Sharm El Sheikh Diving Holidays

Sinai Peninsula Travel Information

Sharm El Sheikh, or 'Sharm' as it's known for short, is a well-known port and Red Sea dive resort town that lies at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

Sharm, the administrative hub of the southern Sinai Peninsula, is known as The City of Peace, so named for the large amount of international peace conferences that have been held there.

As a dive tourism hotspot, Sharm El Sheikh is home to a menagerie of holiday resorts. The centre of the tourism excitement is based around the scenic Sharm El Maya and Na'ama bays.

The bays were specifically developed with tourism in mind and feature a range of accommodation from small, intimate hotels with modern designs, through to international chain hotels. Together the 2 bays provide just about all the amenities one could hope for from a bustling tourist destination, including nightclubs, golf courses, health facilities, discos and even casinos.

With so much to offer, Sharm El Sheikh is the most important tourist resort destination in the Red Sea.

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The rest of this page contains information about:

• How to Get There
• Where to Stay
• Beaches
• Sightseeing and Things to do
• Dining Out & Nightlife
• Shopping
• History
• Local Transport

Got a question?
Have a look through our Frequently asked questions

How to Get There

Sharm El Sheikh is a mere 1 hour flight away from Cairo. The easiest and fastest way to reach it is with a direct flight from Cairo on Egypt Air. From Europe or the UK, it's also accessible on a 5 hour direct flight.

Taxis and buses service the route between Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh too. From the Al Torgoman Station in Cairo you can take the Superjet bus to Sharm, but prepare yourself to settle down for a 7 hour journey. A taxi can be arranged to depart from your hotel but remember to negotiate the rate before you set off.

Where to Stay

Our affiliated hotel reservation agents Agoda.com have a wide variety of diver-friendly accommodations in Sharm El Sheikh.

Browse their website choices, use their on-line chat to ask your questions, or simply use your credit card to make your booking:

Take your pick from dozens of options, from international 5 star hotel chains to budget guesthouses, and everything in between, there's something to suit everyone's taste and pocket. And you can be sure that whatever option you go for, it will be backed up with their 'Low Price Guarantee' to ensure you get top-dollar value for money.

Beaches

Sharm is blessed with both long stretches of both white sand and pebble beaches fringed by some awe-inspiring scenes of dramatic natural landscapes. Clear ocean waters, which are calm for most of the year, wash ashore on these beaches.

Na'ama Bay

Lying at the heart of Sharm El Sheikh, Na'ama Bay is the site of the first hotel that appeared around the early 80's. Naama is alive and buzzing with the bulk of restaurants, bars and shops concentrated here, making it ideal if you enjoy exploring on foot during the evenings.

The beach fronting the bay is not ideal for snorkelling, but is a veritable temple for sun worshippers.

Shark's Bay

Shark's Bay is a shining example of sustainable, heavy tourism with a picturesque setting and a beautiful coral reef that is well preserved.

Even though Shark's Bay is a little more overrun by tourists, the waters are filled with colourful fish that seemingly don't mind people and love swimming right under you. It's a favourite amongst families and a good location for your hotel accommodation. Shark's Bay is only a short taxi ride from Na'ama Bay.

Terrazina Beach

Terrazina is a charming, lively beach with music audible from every one of the comfortable seats to be found on the beach, or from one of the restaurants located on the fringes of the beach. Located in one of the older areas of Sharm, Sharm el Maya, Terrazina Beach is about a 15 minute taxi ride from Na'ama Bay.

Sightseeing and Adventure

Why not combine your Sharm El Sheikh diving trip with a tour to discover the historical sights of Egypt? You can take an overland tour of Cairo to visit the pyramids, Sphinx and the national museums, or a Nile cruise through the Valley of the Kings: Egypt antiquity tours.

Go-Kart Racing

A fun-filled activity away from the water is go-kart racing. Its claim to fame is that it was once visited by Michael Schumacher during a promotional tour. It's located near the airport and consists of a 4-circuit raceway, including a children's track. Night driving is also offered and gives you a chance to avoid the blazing desert sun.

Scenic Boat Cruises

Sharm El Sheikh's incredible marine life is not just for divers. An unexpected amount of underwater life can be observed from boat trips to the beautiful reefs housed by Sharm's renowned marine parks.

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed is one of the highlights of a Sharm El Sheikh diving holiday and is a marine park worthy of a full day visit because of the beautiful scenery alone. In Ras Mohammed you will encounter unspoilt beaches, idyllic waters inviting you in for a swim and unforgettable snorkelling.

Tiran Island

The smaller island of Tiran is a good alternative option, especially if you have snorkeling in mind. Don't go there for the island itself though, as you won't find much more than sand. But the shallow waters with a superb reef hold untold treasures for you to explore.

Local Cultures & Customs

A Bedouin Feast is a cultural outing of note and if you are interested in experiencing local customs, this is a worthwhile activity. At sunset, you will be taken into the desert for a traditional Egyptian feast, prepared for you by Bedouin men and women. The spread is elaborate and will set the mood for when you are told about life in the desert, friends and family and the traditional Egyptian way of living.

Mt. Sinai & St. Catherine's Monastery

To complete your visit to the Sinai Peninsula, a trip to Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery is a must. Also known as Holy Mountain, it is the location where Moses is said to have received the 10 Commandments and where God spoke to Moses via a burning bush.

The Monastery on the other hand, is the oldest and longest continually lived-in monastery in the world. Its huge collections of icons and scriptures are said to be second only to the library in the Vatican.

Dining Out & Nightlife

The variety of food and restaurants in Sharm El Sheikh boggles the mind. Egyptian cuisine from street vendors blends with anything from around the world you may fancy, dotted by the ever present fast food outlets of McDonalds and Pizza Hut.

The sheer variety of menus caters to everybody and anybody. Failing that, chefs will often whip up something special on demand, giving vegetarians or those with specific diets peace of mind and fullness of stomach.

As with food options, after dark entertainment offers a seemingly endless array of choice. In places where the clubs and bars stay open till dawn, you can literally party till the sun rises. For all night parties, Na'ama Bay is the main area with The Pacha being the most popular.

Shopping

Na'ama Bay is home to several western-style shopping complexes, but the bustling Sharm Old Market should not be shunned. Its authentic Egyptian shopping experience is certainly something not to be missed.

Although gold, silver and jewelry made from semi-precious stones are always popular, the vibrant colours and detail of Bedouin handicraft attracts large amounts of tourist interest too.

Egyptian cotton products are perpetual best sellers, but the market is alive with offerings as wide ranging as slippers, spices, leather bags, Bedouin embroidery, glass perfume bottles and Turkish delights.

The History of Sharm El Sheikh

As recently as 40 years ago, Sharm El Sheikh was little more than a small fishing village with a population of 100 people or so. Transformation took place the Navy cottoned on to its strategic location and it developed into a major port and naval base.

For a while Sinai was occupied by Israel and during this time Sharm started to blossom as a tourist destination. In 1982 when Israel returned Sharm El Sheikh to Egypt, it had already cemented a reputation as a dive destination, which was the foundation for the fully-fledge resort town it is today.

Local Transport

A swarm of blue and white tuk-tuks ferry locals from point A to B, and to hail one simply raise your hand as one approaches. Fares are fairly cheap and are pretty much set within anywhere in Sharm.

Local taxis are a slightly more expensive option and as prices vary between drivers, negotiate your rate before you set off.

Interested?

If you're keen to dive the popular waters of Sharm El Sheikh, then click below to check your options now for:

• Sharm El Sheikh Dive Sites
• Sinai liveaboards
• Sharm El Sheikh Resort Diving Daytrips

Be sure to book in plenty of time to avoid limited choice! The best Sharm El Sheikh diving opportunities are booked by repeat customers who book well in advance to ensure their reservation!

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