Red Sea and Sinai Itinerary: 8 Days in Sharm, Dahab and Cairo

This itinerary is for travellers who want Egyptian sun, diving and coast rather than the Nile Valley circuit — or who want to add a beach segment to a broader Egypt trip. Eight days covers Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab and a final day in Cairo without rushing any of it.

Visa note: the free Sinai-only visa (issued on arrival at Sharm airport, valid 15 days) covers Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab. It does not cover Cairo or anywhere outside Sinai. If you plan to visit Cairo — as this itinerary does — you need a full Egypt e-visa purchased online before departure. Check the Egypt visa guide for current requirements and the application process.

Day 1: Arrive Sharm el-Sheikh

Fly into Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH). Direct flights operate from most European cities and from Cairo. Collect your Sinai-only stamp on arrival if using that visa category; present your pre-approved e-visa if you have one.

Check into your accommodation in Naama Bay or along the Sharm waterfront. Naama Bay is the central tourist hub — restaurants, dive centres and bars are all within walking distance. The afternoon is for settling in; the Red Sea can wait until morning.

Days 2–3: Sharm el-Sheikh — Ras Mohammed and the Reef

Day 2: book a full-day boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park, the marine protected area at the southern tip of Sinai. This is among the best diving and snorkelling in the entire Red Sea. The boat trips typically include two dive sites or two snorkel stops. Non-divers can snorkel the shallows, which have good coral and fish density even at the surface. Book through a licensed dive centre in Naama Bay.

Day 3: a second day for diving or a morning introduction dive if you are uncertified. Most dive centres in Sharm offer PADI Open Water courses (4–5 days) or single intro dives (no certification required). The house reefs off some Naama Bay hotels are accessible directly from the beach. Jackson Reef and Thomas Reef in the Straits of Tiran are among the most dived sites in Sharm — accessible by boat.

Evening on Day 3: Naama Bay has a walkable promenade with restaurants ranging from local Egyptian to international. Prices are higher than in Cairo or the Nile Valley towns — this is a resort area.

Day 4: Sharm → Dahab

Take the morning bus or a shared taxi from Sharm el-Sheikh to Dahab (1.5 hours along the coast road). Buses depart from the Sharm bus station near the old market; shared taxis are faster but require filling the vehicle. Arrive in Dahab by mid-morning.

Dahab is a different town from Sharm — smaller, cheaper, less developed, built around a shallow lagoon on the Gulf of Aqaba. The main strip of restaurants and guesthouses faces the water. Check into a guesthouse on or near the lagoon; mid-range rooms start from around $20 per night.

Afternoon: walk the promenade, hire a snorkel and mask from one of the local dive shops, and explore the shallow reef off the lagoon. The water here is calm and clear.

Days 5–6: Dahab — Blue Hole, Lighthouse and Coloured Canyon

Day 5: the Blue Hole is 9km north of Dahab and is one of the most famous dive sites in the world — a near-vertical underwater sinkhole dropping to over 100 metres. For certified divers, the archway at 55 metres is the main draw; the Blue Hole has a serious accident record and should only be dived with experience and a guide. Non-divers and snorkellers can access the shallows around the rim, which have excellent coral and visibility.

Lighthouse Reef, closer to Dahab town, is gentler and better for beginner and intermediate divers. A local dive centre can organise both sites in a single day.

Day 6: the lagoon at Dahab is one of the best kitesurfing and windsurfing spots in the region. Lessons are available from several schools on the north lagoon. An hour’s lesson for beginners is a viable way to spend a morning.

Afternoon: the Coloured Canyon is a 45-minute drive from Dahab into the Sinai interior. Multicoloured sandstone walls rise 30 metres on either side of a narrow gorge. The hike through the canyon takes 2–3 hours with a local guide (required; guides are hired at the trailhead). Arrange transport through your guesthouse or a Dahab tour operator — day excursions are a standard offering.

Day 7: Dahab → Cairo

Two options:

Option A (bus): overnight bus from Dahab or Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo. Departures vary; some routes go via Nuweiba to the Suez crossing. Journey time is approximately 7–9 hours. Arrive Cairo in the morning, giving you most of Day 8.

Option B (fly): take a bus back to Sharm el-Sheikh (1.5 hours), then fly Sharm → Cairo (1 hour). More expensive but comfortable and fast. Afternoon arrival in Cairo.

If using the Sinai-only visa and adding Cairo to your trip, confirm your e-visa is valid before boarding. The Sinai stamp does not allow entry into mainland Egypt.

Day 8: Cairo — Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum

One day in Cairo is not enough to cover everything, but it is enough for the two most significant sites. The Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum are 5 minutes apart in Giza. Start at the Pyramids in the morning and spend the afternoon at the GEM. Pre-book GEM timed entry online — walk-in queues can be substantial on busy days.

Depart Cairo in the evening, or extend by a night if your schedule allows.

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Practical Notes

Visa: if visiting Cairo, you must have a full Egypt e-visa. The Sinai-only stamp is not valid outside Sinai. Apply online before travelling.

Diving qualifications: Ras Mohammed and the Blue Hole (archway) are not suitable for beginners without guidance. If you are newly certified, stick to Lighthouse Reef and the Sharm house reefs on early dives.

Dahab accommodation: guesthouses in Dahab are consistently cheaper than Sharm. Most are basic but clean; air conditioning is standard.

Getting around: see the getting around Egypt guide for current bus schedules and intercity options from Sinai.