Sharm el-Sheikh Overnight and Multi-Day Trips

October 31, 2026

Advisory, October 2026. The FCDO advises against all travel to North Sinai and against all but essential travel to northern parts of South Sinai away from the coast, and it says regional escalation risk is high. Southern Sinai’s Red Sea resorts are rated generally low risk. The Taba crossing may close at short notice, which affects Petra plans. The FCDO page for Egypt is updated often, so read it again close to departure.

The options for sleeping away from Sharm el-Sheikh are the rest of South Sinai, Cairo and Luxor by air, or Jordan by ferry. The free stamp from Sharm airport covers the resort strip only, and Cairo, Luxor and the mainland need the full visa. On arrival that visa costs 30 US dollars in cash.

The 3-day South Sinai loop

Day one: Sharm and Ras Mohammed National Park.
Day two: Dahab and the Blue Hole, 80 to 95 km away, with the night in Dahab.
Day three: the overnight Mount Sinai and St Catherine leg, about three hours and 220 to 230 km from Sharm, with a licensed Bedouin guide for the summit climb.

Plan for a pilgrimage mood at Sinai and dress modestly. The monastery opens in the mornings only and is closed on Sundays. Travel by day, as the FCDO says not to drive outside cities and resorts at night.

One night in Dahab

Dahab is a laid-back stop for divers and windsurfers, with a lighthouse reef and a promenade. The Blue Hole is the headline site, and its Arch is a technical dive that no recreational diver should attempt. Freediving or swimming through it is dangerous.

Cairo

A flight takes about an hour, and the road takes seven to eight hours via the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel. Typical packages cover the Giza Pyramids, Egyptian museums and Khan el-Khalili. Check ticket rules at the Grand Egyptian Museum before you buy a tour. It needs a full visa, and a day trip is not realistic.

Luxor and the Nile

Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are sold as flight-based packages. These also need a full visa.

Petra and Wadi Rum

Agents sell day and multi-day packages that cross by ferry from the Taba or Nuweiba coast to Aqaba. Arab Bridge Maritime operates Nuweiba to Aqaba, and Wikivoyage says Taba has a ferry too. Because the FCDO calls the region deeply unpredictable and the Taba crossing can close, allow spare days and check Jordan’s entry rules first.

Costs and booking

Packages are priced in euros or dollars. Local taxis and tips use Egyptian pounds at roughly 48 to 50 to the dollar. A licensed operator should supply a written itinerary.

Browse packages on GetYourGuide and stays in Dahab or Sharm on Booking.com . The FCDO entry requirements cover visas and the Sinai stamp.