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

A camel ride at sunset, followed by dinner under the Sinai sky, gives this Sharm El-Sheikh outing its appeal. You get a short taste of desert life without giving up the comforts of a guided evening, including hotel transport, food, drinks, and a telescope session.

I like the hands-on Bedouin bread-making and the careful astronomy lesson, which turns a familiar desert dinner into something more memorable. I also like the sensible length of the camel ride, usually 15 to 20 minutes, long enough to feel special without becoming a painful saddle marathon.

The main consideration is that the evening mixes local customs with staged entertainment. The fire show is a hit, but the music and dance may feel more tourist-oriented than traditional, and one review found the food less appealing than the rest of the program.

At a glance

• Wadi-Khrome Valley is only about 20 minutes from Sharm, so you spend more time at the camp than on the road.
• The camel ride lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, a manageable introduction for first-time riders.
• Bedouin bread-making is hands-on, not just a demonstration from a distance.
• The astronomy session uses a telescope and a professional guide, with explanations of visible stars, distances, and conditions.
• Dinner is an open buffet with BBQ food, water, soft drinks, and tea, followed by fire and Tannoura performances.
• Assam, Asem, and Ibrahim are among the guides praised for personal care, clear explanations, and good organization.

Leaving Sharm for Wadi-Khrome Valley

Pickup is usually around 4 PM, though the exact time depends on your hotel’s location in Sharm El-Sheikh. A modern vehicle takes you toward Wadi-Khrome Valley, roughly 20 minutes from the city.

That short transfer matters. You do not lose half the evening to a long highway ride, yet the change from resort streets to open desert comes quickly. Along the way, you can watch the dry Sinai scenery pass by and settle into the slower pace of the evening.

The tour includes transportation both ways, with a representative staying with the group throughout the outing. That is useful in a setting where several activities happen in sequence. You are not left to work out where to go next, and guides such as Ibrahim and Assam have been especially good at checking that people are included and comfortable.

You should expect a group excursion rather than a private desert camp. The exact group size is not provided, so the feel of the evening may depend on how many people are booked that day.

A short camel ride that keeps its promise

The camel ride is advertised at 15 to 20 minutes. Some descriptions of the experience place it closer to 20 or 30 minutes, but either way, this is a brief introduction rather than a long trek through the desert.

For a first camel ride, that is probably the right approach. Mounting can feel awkward, and the camel’s rise from the ground can surprise you. The animal moves with a rolling rhythm that some people enjoy and others find unsettling. A guide stays close to help, and one particularly useful part of the experience is the chance to overcome that first burst of nerves with support from the staff.

Wear closed-toe shoes. They are listed as essential, and they make more sense here than sandals when you are walking around the camp or climbing onto the camel. Bring a camera, but keep it secure during the ride.

There may also be an offer of camel-ride photographs. If you want pictures, ask the price clearly before agreeing. One person paid about £5 per person after negotiating, while the initial asking price was higher. That is a small but practical detail that can prevent an awkward sales moment.

Making Bedouin bread instead of just watching

The bread workshop is one of the more engaging parts of the evening. You watch Bedouin cooks prepare bread, then get the chance to try the process yourself.

This activity gives the desert camp a human touch. You are not simply being shown a tent and handed a meal. You get a small sense of the practical skills needed to prepare food in a dry, remote setting, even if the workshop is necessarily brief.

The included Bedouin tea adds to the setting. It is a simple pause between the camel ride and dinner, and it gives you time to speak with the local staff or watch the cooking. Families and children who are old enough for the tour can usually take part in the bread activity, though the experience is not suitable for children under four.

Do not expect a full cultural lesson. The workshop is a short activity within a larger evening program, not a detailed study of Bedouin foodways. Still, it is more involving than another staged photo stop.

BBQ dinner under the desert tents

Dinner is served at Bedouin-style tents as an open buffet. The package includes BBQ food, water, a soft drink, and tea, so you do not need to plan for extra food costs during the main meal.

The food is one of the variable parts of the experience. Several people found the dinner delicious, particularly the meat and vegetables, and went back for seconds. Another person did not enjoy the food as much and wanted a more traditional meal. That split is worth keeping in mind if dinner is the main reason you are booking.

I would view the meal as a convenient, filling part of the evening rather than a serious food tour. The value comes from the full setting: eating at the camp, watching the entertainment, and having the meal included in a $48 package. If you are looking for a carefully prepared regional tasting menu, this is not that.

The atmosphere is designed for a broad international audience. You may hear popular music alongside oriental performance music, and the food is likely to be prepared for familiar tastes. That makes the evening easy for mixed groups, though less convincing for anyone seeking a strictly traditional Bedouin experience.

Fire and Tannoura shows after dark

The fire show runs for about 15 minutes during dinner. This is the most theatrical part of the program, with performers using fire as the main spectacle.

It works best as a lively break in the meal. You can watch from the seating area rather than treating it as a formal theater performance. The show gives the evening a clear high point before the quieter astronomy session.

The Tannoura performance follows, featuring a folk dancer in a colorful spinning display. It is a familiar style of Egyptian entertainment, presented for visitors at the camp. Some people find the combination captivating. Others may feel that the program is staged, especially when modern pop songs are included.

That distinction matters. You are getting an entertaining desert evening, not an untouched village celebration. I would enjoy the shows for what they are: polished camp entertainment with Egyptian themes. If you want a more local and less arranged experience, the bread-making and astronomy sections will likely feel more convincing than the stage program.

The stars are the best reason to stay until late

The astronomy session is the most distinctive feature of this outing. After the lights and noise of the camp, you turn your attention to the night sky with a professional astronomy guide and telescope.

A clear night makes a major difference. The quality of the experience depends on visibility, and the tour cannot control cloud or haze. When conditions cooperate, you can identify prominent stars and learn about their makeup, distance, and conditions. The guide also connects the visible sky with planets, stars, and the wider Galaxy.

I especially like the educational angle. You are not simply taken to a dark place and told to look upward. Guides such as Ibrahim have been praised for giving detailed explanations and using good-quality equipment. That makes the session useful even if you know very little about astronomy.

You should bring realistic expectations. A telescope does not guarantee a perfect view of every planet or star, and the information provided does not specify which objects will be visible on a particular date. Think of this as a guided introduction to the sky, shaped by the night’s conditions, rather than a professional observatory visit.

For many people, this is the part that turns a standard desert dinner into a stronger memory. The camel ride is brief, the show is familiar, and the buffet is practical. Looking through a telescope in the Sinai, with the resort lights farther away, gives the evening its sense of place.

How the guides shape the experience

The guide can make a large difference on a tour with several moving parts. Assam is repeatedly praised for keeping the evening organized, helping people feel safe on the camels, and staying attentive from beginning to end. Asem is also noted for warm personal service, while Ibrahim is singled out for his astronomy explanations and ability to keep people involved.

These names are useful when you receive your final guide assignment, but they are not a guarantee that one of them will lead your group. The available languages are English, Italian, Russian, and Arabic.

The strongest part of the guiding seems to be personal attention. One guide helped a nervous rider gain confidence, while another made sure everyone took part in the activities. That matters more here than a long historical lecture. You need someone who can manage transfers, explain the camel ride, coordinate dinner and shows, and make the telescope session understandable.

Communication before the tour is also handled through WhatsApp by FTS Travels, according to the supplied details. That can make pickup arrangements easier, especially when hotel collection times vary.

Is $48 good value?

At $48 per person, the price covers a lot for one evening:

• Hotel pickup and return in a modern vehicle
• Guide and tour representative
• A 15 to 20-minute camel ride
• Bread-making activity
• Open-buffet BBQ dinner
• Water, a soft drink, and tea
• Fire and Tannoura performances
• Astronomy session with telescope access

The value is strongest if you want variety. You get transport, food, a camel ride, live entertainment, and an educational activity without paying separate admission at each stop. It also saves you the trouble of arranging desert transport and finding a camp on your own.

The value is weaker if you want a long camel trek, a quiet wilderness evening, or highly traditional food and music. This is a packaged half-day outing with a clear schedule. The program is designed to keep everyone moving from one activity to the next.

Scarves are included only if you select that add-on, so do not assume they are part of the basic price. Bring your own camera and closed-toe shoes, and carry your passport or ID card as requested.

Who should book this evening

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time visitors to Sharm who want a compact introduction to the Sinai desert. It suits couples looking for a different evening, families with children aged four and over, and anyone who likes having several activities in one booking.

The short camel ride also makes it a better fit for beginners than a long riding trip. Still, camel riding is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems, and the operator does not list the tour as suitable for children under four.

You should also book it if you are curious about astronomy. The stargazing is not an afterthought. With a clear sky and a strong guide, it can be the most rewarding part of the night.

I would hesitate if you dislike staged shows, buffet meals, or group schedules. The camp entertainment is not purely traditional, and the food may not satisfy someone seeking a refined or strongly local menu.

FAQ

What time does hotel pickup usually take place?

Pickup is usually around 4 PM, but the exact time depends on your hotel’s location in Sharm El-Sheikh.

How long is the camel ride?

The included camel ride is listed as 15 to 20 minutes. Some descriptions place it closer to 20 to 30 minutes, so expect a short ride rather than a long desert trek.

What food and drinks are included?

Dinner is an open buffet BBQ meal. Water, one soft drink, and tea are included.

Is the astronomy session included?

Yes. The experience includes stargazing with a professional astronomy guide and telescope access.

Which languages are available?

The tour is available in English, Italian, Russian, and Arabic.

Who should not take this tour?

The experience is not suitable for children under four, pregnant women, or people with back problems. You should also bring closed-toe shoes, a camera, and your passport or ID card.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a well-filled desert evening with a short camel ride, dinner, shows, and real attention to the stars. The best reasons to choose it are the manageable camel duration, hands-on bread-making, and astronomy session led by guides such as Ibrahim, Assam, or Asem.

Skip it if your priority is untouched Bedouin culture or a serious culinary experience. The entertainment is staged, the music may include modern songs, and the buffet will not please every palate.

For $48, though, the package offers solid value for a first taste of the Sinai outside Sharm’s resort zone. Just go for the full mix rather than one perfect element, and keep your expectations highest for the stars, the friendly guiding, and the simple pleasure of eating outdoors after sunset.