Explora Journeys in Sharm El-Sheikh

Sharm El-Sheikh sits at the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where desert meets the Red Sea over some of the richest coral reefs on earth. It is a built-for-tourism resort town rather than a historic center, so the day is about the water and the protected reefs at Ras Mohammed, with Naama Bay and the Old Market for evening-style strolling. The port is removed from everything, so you commit to a transfer or an excursion.

What to do on a day in Sharm El-Sheikh

• Ras Mohammed National Park: a protected marine reserve at the Sinai's tip with wall reefs and abundant fish, the standard snorkeling and diving boat trip out of the port
• Naama Bay: the resort core, a beachfront promenade of cafes and a swimmable house reef for easy shore snorkeling
• The Old Market (Sharm Old Town) in Sharm el-Maya: a bazaar of spice, perfume, leather, and craft stalls, the closest thing to a traditional Egyptian street scene here
• Glass-bottom boat or a Tiran Island snorkel trip for reef viewing without diving
• Desert excursion by quad bike or camel into the Sinai dunes for those wanting land over sea

Getting ashore

The cruise port lies about 7 km south of downtown near the Hadaba area, with Naama Bay roughly 5 km and the Old Market about 7 km away; there is no public transit, so a taxi or pre-booked transfer is required to reach anything. One day is enough for one focused thing, a Ras Mohammed snorkel trip or a beach-and-Old-Market combination, but not the reef plus a far inland site like St Catherine's Monastery, which is hours away.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• October-November and March-April (shoulder cruise sweet spot). Warm and dry with reliable sun, daytime highs typically in the upper 20s to low 30s C. The sea is comfortable for snorkeling, around 26-28C in autumn and rising past 23C through spring, generally considered the best window for being in the water.
• December-February (winter cruise calls). Mild and dry, daytime highs around 22-23C with cooler evenings and water near 21-23C, still swimmable for most but noticeably cooler than autumn.