Sharm el Sheikh sights excursions. Sharm el-Sheikh
If you want to spend your holiday not only on sea beach, but also get mass unforgettable impressions, go on vacation to the land of the pyramids. There are many amazing places, for example, the sights of Sharm el-Sheikh are very interesting - the most popular resort in Egypt. What is a must-see in this city?
Reserves
There are several interesting natural attractions on the territory of Sharm el-Sheikh. Here you can climb Mount Moses or visit the Colored Canyon. The most picturesque attractions of Sharm el-Sheikh are the nature reserves that are easy to spot on tourist map. There are three nature reserves in this area:
- Ras Mohammed - located on south coast Sinai Peninsula. Visitors can do here interesting photos attractions such as terrestrial coral reefs, salt Lake, Magic Bay, amazing representatives of flora and fauna.
- Ras Abu Galum – this reserve is located near the city of Dahab. The place surprises with its uniqueness, richness of colors and interesting mountain range. Here you can see unusual coral reefs, rare fish and shellfish, and octopuses.
- Nabq is located in the northeastern region of Sharm el-Sheikh. Tourists can look at mangroves here - the only plants that can live in the sea. In the Nabq Nature Reserve, you can dive underwater to see local attractions: unusual marine inhabitants and beautiful coral reefs. It is also interesting to watch the migration of birds here.
Water parks
During the daytime, the city suffers from the scorching rays of the Egyptian sun; the air temperature here often exceeds 40 degrees. It is better to tolerate the heat near water - by the sea or by the pool. For family vacation Water parks are ideal in Egypt. It is convenient to buy tickets to visit them on site at the box office or directly at the hotel where you are staying.
The most best reviews receive water parks Albatross and Cleo, where you can go even with small children. There are special swimming pools here, small waterslides, other attractions where children can ride on their own, as well as professional animators looking after the kids. In the Cleo water park, the children's area is very interestingly decorated - bright slides, fairy-tale motifs, magical cartoon characters.
Palace "A Thousand and One Nights"
This landmark, which the city is proud of, is located in the oldest part of Sharm el-Sheikh. The palace will give travelers the opportunity to completely immerse themselves in the amazing atmosphere of the East and the fairy tales of Scheherazade. It’s worth a visit just because of the architecture – the highest pillars and towers, dazzling domes, beautiful paths made of real marble.
The palace is a must see for unforgettable shows. Tourists can enjoy the magnificent dances of oriental beauties in breathtaking outfits, the play of light, and amazing music. The visit to this attraction will end with dinner from best dishes national Egyptian cuisine.
Where else can you go when you come to this city on vacation? Be sure to pay attention to the following attractions in Sharm el-Sheikh:
- Il Mercato street, striking with its beauty and presence large quantity various shops and cafes;
- the famous discos that the city offers at night;
- large Entertainment Center Soho, where the ice skating rink is located;
- the Old District market, where you can buy any souvenir that will remind you of Egypt.
In Sharm el-Sheikh, it is worth visiting not only entertainment venues, but also a religious landmark for which the city is famous throughout the world - the Monastery of St. Catherine (it can be easily found on the tourist map). It is located at the foot of Mount Moses. The old monastery will be interesting to visit not only for pilgrims and art lovers, but also for ordinary tourists.
The most interesting and remarkable thing is the amazing, azure and always warm Red Sea with its unusual, colorful inhabitants and plants. This is what tourists from all over the world come here for. What else can you see in these fabulous lands, where to go, what to be surprised by, we will tell you further.
Naama Bay
It is impossible to be in Sharm and not visit the main and very old street of Naama Bay. No matter how far your hotel is located, you will still come here, and more than once. The first hotels were built right here, in the bay of the same name, quiet and calm, reliably sheltered from the wind and bad weather. Wide pedestrian area - promenade, great for evening walks. It's clean here, the barkers and salespeople aren't too intrusive. On the sides of the street there are a variety of entertainment establishments: clubs, discos, casinos. You can buy anything you want in small shops; there are also well-known retail chains that occupy large areas. Recommended to visit shopping mall and the Panorama cafe, the Pasha discotheque. On the three-kilometer Naama Bay there are many cafes, bars, and restaurants. It's fun and safe here at night.
Naama Bay Ras Mohammed
Egypt's Ras Mohammed National Park is located 25 km from Sharm el-Sheikh. Translated, the name means “head of Mohammed.” Here they go underwater to observe the coral reefs and the exotic life in them. Not all places are safe for snorkeling, as you can get caught in strong currents. You can get to the reserve by water or land. It is best to buy a tour from an operator, since getting here on your own is problematic. With children, the option of traveling by water is out of the question, since a yacht or boat does not come close to land and you will need to swim some distance. The most convenient way to buy a tour is by bus. In comfortable air-conditioned conditions, you will go on an interesting tour. The journey will take about half an hour. You will see a lot of interesting things in the reserve itself and on the road to it. The impressive mangrove trees have adapted to grow directly in salt water. The magical salt lake is another miracle of Ras Mohammed. You can swim in it, but you won’t be able to dive headfirst, because salty water pushes the body upward. The cost of the tour ranges from $25 per adult and $15 per child. Price includes lunch and $5 admission.
Climbing Mount Sinai
It is the dream of every believer to visit Mount Moses. He received 10 commandments against sin for man from God. They say that everyone who has visited here is forgiven all their sins. The climb is night and very difficult. Before dawn, travelers walk 6 km, at the end climbing a long and sharply uphill multi-step staircase. There are two ways. One is the shortest and most difficult with 3570 steps. This is the “Path of Repentance”. The second path, “Camel Trail,” is flatter and longer. Camels climb it, and Bedouins offer weaker people a paid climb. After 20 minutes of ascent, both trails join into one.
Even in summer, the air temperature in these places drops very low at night. Bedouins rent blankets for $5-8. It is even more difficult to go back down the slippery steps. However, no one is injured, as Moses is believed to be protecting his guests from harm.
All the difficulties overcome will be nothing compared to the delight that embraces the pilgrims at dawn. The picturesque spectacle will be remembered by every person forever! Sinai mountains illuminated with little red, rising sun turn pink, everyone contemplating this incredible spectacle is overwhelmed with unimaginable happiness and joy, all sorrows and grievances are forgotten.
In the morning, those who descend will have breakfast at the monastery of St. Catherine, which is protected by UNESCO as oldest monastery in the world. For more than 3,000 years, the legendary Burning Bush bush has been growing here, against the background of which Moses turned to God. No matter how they tried to plant it in other places, the shoots did not take root.
Advice: dress warmly, take comfortable shoes on non-slip soles and a flashlight is a must. Water and fruit won't hurt. Climbing the mountain is not cold and even hot. As you ascend, the oxygen in the air becomes less and less, so you have to rest. That's when it gets very cold.
Climbing Mount Moses on your own is almost impossible. Groups of 10-12 people go with a guide through a checkpoint and have their documents checked.
The tour costs $35-40 for an adult. It is dangerous for children to climb.
Mount Sinai Tyrant
An uninhabited island belonging to Saudi Arabia, Tiran attracts many tourists. A breathtaking sight awaits them - an incredibly beautiful sea with a varied coral reef and broken ships, schools of colorful exotic fish. The island itself is big rock, on which there is nothing remarkable, but around it there are amazingly beautiful underwater reefs, named after their explorers:
- Jackson;
- Gordon;
- Woodhouse;
- Thomas.
Tourists swim near each one for several hours. In calm weather, these places offer excellent diving.
Tourists are transported to the island from Naama Bay by a comfortable boat accompanied by a guide. The tour lasts 5-6 hours. The cost of the excursion depends on the hotel or operator, as well as the availability of diving equipment.
Pyramids of Egypt
Fascinating tour to a Bedouin village
The journey is made on ATVs in the evening. The journey takes two hours. Before departure, a safety briefing is provided. Tourists will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the Bedouins living in the desert, try their drinks and food. This is a traditional tea from wild mint, freshly baked bread, vegetables, fried meat, rice, prepared in the traditional way. A hearty buffet-style meal is included in the tour price. During the trip, you can climb the mountainside, see a picturesque sunset in the desert, and watch the stars through a telescope.
The price of the excursion is approximately $50 per person.
Tutankhamun Museum in Sharm
Unlike the museum in Cairo, where the originals of the sarcophagus and gold mask of Tutankhamun are exhibited, all 100 exhibits are exact and indistinguishable copies. However, this does not detract from the interest in the artifacts. The collection is constantly updated. Exhibits can be touched and photographed. The guide will interestingly tell you about the events of ancient Egypt, the fascinating life of the pharaohs and ordinary Egyptians. The excursion will be useful for children. A transfer will pick up tourists from the hotel. Cost is $25 per adult and $15 per child.
Snorkeling in the Blue Hole
A wonderful diving site is located 10 km from Dahab in the Gulf of Aqaba. This incredible spectacle of the most beautiful underwater world leaves no one indifferent. A bus takes tourists from Sharm el-Sheikh. From its windows it is convenient to view the landscapes. On the way you can see a Bedouin cemetery. Then they transfer to camels and proceed to an oasis, where it is pleasant to relax and descend into the Blue Hole. On the way back we have lunch and stop in Dahab, where you can go shopping and buy unusual souvenirs. The cost of the tour is about $18 per person.
Blue hole Water parks in Sharm el-Sheikh
Some hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh have water parks. The two largest: Albatross Aqua Blue and Cleo Park, stylized as Ancient Egypt. Water parks are entire cities with numerous and varied slides, rivers, swimming pools and children's areas, where children can be left for a while under the supervision of staff.
It's best to go to water activities organized from own hotel. Such a visit will cost you $30, while a solo trip will cost much more. Operators have a significant discount, which allows them to charge less for tickets and still make money. At the water parks you can buy food, drinks, and souvenirs.
Panoramic Submarine Tour
Looks impressive undersea world Red Sea from 18 windows of a submarine submerged to depth. An air-conditioned vehicle will take you from the hotel to the shore. You will immediately go underwater. In comfortable conditions, you can calmly enjoy the beauty of coral reefs, colorful fish, mysterious inhabitants, and rare plants. Entertainment price is $45.
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh. The most important and interesting sights of Sharm el-Sheikh - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.
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Coral Islands in Sharm El Sheikh
Many people go to Egypt not at all to lie by the pool and absorb in unlimited quantities everything that the all inclusive system gives the consumer. Egypt and especially Sharm el-Sheikh is the most accessible financial and transport opportunity to get acquainted with the world of sea corals.
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Tiran Island
At the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba between Egypt and Saudi Arabia rests desert island Tyrant. Just half a century ago, it represented an absolute mystery to researchers, but in a short period it turned into one of the most popular tourist attractions in Egypt.
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Ras Mohammed
Sharm el-Sheikh, Ras Mohammed
Ras Mohammed National Park, created in 1989, is designed to protect the wall of coral reefs that once captivated Jacques-Yves Cousteau himself from destruction. Now their beauty is admired by tourists visiting the “Head of Muhammad” - this is how the name of the reserve is translated.
Sharm el-Sheikh is good because here you can not only lie on the beach, have fun at discos and admire the inhabitants of the coral reefs. Many attractions and excursions await those who enjoy a more eventful holiday. True, almost all of them are not located in Sharm itself, but in the surrounding area, but many of them are really worth the bus trip. In addition, proven routes to all attractions have long been developed; There are a great many companies that take excursions there, so all the inconvenience for tourists is kept to a minimum.
One of the main tourist sites in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh is Sinai desert. Here is located, for example, the monastery of St. Catherine with a temple built in the 6th century. It is from here that pilgrims rise early in the morning to Mount Sinai to meet the first rays of the sun on it. According to legend, it was on this mountain that Moses received the tablets with the text of the Old Testament commandments. Even in the monastery you can see the burning bush - a bush in the flames of which God appeared to Moses.
On the way to the monastery you can stop by the Navamis, ancient tombs in the form of stone wells in the middle of the desert. The oldest burials inside the Navamis date back to the 4th century BC. e.
The Colored Canyon, which is also located near the Sinai Mountains, is worth visiting. The landscape of the canyon is very bizarre and captivates the imagination: some see a lunar landscape in it, others discern mystical figures in the stones. The canyon got its name because of the colorful view that opens to travelers from its bottom, from the old river bed.
The famous Ras Mohammed, which is about 25 km from Sharm, is an amazing diving site and has the richest and most diverse marine life in the entire country.
Nature lovers should definitely visit the protected natural areas, of which there are three near Sharm el-Sheikh. First of all, this is the famous Ras Mohammed, which is located about 25 km from Sharm. This is an amazing diving site, and the marine life here is the richest and most diverse in the entire country. In addition, due to seismic activity, the bottom here is covered with cracks and various interesting formations. And on the territory of the reserve there is the Magic Bay: it is distinguished by extremely salty water, which, as they say, is very healthy. On land around you there are no less interesting inhabitants, including storks and other birds whose migration routes pass through Ras Mohammed.
Nabq Park is located northeast of Sharm, and it is the largest natural Park in Sinai. In the 1990s. it was included in the territory of Ras Mohammed, but is still perceived as a separate attraction. This is a birdwatching paradise: thanks to the mangroves, a surprising number of birds nest in Nabq. The park also has a section of coastline where you can snorkel or scuba dive to view the remains of a sunken ship.
Ras Abu Galum National Park is located near Dahab, near the Sinai Mountains. It's a bit of a journey to get here, but the picturesque landscapes here are worth it. On an area of 500 hectares, an unusual climate for Egypt is preserved, most similar to the classic Mediterranean. Therefore, in Ras Abu Galum, many representatives of the flora grow around fresh water bodies, including more than 40 endemics.
If you are traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh, you should clearly understand: Egypt is a country where abnormal service is the norm. Understanding this, you will not be disappointed in your holiday on the Red Sea. Arabs are sure that the inflated price of a product adds value to it. It’s a compliment to loudly and aggressively invite tourists to your store. What can I say, you will soon experience the delights of tourism in the Muslim world. In the meantime, we offer a subjective answer to the question of what you should definitely do in Sharm el-Sheikh.
What to do in Sharm el-Sheikh in the first days
1. Drink fresh mango. And at least five more types of fresh juices. The average price for a glass of freshly squeezed juice is 15 - 100 pounds. Depends on the establishment. The quality is about the same everywhere. Start your acquaintance with fresh juices with mango, one of the most popular fruits in Egypt.
More than 10 types of mangoes are grown in the country. Among the most delicious varieties are: Indian, Hindi, Sadiki, Sokari, Timor, Alphonso. The mango season lasts more than six months: from July to February. Kilos sell for 2-6 dollars. It's cheaper in supermarkets than at home. Read which cafes in Sharm el-Sheikh offer cheap and tasty juices. The photo shows a vegetable and fruit shop in Hainur.
Lemon juice. Damn good.
2. Try sugar cane juice. They do it in many cafes. Read about the place where a glass of sweet drink is sold for 5 pounds.
3. Go to the Farsha cafe. Cafe-warehouse, cafe-nonsense, cafe-dystopia. A place where everything, or almost everything, is made from old stuff. But this is a pile of rubbish that you don’t want to climb out of. Farsha cafe is located on the mountainside. Abuts the seashore. Read about the menu and prices in the material.
4. Swim at night. Allah does not command you to enter the water after sunset. But if you are a tourist and have money, a devout Muslim will close his eyes and allow it. There is a beach nearby. Admission costs around £70 for a day pass. They even let you in in the evening!
5. Try roasted pigeon. We did this in . With God blessing!
Where to go in Sharm el-Sheikh once you get the hang of it
6. Feed the cat. Show the Egyptians an example of civic responsibility. Skinny homeless animals wander in droves around Sharm el-Sheikh. They cluster around supermarkets, for example, near. Sometimes they run under tables in cafes and restaurants. Egyptians are not obsessed with sterilization of pets. That's why there are a lot of cats on the streets (looking for free cats) and kittens (looking for food). Cats sit in the corners - either pregnant or nursing. Everything is like in Arab families.
7. Have a blast at a foam party on the seashore at the Eden Ibiza club. Or go to any other night disco. Cool movement on Fridays at the Hard Rock café in Nabq. On Thursdays - in Space, perhaps the largest club in Sharm. Full list worthy clubs the secret guest published via the link.
8. Leave a review of the “excellent” service in the store. Arabs love it when tourists write in the “book of reviews and suggestions.” They give souvenirs for your favor. But they don’t know what we left in the review. How many funny messages do you find when you read the recommendations of your compatriots? Funny to the point of tears.
9. Discover another world - underwater. Scuba dive. Or at least snorkel. Or at least go to boat trip on a boat with a transparent bottom.
10. Eat fish and seafood for pennies at the fish market in the Old City (next to the main mosque, El Sahaba Mosque, street leading to ).
The most expensive shrimp on the fish market is 170 pounds per kilogram. Price includes grilling, sauce, packaging. The waiting time for an order is about 40 minutes. You choose the product yourself.
With the guide site you will see all the attractions of Sharm el-Sheikh in 24 hours.
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Royal Gulf - this is how the name of one of the most popular is translated from Arabic sea resorts Egypt - Sharm el-Sheikh.
The main attractions of Sharm el-Sheikh are, of course, magnificent, well-maintained beaches and the picturesque underwater world of coral reefs.
But in this guide we will not write about diving, trips to the Ras Mohamed Marine Reserve and such tourist attractions like “quad bike safari”, “camel riding”, “dinner and tea with the Bedouins”. This will be offered to you in every hotel, in every travel agency.
We will tell you what to see in Sharm el-Sheikh itself.
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh. 10:00 - 11:00 - wake up and have breakfast at the hotel
What is the first thing you need to do on vacation in Egypt? That's right, get some sleep! Therefore, we will not blow up the alarm clock at 8:00 - we are on vacation. Moreover, there are not so many attractions in Sharm el-Sheikh; there is no need to rush, as in London, to see everything. But be that as it may, you shouldn’t sleep longer than 10 - sleep through breakfast!
When it comes to choosing a hotel, we would recommend staying at the Sultan Gardens Resort, which is often called one of the best in Sharm el-Sheikh. Room prices are not that cheap, but believe me, the Sultan's vacation is definitely worth it. A standard all inclusive double room costs $121 per night.
However, we will not impose it. You can choose a hotel to suit your taste in our article.
11:00 - 15:00 - we go to the water park
There are usually only two things you can do before sunset in Egypt: either swim or sit in well-conditioned rooms. We offer you the first option, but with a dose of extreme. Grab your swimming trunks and sunscreen and head to the water park.
There are several water parks in Sharm el-Sheikh. The most popular: Cleo Park and Albatross Aqua. The first one is decorated much more interestingly - in the ancient Egyptian style. But in terms of entertainment, it’s not so good here; there are only a couple of slides for adults.
The water park is located on the territory of the hotel of the same name in the center of the Hadaba residential area. Don't be afraid - everyone is allowed in. Open from 10:00 to 22:00. Prices for both the first and second water parks are the same: guides charge $35 for adults and $25 for children (including lunch). On site, if you come yourself, it’s more expensive: $40 and $30, respectively.
The easiest way to get to the water park is by taxi (minibuses in Egypt are a real pleasure). Just call the driver Albatross Aqua.
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh.15:00 - 16:00 - walk in the Il Mercato area
After having fun at the water park, don’t rush to leave the Hadaba area. After all, there is also something to see here. In fact, this is an elite part of the city, where offices, restaurants, cafes, shops, and car dealerships are lined up.
As you already understood from the name, Il Mercato Street claims to be called “Italy in Egypt”. Indeed, it is decorated very nicely. You can even read online that Il Mercato supposedly offers good shopping - don’t believe it. There are 10-15 brand stores that are also in Ukraine, the prices are no different.
So just take a walk around Il Mercato and take a couple of pictures. Especially against the backdrop of the luxurious 1001 Nights complex.
There is even an original “mini-train” running through the territory of Hadaba, with trailers for tourists. However, a typical “divorce” - the area can be leisurely walked around in 20 minutes.
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh.16:00 - 17:00 - cool off at the skating rink
Even after lunch, it’s quite hot in Sharm el-Sheikh, so to cool down a little, we head to another elite area - Soho.
It would probably be more accurate to say that Soho is not a district, but a street between the Savoy and Sierra hotels with singing fountains, shops, children's carousels and a stage where various musical groups often perform. But the main attraction is the skating rink! Imagine an ice skating rink in Egypt!
It is located in the center, right next to the singing fountain, you won’t miss it. The cost of an hour of skating is $15. You can hire a coach, but it will be strange if an Egyptian teaches a Ukrainian to skate, don’t you think? However, we cannot claim that all the coaches there are local.
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh.17:00 - 18:00 - dinner at Fares restaurant
By evening it's time to head out Old city. First we’ll run in for dinner, because we’ve worked up a very good appetite all day.
With all the variety of establishments, good restaurants in Sharm el-Sheikh once or twice and I was wrong. One of the best is Fares, which is located in the Old Town on the territory of the market.
- FIND OUT what to try in Egypt from our article
They serve gorgeous shrimp here, make an excellent mix of seafood on charcoal, and be sure to try the signature Fares soup. Come with the waiter to the exhibition table and choose the products yourself.
By the way, the service is pleasant - the waiters work quickly and discreetly (often in Egypt the service is very intrusive), they understand Russian. The menu is also in Russian.
With all this, very reasonable prices. The average cost of dinner per person is $20.
It is advisable to arrive exactly at 17-18. If you're an hour late, you'll stand in line, the restaurant is bustling with customers.
- FIND OUT,
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh.18:00 - 19:00 - buy souvenirs at the market in the Old Town
Since we found ourselves in the Old Town, it would be a sin to leave here empty-handed. Moreover, if you need souvenirs, you need to buy them here, and not in hotel shops. It will be much cheaper.
- READ
Carpets, clothes, hookahs, spices, souvenirs - you can find everything here. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth wandering around the bazaar purely out of ethnographic curiosity.
By the way, every evening a local star named Tito performs here. You will not see such a belly dance performance anywhere else - we recommend it. Ask any merchant: “When will Tito be there?”, they will tell you.
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh.19:00 - 20:00 - smoke hookah in a cozy cafe
After a hearty dinner, you need to... smoke! Even if you hate cigarettes, you must try hookah in Sharm el-Sheikh. Moreover, the atmosphere in hookah bars is very inviting: lie down on the carpet, a pillow under your head, everything around sparkles, oriental music plays.
There are good hookah cafes on Naama Bay. It is logical for us to move there from the Old Town, since it is in this area that the night life Sharma.
In principle, the choice of establishment does not matter - go to the first one you like, order a hookah, hibiscus tea and relax - let the whole world wait. This pleasure will cost about $3.
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh.20:00 - 22:00 walk along Naama Bay
It is no exaggeration to say that Naama Bay is the main attraction of Sharm el-Sheikh. This is the heart of the city, a street that, to use a popular template, never sleeps.
Restaurants, clubs, shops - all this is here in such concentration that it dazzles your eyes. You can stop by the Hard Rock cafe, have a cup of coffee at StarBucks Coffee, or check out the cult establishment called Little Buddha.
However, don’t rush to waste money and energy - we still have a cherry in store for dessert!
Sights of Sharm el-Sheikh.22:00 until dawn - we have a blast at the PACHA club
We mentioned the cherry for a reason - it is the symbol of the legendary PACHA club. This chain of establishments is famous throughout the world. Ask any clubber what his dream is, and he will probably say: “Hang out at PACHA.”
True, they mostly dream of a club located in Ibiza, but we assure you that the scale of PACHA is also impressive. There is even a swimming pool on site! Plus very good sound, excellent light - everything is on the level.
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