Sharm El Sheikh: Desert ATV, Camel Ride, Stargazing & Dinner

Summary

Sinai desert quad biking camel rides Bedouin dinner & night sky

You’ll ride ATVs across Sinai’s open desert, try your luck mounting a camel (it’s trickier than it looks), sip sweet Bedouin tea as sunset colors shift around you, then share a BBQ dinner before stargazing with telescopes guided by local experts. If you want real silence and big skies—not just photos—you’ll find it here.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what silence in the Sinai desert actually sounds like? I didn’t, until we stopped our ATVs and just listened—no cars, no city noise, just the wind moving sand. Our guide (I think his name was Mahmoud) grinned when I stalled my quad bike at first, but honestly he made it feel okay to mess up. The ride itself was bumpy and weirdly fun—you get this gritty taste in your mouth from the dust, and there’s this dry heat that clings to your skin. We followed each other in a long line, kicking up clouds behind us. It’s not as easy as it looks on Instagram.

After that came the camel ride. I’ll admit, getting onto a camel is much less graceful than you’d hope—mine stood up so fast I nearly slid off. Someone from the group laughed (probably at me), but then we all just sort of relaxed into it. The camels plodded toward a Bedouin camp where we were handed tiny glasses of hot habbak tea. The smell was sweet and herbal—kind of minty? We sat under a low tent as the sun started dropping behind these wild red hills. It was quieter than I expected; even the kids with us went silent for a minute watching that light change.

Dinner was buffet style—BBQ chicken, kofta, rice, salads—and honestly after all that dust and sun everything tasted better than usual. They use mineral water for cooking (our guide pointed this out like three times), so if you’re picky about food safety you can relax. There was a fire-eating show and some wild spinning dance—I still don’t know how that guy didn’t fall over.

But the best part for me was lying back on these old rugs while our Bedouin guide pointed out Saturn through a telescope. An English-speaking astronomer explained what we were seeing; apparently you can spot Mars if you’re lucky (we weren’t). The stars felt closer somehow out there—maybe because there’s nothing else around except quiet voices and distant laughter drifting across the sand. I keep thinking about that sky whenever city lights get too much.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Desert ATV, Camel Ride, Dinner, Stargazing

• Pick up from hotel
• Instructor explains quad bike safety
• Drive quad bike on flat desert sand
• Camel ride and take photos
• Visit Bedouin camp and sip Habbak tea
• Ascend hill to watch sunset
• Enjoy buffet style dinner with soft drinks
• Watch fire eating, folklore dance, and Tannoura shows
• Star gazing with English-speaking astronomer
• Return transfer to hotel

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Sharm El Sheikh safari?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel are included in the tour price.

What food is served at the Bedouin camp dinner?

The buffet includes BBQ chicken, kofta, rice, pasta, bread, green salad, tahini and sesame salads.

Can vegetarians eat at the dinner?

Yes, vegetarians can choose from various salads and side dishes at the open buffet.

Are children allowed on the ATV ride?

The activity is suitable for all fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult's lap during transfers.

Do I need experience to drive an ATV in Sinai?

No experience needed—the instructor explains how to drive safely before heading out.

Is stargazing guided by an expert?

Yes, an English-speaking astronomer leads the stargazing session using professional telescopes.

How long does the whole tour last?

The full experience lasts several hours including transfers; exact timing depends on sunset seasonally.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in a modern air-conditioned vehicle; safety helmet for your ATV ride; solo or shared quad bike option; optional camel rides; sweet habbak tea at a traditional Bedouin camp; buffet-style BBQ dinner with soft drinks; folkloric entertainment shows; professional telescopes with expert-led stargazing—all before returning to your hotel in comfort.