On Foot in Sharm el-Sheikh

October 31, 2026

Walking is a poor way to see Sharm el-Sheikh. It is a corridor of resort bays strung along fast, hot roads, and the distances between them are too long to cover on foot. There is no historic quarter to follow with a guide and no organised city walking tour to point you to. Walks here are short and local, and the real hikes are pilgrimage routes and canyon scrambles that are sold as part of a long excursion.

Advisory for the inland hikes, October 2026. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to North Sinai and against all but essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai beyond the coast, and it calls the southern Sinai Red Sea resorts generally low risk. It warns that regional escalation risk is high. Mount Sinai and Colored Canyon are both inland, so read the FCDO advice for Egypt before you book either.

Short walks in the resort

Naama Bay promenade. The beachfront promenade runs for about 1.3 km and is lit at night. Cafes and dive centres line it, so it is the easiest stroll for an evening. Taxis in Sharm are unmetered, so if the walk back is too long, agree the fare before you get in.

Old Market lanes. The souk at Sharm el-Maya, around Al-Sahaba Mosque, is a small network of alleys with spice and perfume stalls and fish cafes. Bargaining is expected, and touts are best ignored unless you want to buy. Visitors may enter the mosque outside prayer times, with shoes off in the prayer areas and modest dress. The Old Market is about ten minutes by car from Naama Bay, so treat the two as separate outings.

Soho Square. This pedestrian plaza in north Sharm near the airport is an evening stop. It has an ice rink, ten-pin bowling, a dancing fountain show and a panoramic cinema show. Entry to the square is free and the attractions are paid separately.

Guided hikes inland

Mount Sinai. The climb is a pilgrimage, not a city walk. It runs by the Camel Path or the 3,750 Steps of Repentance, takes three to four hours going up and usually starts before dawn. A licensed Bedouin guide is required for the summit. St Catherine’s Monastery is about 220 to 230 km from Sharm, roughly three hours each way, so it is an organised day or overnight tour, and the monastery opens in the mornings only and is closed on Sundays. Keep your dress modest and your voice low.

Colored Canyon. The scramble through the canyon is a short guided walk inside an 8 to 12 hour jeep day near Nuweiba. It is not a separate walking tour, and the walls rise to about 40 metres.

Tips for being on foot

Walk early or after sunset, because the roads and promenades are hot at midday.
Carry bottled water, since the tap water is not drinkable.
Do not walk along the roads between bays. Take a taxi.
Keep to marked tracks in the desert, because landmines remain in some areas near Sharm.
Wear sturdy closed shoes for any hike.

A visa on arrival costs USD 30 in cash, and the free entry stamp at Sharm airport covers stays under 15 days in the resort area. Ask your operator whether the inland hikes need the full visa.

For guided hikes, search GetYourGuide or Viator . The monastery’s hours are on the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities page , and the Wikivoyage guide describes the bays.