Sharm El Sheikh: Quad bike, Safari, Camel With Dinner & Show

The best part of this Sharm El Sheikh outing is the change of pace: first you charge across the golden desert on a quad bike, then you slow down for tea, camels, dinner, and a Bedouin performance. It gives you both the noisy thrill of an off-road ride and a calmer evening under the open sky.

I like the small-group format, which can mean less waiting and more room to ride at a useful pace. I also like the hotel pickup and drop-off, plus the chance to reach a Bedouin village rather than spending the whole trip on a quad track. The main catch is that camel riding, dinner, and stargazing may be optional, so check exactly what your $20 booking includes.

Key points to know

• About one hour or more on the quad: Several schedules provide a solid riding session, with some riders reporting more than an hour and two photo stops.
• Small groups can move faster: A smaller group may let you ride with less congestion than the larger desert convoys.
• Bedouin tea and dinner add cultural context: The village stop brings chai, local food, music, dancing, and a look at desert customs.
• Camel riding and stargazing depend on your option: They are not automatically guaranteed by every booking.
• Bring your own scarf and goggles: These are not included, and desert dust can make both useful.
• Budget for extras: Water and other purchases may cost much more at the desert stop, so carry what you need.

From Sharm hotels to the South Sinai desert

The outing begins with pickup from your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh. Hotel transport is included, along with a guide and return transfer, which makes this an easy choice if you do not want to arrange a taxi to a desert base.

The exact timing can vary, but the experience begins in the afternoon. That gives you daylight for the quad ride and a chance to reach the village as the sun lowers. The heat is a real factor in South Sinai, so ask about an earlier departure if one is available. One rider specifically recommended a 9 a.m. start because the desert becomes too hot later in the day, although the advertised experience described here begins in the afternoon.

Your passport must have at least six months of remaining validity. Keep it with you, since this is not simply a short ride beside the resort. The tour operates in English and Arabic.

Quad biking across golden dunes

The quad ride is the main event. You receive a quad bike and head into the desert, crossing sand, rough ground, and rolling dunes. The appeal is not technical off-road driving so much as the feeling of speed, open space, and a machine responding beneath you.

Several riders found the riding time generous, with one describing more than an hour and another noting a solid hour on the quads. That matters at a $20 starting price. You are not paying for a ten-minute photo ride followed by a long wait. Still, the exact riding time can depend on the package and the group’s pace, so confirm before booking if this is your main reason for going.

The small group is a useful feature. With fewer riders, the group can move more quickly and spend less time gathering at every turn. One rider enjoyed being able to pass larger groups, while another appreciated the guides staying close and checking that no one was in trouble. I would choose the small-group option if the price difference is reasonable.

The views are the quiet reward. The desert opens into broad stretches of sand and rock, with mountains and distant ridges forming the backdrop. The scenery is spare rather than lush, but the lack of buildings and traffic gives the ride its sense of freedom.

Safety depends on both the equipment and the staff. The guide team is reported to ride along with the group, and one rider felt well looked after throughout. However, another rider had a brake problem halfway through the route. That is not a detail to ignore. Before setting off, test the brakes and ask what to do if the quad develops a fault. If anything feels wrong, stop and tell the guide at once.

You should also expect dust. Scarf and goggles are not included, so bring your own if you have them. Closed shoes, trousers, sunscreen, and a bottle of water are sensible choices. The tour may sell supplies at the desert stop, but one small bottle of water was reportedly priced at 100 Egyptian pounds, so bring water from your hotel when possible.

Photo stops, views, and the pace of the ride

The route includes stops for photos and rest. One account describes two stops, which helps break up the ride and gives you a chance to look beyond the handlebars. These pauses are useful because quad biking uses more energy than it first appears, especially on uneven ground.

The photo routine can be a mixed part of the day. A photographer may ride with the group and take pictures or videos. Farid, one guide named in the feedback, was praised for being friendly, helpful, and recording photos along the route. That can be a welcome bonus if you want pictures without carrying your phone while riding.

But the camera can also interrupt the outing. One rider felt pushed to pose repeatedly and had little time to rest or drink at the first stop. If you prefer to enjoy the ride without constant direction, say so early. Tell the guide whether you want photos, a few photos, or no photos. You are entitled to make that clear.

The best moment may come on the return ride, when the photo work ends and you can focus on the desert, the engine, and the changing light. You should not expect a wilderness expedition. This is a managed excursion with set stops and a guide-led route. Its strength is convenience and fun, not solitude.

A camel ride at sunset, if selected

After the quad portion, the program may switch to a camel ride. The contrast is the point. The quad is loud and quick; the camel moves with a slow, rocking rhythm that connects the evening to older desert travel.

The camel experience is usually short enough to be approachable, but the supplied information does not give a fixed duration. It is also listed as an optional inclusion. Do not assume it is part of every $20 package. Check the booking details and confirm with the operator before you leave the hotel.

A camel ride can be uncomfortable if you have back, hip, or balance problems. One older rider enjoyed the wider outing but struggled with part of it because of health issues. If you have a medical concern, tell the guide before mounting. You may be able to sit out this section and still enjoy the village and dinner.

The sunset setting gives the ride its charm. As the light fades, the desert changes from bright gold to muted brown and purple. You do not need to be an animal enthusiast to appreciate the slower pace, but you should treat the camel section as a traditional photo and transport experience, not a long expedition.

Tea and Bedouin life at the village

The village stop is meant to give the afternoon a human side. You are welcomed with chai tea and introduced to Bedouin customs, traditions, and daily life. The information available does not promise a formal lecture or a museum-style visit, so expect a simple hosted stop rather than a detailed cultural course.

That simplicity can be valuable. Sitting with tea, looking across the desert, and hearing about local ways of life gives context to the setting. Without this stop, the trip would be little more than an off-road ride. With it, you get a modest introduction to the people and traditions associated with the region.

Keep your expectations sensible. A tourist village can only offer a brief view of Bedouin culture, especially within a single afternoon. You will not see every part of desert life. Still, tea and conversation can be more memorable than a rushed display, particularly if your guide takes time to explain what you are seeing.

There can also be sales activity at stops. Bracelets and other small items may be offered, and one rider felt pressured after saying no several times. You can remain polite and firm: I would like to look, but I am not buying. If the approach becomes uncomfortable, tell your guide. You should not feel forced to spend money beyond the tour price.

Dinner beside the fire

Dinner follows the village visit, with food served near a fire beneath the night sky. The meal is described as Bedouin-style, made with local ingredients and shared in an outdoor setting. The supplied details do not provide a fixed menu, so do not book this expecting a specific dish.

The setting is part of the value. A meal in the desert, with the fire going and the sky dark overhead, feels very different from dinner at a Sharm resort. You can talk with the group, watch the lights fade, and enjoy a quieter part of the evening after the engines stop.

Food quality can vary from one night to another, but the dinner has been praised as a strong part of the outing. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, ask in advance. No special menu is promised in the information provided, so you should not assume substitutions are available.

Dinner is also listed as an optional inclusion. The low advertised price may refer to the quad portion rather than the full quad, camel, dinner, and show package. This is the most important money question to settle before booking. Ask for the total price of the exact package you want, including transport, dinner, camel riding, and any stargazing.

Music, dancing, and the evening show

The show brings the group back together after dinner. Expect traditional music, singing, and dancing inspired by desert culture. It is presented as a lively Bedouin performance rather than a quiet recital, so the atmosphere will be more social and theatrical than the tea stop.

The show has been a highlight for couples and families, and one account described the full day as well organised from private transfer through the evening performance. If you are looking for a polished cultural production with a large stage, this is not the right expectation. Think of it as an outdoor dinner show linked to the desert setting.

The stars can add a special final touch. Stargazing is listed as an option, not a guaranteed part of the basic outing. Cloud, moonlight, timing, and the package you choose may affect what you receive, so ask whether stargazing is included before paying.

What the $20 price really offers

At $20 per person, the experience can be very good value if your package includes hotel transport and a full quad ride. The strongest value comes from the combination of a substantial ride, guide support, desert scenery, and a small group. A private transfer or more than an hour on the quads makes the price look even better.

The price becomes less clear when extras are separated. Camel riding, dinner, and stargazing may be optional, while scarves, goggles, drinks, tips, and personal purchases are not included. You could begin with a low headline price and spend more by the end.

I would compare packages by asking four simple questions:

• How long is the quad ride?
• Is the camel ride included?
• Does the price include dinner and the show?
• Is stargazing part of the package?

Tips are optional. You should also keep some money for personal spending, but do not feel obliged to buy water, bracelets, photos, or other extras. The tour is most satisfying when you know the final cost before pickup.

Who will enjoy this outing most

I would recommend this for first-time visitors to Sharm who want several desert activities in one half-day or evening. Families with older children, couples, and groups of friends can all find something here, provided everyone is comfortable with heat, dust, and a bumpy ride.

It suits you especially well if you want:

• A strong dose of quad biking without arranging transport yourself
• A small-group outing rather than a large convoy
• Desert photos and wide open views
• A short introduction to Bedouin hospitality
• Dinner and entertainment in an outdoor setting

I would think twice if you dislike engines, dust, sales pressure, or organised group activities. The ride is not gentle, and the desert heat can make the day tiring. People with health problems should be honest with the guide before the quad or camel sections.

The guide team is one of the outing’s best assets. Farid has been singled out for friendly assistance and photo help, while other guides have been praised for staying close and keeping riders safe. You cannot guarantee a particular guide, but the quality of the staff can shape the whole day, so speak up if you need help or a slower pace.

Should you book the Sharm desert safari?

Book it if you want a lively, good-value outing that combines quad biking with a Bedouin-style evening. The small group, hotel pickup, generous riding time, tea, dinner, and show can make this a fuller experience than a basic quad excursion.

Before booking, confirm the exact inclusions. The $20 price is attractive, but camel riding, dinner, and stargazing may require a different option. Bring water, goggles, and a scarf, test the quad’s brakes, set boundaries about photos and shopping, and tell the guide about any health concerns.

I would choose this tour for the mix of speed and culture, not for a quiet desert escape. If you accept the organised nature of the outing and check the extras first, it offers a lot for the money.

FAQ

What is included in the Sharm El Sheikh desert safari?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a tour guide, and a quad bike ride are included. Stargazing, camel riding, and dinner are included only if you select the relevant option.

Is the camel ride included in the $20 price?

Not necessarily. Camel riding is listed as an optional inclusion, so check the package details before booking.

Is dinner included?

Dinner is included only if you select the dinner option. The basic advertised price may not cover the full evening package.

Do I need a passport?

Yes. You should bring a passport with at least six months of remaining validity.

Are scarves and goggles provided?

No. Scarves and goggles are not included, so bring your own if you want protection from dust.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also allows you to reserve now and pay later.