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Logistics · Destination Guide

Sharm El Sheikh (Ras Mohammed and Tiran)

Red Sea park walls, Tiran drifts, and easy resort logistics from one warm-water base

Updated Mar 25, 2026 • 23 sources

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Logistics

Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.

Quick Facts

  • Primary airport: Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH)
  • Typical transfer: 10 km drive
  • Entry requirement: Passport should be valid for at least 6 months from arrival.
  • Getting around: Hotel shuttles, private drivers, and taxis are the simplest way to move around Sharm.

Getting There

Most travelers fly into Sharm El Sheikh International Airport and stay within the resort strip from Sharm El Maya and Hadaba through Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, and up toward Nabq. For water days, licensed operators usually include hotel-to-marina transfers. Ras Mohammed can be reached both by boat and by road, which is useful for non-divers or nature days. Tiran is normally a boat-only plan and is more exposed to wind, so it should be treated as a priority day rather than a guaranteed one.

Airports

1

Sharm El Sheikh International Airport

SSH • HESH

10 km • 10 km drive

Main gateway for South Sinai resort stays. Most visitors use SSH for direct or connecting access into Sharm, with onward resort transfers kept simple by the airport's proximity to the main bays.

Transport: Hotel shuttle, Pre-booked private driver, Taxi, Dive-center pickup

Getting Around

  • Hotel shuttles, private drivers, and taxis are the simplest way to move around Sharm.
  • Many dive centers include marina transfers as part of dive packages.
  • For Nabq, desert trips, and St Catherine routes, use a licensed guide, hotel-arranged vehicle, or authorized tour operator.
  • Confirm pickup point and return point clearly, especially after boat days when different jetties may be used.

Entry Requirements

  • Passport should be valid for at least 6 months from arrival.
  • Egypt's official eVisa portal lists tourism eVisas at USD $25 for single entry and USD $60 for multiple entry.
  • Experience Egypt also states that eligible travelers can obtain a visa on arrival for USD $30 at the bank counter in the airport passport-control area.
  • If you are flying directly to Sharm El Sheikh, Nuweiba, or Taba for a limited South Sinai stay of up to 15 days, Experience Egypt says you can receive a free entry permit stamp on arrival.
  • Rules are nationality- and itinerary-dependent. Confirm the current requirement with the official portal, your airline, and your consulate if you plan a liveaboard, travel outside South Sinai, or stay longer than 15 days.

Gear Logistics Checklist

  • Major dive centers rent full scuba kits, and nitrox is common at larger operations, but inclusion varies by package.
  • Freedive centers provide the right infrastructure far more reliably than generic dive boats, so do not assume the same logistics work for both.
  • Pack a backup mask, charger cables, spare batteries, save-a-dive basics, and your own DSMB if you are certified enough to need one.
  • A 3mm wetsuit suits many divers for warm months, while 5mm is more comfortable in winter or for long boat days with repeated immersion.

Practicalities

Currency

Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Cards are widely accepted in resorts, larger restaurants, and many dive centers, but Egypt still works as a cash-carrying destination for taxis, small shops, tips, and incidental marina spending.

Official tourism guidance says currency exchange is easy in major hotels, tourist zones, and airports, and commercial banks offer ATMs with currency exchange services 24/7.

Electricity

220V • 50Hz • C, F

Most modern chargers cope fine, but check any 110V-only camera, drone, or scooter battery kit before plugging in.

Communications

Official tourism guidance says WE, Orange, Vodafone, and Etisalat all offer temporary tourist lines, usually after taking passport details. Most hotels provide Wi-Fi, though offshore signal and boat Wi-Fi quality should not be treated as work-grade reliability. If you need to upload footage or work remotely, do it from the hotel rather than assuming the marina or boat day will cooperate.

Language

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken in tourist zones, dive centers, hotels, and most day-to-day travel touchpoints in Sharm. In busy resort areas you will also hear other European languages, especially Russian and Italian, more often than in much of inland Egypt.

Insurance

Carry both general travel insurance and dive-specific cover that includes chamber treatment, medical evacuation, and diving accidents. DAN or an equivalent specialist policy is the common benchmark. Standard travel policies often look fine until you read the section that limits or excludes scuba-related treatment, so check before you fly.

Packing list

  • 3mm suit for warm months, 5mm for winter or if you get cold on repeated boat dives
  • DSMB, reel, backup mask strap, and spare batteries
  • Rash guard, hat, sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen
  • Motion-sickness meds if you are sensitive on day boats
  • Light windbreaker for winter mornings and mountain trips
  • Type C/F adapter, charging block, and a dry bag
  • Enough local cash for tips, taxis, and small purchases

Trip Planning

External Booking Partner

Choose your trip style for Sharm El Sheikh (Ras Mohammed and Tiran)

This destination works either as a land-based plan or as a longer liveaboard itinerary. Use the guide for local planning, or compare boats if the remote circuit is the priority.

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