Things to do in Sharm El Sheikh: the 12 unmissable experiences

Escursioni Sharm helps you work out what to do in Sharm El Sheikh and book it with verified local operators, with no prepayment and payment on site. Sharm is not just resorts and sun loungers: here are the 12 experiences worth putting in your plan, with real prices verified in October 2026.

Sea and coral reef

1. Ras Mohammed by boat (€25-40) — the best-selling excursion: snorkelling in Egypt's most famous marine park, 30-45 minutes by boat. Details and booking.
2. Tiran Island (€26-40) — a full day on a boat at the Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon reefs. See the trip.
3. Snorkelling from the beach (free or nearly free) — in Sharm the reef starts at the shore: the beaches of Sharks Bay and Ras Umm Sid give you reef without paying anything, just the possible beach entry fee.
4. Intro dive (€25-53) — a first dive with a dedicated instructor, no certification needed. How it works.
5. PADI Open Water course (€330-360) — if you have 3-4 days, you fly home with the international certification. Course programme.

The Sinai desert

6. Quad bike safari (€10-30) — 3 hours at sunrise or sunset among dunes and Bedouin villages. Book the safari.
7. Bedouin dinner under the stars (€20-40) — traditional dinner, show and stargazing. The evening in detail.
8. Mount Sinai and St Catherine (€22-40) — night climb and sunrise from the summit, then the UNESCO monastery. Times and real effort.

Culture: the big day trips

9. Cairo by plane (€200-210) — Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum in one day. On a tighter budget? There is the bus at €50-60. Full programme.
10. Luxor by plane (€205-225) — Valley of the Kings and Karnak temple. What you see.
11. Petra in Jordan (€220-248) — a long but unforgettable day. Logistics and visas.

Evenings and free time

12. Naama Bay and the Old Market — evening stroll among bars, shisha and the old town's market. All the tips in the Sharm nightlife guide.

Beaches with a coral reef from the shore

One of the things that make Sharm special: you do not need a boat to see the reef. At Sharks Bay, Ras Umm Sid and along many stretches of Hadaba the reef begins a few metres from the shoreline: you wade in with mask and snorkel and you are immediately above the corals. Some beaches are free, others charge a small entry fee or belong to resorts (accessible with a day pass). Bring reef shoes and respect the golden rule: never walk on the corals.

Sharm as a couple, with family or with friends

Every group has its ideal programme. Couples: Ras Mohammed, a Bedouin dinner under the stars and a cultural trip by plane — the romantic-yet-curious mix that always works. Families with children: boat trips with assisted snorkelling, glass-bottom boats for the little ones, quad safari as passengers and the Bedouin dinner; avoid the ultra-long days like Petra. Groups of friends: quads, a group intro dive, evenings in Naama Bay and, for certified divers, dive trips on the Tiran reefs. Older travellers: Tiran or Ras Mohammed on large, comfortable boats, Cairo by plane (no night bus) and private transfers.

How to use this guide

Each item in the list links to the dedicated page with the detailed programme, verified prices, what is included and how to book. Our advice: first pick the week's "big trip" (Cairo, Luxor or Petra), then fill the sea days with Ras Mohammed, Tiran or a diving activity, and close with a desert evening. This way you balance intense days with rest days — which is exactly the rhythm at which Sharm is best enjoyed.

How to organise the typical week

A schedule that works over 7 days: day 1 beach and settling in; day 2 Ras Mohammed; day 3 rest or shore snorkelling; day 4 the big cultural trip (Cairo or Luxor); day 5 quad safari at sunset + Bedouin dinner; day 6 Tiran or an intro dive; day 7 relaxing before the flight. Indicative total budget: €200-400 per couple, over €500 with the domestic flights. All the figures in the complete price table.

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