or to destinations such as Cairo, Luxor, and Petra. The amount of travel involved differs considerably, so compare the schedule before adding a long-distance excursion to your stay.
5- Which area of Sharm El Sheikh should I visit?
Different districts suit different travel styles. Naama Bay is associated with restaurants and an established resort atmosphere, while Shark's Bay, Nabq Bay, SOHO Square, and the Old Market provide other beach, leisure, or local experiences around the city.
