The city of Sharm el-Sheikh, located in the south of the Sinai Peninsula, is one of the largest and most popular resorts not only in Egypt, but also in the whole world. More than 200 hotels of various categories located in the city welcome numerous tourists throughout the year. Thanks to the tropical desert climate, you can relax in Sharm el-Sheikh in almost any month – even in winter the temperature of the water in the sea does not drop below 20 degrees. And although in summer the air can warm up to 40 degrees, its low humidity allows you to tolerate such heat without much discomfort.

Sharm el-Sheikh occupies the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, stretching 30 kilometers along the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. Near the city, in the southwest, is the Ras Mohammed National Reserve, which is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful places in Egypt, and in the northeast the resort borders the Nabq Nature Reserve.

Located on the shores of the Red Sea, Sharm el-Sheikh boasts an extremely rich and diverse underwater world. A huge number of divers and snorkelers come here to admire the picturesque coral reefs and exotic marine life. In the warm water off the coast of Sharm el-Sheikh live barracudas, surgeonfish, hammerhead sharks, moray eels, stingrays, crocodile fish, anthias and more.

Going on vacation to Sharm el-Sheikh with a child

Sharm el-Sheikh is one of the best Egyptian resorts for family vacations, with a lot of entertainment, excellent nature and a great climate. If you want to go on an interesting excursion or just have fun on the beach, choose Sharm el-Sheikh.

Is it fun for children in Sharm?

Of course, yes! You’ll be lucky if you find a hotel with animation – then you can breathe easy and relax by the pool with a cocktail, while your little ones will diligently paint and cut out in the kids’ club.

Find out in advance what your hotel can offer as daytime and evening entertainment for children and plan your vacation depending on this. As for entertainment outside the hotel, there is plenty of this. The desert is a striking feature of the Egyptian landscape and, of course, older children will be very interested in riding quad bikes along the sandy hills. Fortunately, it is relatively inexpensive.

You can also ride a camel. You can do it on the dunes, or you can do it quickly in the city.

However, you need to bargain actively here, because the crooks in Naama Bay like to beat the price for a five-minute ride. “Bebalesh” (or rather, free) is unlikely to work, but for 10 bucks they will give you a ride for 5-10 minutes. Then, you can go to Soho Square. A beautiful place in itself, which somehow even stands out from the general picture of Sharm – clean, beautiful, fountains, before the New Year holidays, Snow Maidens cut through the city on roller skates. Here you can go bowling or go skating (neither of which I personally tried, although tourists said they liked everything).

There is the so-called Kids’ Arcade – an ideal place for children – video games, slot machines, a children’s play area with balls, toys and slides (you can leave the children there and have a coffee below in Café Chino). Plus carousels and a selection of attractions for the little ones.

They speak English and Russian, everything is very accessible. All this works, as it were, from 4:00 PM to midnight. And you can also feed children here, fortunately, there are many restaurants here, and they represent cuisines from all over the world. Trips to the pyramids can tire children, but the pyramids themselves are quite an impressive sight. Sailing on a glass-bottomed boat is one of the best and safest things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh with children. It is pleasing that children have discounts on all excursions.

Let’s not forget about Sharm water parks. It’s great if your hotel has a water park, but if not, ask your guide. Admission is about $40 per adult and about $25 per child, plus bring money to pay for a locker and your own towel.

You can try go-karting if you haven’t done it at home. Children from 7 years old can take part in the races (from 150 cm tall). This is another exciting activity for little daredevils.

Beaches in Sharm el-Sheikh

All children love the sea, and there is no better place in Sharm el-Sheikh where children will have more fun and enjoyment than on the coast. Sharm el-Sheikh is among the top five resorts in the world for snorkeling and diving.

Maybe this is an exaggeration, but the coral reefs and fish here are really impressive! Especially in Hadaba. Diving with a child is too early, but snorkeling is the best!

Maxi-fins, all this can be easily rented on almost any beach and at any hotel in Sharm. In addition, the beaches offer a number of water sports. Very cool catamarans with slides are a great choice. But we wouldn’t advise riding on buns. It’s dangerous, especially considering that people have crashed on these buns in Sharm more than once (though adults, who probably asked to go faster.). Banana is a different matter, not so scary, but also fun. Ask in advance what kind of beach your hotel has – a sandy beach, of course, is much more comfortable for tender feet than pebbles, on which it won’t take long to slip. Sometimes you can see quite a lot of small jellyfish in the sea – we only heard once that a jellyfish stung someone in the sea. But you have to be more careful with sea urchins – our friend ran along the rocky bottom of the beach somewhere in Hadaba, and bumped into such a hedgehog, which was sleeping peacefully between the stones. It’s unpleasant, and you just can’t get rid of these needles.

Where to eat and what to eat in Sharm el-Sheikh?

Be sure to try delicious traditional Egyptian food. As a rule, hotels arrange one day of Egyptian cuisine – meat, side dishes, and, especially, sweets – everything is traditional and unusual for us.

Of course, for many children these dishes do not look so attractive (eggplant puree “baba ganush” or hummus really do not look very appetizing, but it is definitely worth trying). We generally keep quiet about okra (such fruits “lady’s fingers” with lamb), kosher (rice, pasta, beans, etc. piled on one plate) and makhshi (grape leaves stuffed with rice) – we ourselves do not really like it. But falafel (deep-fried bean balls) will fly past both cheeks. And the desserts are simply mind-blowing: basbousa (semolina cake with honey), kunafah (mmm, my dear, “hairy cake,” as we called it, again with honey), baklava (puff pastry rolls with nuts and honey).

As you can see, there are a lot of dishes with honey, so if your child is allergic to honey, be careful there. Take a walk around Naama Bay with your children. In addition to the fact that there are many interesting souvenir shops, there are also many restaurants and cafes there. All the chain restaurants like McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Hard Rock Cafe are all available (if you are a fan of fast food).

What else is there to do at the resort?

Go to Old Market (in Hadaba) – a very interesting place for both shopping and “looking”. Children can practice their bargaining skills when buying souvenirs (they will need them in the future), and at the same time choose a cute camel toy or order a personalized bottle of sand for a couple of dollars.

Naama Bay at night is not exactly a children’s place. Drunk youth, hookah smoke from the numerous hookahs that line this street, noise and bustle. But until 10-11 o’clock (until the program at the hotel ends and the animators play tourists in clubs on Naama Bay) it is more or less calm here. Well, there is complete peace here during the day.

In general, you can and should go to Sharm with children!

Features of a holiday in Sharm El Sheikh: pros and cons

From the name Sharm El Sheikh breathes mystery and mystery. Hundreds of thousands of tourists come to this resort every year to spend time in a warm country by the gentle sea and get acquainted with the ancient culture of the peoples who once lived here.

In order for your vacation to go smoothly and without hassle, you should know a few advantages and disadvantages of this popular resort.

The undoubted advantages of Sharm El Sheikh include its location and climate. You can relax here all year round, without fear of freezing even in January.

The city is located on the coast of the Red Sea, which, according to many experienced tourists, is recognized as one of the most beautiful and rich in underwater flora and fauna. In the vicinity of Sharm there are incredibly beautiful coral reefs, where dozens of species of fish and other marine life live. A paradise for lovers of snorkeling or scuba diving!

A large selection of restaurants and entertainment venues will make your vacation rich and not boring. Many nightclubs organize incendiary parties right under the open sky, and among the invited DJs and artists are world-famous pop stars.

The long sandy beach in Nabq Bay will be a real gift for families with children. Here, kids will feel complete freedom of action: the warm sea, gentle entry into the water and fine sand will not limit the young explorer.

In the city, in the Nabq Bay area, there is a large duty-free shop where you can buy everything at reasonable prices: from swimsuits and souvenirs to outerwear.

The convenient location of Sharm offers several interesting excursions to visit. The time it takes to get from the city to the sights or to the capital of Egypt, Cairo is much less than from other resort centers in the country.

Sharm El Sheikh offers children several large water parks at once, among which the most popular are Albatross and Cleo. In one of them you can spend an unforgettable day that will be remembered for a long time by the whole family.

Despite the fact that vacationing in Sharm El Sheikh has a lot of advantages, it is worth mentioning some of the disadvantages of this resort. However, for some tourists, many of the following may be an advantage.

First of all, Sharm belongs to the category of more expensive resorts in Egypt. Undoubtedly, there are budget hotels here, but still most hotel complexes offer vacations at prices that exceed those in Taba or Hurghada.

Slightly higher, compared to other resorts, the cost in Sharm El Sheikh and for entertainment, sightseeing trips around the country and food in restaurants. This nuance must be taken into account when planning a vacation. However, there is no need to be upset in advance. The beauty of the resort and the sea of impressions will easily “cover” the inflated costs.

Despite the fact that family vacations in Sharm El Sheikh are possible, this resort positions itself as a youth tourist center. Bars and clubs are open here 24 hours a day. Life is bustling and bustling! For some vacationers, this factor may not be in favor of Sharm El Sheikh.

Another feature of the resort is the almost complete absence of the usual sandy beaches. The exception is the small Nabq Bay, the beaches of which are often crowded in the “high” season. On the rest of the coast, the bottom is covered with sharp stones, and you can enter the water only from a pontoon in special shoes.

Sharm El Sheikh was a small fishing village in the hinterland of the country just a couple of decades ago. Now it is a popular vacation spot for tourists from all over the world. Despite some of its shortcomings, the resort attracts with its clean sea, beautiful coral reefs, comfortable hotels and developed modern tourist infrastructure. It is never boring or uninteresting. And the amount of positive emotions received during a vacation depends not only on the place of rest, but also on the tourist, on his mood and attitude towards the country.

Excursions

Mount Moses (altitude 2285 m) is visited by thousands of pilgrims annually. According to legend, it was here that Moses received the 10 famous commandments. According to legend, on this mountain at sunrise God forgives all sins.

At its foot, in the place where the Lord spoke to Moses, the Monastery of St. Catherine grew – the oldest operating Christian monastery.

Multicolored Canyon is another gift of nature to these amazing places. Stone and sand cliffs, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow – from white to bright red – will make you hold your breath with delight. According to legend, this city was founded by a tribe of nomadic Nabataeans in the 4th century BC.

Blue Hole. Located near the Dahab resort. It will be of interest primarily to divers. It is a karst chasm – an underwater vertical cave about 130 meters deep in the seabed of the Red Sea. The depth, the underwater world of the Red Sea and the accessibility for diving make it popular with many divers.

Ras Mohammed. National Natural Park. Located 25 km from Sharm El Sheikh. Of the 485 sq. km of the park, 385 sq. km is the water surface.

In addition to the rich underwater world, there are mangrove trees that grow in salt water, foxes, reptiles and dozens of birds.

There is also a magical salt lake, where the salt concentration is the same as in the Dead Sea, 150 species of coral and even corals that grow above sea level!

Tiran Island. The island has long been a disputed territory of Egypt and neighboring states. In this regard, the land part is closed to visitors.

But here are four of the most beautiful coral reefs around the island – available for viewing. This colorful underwater kingdom is worthy of special attention for everyone who loves snorkeling and diving.

From Sharm El Sheikh, excursions by bus or plane to Cairo and Luxor to the ancient Egyptian sanctuaries, which are among the famous Wonders of the World, are organized.

For thrill seekers, a jeep safari in the desert with a visit to a Bedouin village, camel riding, barbecue and national dances in the evening is offered.

You can also visit the city of Petra in Jordan, where the rock temples amaze the imagination, and when visiting the amazing caves, pictures of ancient civilizations appear.

Souvenirs from Sharm el-Sheikh

In the luggage of almost every tourist leaving Sharm el-Sheikh, you can find a carefully packed box containing a modern analogue of ancient papyrus – the writing material of the ancient Egyptians. The technology of its manufacture is very complex. It was lost for a long time, and then with great difficulty restored by Egyptian scientists.

Today, there are only a few factories in the whole country that produce this “historical” product, designed for the development of tourism. Its cost is quite high, so the price of one small sheet cannot be lower than $ 10-20. It should be borne in mind that the drawing on the product is applied manually, with special resistant paints. Therefore, the papyrus made at the factory can be called a real work of art.

Of course, the mass souvenir industry of Sharm El Sheikh cannot ignore such a unique product that people all over the world associate with Egypt. Тому ринок наповнений підробками папірусу, спрацьованими не з очерету, а з бананового дерева, малюнок на яких найчастіше завдано методом штампування. І тут потрібно зупинитися на одному з варіантів: або заплатити солідну суму і привести додому справжній папірус, або витратити трохи грошей і придбати його імітацію, яка, цілком можливо, швидко втратить товарний вигляд. Самий неприємний варіант – купити за ціною справжнього підробку. Розпізнати обман неважко: псевдопапірус ламкий, його не можна зігнути або згорнути в рулон, а фарба розмазується при попаданні на неї води.

Величезна кількість різноманітних сувенірів може навіть ускладнити шопінг в Шарм-ель-Шейху. Що купити: вазу або шкатулку, набір ароматичних паличок або фігурку смішного галопуючого верблюда? Вибір такий великий, що нескладно розгубитися. Ви вирішили придбати алебастрову статуетку, яка зображує щось не надто вам зрозуміле? Не забудьте поцікавитися, що це таке, інакше можна через незнання купити і подарувати кому-небудь один із символів загробного світу, на які так багата єгипетська міфологія. Крім цього, не завадить впевнитися, що штучка виготовлена із заявленого матеріалу, а не з дешевого і менш міцного гіпсу. Для цього потрібно просвітити фігурку ліхтариком: справжній алебастр пропускає трохи світла.

Ювелірні вироби продаються в Шарм-ель-Шейху повсюдно, але золото розумніше купувати в спеціалізованих магазинах. На ринку можна знайти дорогоцінні прикраси запаморочливого дизайну, тільки гарантії якості на них вам ніхто не дасть. Якщо ви впевнені, що можете розпізнати підробку, і хочете купити виріб із золота в крамниці або «з рук», стежте, щоб на самому останньому етапі покупки продавець не підмінив обрану вами річ копією.

Якщо вам сподобалися картуші (красиві іменні медальйони), то майте на увазі, що їх не прийнято купувати для себе, а тільки в якості подарунка кому-небудь. Нестандартний варіант сувеніра (наприклад, для приятеля-меломана) – диск з арабською, нубійською або єгипетською музикою. Перед покупкою можна попросити прослухати запис.

Ще одна досить популярна покупка в Шарм-ель-Шейху – недорогий (ціною в $ 5-7) наручний годинник, дизайн якого імітує відомі бренди. Незважаючи на «підробність», вони справно служать своїм власникам по кілька років.

Одним словом, сувеніри з Шарм-Ель-Шейха можуть включати в себе великий спектр товарів, від дрібничок до аксесуарів та одягу, що володіють гарною якістю.

Головне, що потрібно засвоїти перед шопінгом в Шармі: торг тут не лише доречний, він обов’язковий. Виняток становлять магазини з фіксованими цінами, яких тут не так вже й багато. Одним словом, якщо на речі є цінник, то торгуватися не можна. А якщо його немає, то потрібно збивати ціну якомога довше. Але не варто «битися» за товар, якщо ви не впевнені, що хочете його купити. Продавці вважають образою ситуацію, коли сума знижена вдвічі, а покупець передумав забирати річ.