Discover the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh

Ras Mohammed is widely known as one of Egypt’s most famous diving and snorkelling areas. And it sits just 20 minutes from Sharm by boat. The reef walls at Shark and Yolanda Reef descend steeply into deep Red Sea waters. The underwater visibility easily exceeds 30 metres. Even surface snorkellers can clearly see reef sharks, huge turtles, and heavily dense coral gardens right in the shallows. Book a very early morning boat trip to totally beat other groups.

The towering 2,285-metre summit of Mount Sinai delivers one of the most spectacular sunrises in the entire Middle East. Great tours depart Sharm right at midnight. You drive two and a half hours to the main mountain base and begin the three-hour hike completely in the dark. The final summit totally rewards you with a panoramic sweeping view across the Sinai mountains right as the sun breaches the horizon. Dress warmly because temperatures plunge below five degrees Celsius at the top.

Skip the vastly overpriced hotel gift shops. Head straight to the famous Old Market for properly handcrafted souvenirs, fresh spices, local perfume oils, and traditional Egyptian textiles at totally real local prices. The market deeply comes alive in the evening. Arrive well after six for the absolute best buzzing atmosphere. Aggressive bargaining is completely expected and highly part of the fun cultural experience. Confidently start your offers at 40 percent of the asking price.

The massive Sinai desert interior looks dramatically different from the busy coastline. High-speed quad bike and camel safaris take you directly into the rugged interior. You get to see exactly where traditional Bedouin communities proudly maintain their historic way of life. The absolute best packages heavily include a gorgeous sunset ride. This is followed by an incredible dinner right under the stars at an authentic Bedouin camp. You get freshly grilled local food and pure Arabic tea.

Hotels and massive dive centres absolutely accept credit cards. But local street shops, taxis, traditional markets, and small restaurants fully operate on direct cash. You can easily find reliable ATMs sitting around Naama Bay and the main airport. The Egyptian Pound serves as the true local currency. US dollars are also very widely accepted for major tours and big excursions. You will absolutely get highly better rates if you simply pay for everything directly in EGP.