Sharm El-Sheikh: ATV and Camel Ride with BBQ Dinner and Show

The best part of this Sharm El-Sheikh outing comes after sunset, when the desert turns quiet and the sky becomes the main attraction. You ride an ATV or buggy through the Sinai, stop for Bedouin tea and a camel ride, then finish with barbecue, dancing, fire tricks, and telescope-led stargazing.

I like the generous mix of activities for the $35 price, especially the 50-minute ride and the proper dinner that follows. I also like the guides’ friendly approach. Ibrahim, known as Coconut, Omar, Sabry, Yusuf, and Hassan are often praised for keeping the mood easy and helping people feel safe.

The main thing to consider is that this is an active group excursion, not a quiet private desert trip. Some quads need maintenance, helmet buckles can be worn, and scarves, photographs, tips, and single-quad upgrades may cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• The night sky is the grand finale: Use astronomical telescopes to look at stars and planets, and ask for a photograph of the moon through your phone.
• Expect about 50 minutes of driving: The route includes two breaks, one for mountain echoes and one at a Bedouin camp.
• Dinner is a full open buffet: Expect grilled meat, kofta, chicken, rice, vegetables, salads, bread, water, and a soft drink.
• The entertainment is distinctly Egyptian: The program includes a fire performer, Tanura dancing, and Bedouin dancing.
• Quad choice can change: A double quad may be replaced by a single quad for balance or weight reasons, with a possible €10 per-person charge.
• Bring practical desert gear: Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and consider bringing your own scarf and camera.

From your hotel to the Sinai desert

Your evening begins with hotel pickup in an air-conditioned van. The exact transfer time depends on your hotel, but the arrangement is straightforward: a driver takes you to the safari station, where the guides gather the group and explain the plan.

At the station, you receive basic instructions for operating the ATV or buggy. The staff also help wrap a scarf around your head and face. This is not just for appearance. Desert dust can be irritating, especially during the ride, so a scarf is useful.

You are asked to leave money, phones, passports, and other loose belongings in your bag while riding. That is sensible advice. An ATV ride is no place for a passport or an unsecured phone, and the dust is not kind to small electronics.

The activity is offered with an ATV or dune buggy, depending on the option you choose. Some packages include a quad runner adventure in the Sinai desert. Confirm exactly what your booking includes, since the riding format can vary.

What the 50-minute ATV ride is really like

The main drive lasts about 50 minutes and includes two planned stops. That gives you enough time to feel that you have gone somewhere, without turning the excursion into an exhausting endurance test.

The route takes you into the dry mountain country around Sharm El-Sheikh. You are not simply circling a parking area for five minutes. You ride through the desert with the group, stopping along the way for short experiences and photographs.

The first stop is set among giant mountains, where the guides demonstrate the echo of your voice. It is a simple moment, but it breaks up the ride and gives you a chance to take in the scale of the rock formations.

The second stop is at a Bedouin camp. Here you can drink Bedouin tea, see traditional bread, and take a camel ride with mountain views around you. The camel portion is brief compared with the ATV ride, but it adds a cultural element that a pure quad-bike trip would lack.

I would not book this outing mainly for camel riding. If camels are your top priority, you will probably want a longer, dedicated camel experience. Here, the camel is one part of a packed evening.

The Bedouin camp and camel stop

The camp visit gives the outing a welcome change of pace. After the vibration and noise of the ATV, sitting down with tea feels calmer. You can also try Bedouin bread, which helps connect the meal and desert setting to local traditions rather than making the trip only about machines and speed.

The camel guides may be friendly and playful, but keep small cash handy if you want to tip. You are not required to tip, and one guide specifically advised that it was optional, but a little Egyptian currency can make these short personal interactions easier.

There can also be photography sales at the stops. If you do not want photographs or video, say so clearly at the start. One useful approach is to agree on the price before any picture is taken. The photo sellers may quote per person or per image, and prices can change through negotiation.

A scarf is useful here, too. Some visitors found the on-site price high, around £4 for one scarf, so bringing your own is a practical way to avoid an unwanted extra cost. The supplied information lists a cultural Egyptian scarf as an optional add-on, not a standard inclusion.

Barbecue dinner, fire, Tanura, and Bedouin dancing

After the camel stop, you move to another Bedouin camp for dinner and entertainment. The meal is an open buffet with grilled meat, kofta, chicken, rice, vegetables, salads, Bedouin bread, water, and a soft drink.

For $35, this meal is an important part of the value. You are not paying only for a short ATV ride. Transportation, the quad or buggy experience, camel ride, tea, shows, dinner, and stargazing are all folded into one evening. Several people found the food better than expected, with particular praise for the seasoning and the barbecue.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a desert camp buffet, not a restaurant tasting menu. Still, the range is substantial enough to suit a mixed group, and the inclusion of both meat and vegetable dishes makes it easier to find something you like.

The show includes a fire performer, a Tanura performance, and Bedouin dancing. The Tanura dancer’s spinning costume is a familiar part of Egyptian entertainment, while the fire act adds a more theatrical moment. The dancing gives the camp a social, festive feel.

This section can be lively and fun, but it is also the most packaged part of the evening. If you prefer long, quiet conversations with local families, this is not that kind of encounter. If you want dinner with a show after a desert ride, it fits the bill well.

Stargazing in the South Sinai night

The star watching is the part that makes this outing different from an ordinary desert safari. After dinner and the performances, the group moves to the stargazing area, where a professional astronomer explains the night sky and helps you view stars and planets through telescopes.

Sharm El-Sheikh’s dry desert setting can offer a strong night-sky experience, especially once you are away from the hotel lights. The guides focus on the visible sky above you, rather than giving only a quick photo stop.

Do not expect a full observatory or a long specialist astronomy course. The experience is designed for a general audience, including families and first-time telescope users. The value comes from having someone point out what you are seeing and explain it in plain terms.

Sabry receives particular praise for his astronomy explanations, while other guides such as Omar, Yusuf, and Ibrahim are noted for making the wider trip friendly and relaxed. Guide assignments can vary, but the guide’s energy matters here. A good explanation turns a dark patch of sky into something you can understand.

Bring your phone and ask if you would like a picture of the moon through the telescope. That small trick can produce a memorable souvenir, though you should not expect professional astrophotography.

The return ride after dark

The return to the safari station takes about 30 minutes by ATV or buggy at night. Air-conditioned vehicles wait at the station to take you back to your hotel.

The night ride is a fun finish, but it also means you should be comfortable riding in a group after a full evening. Follow the guide’s instructions and keep your pace controlled. This is not a race.

The excursion is not recommended for pregnant women or people with back problems. It also demands reasonable comfort with an active ride over uneven desert ground. If you have any doubt about your back, balance, or ability to handle an ATV, ask the provider before booking.

Safety, equipment, and the small print

The guides give an operating briefing before the ride, and several people found the staff attentive about group safety. That is encouraging, but the equipment is not uniformly new.

Some quads have been described as needing maintenance. One rider noticed shaking at certain engine speeds, and another found that the throttle and brake felt too stiff for a beginner. A separate concern was worn helmet buckles.

These details do not mean the ride is automatically unsafe, but they do mean you should inspect your machine before setting off. Tell the guide immediately if the throttle, brake, steering, fuel system, or helmet does not feel right. Do not accept a vehicle simply because the group is ready to leave.

Double quads may be changed to single quads for weight or balance reasons. An extra €10 per person may apply. This can affect families or couples who expected to share one vehicle, so check the selected option and the possible supplement before you go.

Wear closed, comfortable shoes and clothes that can handle dust. Avoid carrying loose valuables during the ride. A phone is useful for pictures, but protect it in a zipped bag until the stops.

Guides who shape the evening

The human side of this trip gets as much attention as the activities. Ibrahim, often called Coconut, is repeatedly praised for humor, kindness, and a welcoming manner. Omar, Sabry, Yusuf, and Hassan are also singled out for being helpful, calm, and attentive.

That matters because the tour has several moving parts. You need clear instructions at the safari station, help with the equipment, guidance during the ride, and an explanation at the telescope. A guide who keeps things organized can make the same itinerary feel relaxed instead of chaotic.

You may also meet guides called Nana or Mario. Nana is described as gentle and attentive, while Mario is remembered for adding humor. Names and assignments can change, but the pattern is clear: the guide is a major part of the experience.

Tips are optional, though you may want small cash for the camel handlers or other local staff. A reasonable amount in Egyptian pounds is useful. Do not feel pressured into paying for photographs or add-ons you do not want.

Is $35 good value?

At $35 per person, this is a strong-value package if you want several activities in one evening. The price covers hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a guide, ATV or buggy time, a camel ride, Bedouin tea and bread, barbecue dinner, drinks, shows, and stargazing.

The price becomes especially attractive for families or first-time visitors who would otherwise book separate desert, dinner, and astronomy outings. You get variety without arranging several transfers.

The tradeoff is that the evening is group-based and tightly packed. The quad equipment can show wear, the camel ride is not long, and optional costs can add up. Budget for a scarf if you do not bring one, possible single-quad charges, photographs if you want them, and small tips.

I would rate the value as good, provided you judge it as a broad introduction to the Sinai desert rather than a specialist ATV trip or a private astronomy session.

Who should book this experience?

You should consider it if you want an easy introduction to several sides of Sharm El-Sheikh: desert scenery, a short camel ride, Egyptian food, traditional-style performances, and the night sky.

It suits families with older children, couples, groups of friends, and solo visitors who want a structured evening. The social format can be useful if you are traveling alone, since the guides and shared activities create an easy setting for meeting people.

It is less suitable if you dislike dust, organized group outings, performance-style entertainment, or riding equipment that may show signs of use. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems.

Book at least 24 hours ahead if you want the option of a full refund for cancellation. Languages offered include English, Russian, Italian, and Arabic.

Should you book the Sharm El-Sheikh desert safari?

I would book this tour if your priority is variety and value. The strongest parts are the 50-minute desert ride, the well-stocked barbecue, the warm guides, and the telescope session under the Sinai sky.

I would skip it only if you want a polished luxury outing, a long camel trek, or a serious astronomy program. Bring your own scarf, inspect the quad and helmet, keep some Egyptian cash in reserve, and ask about any single-quad fee before departure. With those points handled, this is a lively, good-value way to spend an evening outside Sharm El-Sheikh.

FAQ

How much does the Sharm El-Sheikh ATV and camel experience cost?

The listed price is $35 per person.

What activities are included?

The experience includes hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a professional guide and astronomer, an ATV or dune buggy ride depending on the option selected, a camel ride, Bedouin tea and bread, barbecue dinner, water, a soft drink, Oriental shows, and stargazing.

How long is the ATV or buggy ride?

The main ride lasts about 50 minutes and includes two breaks. The return ride to the safari station takes about 30 minutes at night.

What happens during the breaks?

One break is for enjoying the echo among the giant mountains. The second takes place at a Bedouin camp, where you can have tea and ride a camel with views of the mountains.

What food is served at dinner?

The open buffet includes grilled meat, kofta, chicken, rice, vegetables, salads, and Bedouin bread. Water and a soft drink are also included.

What shows are part of the evening?

The program includes a fire performer, a Tanura show, and Bedouin dancing.

Can I see stars and planets through a telescope?

Yes. A professional astronomer leads the stargazing session and helps you observe stars and planets with astronomical telescopes.

Is the activity suitable for everyone?

It is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended.

Can a double quad be changed to a single quad?

Yes. For safety, weight, or balance reasons, a double quad may be changed to a single quad. An extra fee of €10 per person may apply.