Sharm el-Sheikh Reef and Desert Activities

October 31, 2026

Travel advice, as of October 2026: The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to North Sinai and against all but essential travel to parts of northern South Sinai away from the coast. It calls the Red Sea resorts of southern Sinai generally low risk and places Sharm el-Sheikh outside the restricted area, but it also warns that regional tensions are high. Desert safaris from Sharm stay on the resort side of those lines. Read the FCDO advice for Egypt and check your own government’s page before you book.

Sharm el-Sheikh is a string of bays along the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, not a walkable town. The Old Market and harbour sit at the south end, Naama Bay is the central hub with dive centres and a beachfront promenade, and Sharks Bay and Nabq Bay lie to the north near the airport. Most activities are sold as half-day or full-day outings with hotel pickup, so the real choice is which sea or desert trip suits you.

Ras Mohammed National Park by boat

Ras Mohammed, at the very tip of the peninsula, is the most popular day on the water. Boat tours run from the Sharm marinas and usually last around six hours, with hotel pickup, lunch and several snorkel stops. The park fee is roughly 5 to 8 US dollars per person (about 250 to 400 EGP) and is usually included in boat packages. The signature reef walls are Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, and Yolanda also holds a scatter of bathroom fixtures from a wreck of 1980. Magic Lake and the mangrove channel are the usual snorkel and photo stops. The deep drift sites have strong currents, so they are for guided boat dives only and never for entering from the shore.

Diving and snorkelling with licensed centres

Naama Bay and the bays around it are packed with dive centres. Operators listed in the Wikivoyage Sharm el-Sheikh guide include Camel Dive Club, Sinai Divers, Emperor Divers, Ocean College and Red Sea Diving College. Easy house-reef sites are Ras Um Sid at the south end, Near and Far Gardens at Naama Bay and the reefs of Sharks Bay in the north. Day boats also run to the reefs of the Strait of Tiran. The FCDO notes that standards on diving boats vary, so pick a licensed centre, make sure your insurance covers your depth and ask how rescues are handled.

Desert safaris and quad trips

Quad and jeep trips usually last two to three hours and cost from about 26 to 45 US dollars on 2026 listings, which is roughly 1,300 to 2,250 EGP at about 50 EGP to the dollar. Many include Bedouin tea or dinner, and the sunset slot is the favourite. Echo Mountain is a named stop on listings. The FCDO has reported several serious quad accidents involving British visitors, so choose a licensed operator, wear a helmet, long sleeves and closed shoes, stay on the marked route and check that your insurance covers quads. Landmines remain in parts of Egypt’s deserts, some near Sharm, which is one more reason to keep to marked tracks.

Parasailing, kite and windsurf

Parasailing is sold from boats. Wikivoyage lists about 1,500 EGP for two people or 1,200 EGP solo for a trip of around 45 minutes with a flight of five to seven minutes. Treat that as a rough guide, because prices move with the exchange rate. Nabq Bay in the north has steady wind and is the main area for kite and windsurfing.

Glass-bottom boats and SeaScope

Glass-bottom boats leave from the Naama Bay jetty by Al-Bostan beach. The SeaScope semi-submarine leaves from the marina on a trip of about 2.5 to 3 hours. Both suit anyone who would rather see the reef without getting wet. Departure times change with the season, so ask your hotel desk.

Reef rules and sea safety

Egyptian law bans touching, standing on or breaking coral, collecting shells or coral, spearfishing and feeding fish. Use a guide and reef-safe sunscreen. Sharks are rare but real, so heed lifeguard and operator flags, keep out of the water at dawn and dusk and stay away from boats.

Money, visas and getting around

The Egyptian pound (EGP) runs at about 48 to 50 to the US dollar and moves. Dive, safari and boat operators often quote in euros or dollars, while taxis, tips and small vendors want cash in EGP. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare before you get in. Tap water is not drinkable. On arrival at Sharm airport, a free entry stamp covers stays of under 15 days within the Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resort area, and a visa on arrival costs 30 US dollars in cash. Anything beyond the resort strip may need a full visa, so ask your operator.

Compare reef and safari options on GetYourGuide or Viator . The FCDO safety and security page covers quads, diving boats and sharks in detail.