The best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh come in three flavours: days on the water at Ras Mohammed and the reefs, afternoons in the South Sinai desert with the Bedouin, and slow evenings in Naama Bay, Soho Square or the Old Market. Plan one big excursion every other day, fill the gaps with free reef snorkeling and town walks, and a week here never feels repetitive. This is the list we give friends when they ask what Sharm is really worth.
How to plan your Sharm El Sheikh excursions
A few simple rules make a week in Sharm work much better:
- Alternate big and easy days. The boat trip to Ras Mohammed is a full day in the sun, and a desert safari with dinner brings you back late. Follow each with a pool or beach day.
- Sea early, desert late. The wind often picks up later in the day, so mornings are usually the best time on the water. The desert is kindest in the late afternoon, especially from June to September, when daytime temperatures reach 35–40°C or more.
- Pack a jacket in winter. From December to February days are around 21–25°C, but evenings drop to about 15–17°C — and the desert feels colder than town.
- Book the long trips first. Lock in the boat day and the safari, then slot the shorter Sharm El Sheikh excursions around them.
Every Mido Tours trip can be arranged with hotel pick-up and drop-off, and because everything is private or small-group, pick-up times and combinations can be adjusted to suit your family.
Sea trips: Ras Mohammed, reefs and boats
Ras Mohammed and White Island by boat
If you only do one excursion, make it this one. Ras Mohammed, at the southern tip of Sinai, became Egypt’s first national park in 1983, and reefs like Shark and Yolanda are a big part of why Sharm became a diving name. Our Ras Mohammed and White Island boat trip is a full day on a yacht with three snorkeling stops at top reefs, a BBQ lunch and soft drinks on board, and time at White Island, a sandbar with shallow turquoise water that children love.
Tip: Bring your passport or a copy of it. Boat passengers are usually registered with the port authority before the boat leaves the marina.
Glass-bottom boat and semi-submarine
Not everyone wants to put their face in the water. The glass-bottom boat trip in Sharm lasts about 1.5–2 hours, with shade on board while coral and fish pass under the glass. The Sharm El Sheikh semi-submarine goes a step further: about an hour of the roughly 1.5-hour trip is spent in an air-conditioned lower cabin with big windows onto the reef, plus time on the open upper deck. Neither needs any swimming or diving skills.
Your first dive, straight from the beach
Sharm is a gentle place to try diving because the coral starts close to the shore. An introductory shore dive with an instructor takes about 2–3 hours, needs no experience, and starts with a walk in from the beach — no boat ride and no seasickness.
Water sports and dolphins
Parasailing and banana boat
For a burst of adrenaline between pool days, parasailing over the Red Sea gives you 15–20 minutes in the air with a panoramic view of the coast. Tandem flights are possible on request, so a nervous first-timer can go up with a partner. Groups and teenagers usually head for the banana boat and sofa tube ride instead: 30–60 minutes towed behind a speedboat, life jackets provided, and a lot of falling in.
Dolphins: swim or watch
There are two dolphin options. The swim with dolphins session in Sharm is a short, supervised swim of about 15 minutes at a dolphin facility — brief, but it’s the part of the holiday many children talk about afterwards. If you’d rather stay dry, the dolphin show in Sharm El Sheikh runs about an hour, with trained dolphins, music and plenty of photo moments.
Desert, Bedouin camps and horses
Quad or buggy desert safari
The desert begins just behind the hotels, and it’s a completely different Sinai: dunes, granite mountains and a huge sky. On our half-day desert safari by quad or buggy you follow guided desert tracks, stop for mountain photos, take a short camel ride and drink tea in a Bedouin camp. Choose the evening option for a Bedouin dinner with a tanoura dancer and a fire show.
Tip: Wear closed shoes and sunglasses, bring a scarf for the dust, and leave anything valuable in the hotel safe.
Family buggy safari
With young children, the family buggy safari is the gentler version. Two adults and a child share a buggy (a four-seat layout is available on request), the trails are easy and guided, and the visit ends with drinks and Bedouin hospitality in camp.
Horse riding on the beach at Nabq
A guided horse ride on the beach in the Nabq Protected Area lasts about 1–2 hours along the shoreline. When conditions allow, you ride the horses into the sea for a swim — the moment everyone films. Sunset rides are the most popular, so ask early in your stay.
Free things to do in Sharm El Sheikh
Not everything needs a booking — these are the places we send friends on their own, and they’re among the most relaxed things to do in Sharm El Sheikh.
Walk the Naama Bay promenade
Naama Bay is Sharm’s busiest bay, and its seafront promenade comes alive after dark, with restaurants, cafés and shops along the walk. Strolling from one end to the other costs nothing, and it’s the easiest way to choose dinner on the spot.
Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque
The Old Market in Sharm El Maya (Old Sharm) is the most local-feeling part of town. Its landmark is Al Sahaba Mosque, a large Ottoman-style mosque that is especially photogenic in the evening. Around it you’ll find spice and souvenir shops and plenty of cafés. Bargaining is normal in the shops: smile, take your time, and walk away politely if the price doesn’t feel right.
Tip: If you’d like to step inside the mosque, go outside prayer times and dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered, and women should bring a scarf for their hair.
Soho Square
In the Sharks Bay / White Knight area, Soho Square is an open-air plaza of restaurants and entertainment with dancing fountains, bowling and even an ice bar. Wandering around and watching the fountains is free; bowling and the ice bar are paid extras.
Sunset at Farsha Café, Hadaba
Farsha Café is a cliff-top lounge in Hadaba with wide views over the Red Sea. Arrive before sunset to get a good seat. On the way, the Heavenly Cathedral, a Coptic church in the same area, is worth a quiet look.
Explore the Nabq mangroves
North of the airport, the Nabq Protected Area has mangroves, dunes and long, empty beach. You’ll need transport, so book a private driver by the hour or for the day and go at your own pace. Take water, sun protection and reef shoes.
Snorkel your hotel reef
Many hotels in Sharks Bay, Hadaba / Ras Um Sid and Nabq sit right on the reef, often with a jetty or pontoon so you can step off over the coral. Bring your own mask if you can (borrowed ones don’t always seal well), snorkel with a buddy, and get in only where your hotel shows you.
Tip: Don’t touch or stand on coral, use reef-safe sunscreen, and wear fins only where they’re allowed.
A sample 7-day plan
A balanced week of booked trips and free time — swap days to match the weather and your energy.
| Day | Daytime | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive, check in, first snorkel on the hotel reef | Naama Bay promenade and dinner |
| 2 | Ras Mohammed & White Island boat trip (full day) | Early night |
| 3 | Pool or beach morning | Desert safari with Bedouin dinner and fire show |
| 4 | Glass-bottom boat or semi-submarine | Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque |
| 5 | Intro shore dive, or a free reef day | Soho Square fountains and bowling |
| 6 | Parasailing or banana boat, then dolphins | Sunset horse ride at Nabq |
| 7 | Nabq mangroves or souvenir shopping | Farsha Café sunset, or straight to the airport |
Families with small children can swap the quad safari for the family buggy and give the dolphins a day of their own. Couples might replace the banana boat with a lazy reef day and a long sunset in Hadaba.
Beyond Sharm
With an extra day, Dahab is about 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 north through the mountains — our guide to getting from Sharm to Dahab covers every option. And if you’re still choosing a hotel, read where to stay in Sharm El Sheikh first: your base decides how easy those free evenings are.
Booking with locals
Mido Tours is a family-run Sharm team with more than 10 years in South Sinai and licensed local guides who speak English and Arabic. Send your hotel, dates and group size on WhatsApp to +20 10 1868 1624 and you’ll get a clear quote and a suggested plan, usually within minutes.
