Sharm's geography opens a different Egypt. St Catherine's Monastery, the world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, sits in a granite valley two hours away – close enough for a morning trip. Mount Sinai summit walks start at 2am to reach the peak for sunrise. For those who want the Pyramids without a flight, the Colored Canyon is a coral-red desert canyon two hours inland.
Day tours departing from Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh Day Tours
Cairo by flight, St Catherine's Monastery & Mount Sinai sunrise climb
LengthFull & half day
From$20 / person
PickupHotel included
GuideEgyptologist
We run 14 day tours from Sharm El Sheikh, taking in Ras Mohammed, Mount Sinai and the Pyramids by plane. Prices start at $20 per person, and the table below lists each trip with its length and rate.
The best day tour in Sharm El Sheikh is the one you don't have to organize yourself. We've been arranging them, in this country, since 1988.Discovery Tours Egypt · since 1988
What you'll see
Sharm El Sheikh, in the order that makes sense
A full day comfortably covers two or three of the stops below – your guide tailors the mix to your pace, interests and the season.
01
Cairo & the Pyramids by air
Sharm's distance from Cairo is no obstacle: a dawn flight has you at the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum by mid-morning, back on the Red Sea by night. The whole headline, in a single day.
02
St Catherine's Monastery
The world's oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai, guarding the site of the Burning Bush and one of the greatest libraries of antiquity. A granite-valley drive into the Sinai interior.
03
Mount Sinai sunrise climb
The pre-dawn walk up the mountain where Moses received the Commandments, timed to reach the 2,285-meter summit as the sun breaks over the Sinai ranges. Cold, steep and genuinely moving.
04
Ras Mohammed snorkelling
Egypt's first national park, where the reef wall drops into the blue and turtles, jacks and clouds of anthias gather. Among the finest snorkeling and diving on the planet, an easy boat day from Sharm.
05
Colored Canyon
A narrow sandstone gorge near Nuweiba, its walls banded red, gold and violet – a cool, otherworldly walk inland and a long but rewarding day from the coast.
Every Sharm El Sheikh day tours
Ways to spend the day
Each rate is per person and pulled live from our booking system, so what you see is what applies today.
Every Sharm El Sheikh day tour at a glance
On the water
Sharm sits beside the reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park and the Strait of Tiran. These boat and park days cover Ras Mohammed, Tiran and the shallow glass-bottom option.
Ras Mohammed & White Island Boat Day from Sharm El Sheikh
A shared boat day from Sharm El Sheikh to Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of Sinai. The boat makes two snorkeling stops on the park's reefs, stops at White Island for a walk on the sandbar when the tide uncovers it, and serves lunch on board. Up to 40 guests share the boat, and the day takes about 8 hours.
From $518 Hours
Ras Mohammed National Park by Road from Sharm: Snorkeling
Ras Mohammed without the boat. A minibus takes a group of up to 16 guests from Sharm El Sheikh through the national park, with stops at the Gate of Allah, the mangrove channel, the earthquake crack and the Magic Lake. You snorkel straight from the shore at two beaches and eat a picnic lunch. The day takes about 6 hours and suits anyone who gets seasick.
From $266 Hours
Tiran Island Boat & Snorkeling Day from Sharm El Sheikh
A shared boat day in the Straits of Tiran. The boat makes two or three snorkeling stops over the coral gardens off Tiran Island, includes a swim in a shallow turquoise lagoon, and serves lunch on board. Landing on the island itself is not permitted. Up to 40 guests share the boat, and the day takes about 8 hours, including the transfers from your hotel.
From $608 Hours
Sharm El Sheikh Semi-Submarine & Glass-Bottom Boat Reef Trip
Watch the reef from a dry seat. A semi-submarine with a glass-walled cabin below the waterline cruises along the reefs off Sharm El Sheikh for about 90 minutes, shared with other guests, up to 40 on board. It suits young children, grandparents and non-swimmers. The trip departs at 09:00, 11:30 or 14:00 and takes about 3 hours with transfers.
From $383 Hours
Intro Scuba Dive Day in Sharm El Sheikh: Two Guided Dives
Try scuba diving with no licence needed. A dive boat takes a group of up to 20 guests from Sharm El Sheikh to sheltered reefs, where you get a full briefing and make two shallow dives with an instructor beside you. Lunch is served on board and there is time for snorkeling between dives. The day lasts about 7 hours, door to door.
From $1257 Hours
Ras Mohammed Snorkeling by Yacht from Sharm el-Sheikh
We operate a private yacht snorkeling day trip from Sharm el-Sheikh to Ras Mohammed National Park. Your driver meets you at your Sharm hotel and transfers you to the marina for boarding. The yacht visits Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef with multiple snorkel stops; the national park entrance fee is included. Unlike large shared dive boats, our yacht keeps group sizes smaller and schedules longer surface intervals at each reef. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and provide an English-speaking crew; a licensed Egyptologist can join on request. Trade-offs: limited shade on deck at midday and snorkeling is subject to sea conditions.
From $83
In the desert
Sinai's desert is minutes from the hotel zone. Ride a quad across the sand, meet a camel, and stay for dinner under the stars.
Sharm El Sheikh Desert Safari: Quad Bike, Camel, Dinner & Stars
An evening in the Sinai desert outside Sharm El Sheikh. You ride a quad bike in convoy at sunset, take a short camel ride, eat a Bedouin barbecue dinner with a show, then look at the night sky through a telescope with an astronomy guide. The group is shared with other guests, up to 30 people, and the whole evening takes about 5 hours.
From $355 Hours
Sharm El Sheikh Quad Bike & Camel Ride at Echo Valley
A short desert outing close to Sharm El Sheikh. You ride a quad bike for about an hour through the valleys to the rock walls of Echo Valley, stop to hear the echo, then take a camel ride and drink Bedouin tea. Morning, afternoon and sunset departures are available. The group is shared, up to 30 guests, and the whole trip takes about 3 hours.
From $203 Hours
Long day trips
Sinai's big days start early and end late: a sunrise hike, a canyon run, or a flight to the Pyramids or Luxor. Each is worth it, but pack your stamina.
Mount Sinai Sunrise & St Catherine's Monastery from Sharm
A night climb of Mount Sinai for sunrise at the summit, 2,285 metres up, followed by a visit to St Catherine's Monastery at its foot. It is a hard night: about three hours climbing in the dark and cold, the last 750 rock steps on foot, and no sleep. The minibus is shared with up to 16 guests, and the whole trip takes about 17 hours from Sharm El Sheikh.
From $6017 Hours
Colored Canyon, Blue Hole & Dahab 4x4 Day from Sharm El Sheikh
A full day by 4x4 from Sharm El Sheikh, north up the Sinai coast and into the mountains. You walk through the narrow sandstone walls of the Colored Canyon, have lunch on the shore, snorkel along the reef wall at the Blue Hole and spend an hour on the Dahab seafront. The 4x4 is shared with up to 16 guests, and the day is about 11 hours.
From $3211 Hours
Cairo Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Flight: Pyramids & GEM
Fly from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo and back in a single day. A private Egyptologist guide and driver take your party to the Giza pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. We book the domestic flights and they are included. It is a 15-hour day that starts around 04:00, so it suits travelers who want to see Cairo without changing hotels.
From $49615 Hours
Luxor Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Flight: Valley of the Kings
Luxor in a day from Sharm El Sheikh by air. A private Egyptologist guide and vehicle take your party to the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak. We book the domestic flights and they are included. Most routings connect through Cairo, so it is a 16-hour day starting very early, and your party travels alone.
From $46216 Hours
Cairo Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Road: Giza & Museum
A very long day to the pyramids by road. An overnight coach crosses Sinai and passes under the Suez Canal, a guide shows you Giza, the Sphinx and a museum, and the coach drives back the same evening. It is 6 to 7 hours each way and 22 hours in total, shared with up to 40 guests. It is the road option, with no flights, and the group follows one fixed timetable.
From $8122 Hours
In town
Keep it easy with a half day in town, where the old market, a grand mosque and the seafront give you a feel for the place.
Who these day tours suit
- FamiliesBoat days and desert rides, with kids aged 2 to 11 paying half on shared trips.
- Snorkelers and new diversReef sites in a protected park, plus an intro dive with an instructor beside you.
- Sunrise hikers and pilgrimsAn overnight run to Mount Sinai and St Catherine's, led by a local guide.
- Travelers short on timeFly to Cairo or Luxor and be back at your resort the same night, on a private trip.
Discovery Tours Egypt has been an Egyptian tour operator since 1988. We hold ETAA Licence No. 718 (Category A), we are IATA accredited, and we staff six offices: Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh.
Plan the rest of your stayHotels in Sharm El SheikhSharm El Sheikh airport transfers
Know before you go
The practical bits
What to wear
Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches. Closed, comfortable shoes – you'll cross uneven stone and sand.
Tipping
Around $2–4 a day for your guide is standard, and a little for the driver. Never obligatory – your day tour price is complete.
Heat & water
Carry 1.5L minimum. Sites are in full sun by 10am – the early start isn't just about crowds, it's about comfort.
Cameras & fees
A few sites charge a separate camera fee at the gate; some interiors are extra. Standard site entry is always included.
Questions we hear most
Sharm El Sheikh day tours, answered
- Is hotel pickup included?
- Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your Sharm El Sheikh hotel (or Nile cruise dock, where relevant) are included at no extra cost. Your guide meets you in the lobby; if your plans change, the local office that arranged the day tour can adjust it on the day.
- When is the best time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?
- October to April is the most comfortable season, with warm days and cool evenings ideal for sightseeing. May to September is hotter, so day tours start early to beat the midday heat – and you'll often find fewer crowds and lower prices. We run day tours in Sharm El Sheikh year-round.
- Is it safe, and are families welcome?
- Yes on both counts. We've operated in Egypt since 1988 from offices nationwide, with 24/7 in-country support, and day tours run with our own vetted guides and drivers. Families are very welcome – guides adjust the pace and content for children, and we can arrange car seats and shorter itineraries.
- Do children pay on Sharm El Sheikh day tours?
- Children under 2 are free on shared trips, and ages 2 to 11 pay half. Guests 12 and older pay the adult fare. On private trips the per-person price goes down as the party grows.
- Can I book a Sharm day tour at short notice?
- Yes, online booking stays open until 48 hours before the trip. If you are inside that window, send a request and we will check availability for you.
- What is the refund rule if my plans change?
- Cancel at least three days before and you receive a full refund. Cancel between three days and 24 hours before and half is refunded. Within the last 24 hours there is no refund.
- Do I need a special visa for the Cairo or Luxor trips?
- The free Sinai-only stamp does not cover Cairo or Luxor, so those trips need the full Egypt visa. The domestic flights on the fly-in day trips are already included.
Plan your day in Sharm El SheikhTell us your dates.
Tell us your dates.
We'll build the day.
Private Egyptologist, hotel pickup, all entry fees, clear pricing. Offices across Egypt – and the person who answers the phone can fix things on the day.
Full credit or a refund when you cancel more than 72 hours before pickup* · we reply within 30 minutes in Cairo office hours
*Refunds are less bank charges. Pre-issued flight or train tickets are non-refundable. Full policy