2 days in Sharm El Sheikh

Day by day

1. Day 1: Ras Mohammed National Park and White Island

   Ras Mohammed National Park, White Island, SS Thistlegorm wreck and Strait of Tiran reefs, then Naama Bay promenade in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ras Mohammed National Park

      Its reef walls, especially Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef with the scattered cargo of the wrecked Yolanda, drop into deep blue water busy with schools of fish, turtles and sometimes reef sharks. Boat trips from the marina are the usual way to snorkel or dive here; the land area has mangroves and desert viewpoints.

   2. Late morning

      White Island

      Many Ras Mohammed boat trips stop here for swimming and snorkelling.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grilled Red Sea fish

      Fish restaurants in the Old Market, where you pick the fish and pay by weight.

   4. Afternoon

      SS Thistlegorm wreck

      Day trips from Sharm involve a long boat ride and two dives, and are for certified divers with some experience.

   5. Late afternoon

      Strait of Tiran reefs

      Boat trips from the marina reach them in about an hour.

   6. Evening

      Naama Bay promenade

      Walk the promenade in the evening and compare menus, but ignore the touts and choose places busy with diners.

2. Day 2: Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque

   Old Market, Al Sahaba Mosque, Heavenly Cathedral and Sharm El Sheikh Museum, then Desert safari and Bedouin evening in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old Market

      It feels more local than the resort bays.

   2. Late morning

      Al Sahaba Mosque

      Floodlit at night, it is Sharm's most recognisable landmark.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sayadeya

      Seafood restaurants in the Old Market and Naama Bay.

   4. Afternoon

      Heavenly Cathedral

      It stands in Hay El Nour above the Old Market.

   5. Late afternoon

      Sharm El Sheikh Museum

      It is the only significant indoor cultural site in the resort.

   6. Evening

      Desert safari and Bedouin evening

      Choose a trip with proper helmets and goggles for quads, and bring a scarf against the dust.

Before you go

• SS Thistlegorm wreck: Dive centres run the trip on set days; book a few days ahead and bring your certification card and logbook.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–38 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.4 hours in December to 13.9 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Taxi. Taxis connect the resorts, Naama Bay and the Old Market; most are unmetered.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sharm El Sheikh
• 3 days in Sharm El Sheikh
• 5 days in Sharm El Sheikh

Questions travellers ask