A resort town in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el Sheikh offers snorkeling, diving, and desert trips. It's also close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Catherine’s Monastery. Ships dock at the in-town Sharm el Sheikh Port (rather than at a dedicated cruise port), and you may need to tender if another ship is docked.
Sharm’s main charms lie beneath the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. After docking in the city, take to the water at Ras Mohammed National Park; Tiran Island, which offers a dramatic reef; or at the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm, a World War II–era cargo ship with holds full of motorbikes.
Alternatively, enjoy the desert—hike through White Canyon and Colored Canyon, brave an all-terrain vehicle adventure or a camel ride, or immerse yourself in bedouin culture at a traditional camp. All these destinations and more can be explored during dedicated shore excursions with round-trip transportation.
Most Sharm el Sheikh shore excursions are private tours, with pickup and drop-off from the port.
Bargaining is a big part of Egyptian culture, particularly when it comes to travel; book tours in advance for a convenient fixed price.
If you arrive in Egypt via cruise ship for a planned excursion, your ship will take care of the visa formalities.
While Sharm el Sheikh and the immediate surrounds are considered safe, safety in the Sinai Peninsula has come into question, according to the US Department of State. Although tourists are rarely targeted, travelers considering a visit should refer to their government’s travel advisories for the latest information.
Whether you’re tendering or docking in port, Sharm el Sheikh’s international harbor is just minutes from the city center. Most shore excursions and private tours include round-trip transportation—fortunate, as local public transport is informal and hard to access unless you speak Arabic.
Egyptians in Sharm el Sheikh speak Egyptian Arabic, although local signs and street names are written in both English and Arabic. The local currency is the Egyptian pound, and both ATMs and money changers are readily available.
