Sharm Essential: Ras Mohammed, Naama Bay Diving and the Sinai Desert
Sharm el-Sheikh sits at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Red Sea splits into the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez. The waters here are among the world finest for diving and snorkeling. Ras Mohammed National Park is a UNESCO-rated marine reserve. Naama Bay is the social hub. The Sinai mountains offer a completely different landscape just behind the resort.
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Ras Mohammed National Park
The premier diving destination at the southern tip of Sinai, featuring dramatic walls, shark reef encounters, magnificent soft coral gardens and the famous Jolanda wreck. Widely considered a world top-10 dive site.
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Naama Bay
The original and most central resort bay in Sharm, lined with hotels, dive centers, restaurants and evening entertainment. The calm, shallow bay is good for snorkeling directly from the beach.
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Old Market
The original town center of Sharm away from the modern resort strip, with a more local character: Egyptian restaurants, spice shops, mobile phone dealers and an evening market atmosphere.
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Shark Bay
A quieter bay to the north of Naama with direct beach access to a healthy reef. Turtles are frequently seen here, and the sunrise over the Gulf of Aqaba from this beach is exceptional.
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Sinai Desert Backdrop
The stark granite mountains of the Sinai Peninsula rise immediately behind Sharm, visible from everywhere. Jeep safaris, camel treks and quad bike tours use these mountains as the playground.
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Na'ama Bay Promenade
The pedestrian strip along Naama Bay concentrates dive shops, beach clubs, restaurants and souvenir stalls. Evening here is lively year-round with a mix of international visitors and Egyptian staff.