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Haggle for souvenirs in a Bedouin bazaar
The Old Market is where you’ll find Egypt as tradition intended. You can find jewellery, pottery, slippers, glass perfume bottles and leather goods all dotted around the market's maze of stalls and shops. It’s usually cheaper than the shopping scene in Naama Bay – though haggling is still very much part of the deal here.Bring your wallet and an empty suitcase – as the name suggests, this festival is all about retail therapy. It takes place every July and is designed to drum up business for local shops and encourage visitors to the city. The good news for you is that this means discounts at shops, stalls and restaurants all over town.
Read MoreAt Shark’s Bay – a 20-minute drive north of Naama Bay – you can walk straight into the shallow sea and spot fish close to the shore. A lot of the hotels that are perched by its sandy strip also have floating jetties, which make it even easier for you to get up close to Nemo and his friends. Don’t let the name put you off – sharks aren’t likely, but parrotfish, puffer fish and stingrays are.
Read MoreIn Sharm El Sheikh, the crags and dunes of the Sinai desert are ready and waiting on your doorstep. The best way to see this patch of Egypt is at the helm of a quad bike. During a guided 4x4 outing, you'll have plenty of opportunities to take in the area's dramatic landscapes while you zoom across the sands. Some tours will even give you the chance to watch the sun rise and set over the desert.
Read MoreThis high-class quarter in White Knight Bay is packed with upmarket bars, restaurants and clubs. The dancefloors glow in different colours, while the barmen juggle bottles of spirits. There’s also the Queen Vic pub – a doppelganger for the EastEnders version – if you fancy some evening drinks with a Blighty twist.
Read MoreThis sprawling nature reserve – a 40-minute drive from Sharm – looks out over the Gulf of Suez. Almost three-quarters of it's under water and there’s no fishing allowed here, so it’s teeming with sealife. Book a guided scuba diving trip and you'll be able to see some of it for yourself, as well as a few of the area's well-known shipwrecks, like the SS Thistlegorm – this British warship was sunk by the Germans in WWII.
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