Last updated: September 2026
Sharm el-Sheikh holidays deliver one of the most complete Red Sea experiences available to UK travellers — world-class diving and snorkelling at Ras Mohammed National Park and Tiran Island, a lively and well-developed resort scene centred on Naama Bay, and year-round sunshine on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aqaba. Sharm has been attracting British holidaymakers for over three decades and remains one of Egypt’s most polished and visitor-ready destinations.
Whether you are a serious diver, a family seeking guaranteed sunshine, or a couple looking for a romantic escape with excellent food and a beautiful desert and sea setting, this guide covers everything you need to plan your Sharm el-Sheikh holiday.
Sharm el-Sheikh sits at the meeting point of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba — a geographical position that creates some of the finest diving conditions in the world, with strong currents bringing nutrients to support extraordinary coral and fish diversity, excellent visibility year-round, and a seabed topography of walls, pinnacles and channels that rivals any dive destination on earth. Ras Mohammed National Park, the protected marine reserve at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is frequently cited as one of the top ten dive sites in the world.
Beyond the diving, Sharm has developed a resort infrastructure that is among the most comprehensive in Egypt. Naama Bay offers a wide range of hotels from budget to five-star, good restaurants, beach clubs and evening entertainment. The wider Sharm area — including Sharks Bay, Nabq Bay and the Sharm el-Sheikh old market area — provides variety and space for a full fortnight without feeling repetitive.
The setting itself is dramatic: the barren red mountains of the Sinai Peninsula provide a magnificent backdrop to the turquoise sea, and the contrast between the complete aridity of the land and the extraordinary richness of the marine life beneath the surface is one of the defining characteristics of a Sharm holiday.
Sharm el-Sheikh’s reputation as a world-class diving destination is built on an exceptional concentration of outstanding sites within easy boat access of the resort. The Strait of Tiran — the narrow passage between the Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia — contains four major reefs (Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon) that rank among the finest in the Red Sea. The strong tidal currents that run through the strait bring cold, nutrient-rich water that supports massive populations of reef fish, large pelagics and the full range of Red Sea mega-fauna.
The SS Thistlegorm, a British merchant navy vessel sunk by German aircraft in 1941, is one of the most famous wreck dives in the world. The wreck lies in 30 metres of water and is still loaded with its wartime cargo — motorcycles, jeeps, trucks, railway carriages and military equipment — all colonised by extraordinary coral growth and marine life in the 80 years since sinking. Visits require a day trip by live-aboard boat and the site can be busy in peak season, but the experience is genuinely unforgettable.
For snorkellers, the accessible house reefs at many Sharm hotels and the shallow reef areas of Ras Um Sid, Near Garden and Far Garden offer excellent encounters with reef life at snorkelling depths. The Ras Mohammed park marine reserve is also excellent for snorkelling from the shore at the park’s beaches. Many Sharm dive centres offer learn-to-dive courses in the calm, clear waters of Naama Bay — conditions that are ideal for beginners.
Naama Bay is the commercial and social heart of Sharm el-Sheikh — a curving bay lined with hotels, restaurants, dive centres, shops and beach clubs that provides the backdrop for most visitors’ evenings and mornings. The pedestrianised beachfront promenade is busy throughout the evening with visitors browsing restaurants and souvenir stalls, and the atmosphere is lively but generally family-friendly.
The beach at Naama Bay is pleasant and well-equipped, though the bay’s coral reef means that the swimming area is somewhat restricted and the entry to the water requires care over the shallow reef edge. The area’s real appeal is as a social and dining hub rather than as a beach in the conventional sense — the finest swimming is at the hotel pools and private beach areas rather than on the public Naama Bay beach.
Sharks Bay, 5 kilometres north of Naama Bay, is a quieter area with several good hotels and a beautiful bay where the house reef begins very close to the shore — making it one of the best bases in Sharm for independent snorkelling from the beach. Nabq Bay, further north still, is the newest and most modern hotel development in the Sharm area, with several large five-star properties and a long natural beach fronting a protected mangrove reserve.
Ras Mohammed National Park, 20 kilometres south of Sharm el-Sheikh at the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is the jewel in Egypt’s marine conservation crown. Established in 1983 as Egypt’s first national park, Ras Mohammed protects the point where the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba meet — a confluence that creates upwellings of deep cold water and extraordinarily diverse marine ecosystems.
The Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef sites at Ras Mohammed are among the most celebrated dives in the world. The wall at Shark Reef drops vertically from the surface to beyond 50 metres and is covered in extraordinary soft coral growth — vast gorgonian fans, sea whips and leather corals in the full spectrum of warm colours. Schooling fish aggregate in the water column in their thousands, and large pelagics — grey reef sharks, hammerheads, tuna, barracuda — patrol the blue water beyond the wall.
On land, Ras Mohammed has a beautiful and deserted feel unlike anywhere else in the Sharm area. Mangrove channels, salt flats, fossil coral beds and beaches of extraordinary cleanliness create a natural landscape of real beauty that rewards those who explore beyond the dive sites. The park can be visited by hire car with a day pass — the entry road winds through dramatic desert scenery — as well as by the boat trips that run daily from Sharm marina.
Mount Sinai — traditionally identified as the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments — is one of Egypt’s most significant religious sites and is accessible as a night excursion from Sharm. The climb begins in the early hours of the morning by camel or on foot, aiming to reach the summit (2,285 metres) in time for one of the most spectacular sunrises in the Middle East. The 6th-century St Catherine’s Monastery at the mountain’s foot is one of the oldest continuously operating Christian monasteries in the world and contains important Byzantine mosaics and manuscripts.
Quad bike and jeep safaris into the Sinai desert offer a dramatic contrast to the beach and reef world, with Bedouin villages, canyon landscapes and desert stargazing among the highlights. Glass-bottomed boat trips, parasailing, water skiing and submarine excursions are all available from the Naama Bay marina area for those who prefer water-based activities.
Day trips to Cairo are possible by air from Sharm el-Sheikh Airport, with domestic flights taking around 50 minutes. The Giza Pyramids and Egyptian Museum can be covered in a full day, giving Sharm-based visitors a taste of ancient Egypt’s greatest monuments without committing to a separate stay in the capital.
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) is located approximately 10 kilometres north of Naama Bay, with transfers to most resort hotels taking 15–30 minutes. Direct flights from UK airports including London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and other regional airports are operated by easyJet, Jet2, TUI and various charter carriers, with flight times of approximately 5 hours from London. Year-round scheduled and seasonal charter services operate.
Package holidays to Sharm el-Sheikh typically include a shared coach transfer from the airport. Taxis are metered and reasonably priced for independent travellers. Car hire is available but less commonly used within the resort than in European destinations — the main sights of Naama Bay, Ras Mohammed and the Old Market are all accessible by taxi at affordable rates.
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The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) regularly updates its travel advice for Egypt and specific regions including Sharm el-Sheikh — always check the latest guidance before booking and travelling. The resort itself has a strong security presence and the hotel areas are well-managed.
Sharm el-Sheikh has been welcoming UK tourists for over 30 years and the vast majority of visitors have trouble-free holidays. Standard travel precautions apply, including using reputable operators for excursions and being aware of current travel advice. Many UK tour operators include Sharm el-Sheikh in their programmes and the ABTA and ATOL protection that comes with a UK package holiday provides important additional security.
Sharm el-Sheikh enjoys year-round sunshine with virtually no rainfall. October to April offers comfortable temperatures of 22–28°C — ideal for beach and outdoor activities. The winter months are particularly popular with UK visitors seeking sun when temperatures at home are at their lowest. Water temperatures range from around 22°C in February to 27°C in August.
July and August are very hot (air temperatures above 35°C) but manageable close to the water. The Red Sea diving and snorkelling conditions are excellent year-round, with visibility typically best in the cooler months. Some operators consider October to December the optimum diving season.
Sharm el-Sheikh is excellent for families. The warm, calm Red Sea water is ideal for children learning to swim and snorkel, and many hotels have extensive children’s facilities including pools, clubs and animation programmes. The abundance of watersports, glass-bottomed boat trips and the WaterWorld waterpark near the resort provide additional family entertainment.
The all-inclusive hotel format suits families well — food, drink and entertainment all on site, with beach access and pool use included. Families with older children interested in diving can arrange beginner courses and guided snorkelling excursions through the hotel dive centre. The Mount Sinai night excursion is a memorable adventure for teenagers and adults alike.
The SS Thistlegorm is a British merchant navy vessel sunk by German aircraft on 6 October 1941 while carrying military supplies to North Africa. It lies in 30 metres of water in the Strait of Gubal, approximately 1 hour’s boat journey north of Sharm el-Sheikh, and is considered one of the most interesting wreck dives in the world due to its remarkably intact wartime cargo.
The wreck contains locomotives, motorcycles (including BSA and Norton bikes still in their original packaging), jeeps, armoured vehicles, boots, rifles and ammunition — all preserved by the cold, dark water and colonised by coral and marine life since 1941. Visiting requires an Open Water certification and the ability to dive to 28–30 metres. Day trips depart from Sharm marina and can be booked through any of the resort’s numerous dive centres.
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