Sharm's geography opens up a different Egypt. St Catherine's Monastery, the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, sits in a granite valley two hours away – close enough for a morning excursion. Mount Sinai summit walks start at 2am to reach the peak in time for sunrise. For travellers who want the Pyramids without the flight, the Coloured Canyon is a coral-red desert canyon two hours inland.
Excursions departing from Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh Excursions
A flight to Cairo, the monastery of St Catherine, or a night walk up Mount Sinai for the sunrise
LengthFull & half day
From£14 / person
PickupHotel included
GuideEgyptologist
Right now 14 excursions run from Sharm El Sheikh, reaching the Ras Mohammed reef, the Sinai mountain and the Pyramids by air. Fares begin at £14 per person, with every excursion, length and fare set out in the table below.
The best excursion in Sharm El Sheikh is the one somebody else has organised for you. Our people on the ground here have done exactly that since 1988.Egypt Discovery · in Egypt from 1988
What you'll see
Sharm El Sheikh, stop by stop
Two or three of these stops fit into one unhurried day. Your guide chooses the combination to suit your energy, what you most want to see and the time of year.
01
Fly to Cairo and the Pyramids
Cairo is a long way from Sharm, but an early flight solves that. By mid-morning you are standing at the Pyramids and the Sphinx, with the Grand Egyptian Museum to follow, and you are back beside the Red Sea the same evening. Egypt's best-known sights, seen between breakfast and bedtime.
02
St Catherine's Monastery
No Christian monastery on earth has been lived in for longer without a break. It stands below Mount Sinai, keeps the traditional site of the Burning Bush, and holds a library that ranks with the great collections of the ancient world. The road there winds through granite valleys deep inside Sinai.
03
Sunrise from Mount Sinai
You set off in the dark and walk up the mountain where, by tradition, Moses was given the Commandments. The aim is to stand on the 2,285-metre top just as first light spreads across the Sinai ranges. Expect a chilly, steep climb, and a view few people forget.
04
Snorkelling at Ras Mohammed
Ras Mohammed was the first national park Egypt created. Here the reef falls away as a sheer wall into deep blue water, and turtles, jacks and shoals of orange anthias crowd along it. Divers and those who prefer snorkelling travel a long way for this, yet from Sharm it is a simple day by boat.
05
Coloured Canyon
Close to Nuweiba, a slim gorge cuts through sandstone striped in red, gold and violet. Walking it is cool and strange, quite unlike the coast. The drive is lengthy, so allow most of a day, and you will be glad you went.
Every Sharm El Sheikh excursions
How you could fill the day
All fares are per person and read directly from our live booking system, so the numbers below are today's.
Every Sharm El Sheikh excursion at a glance
On the water
Few places match Sharm for coral. These sea and national-park days visit Ras Mohammed and Tiran, and there is a dry-hair option with a glass floor.
Ras Mohammed and White Island Boat Trip from Sharm
A day on a shared boat from Sharm El Sheikh to Ras Mohammed National Park, at Sinai's southern tip. There are two snorkelling stops on the park's reefs, a walk on the White Island sandbar when the tide is low, and lunch on board. The boat takes up to 40 guests, and all equipment and the park fee are included. Winter wetsuits are an extra.
From £388 Hours
Ras Mohammed National Park by Minibus from Sharm El Sheikh
Ras Mohammed on a day with no boat in it. A minibus takes a group of up to 16 through the national park to the Gate of Allah, the mangrove channel, the earthquake crack and the Magic Lake. You snorkel straight from the shore at two beaches and have a picnic lunch in between. The trip is a good choice for anyone who gets seasick. Mask and snorkel are included.
From £196 Hours
Tiran Island Snorkelling Boat Trip from Sharm El Sheikh
A day on a shared boat in the Straits of Tiran. You make two or three snorkelling stops over the coral gardens off Tiran Island, swim in a shallow turquoise lagoon and have lunch on board. The boat takes up to 40 guests, with mask, snorkel and fins provided. Landing on the island is not permitted, so all the swimming is from the boat.
From £448 Hours
Semi-Submarine Reef Trip from Sharm El Sheikh – Glass Boat
See the reef from a dry seat. A semi-submarine takes you along the reefs off Sharm El Sheikh for about 90 minutes, with a glass-walled cabin below the waterline where you watch coral and fish pass by. No one has to swim, and no one gets wet. The boat is shared with up to 40 guests, and it works well for young children, grandparents and non-swimmers. Hotel transfers are included.
From £283 Hours
Try Scuba Diving in Sharm El Sheikh – Two Guided Dives
A first scuba day with no licence needed. A dive boat takes a group of up to 20 guests from Sharm El Sheikh to sheltered reefs, where you get a full briefing and make two shallow dives with an instructor at your side. Lunch is served on board, and you can snorkel between dives. Divers must be at least 10 years old, and equipment is included.
From £927 Hours
Ras Mohammed Snorkeling by Yacht from Sharm el-Sheikh
A half-day snorkelling trip to Ras Mohammed National Park from Sharm el-Sheikh aboard a yacht. Ras Mohammed is a government-designated marine reserve with coral reefs and abundant marine life. We board at Sharm el-Sheikh Marina and run departures timed to reduce congestion at the popular sites. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and do not operate coach-based, bus-style snorkel excursions. Expect limited shade on deck and variable sea conditions; sea-sickness can affect some guests. We provide snorkel kit, a marine guide, basic safety brief and direction for reef-friendly swimming.
From £61
In the desert
Sinai's desert begins right behind the hotel strip. Take a quad bike over the dunes, try a camel, and stay on for a Bedouin dinner.
Sharm El Sheikh Quad Bike Desert Safari with Dinner & Stargazing
An evening out in the Sinai desert beyond Sharm El Sheikh. You ride a quad bike in convoy through the valleys for about an hour, then take a short camel ride at a Bedouin camp as the sun goes down. Dinner is a barbecue with a Bedouin show, and the night ends at a telescope with an astronomy guide. The group is shared, with up to 30 guests, and riders must be at least 6 years old.
From £265 Hours
Echo Valley Quad Bike & Camel Ride near Sharm El Sheikh
A brief trip into the desert near Sharm El Sheikh. You ride a quad bike for about an hour through the valleys to the rock walls of Echo Valley, stop to hear the echo, then have a camel ride and Bedouin tea. Departures are in the morning, the afternoon or at sunset, in a shared group of up to 30. Riders must be at least 6 years old, and helmets are provided.
From £143 Hours
Long day trips
The big Sinai days begin in the small hours: a sunrise mountain walk, a canyon expedition, or an early flight to the Pyramids or Luxor. Bring plenty of energy.
Sunrise on Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery from Sharm
A night climb of Mount Sinai for sunrise at the 2,285-metre summit, then a visit to St Catherine's Monastery at the foot of the mountain. It is a hard night: about three hours climbing in the dark and cold, the last 750 rock steps on foot, and no real sleep. A Bedouin guide leads the group of up to 16. Guests must be at least 8 years old.
From £4417 Hours
Coloured Canyon, Blue Hole and Dahab 4x4 Day from Sharm
A full day by 4x4 north of Sharm El Sheikh, in a group of up to 16. A Bedouin guide leads a walk of about 90 minutes between the narrow sandstone walls of the Coloured Canyon. After lunch at a restaurant on the shore, you snorkel along the reef wall at the Blue Hole, then have an hour on the Dahab seafront. The drive is long, and guests must be at least 8 years old.
From £2311 Hours
Cairo Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Air – Pyramids & GEM
Fly from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo in the morning and back in the evening, with a private Egyptologist guide and driver for your party alone. The day takes in the Giza pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Domestic flights in economy class are booked by us and included. Expect a very early start and a late return, as it is a full 15 hours.
From £36715 Hours
Luxor Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Air – Valley & Karnak
Luxor in a day from Sharm El Sheikh, by air. A private Egyptologist and driver take your party to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak. Domestic flights are booked by us and included, and most routings connect through Cairo. A very early start and a late return make this a demanding 16 hours. A full Egypt visa is needed.
From £34116 Hours
Cairo Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Coach – Giza & Museum
The lowest-cost way to reach the pyramids from Sharm. An overnight coach crosses Sinai and passes under the Suez Canal, followed by a guided day at Giza, the Sphinx and a museum, then the drive back the same evening. It is a very long day, with 6 to 7 hours each way. A full Egypt visa is needed. The coach is shared with up to 40 guests.
From £6022 Hours
In town
For something undemanding, spend a few hours in Sharm itself, wandering the old market, visiting a major mosque and strolling the front.
Who these excursions suit
- Families with young childrenSea outings and desert rides, with ages 2 to 11 on half fare when shared.
- Keen snorkellers and beginner diversReefs inside a protected park, and a first dive supervised by an instructor.
- Dawn walkers and pilgrimsA night-time journey up Mount Sinai and on to St Catherine's with a local guide.
- Visitors with only a day to spareTake a flight to Cairo or Luxor and return to your hotel that evening, in a private party.
Egypt Discovery is an Egyptian-run tour operator, trading since 1988 under ETAA Licence No. 718 (Category A). We carry IATA accreditation and keep six offices across Egypt: Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh.
Sort the rest of your holidayWhere to stay in Sharm El SheikhTransfers from Sharm El Sheikh airport
Worth knowing beforehand
The practical bits
What to wear
Mosques and churches ask for shoulders and knees to be covered. Wear sturdy closed shoes, as the ground is rough stone in places and soft sand in others.
Tipping
Most guests give their guide about £2–4 for the day, with something smaller for the driver. It is your choice entirely, since the excursion fare already covers everything.
Heat & water
Bring at least a litre and a half of water each. By ten in the morning there is little shade at the sites, which is why we set off early: it is cooler as well as quieter.
Cameras & fees
Some sites ask for a camera ticket at the entrance, and a handful of tombs and inner rooms carry their own charge. Ordinary admission to each site is part of your fare.
What guests ask us
Sharm El Sheikh excursions, answered
- Do you collect us from our hotel?
- We do, and it costs nothing extra. A driver collects you from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel, or from the Nile cruise dock where that applies, and brings you back afterwards. You will find your guide waiting in the lobby, and should your plans shift, the local office behind the excursion can rearrange things that same day.
- Which months suit Sharm El Sheikh best?
- The kindest weather falls between October and April, when days are warm, evenings are cool and walking round the sites is a pleasure. From May to September the heat builds, so excursions set off early and are done before midday, often with quieter sites and gentler prices as a reward. Sharm El Sheikh excursions run in every month of the year.
- Is it safe, and can we bring the children?
- It is safe, and children are welcome. Our team has worked in Egypt since 1988, with offices across the country and someone on call day and night, and every one of our excursions uses guides and drivers we have checked ourselves. With youngsters along, the guide slows the pace and tells the stories at their level, and child seats or a shorter day can be arranged on request.
- Are children charged for Sharm El Sheikh excursions?
- On shared excursions under-twos go free and children aged 2 to 11 pay half. From 12 the adult fare applies. A private excursion is priced per head, and that figure eases as your party grows.
- How late can I reserve a Sharm excursion?
- Online reservations stay open until 48 hours before departure. Inside that period, send us a request and we will see whether a place can be found.
- What do I get back if I cancel?
- Give us three or more days' notice for the full amount back. Between three days and 24 hours, half is returned. Inside 24 hours you are not refunded.
- Is the Sinai entry stamp enough for a Cairo or Luxor day out?
- No. The free Sinai-only stamp stops short of Cairo and Luxor, so for those excursions you need the full Egypt visa. Domestic flights are covered in the fly-in fares.
Arrange your Sharm El Sheikh day outSend us your dates.
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We'll plan the day around them.
Private Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup, clear pricing in GBP. We've arranged Egypt excursions for British travellers since 1988, with 24/7 in-country support from offices.
Full credit or a refund if you let us know more than 72 hours before pickup* · we reply within 30 minutes in Cairo office hours
*Refunds are less bank charges. Pre-issued flight or train tickets can't be refunded. Full policy