Sharm El-Sheikh: Camel Riding, Stargazing, BBQ Dinner & Show

The best part of this Sinai Desert evening tour comes after dark, when the lights of Sharm El-Sheikh are far behind you and a guide points out stars through a telescope. I also like the short camel ride and the hands-on bread-making stop, which give the evening more substance than a simple dinner show.

The guides, including Asem, Assam, and Ibrahim, receive especially warm praise for staying close to the group and helping nervous riders. The main consideration is that the show is staged entertainment, and the food and music may feel less traditionally Bedouin than you expect.

Key points at a glance

• A 15 to 20 minute camel ride gives you a taste of desert travel without keeping you on the saddle for hours.
• Bedouin bread baking lets you try a simple desert cooking skill instead of only watching a performance.
• Telescope stargazing is one of the strongest parts of the evening, especially on a clear night.
• The open buffet BBQ includes meat and vegetables, with water, soft drinks, and tea provided.
• Fire and Tannoura shows add color and energy, though some music may feel more modern than local.
• Hotel pickup around 4 PM makes this an easy half-day outing from Sharm, with return transport included.

From Sharm to Wadi-Khrome Valley

Pickup usually begins around 4 PM, although the exact time depends on where your hotel sits in Sharm El-Sheikh. You are collected in a modern vehicle and driven for about 20 minutes to Wadi-Khrome Valley.

That short ride matters. You get a change of setting without spending half the evening in a bus. The built-up resort area gives way to open desert views, and the route helps you shift from beach-holiday mode to something more rural and quiet.

Your guide stays with the group and helps keep the different parts of the evening moving. Asem, Assam, and Ibrahim are named as guides who offered particularly attentive service. Ibrahim also received praise for explaining what was happening at each point, while Asem helped one nervous rider feel safe on the camel.

The group format means this is not a private desert camp experience. You will share the vehicle, activities, dinner, and shows with other people. That keeps the price at a reasonable $48 per person, but it also means you should expect a planned group schedule rather than a slow, fully flexible evening.

A short camel ride with a useful warning

The camel ride lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, though one account describes it as closer to 20 to 30 minutes. Either way, it is a short introduction rather than a long expedition across the desert.

I like this length. Camel saddles can become uncomfortable, and the animals rise and kneel in a way that can surprise first-time riders. A brief ride gives you time for the classic desert experience and photographs without making the saddle the whole focus of the evening.

You may feel nervous as the camel stands up. Let the handler or guide know if you need help, and listen closely when you are told how to sit and hold on. Assam was praised for helping a rider overcome a fear of camels, while other guides were described as attentive and reassuring.

This is not a good activity for pregnant women, people with back problems, or children under four. Bring closed-toe shoes, which are also useful for walking around the camp and the uneven desert ground.

There is an optional scarf add-on. If you are offered photographs after the ride, ask about the full price before agreeing. One visitor found that the initial price was higher than expected and had to negotiate it down, so do not assume the photo cost is part of the $48 tour.

Making Bedouin bread by hand

The bread-making session is one of the more worthwhile stops because you are invited to take part. You watch the Bedouin hosts prepare their bread, then try the process yourself.

The activity offers a small but useful glimpse of how food is made with limited equipment in a desert setting. It is not a long cooking class, and you should not expect a detailed lesson in regional cuisine. Still, it adds a practical touch that a standard dinner show often lacks.

I would put this near the top of the evening for families and anyone who likes hands-on activities. Children can see that bread does not begin in a supermarket bag, and adults get a simple connection to daily life in the camp.

You will also be served Bedouin tea. It is a modest part of the program, but it helps break up the schedule before dinner and gives you a chance to sit, look around, and chat with the people in your group.

Dinner under the desert tents

Dinner is served as an open buffet in the Bedouin tents. The meal includes a BBQ, meat, and vegetables, along with water, a soft drink, and tea.

Several people found the food delicious and went back for second helpings. That makes the meal a solid part of the value, particularly since drinks are included. Still, food is personal, and one person found it disappointing and wished it felt more traditional.

That difference is worth taking seriously. The setting is Bedouin-inspired, but the meal should not be treated as a formal culinary tour. You are getting a group buffet prepared for an evening excursion, not a private family meal in a village home.

The atmosphere is likely to matter as much as the food itself. You eat in a desert camp, with tents, tea, and entertainment around you. If you want a quiet, intimate dinner, this may feel busy. If you want a sociable evening with several activities bundled together, it fits well.

Fire and Tannoura shows after dark

The fire show lasts about 15 minutes and takes place during dinner. It is the most dramatic part of the entertainment, with performers working with fire in a carefully staged display.

A Tannoura performance follows, led by a folk dancer spinning in a colorful costume. This style of dance is associated with Egyptian folk entertainment and gives the evening a clear visual centerpiece.

The shows are enjoyable, but keep your expectations sensible. You are watching a tourist-camp performance, not an unplanned village celebration. One person also noted that modern pop music, including songs associated with Shakira, weakened the traditional feel.

That blend may suit you if you want energy and spectacle. If you are looking for a quiet, strictly local cultural experience, the staged format and modern soundtrack could disappoint. I see the entertainment as a fun extra rather than the main reason to book.

The stars are the real reason to stay

The astronomy session is the strongest feature of the tour. After the dinner and performances, a guide leads a look at the night sky and explains visible stars, planets, the Galaxy, their distance, and the conditions that shape what you can see.

A clear night makes a major difference. On one clear evening, the telescope gave a good view, and Ibrahim offered detailed explanations about the objects overhead. Another visitor described the star lesson as the extra touch that made the whole experience feel worthwhile.

This is not just a quick glance through a telescope. The guide explains what you are seeing, so even someone without much interest in astronomy can follow along. You will get more from it if you ask questions and allow yourself time to adjust to the dark.

Clouds or haze can affect the view, and no evening tour can control the sky. The experience includes stargazing, but it cannot promise a perfect view of every star or planet. Still, the desert setting gives this part of the trip a stronger sense of place than a telescope session in town.

I especially like the contrast between the noisy fire show and the quiet astronomy lesson. The evening begins with movement and spectacle, then settles into a slower look upward. That change in pace gives the tour a natural finish.

What the $48 price really covers

At $48 per person, the tour offers a lot for one evening:

• Two-way hotel transportation
• Guide service
• A 15 to 20 minute camel ride
• Bedouin bread baking
• BBQ buffet dinner
• Water, a soft drink, and tea
• Fire and Tannoura performances
• Stargazing with a telescope

The value is strongest if you want variety. You are not paying only for a camel ride or only for dinner. You get transport, food, entertainment, and an astronomy session in one outing.

The price is less attractive if you care mainly about an authentic Bedouin meal or a long camel trek. The camel portion is brief, and the camp entertainment is designed for visitors. The dinner may also feel more like a general buffet than a highly traditional meal.

Booking with the option to reserve and pay later helps if your plans are still changing. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. These policies are useful, but the bigger value question is simple: do you want a packed evening with several easy activities, or would you rather spend more time on one specialist experience?

Timing, comfort, and what to bring

The evening begins in the late afternoon and returns you to your Sharm El-Sheikh hotel after the camp activities. Since the schedule includes transport, camel riding, bread baking, dinner, performances, and astronomy, expect a full outing rather than a quick two-hour stop.

Bring your passport or ID card, a camera, and closed-toe shoes. Water is included, but you may still prefer to carry any personal drink or snack you need. The desert can feel different after sunset, so practical clothing is a better choice than dressing only for the resort.

The tour is offered in English, Italian, Russian, and Arabic. When booking, choose the language that will make the astronomy explanation easiest for you to follow. That part of the evening gains much of its value from the guide’s ability to explain what appears in the sky.

The experience is not suitable for children under four, pregnant women, or people with back problems. A three-year-old was described as enjoying another activity on the outing, but the stated age restriction here is under four, so families should follow the official limit.

Who will enjoy this evening most?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a first taste of the Sinai Desert without arranging separate transport, meals, and activities. It works especially well for couples, families with older children, and first-time visitors who want an evening that feels different from the hotel strip.

It is also a good match if you are curious about astronomy. The telescope and explanations from guides such as Ibrahim give the final part more weight than a basic camp show.

You may want to skip it if you dislike group schedules, staged entertainment, or short animal rides. The camel experience is introductory, not extensive. You should also choose another activity if you have a back condition, are pregnant, or are traveling with a child under four.

Should you book the Sharm desert evening?

Book it if you want a well-priced mix of camel riding, simple cultural activities, dinner, shows, and a serious look at the stars. The most valuable parts are the personal attention from guides such as Asem, Assam, and Ibrahim, the manageable length of the camel ride, and the astronomy session with a telescope.

Go in expecting a visitor-oriented desert camp, not an untouched Bedouin gathering. The shows are staged, the music may be modern, and the food will not satisfy everyone. With those limits in mind, the $48 price is fair, and the evening offers enough variety to become one of the more memorable additions to a Sharm El-Sheikh holiday.

FAQ

What time is hotel pickup?

Pickup usually begins around 4 PM. The exact time depends on your hotel’s location in Sharm El-Sheikh.

How long is the camel ride?

The included camel ride lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. One description places it closer to 20 to 30 minutes, so the exact duration may vary.

Is dinner included?

Yes. You receive an open buffet BBQ dinner in the Bedouin tents, along with water, a soft drink, and tea.

What entertainment is included?

The evening includes a fire show lasting about 15 minutes, a Tannoura folk dance, and other oriental shows.

Is stargazing included?

Yes. A professional astronomy guide explains the stars, planets, and Galaxy, with telescope viewing included.

What languages are available?

The experience is offered in English, Italian, Russian, and Arabic.

Who should not join this activity?

The tour is not suitable for children under four, pregnant women, or people with back problems.

What should I bring?

Bring your passport or ID card, a camera, and closed-toe shoes. You can also choose a scarf add-on when booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.