A quad biking desert safari in Sharm El Sheikh is a half-day trip into the South Sinai desert: you ride a quad bike or a buggy along sandy tracks between the mountains, stop for photos, take a short camel ride and drink a glass of tea at a Bedouin camp. No experience is needed — you get a briefing, then ride in a line behind the guide, who sets the pace. Go in the afternoon to catch the sunset, or stay on for an evening Bedouin dinner with a tanoura dancer and a fire show.
Quad, buggy, family buggy or camel?
The desert safari isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s how the options compare:
| Option | How it feels | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quad bike | Handlebars and a thumb throttle; you feel every bump and dip | Adults and confident teens who want to drive themselves | The most fun, and the dustiest |
| Buggy | Steering wheel, pedals and side-by-side seats; closer to driving a car | Couples, and anyone who’d rather not balance a quad | Feels more stable on sand; one of you can sit back and enjoy the view |
| Family buggy | Two adults and a child on easy guided trails (four-seat layout on request) | Families with younger children | Gentler pace, Bedouin hospitality and drinks in camp |
| Camel | Slow, swaying and very photogenic | Everyone | A short ride at the camp, included in the safari |
Most adults choose between a quad and a buggy on our desert safari in Sharm El Sheikh. If you’re coming with children, the family buggy safari is built around them: easier trails, a calmer pace and your child sitting right beside you.
How the half-day desert safari runs
Every group is a little different, but a typical safari looks like this:
- Hotel pick-up. An air-conditioned minivan collects you from your hotel. Your pick-up time depends on where you’re staying and whether you go in the morning or towards sunset.
- Out to the edge of the desert. A short drive out of town, the buildings stop and the desert begins. This is where you meet the vehicles and the guide.
- Briefing and a test run. The guide shows you the throttle, the brakes and how to ride in the group, then lets you try a few slow metres before setting off. Helmets go on and scarves get wrapped.
- Into the desert. You ride in single file along sandy tracks and wide valleys, with the mountains of South Sinai rising on both sides.
- Photo stops. The guide stops at dunes and viewpoints so you can take pictures — never while moving.
- The Bedouin camp. Tea, a short camel ride and time to sit in the shade and chat with your Bedouin hosts.
- Ride back and drop-off. You ride back to the start, swap helmets for the minivan and head back to your hotel.
Door to door it takes about half a day; the tour page shows the current duration.
Morning or sunset?
Sunset is the most popular choice, and for good reason. The low light turns the mountains orange and pink, the air cools as you ride, and you can roll straight into the evening programme if you’ve added dinner. From June to September it’s really the only sensible time — the midday desert is no fun on a quad.
Morning suits the cooler months, roughly October to April. The air is crisp, the light is clean for photos and you’re back at the hotel with the afternoon free. In the middle of winter, even a midday ride is perfectly comfortable.
Not sure which to pick? Tell us when you’re visiting and we’ll suggest the right timing — pick-up times can be adjusted. Our guide to the best time to visit Sharm El Sheikh has temperatures for every month.
Evening options: Bedouin dinner, tanoura and fire show
If you want to make a night of it, the safari can carry on after dark at the Bedouin camp. The evening options include:
- Bedouin dinner at the camp, a relaxed meal after the ride while the sky goes dark over the mountains.
- Tanoura show — a dancer spins for minutes on end in layered, brightly coloured skirts, a tradition with roots in Sufi whirling. It’s hypnotic to watch.
- Fire show — a performer working with flames against the black desert night, always a hit with kids and teenagers.
In winter the desert gets cold quickly after sunset — colder than town — so bring a warm layer even if the afternoon felt like summer.
Safety: what keeps the day fun
Quads and buggies are easy to learn, but the desert rewards a bit of common sense:
- Helmet on, strap fastened, for the whole ride — not just for the photos.
- Scarf and eye protection. Wrap a scarf or buff over your nose and mouth, and wear goggles or wraparound sunglasses. The dust is fine and gets everywhere.
- Closed shoes. Trainers are perfect; flip-flops and sandals are not. Your feet are close to the ground and to hot parts of the vehicle.
- Light long trousers protect your legs from sun, dust and engine heat.
- Follow the guide. Stay in the tracks, don’t overtake and don’t cut corners. The desert has soft patches and hidden dips that the guide knows and you don’t.
- Keep your distance from the vehicle in front — enough to brake comfortably and stay out of its dust cloud.
- Ride at your own pace. If you’re nervous, say so at the briefing. A good guide adjusts the pace to the slowest rider, and nobody minds.
- Drink water before and after the ride — sun and dust dry you out faster than you notice.
Local tip: if you have back problems, are pregnant or have any health concern, tell us before booking. A bumpy desert track isn’t right for everyone, and we would much rather suggest a gentler trip than have you uncomfortable out there.
Desert safari with kids
Children usually love the desert — the camels, the camp, the wide open space. For younger kids, the family buggy safari in Sharm El Sheikh is the comfortable choice: two adults and a child ride together on easy trails, with drinks and Bedouin hospitality waiting in camp. Tell us the ages of your children when you message us and we’ll point you to the option that fits. There are more family ideas in our guide to Sharm El Sheikh with kids.
Photography tips for the desert
- Secure your phone first. Use a zipped pocket or a lanyard; a phone dropped from a moving quad rarely survives.
- Protect it from dust. A small zip bag over the phone between stops saves the lens and the charging port.
- Never film while driving. Ask the guide to take photos of you at the stops — they know the best angles.
- Shoot with the sun behind you for strong colour in the afternoon, then turn towards the sunset for silhouettes of quads and camels against the sky.
- Get low. A photo from knee height makes the dunes look bigger and the camels look taller.
- Ask before photographing people at the camp. It’s simple courtesy.
- Wipe the lens before every shot. A dusty lens is the usual reason desert photos come out hazy.
What to wear and bring
- Closed shoes and light long trousers
- A T-shirt, plus a warm layer for winter or evening trips
- A scarf or buff, and sunglasses or goggles
- Sunscreen and a cap for the camp
- A bottle of water
- Small cash for tips
Booking your desert safari with Mido Tours
The desert safari is one of the most-reviewed trips on our site. With Mido Tours you ride with licensed local South Sinai guides who speak English and Arabic, and you’re picked up from and dropped back at your hotel. Have a look at the half-day desert safari, then send your date, the number of people and whether you’d like quads, buggies or the family buggy on WhatsApp at +20 10 1868 1624 — you’ll get a clear quote with no hidden fees. Still building your holiday plan? Our list of the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh is a good place to start.
