Sharm el-Sheikh and the surrounding region offer a choice of must-see attractions for adventurous couples.
With several world-famous dive sites, along with desert and mountain hiking opportunities, Sharm offers a variety of sightseeing options, including the following…
Consistently rated as one of the world’s most exhilarating dive locations, Ras Mohammed offers several stunning dive sites to match every skill level.
Two hundred species of hard and soft coral, 1000 species of fish, 40 species of starfish, 25 species of sea urchins and more than 100 species of mollusc and crustaceans are all clearly visible in the clear, Prussian-blue waters of the Red Sea.
Dive among bommies, caves, chimneys, gullies, canyons, overhangs and cliffs, and drift among schools of colourful angel and butterfly fish while stingrays, manta rays and wrasse glide around you without fear. At 25m, encounter white-tipped reef, silvertip, silky and scalloped hammerhead sharks.
From December through January, sharks mate at Ras Mohammed. Don’t be surprised to see scorpion fish, readily sighted here but often a rare encounter elsewhere.
Major highlights of Ras Mohammed, include…
Shark Reef, which starts at about 26m, resembles a submerged mountain peak with a sheer vertical wall that attracts loads of groupers and stingrays.
Ras Mohammed Wall, with great visibility, a steep wall, several caves and overhangs.
Yolanda Reef, home to the remains of the shipwrecked Yolanda where you can marvel at thousands of different reef fish, gigantic moray eels and blue- and black-spotted stingrays; and
Thistlegorm, arguably one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world.
More about diving Ras Mohammed…
Discover spectacular drift dives through the coral gardens and shipwreck-littered strait, teeming with colourful reef fish, just a short boat ride from Sharm.
Head to Jackson Reef, with its 70m drop-off, sharks, pelagic fish and the Lara shipwreck.
Escape the crowds of Sharm on a day trip or stay longer at this authentic and laid-back resort town located around 90km north of Sharm El-Sheikh.
The town boasts excellent snorkelling and diving, especially around Reef Island, at the 107m-deep Blue Hole and at nearby Ras Abu Galum.
The latter is a popular spot to arrive by camel or jeep, spend a night or two at a Bedouin camp and dive among fire, brain and table corals, looking out for puffer fish, turtles and sea cows, some of which weigh up to 1000kg.
Dahab is also a good base for excursions to the Coloured Canyon, Ain Khudra, White Canyon, Mount Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery.
Visit on a day trip or stay longer at the very sleek Le Méridien Dahab Resort, surrounded by a lush garden and cascading water features.
Climb on foot or by camel the holy mountain, said to be the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
Take the longer, easier route up the mountain then descend by the shorter route – the Steps of Repentance, 3750 rock steps hewn by a penitent monk.
The best time to arrive on this craggy massif is at sunrise, which then also allows more time to explore St Catherine's Monastery. Mount Sinai is a 3-hour drive away from Sharm el-Sheikh.
See some of the world’s best-preserved Byzantine mosaics inside the 6th century Monastery of St Catherine, said to be the world’s oldest continuously functioning Christian monastery and built on the site of the burning bush where God spoke to Moses.
Examine the rich collection of paintings, relics and icons in the museum. Visit for a day or stay longer at the conveniently located but rather basic Monastery Guest House or try the more comfortable Catherine Plaza Hotel.
The mountainous region around St Catherine is known for its excellent trekking, with the chance to spot herds of ibex, hyena and the rabbit-like hyrax along the way.
Try hiking to the summit of nearby Mount St Catherine: at 2629m high, this is the highest point on the Sinai Peninsula, providing spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
Latest update: Sharm el-Sheikh Attractions: 13 May, 2022
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