Sharm El Sheik

[Rio]

We are off to Egypt in November and I know that Sharm is good for diving, but as I don't swim, this is no good for me.
The thing I really want to do is ride a camel, has anybody done this in Sharm? Also we are going with Thomson, does anybody know what kind of daytrips they offer?
Thanks
Love Rio

[surfgirl]

All sorts really! You can dive in a submarine thingy, go by road or air to cairo or luxor, quad biking in the desert, dinner cruises, climbing to st catherines monastery. Theres a really good egypt forum on holidaytruths.co.uk that will give you lots of help and advice. I did Sharm twice over the last winter and LOVED it. Very clean and the hotels are top class. I stayed in the Hyatt Regency and the Jolie Movenpick. Have a fab time.

[Rio]

Thanks for the info Surfgirl, I'll go and check out that website now.
Love Rio

[anna68]

Sharm is a brilliant place - you will love it. We also went with Thomson and stayed in Naama Bay in Movenpick Jolie Ville.

Tips...

Ensure you have the English money for your visa. You need a visa if you plan to go to Ras Mohammed or out of the general area. Its easier just to buy one even if you are unsure.

The quad runners with Thomson are BRILLIANT. Its about £25 for 3 hours at sunset. You have a Thomson rep with you all the time which is great. I would throughly recommend going through Thomson - it feels safe and there is an english speaker with you at all times.

We booked a Ras Mohammed land trip through our hotel which was good. The snorkelling everywhere is good but at Ras Mohammed it was even better.

You could even go to Cairo for the day with Thomson to see the Pyramids.

They also offer trips to Mount Sinai or st Catherine's monastery

Have fun!!

[Rio]

Anna,
I don't swim, so any kind of diving or snorkellings out of the question!!! I was thinking about the Cairo trip as a guy at work went in June and said its fantastic, but a very long day.
I want to ride a camel, will this be possible? Are the quad runners quad bikes? Also I'm looking at doing a jeep safari which I think we can book through Thomson.
What is Ras Mohammed? We've never been to Egypt so we are looking forward to it and will be spending quite a bit of time just chilling on the beach or round the pool.
Thanks for the info
Love Rio

[WINNIEWISHES]

Ras Mohammed is an area off the coast of Sharm where snorkelling is excellent..world reknown I think.There are many many day trips, you can go quad biking,trip to coloured canyon,St Catherines monastry,even day trip to Cairo,I am sure you will find camels somewhere and yes they do jeep safaris and staying in the desert with bedouins..I stayed in Naama Bay and loved it.Have a great time.

[lesley1960]

you really dont want to ride a camel , trust me

[fayeg]

Fantastic place - You will love it!!!!! We also went with thompson and I think they did offer a camel riding trip, we did the luxor day trip and it was amazing - a long day but if you have time it is worth checking out some of ancient egypt! Make sure you check out naama bay at night, lots of little shops and some lovely restaurants too! I would also reccomend the holiday-truths forum for lots of good tips and info (it helped me out looads).

Even If you dont decide to do any day trips, the hotels are so fantastic out there, you could easily spend your whole holiday just chilling out by the pool/beach (most have thier own beach or reef).

faye

[anna68]

Quad runners are quad bikes yes, i was really aprehensive but it was the highlight of our trip!!

As you don't swim you must get the glass bottom boat to see some of the fish! If you are in Naama Bay the movenpick hotel offers this for a few quid.

[Rio]

Thanks everyone, really looking forward to going and I think the glass botton boat is a good way for me to see the fish. I can do a bit of doggy paddle but no way could I dive, I put my head under water for the very first time ever this summer in Anaheim!!!...lol.
I have heard that riding a camel is very sore, but I have always wanted to ride a camel or an elephant...lol. Been warned against people that offer to hold your handbags and cameras while you get on your camel and by the time you get on it, they have scarpered with your stuff!!! i wear mens cargo shorts and keep my stuff in the big pockets.
Love Rio

[highland lass]

:wavey: hi i am sure it will be great fun to ride a camel!! - i fancy sharm for 2007 - can you tell me did you have to have vaccinations - i am hearing conflicting advice - ok about it all for me but not sure about my son who will be 7 years old when we travel?? many thanks kim:cool2:

[Rio]

Not had to have any vaccinations, the guy at Thomsons who we booked with said we didn't need any as that was one of the first questions my daughter asked!!!!
Love Rio

[highland lass]

that is good to hear!!

[anna68]

we had vaccinations - i personally feel its much better to be safe than sorry. I think if you think you might go to Cairo or Luxor you would be silly not to have the injections.

[Rio]

What vaccinations did you have Anna?
Love Rio

[anna68]

I think we had Hep A, Typhoid and diptheria. Its all combined into one injection and we got it free.

[Rio]

Thanks Anne, I will have a word with the doctor. I have had the hepatitis injections when I worked at the nursery.
Love Rio

[dcmax]

We went to Egypt and had 4 injections! Better to be safe. You need to have them about 6 weeks before I think. We did a camel ride in Cairo, next to the pyramids, it was a scream.. wear long trousers as it's really itchy! I think it''s a shame when most people seem to visit sharm without seeing the real Egypt ie Luxor, Cairo, Abu Simbel, totally amazing. Go for it.

[Rio]

Just been looking at a few sites regarding health etc and it says that terrorism is a big threat in Egypt, hope Emily doesn't see this as she keeps asking if we will be safe as a bomb went off in Sharm last year, I've told her when your times up, it's up!!!
I'll go and see the doctor next week about the vaccinations, as you say, better to be safe than sorry.
I hope to visit Cairo on the day trip from Sharm, but a week isn't long so might not be able to do it.Hopefully there's camels closer than that.
Love Rio

[brindle]

Not had to have any vaccinations, the guy at Thomsons who we booked with said we didn't need any as that was one of the first questions my daughter asked!!!!
Love Rio

My friend has just gone to egypt and had the vacinations , i personally would get them. then you have no worrys:)