Desert safari

Sharm's desert safaris head inland into the raw Sinai interior, a landscape of coloured rock, wadis, and mountains quite different from the flat coastal desert further west. The typical afternoon-into-night trip strings together quad bikes or buggies over the sand, a camel ride, and a visit to a Bedouin camp, finishing with a grilled dinner, sweet tea, and stargazing under skies so clear the Milky Way is easy to pick out. Some operators run to more distinctive spots such as the Coloured Canyon near Nuweiba, a narrow slot canyon of banded sandstone, or a sunset high in the mountains, which are far more rewarding than the standard camp routine. As with every Red Sea safari, the Bedouin experience is staged for visitors, but the desert itself and the star-filled sky are entirely real. It is dusty and turns genuinely cold once the sun drops, so cover up and pack a warm layer.