"Top diving, great nightlife and near-endless sunshine. Sharm El Sheikh hits the mark for scuba fans, beach lovers and party-goers.”
Perched on the southernmost tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Sharm El Sheikh is drenched in hot, hot sunshine – we’re talking average temperatures of 37 degrees in July and August. Even the winter months tend to stay warm and dry, with rain a rarity. It’s no wonder it’s become the place to holiday in recent years.
Everything Sharm has to offer comes down to its location. Once a sleepy fishing village, it now spreads between Nabq Bay in the north, down through the tourist heart of Naama Bay, to Maya Bay in the south, ticking off Dahab in the process. Wherever you are, look one way and you’ll see the rocky landscapes of the Sinai Desert. Look the other, and you’ll clock what most people come here for – the Red Sea. With incredible coral reefs, shipwrecks and marine life all basking in its warm waters, this is one of the world’s blockbuster scuba spots.
And that’s not all. There are still the luxury hotels, fabulous shopping malls and endless supply of restaurants to think about. Not to mention the camel treks and desert excursions. All topped with a large helping of electrifying nightlife.
Find the cheapest late deals to Sharm El Sheikh leaving in the next six weeks.
Recommended Sharm El Sheikh hotels and apartments
Sharm El Sheikh hotels and apartments
Our hotels and apartments in Sharm El Sheikh include Aqua Blu Sharm Hotel, Beach Albatros Resort, Club Magic Life Sharm El Sheikh Imperial, Coral Sea Aqua Club, Coral Sea Water World, Dreams Vacation Resort, Hotel Sol Y Mar Sharks Bay, Iberotel Palace, Jaz Mirabel Beach, Jaz Mirabel Park, Maritim Jolie Ville Resort and Casino, Movenpick Naama Bay, Nile Legacy Cruise and Iberotel Palace, Nubian Island, Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort and Spa, Resta Club Resort, Sea Club Resort, Sensatori Sharm El Sheikh, The Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh, Tropicana Azure Club, Tropicana Grand Azure Resort, Tropicana Rosetta and Jasmine Club, Tropicana Tivoli and Xperience St. George Homestay.
More Egypt - Red Sea holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Egypt - Red Sea? Our Egypt - Red Sea holiday destinations include Dahab, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Nabq Bay, Safaga, Sahl Hasheesh, Sharm El Sheikh, Soma Bay, Taba and Taba Heights.
Beaches
Beaches and Sharm El Sheikh are really one and the same thing. You can’t separate them. Nearly everyone who holidays here comes for the beach scene. Sharm’s sands unfurl for 60 kilometres along the coast in dazzling ribbons, bays and coves of gold and white. The busiest stretch is at Naama Bay, where you’ll find Sharm’s main promenade and tourist hub. Here, you’ll find shimmering sands and gentle waters perfect for snorkelling, diving lessons and other watersports. Smaller beaches, like those at White Knights, Nabq and Sharks Bay, lie to the north, while you’ve got the rocky headland of Ras Um Sidd to the south. Of course, Sharm’s beaches aren’t just about sun-drenched sands. They melt into some of the world’s most phenomenal diving and snorkelling sites. From Nabq Bay to Ras Um Sidd, flipper fanatics can wow at glorious coral reefs teeming with over 1000 species of tropical fish. And of course, for experienced divers, Sharm is heaven itself. Don your wetsuit and join an organised dive to the waters of Ras Mohammed National Park or the Tiran Straits. The seas here play host to exciting sheer drop-offs, deep blue canyons and haunting shipwrecks alive with Nemo lookalikes.
Shopping
The shopping’s great in Sharm. If you’re after the usual holiday stuff like beachwear and postcards, the centre of Naama Bay will come up trumps. This is where you’ll find El Sharm Mall – a cobbled avenue crammed with tourist stores, restaurants, bars and beach shops. Around it lies a grid of smaller shopping streets and a main road dotted with glitzy indoor malls selling designer, duty-free and big brand goods. If you’re on the lookout for authentic mementoes however, head to the souk in Old Sharm. It’s superb souvenir-hunting territory – even though it’s actually a modern recreation of an old Arabian souk. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by maze-like lanes of stalls stuffed with aromatic spices, shishas, rugs, silver and gold. As well as Bedouin handicrafts, pottery, perfumes, mother of pearl ornaments and crisp Egyptian cotton. There’s even a roaring trade in belly-dancing gear. A word of advice though. Don’t forget to haggle. And haggle hard. Sharm’s touristy credentials mean that prices can be high, so it’s up to you to negotiate. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 20-30% off the original price. Do that and you’ve probably clinched yourself a decent deal.
Location
500km south east of Cairo
Transfer time
20 minutes
Recommended
Luxury
