When talking about Sharm el-Sheikh, pampering resorts, markets, diving, shopping and nightlife immediately come to mind. But there is also a place for nature in Sharm, and you will be surprised to hear how amazing it is and worth a visit.
Sharm el-Sheikh is the Kit city of Sinai. The southern tip of the peninsula hosts hundreds of thousands of vacationers from all over the world every year, in luxurious hotels, with amazing stretches of beach and urban life that are not typical of other places in Sinai and distinguish Sharm and make it what it is. International conferences are also held in this city, leaders from all over the world are hosted and even whole talks were held there in the past. So much so that Aram is different in the landscape of Sinai, and one can find a lot of advantages in this of course, such as the sense of security in the city and the many attractions and possibilities to spend time and enjoy.
When you come to Sharm el-Sheikh, you usually do it to pamper yourself in an excellent hotel, at a price that is half or a third of the same Israeli hotel, to rest and relax in front of the sea, spend time, eat well and wander through the markets and shopping centers. However, since it is still a city located in the desert, Sharm also offers sites and nature reserves where you can travel and enjoy just as much, and some would say even more. The huge areas in the Chinese desert are full of beautiful landscapes, unique natural phenomena as well as animals and rock formations that can only be seen there. All you need is to reserve one day (or more) of your vacation, organize a car and a guide and go on an adventure in nature.
Nature sites in Sharm el-Sheikh
When talking about nature sites in Sharm el-Sheikh, we mainly mean two central places, each beautiful and unique in its own right: the Ras Mohammed National Park and the Nabak Nature Reserve. Ras are both supervised and orderly nature reserves, the entrance to which involves a (symbolic) fee and they contain amazing views and phenomena that cannot be seen elsewhere in Sharm. Both are very large (several hundred square kilometers), so visiting them must be with a car (an SUV is not required, but better) and spread over several hours or even a whole day, if you want to take your time in fun. So what awaits us everywhere ?
Ras Mohammed National Park
Ras Mohammed National Park is located south of Sharm el-Sheikh, about 20 minutes drive from the center of Sharm. In this huge park (about 850 square kilometers) you can find amazing views of the desert and the sea tongues that enter it, unique rock formations, views of the marine “spitz” that connects the Gulf of Suez with the Gulf of Aqaba, mangrove groves growing in salty water, salt pools And the highlight is of course one of the most beautiful diving sites in the entire Red Sea with hundreds of types of corals, sea creatures and even shipwrecks. The sites are definitely suitable for snorkeling as well, but to enjoy the view in its full power we totally recommend going under the water.
Ras Mohammed can be reached by sea via a boat that passes through several diving sites, and of course stops at them so that you can jump into the water and be impressed. It is possible, and this is the recommended way, to arrive also by land as mentioned in a 20-minute drive from Sharm, preferably with a guide who knows the area and everything it has to offer. Of course, even when arriving through the territory, you can visit the diving sites of Ras Mohammed.
Any hotel or tourist agency in Sharm will be able to arrange a day trip to Ras Mohammed for you. The price of course varies depending on the number of people and the duration of the trip. Entrance to the park itself costs $5 per person, and the park is open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Because the place is big, you have to arrive at a relatively early hour so that you can enjoy everything it has to offer.
Nabq Nature Reserve
The northern part of Sharm, where the city’s best luxury hotels are concentrated, is known as “Nabak Bay”. About ten minutes’ drive north of it is the Navek Nature Reserve, which is also huge in size (about 600 square kilometers) and is designated as a national park, in all the meanings of the word – the place is maintained, beautiful and the natural values are preserved there. You should also devote a whole day to Navek and there you can see Many groves of mangroves growing in salt water (much more than Ras Mohammed), spectacular diving sites located along the coast, an authentic Bedouin lover where you can rest and relax and a lot of open areas for a trip on horseback, on jeeps or ATVs (you can rent them locally, but it’s worth it) arrive in advance in an SUV).
Any hotel in Nabak Bay (and also in other places in Sharm) will be able to organize such a day trip for you, including a guide and an SUV. Although technically the area of the park is smaller than that of Ras Mohammed, the area that is visited is much larger, so it is really worth clearing the entire schedule and not planning anything else before or after the visit to Nek. You are on vacation, take your time and enjoy everything it has to offer. The place is open Every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and here too of course it is recommended to arrive early.
In conclusion, it is very worthwhile to dedicate a day or years of your vacation in Sharm to see its beautiful natural sites. This way you can also diversify the trip, also see unique landscapes that are not found in many places in the world, and also accumulate more experiences that you can later tell about at home.
