Sharm El Sheikh with children: what works for which ages

Sharm El Sheikh is easy with children if you choose the trips by age rather than by name. The semi-submarine suits the youngest, the quad and camel ride suits children from age 6, and the long snorkeling boat days suit older children who can swim and cope with a day on the water. This guide matches each trip to an age so you do not book something that becomes a bad day.

The pool and the beach at your hotel will do most of the work for toddlers. Use the trips to add one good outing, not a trip every day. Children tire in the heat, and a day with a long drive or a long boat ride can cost the next day too.

Plan around the sun and the heat. Mid-day temperatures can be punishing for small children, so morning and late afternoon departures work best, and a hat, water and shade matter more than any single excursion. A child who is tired, hot or hungry will not enjoy a good trip, so let them choose the pace on the day.

Under 6: the semi-submarine

The semi-submarine is the pick for young children, grandparents and non-swimmers. The trip is about 3 hours from the hotel, with a sailing of about 90 minutes. You sit in a glass-walled cabin below the waterline and watch the reef wall go past, dry the whole time. Pick-ups are at 09:00, 11:30 or 14:00 for the sailing you choose, and a soft drink and water are on board.

A boat for up to 40 guests is not a quiet place, but the cabin gives children something to look at the moment it sails. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a camera. The product data names no minimum age, so for a baby or a very small child, write to us before you book, and we will tell you what works.

Age 6 and up: quad bikes and camels

The Echo Valley quad bike and camel ride is a 3-hour outing close to Sharm, with morning, afternoon or sunset departures. You ride in convoy for about an hour to the rock walls of Echo Valley and stop to hear the echo, then take a short camel ride with Bedouin tea. The minimum age is 6. A rider can take a bike alone or share, two on one bike, on request.

Parents often ask whether a child can sit in front of an adult on a bike. The trip data says two people can share one bike on request, so ask when you book and confirm it with the guide at the base. Everyone gets a helmet, a briefing and a practice lap at the base before the ride starts.

Children wear a helmet and get a briefing and a practice lap at the base. Dust is part of it, so closed shoes, long trousers, sunglasses and a scarf matter more than usual. The longer evening desert safari, 5 hours with dinner and a telescope session, also has a minimum age of 6, but the late finish is hard on young children.

Ages 8 to 12 and up: the boat days

The Tiran Island boat day lasts 8 hours with an 08:00 pick-up. You sail for about an hour, snorkel two or three times, swim in a shallow lagoon and eat lunch on board. Fins, mask and snorkel are included. This is a good trip for a child who swims confidently and likes water, and a poor one for a child who gets bored or seasick.

The product data lists no minimum age for the boat days, but the hours and the swimming are the real limit. If your child cannot swim, ask us whether a life jacket and a guide will cover it. The Ras Mohammed road day, with a minibus of 16 and a float in the Magic Lake, is a gentler option for the same age group.

How child fares work

• Under 2: free on shared trips.
• Ages 2 to 11: half the adult price on shared trips.
• Ages 12 and over: the adult price.
• Private trips: price per person, which falls as the party grows.

Check each trip page for the current price, because it depends on the date and the party. Most trips can be booked online up to 48 hours before; inside that, send a request. Free cancellation applies 3 or more days before, half is refunded between 3 days and 24 hours, and nothing inside 24 hours.

A simple family plan

For a week with children, choose one half-day outing and one full-day trip, and leave the other days for the hotel. A semi-submarine morning or a quad ride in the afternoon, followed by a rest day, usually works better than back-to-back excursions. Avoid the very long days, the Cairo coach trip and the Mount Sinai night climb, until your children are old enough to enjoy them.