Most people come to Sharm El Sheikh for the sea, and then notice the mountains. They stand right behind the town, dark granite that turns copper in the late light, and between them run wide sandy wadis. A quad safari from Sharm is the easiest way out there: an afternoon on an ATV or a buggy, a convoy with a guide at the front and one at the back, and a stop at a Bedouin settlement for tea and a short camel ride. It takes about 2 hours in all, with hotel pickup, and leaves at 14:00 and 16:00. Here is what happens, how to choose the machine, and what to wear.
What the afternoon looks like
The pickup collects you from your hotel and drives a short way inland to the safari centre, where the vehicles wait in rows. Someone wraps a Bedouin head scarf around your face and neck, you get a helmet and goggles, and a guide shows you the throttle, the brake and how far apart to ride. No experience is expected; the first minutes are slow on purpose.
Then the town falls away. The track crosses gravel plains and soft patches of sand, with the mountains getting closer on every side. It is not a race: the convoy keeps a pace the slowest rider can hold. The stop is a small Bedouin settlement, where you sit in the shade on rugs, drink sweet tea that is often brewed with desert herbs, and take a few minutes on a camel.
The Bedouin stop is short and simple, and it is someone's place, not a stage. Ask before you photograph people, accept the tea with your right hand if you can. Bring a little cash if you'd like to tip your guides at the end; it is customary in Egypt and always your choice.
Quad or buggy: which one to choose
The safari on daynight has three tickets. The choice is about how you like to travel.
| Ticket | Price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Quad, single rider | $27 | Anyone who wants to ride their own machine. Handlebars, a thumb throttle and the most direct feel of the sand. |
| Quad, double (two share) | $22 per person | Couples or a parent with a teenager. One drives, one holds on; you can swap at the stop if the guide agrees. |
| Polaris buggy upgrade | $44 | People who would rather sit than straddle, or who have never ridden a motorbike. It drives like a small car with a steering wheel. |
If you have never driven anything with handlebars, the buggy is more forgiving. If you want the classic feeling of quad biking in the desert, take a single quad and let the guide set the pace. Sharing a quad is the easy middle.
Afternoon or sunset run
There are two departures, 14:00 and 16:00, every day. The 14:00 one rides in full daylight: bright, warm, good for photographs of the mountains with sharp shadows. The 16:00 one is the sunset run. You ride out while the heat goes out of the day and come back as the sky turns orange behind the peaks, which is why most people ask for it.
Season matters more than the hour. In July and August daytime highs in Sharm average about 37 °C, and the earlier departure can feel like riding into a hair dryer; the later one is kinder. From December to February the late run is the pleasant one by day, but the ride back gets cool once the sun has gone, so bring a light layer.
What to wear on a quad safari
The helmet, the goggles and the scarf that keeps the dust out of your mouth come with the vehicle. The rest is up to you.
- Long, light trousers. Hot engine parts and flying grit are hard on bare legs. Linen or cotton is fine.
- Closed shoes. Trainers are ideal. Flip-flops slip off the footrests and give no protection.
- A top with sleeves. A light long-sleeved shirt protects you from sun and dust better than sunscreen alone.
- Sunglasses or your own glasses under the goggles, and sunscreen on your hands, which take the sun all afternoon.
- A zip pocket for your phone. Things fall out of open pockets on bumpy ground.
- Clothes you don't mind getting dusty. Light colours show it less, and it washes out.
Is it for everyone?
The ground is bumpy, so a quad safari is not a good idea in pregnancy or with back or neck problems; the buggy is smoother but still rough in places. If you're bringing children, check the trip page or ask before you book which ages can ride and whether a child can sit as a passenger on a shared quad, because the listing does not state an age limit. The same goes for driving licences: the listing doesn't ask for one, but if it matters to you, ask the operator. For families with younger children, our guide to Sharm El Sheikh with kids lists calmer options by age.
You may read that some desert operators around Sharm ask for a small cash fee on the day. Nothing in this safari's listing mentions one: what you pay for is what the trip page lists, hotel pickup included. If you are ever asked for an extra that the page doesn't name, ask why before you pay it. Our guide to excursion prices in Sharm explains what to check before any booking.
Other days out with an engine
The safari is the one that goes into open desert. If what you want is speed on a proper track, go-karting in Sharm runs timed laps on an outdoor circuit, with a 6.5 HP kart for anyone and a 9 HP kart for people who have done it before. Paintball in an outdoor arena is a team game with marshals and full kit. Both take about 2 hours, with hotel pickup. For a whole day in the mountains, the Canyon Salama day trip runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and has a ticket that adds a quad ride. The desert horse ride takes the same wadis at walking pace. All of them sit together under quad safari and karting, and the rest of what's on is on the things to do in Sharm El Sheikh page.
Desert days you can book
questions, answered
Can two people share a quad?
Yes. The double ticket ($22 per person) puts two riders on one quad: one drives, one sits behind.
Quad or buggy: which should I choose?
A single quad if you want handlebars and your own machine; the Polaris buggy if you'd rather sit behind a steering wheel or have never ridden anything with handlebars. The buggy is the gentler of the two on a bumpy track.
Do I need a driving licence, and is there a minimum age?
The listing doesn't ask for a licence or state an age limit, so check the trip page or ask the operator before you book, especially if children are coming.
What should I wear?
Long light trousers, closed shoes and a top with sleeves. The helmet, goggles and Bedouin head scarf are included with the vehicle. Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and, in winter, a light layer for the ride back.
Is it dusty?
Yes, especially further back in the convoy. The scarf and goggles keep most of it off your face.
Is the sunset run worth it?
For most people, yes. The 16:00 departure rides back as the light goes gold over the mountains, and in summer it is the cooler of the two. In winter, bring a layer: the desert cools quickly after sunset.
