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

The best part of this evening in South Sinai is the change of pace. You leave Sharm El-Sheikh’s hotels behind, ride a camel through Wadi Khrome Valley, watch Bedouin bread being made, then sit beneath a dark desert sky with a telescope. The astronomy session gives the night a real purpose beyond dinner and entertainment.

I like the short camel ride because it gives you the experience without leaving you sore for the rest of your holiday. I also like the care shown by guides such as Assam, Asem, and Ibrahim, who help nervous riders, keep the evening moving, and explain the stars in plain terms. The main consideration is that the dinner and stage shows are made for a broad tourist audience, so some parts feel more arranged than traditionally Bedouin.

Key points to know before you book

• A short camel ride: Expect roughly 15 to 20 minutes, or around 20 to 30 minutes according to one guest’s timing. It is enough for a first camel experience, but not a long desert trek.
• An active bread-making stop: You can try making Bedouin bread by hand rather than simply watching it being baked.
• A full evening program: The trip combines transport, camel riding, dinner, fire performance, folk dancing, and astronomy in one outing.
• Strong guide support: Assam, Asem, and Ibrahim are praised for being attentive, reassuring, and involved throughout the evening.
• Telescope-based stargazing: On a clear night, you can see selected stars through a telescope and hear about their makeup, distance, and conditions.
• Good value at $48: Transport, food, drinks, shows, camel riding, and astronomy are all included, making this a practical one-night package.

From Sharm El-Sheikh to Wadi Khrome Valley

Pickup usually takes place around 4 PM, depending on where your hotel is located in Sharm El-Sheikh. The drive to Wadi Khrome Valley takes about 20 minutes, so you are not spending the whole afternoon in a vehicle.

The short transfer matters. You get a quick look at the desert outside the resort area, then reach the valley with enough time for the evening program. The route is described as a pleasant drive with views of the natural desert setting, and the journey to camp includes an exciting jeep element.

Your guide stays with the group and helps with the practical details. Assam receives especially strong praise for making people feel safe and looked after, while Asem and Ibrahim are also singled out for friendly, personal service. FTS Travels uses WhatsApp communication, which can make pickup arrangements easier before the tour begins.

Do not expect a private expedition into remote Sinai. This is a planned group outing with a set sequence of activities. That is useful if you want a straightforward evening, but less suitable if you are looking for complete solitude or an unstructured desert trip.

A first camel ride that does not go on too long

The camel ride lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, with some descriptions putting it closer to 20 to 30 minutes. That is a sensible length for most people. You get the odd, memorable feeling of sitting high above the ground, but the ride ends before the novelty turns into discomfort.

Getting onto a camel can feel intimidating. The animal rises in stages, and the movement can catch you off guard. If you are nervous, tell your guide before mounting. Assam is praised for helping one rider overcome a fear of camels, and the guides are there to make the process feel manageable.

The ride is best treated as a taste of desert travel, not a long journey through the valley. You will have time for photos and a sense of the setting, but you should not book this expecting hours on camelback.

Wear closed-toe shoes. They are listed as essential equipment, and they make more sense than open sandals around a desert camp, camel area, and uneven ground. Bring your camera, but keep it secure during the ride.

A small practical warning concerns photographs offered after the camel ride. One person paid about £5 per person after negotiating, but was initially asked for more. If you want the photos, agree on the price clearly before accepting them.

Bedouin bread and tea at the desert camp

After the ride, you reach the Bedouin camp for a hands-on bread-making session. You can watch the bread being prepared and try the process yourself. It is a small activity, but it helps connect the evening’s food to the people and setting rather than making the desert feel like a backdrop.

The bread stop also breaks up the schedule nicely. You are not rushed straight from camel riding to a seated meal. You get time to handle the dough, see how the bread is baked, and enjoy Bedouin tea.

I would keep your expectations realistic here. The workshop is a short demonstration and participation activity, not a detailed cooking lesson. Its value is in the simple contact with a local practice and the chance to do something with your hands.

The tea and bread-making session are among the more grounded parts of the evening. They feel less like a stage performance and more like a useful introduction to desert hospitality. You will also have water and a soft drink included, which is welcome in the dry surroundings.

BBQ dinner beneath the camp tents

Dinner is served as an open buffet in the Bedouin-style tents. The meal includes BBQ food, meat, and vegetables, with enough variety for many appetites. One person especially enjoyed the food and went back for seconds, while another found it less appealing and wished it felt more traditionally local.

That mixed reaction is worth keeping in mind. The meal is included and is described as delicious by several people, but it should not be treated as a carefully designed regional food tour. The menu is aimed at feeding a group efficiently while giving you a desert dinner setting.

The timing works well because the shows take place during or around the meal. You can eat while watching the fire performance, then continue with the folk dancing and other oriental entertainment. This keeps the evening lively, though it also means conversation and dinner are sometimes competing with the stage.

The word romantic fits the setting more than the level of privacy. Sitting under desert skies with a BBQ and Bedouin tea can feel special, but you are part of an organized group. Couples may enjoy the atmosphere, while anyone wanting a quiet private meal should look elsewhere.

Fire, folk dancing, and the limits of staged entertainment

The fire show lasts about 15 minutes and is one of the evening’s main attractions. The performers use fire as the centerpiece, creating a sharp change from the calm bread and tea session.

A Tannoura performance follows, presented by a folk dancer, along with other oriental shows. The fire act receives particularly strong praise, and it is easy to see why: it gives the evening a clear burst of energy after sunset.

The shows are entertaining, but they are not a window into everyday Bedouin life. One person disliked hearing Shakira songs during a performance and felt the program was too staged. That criticism is fair. The entertainment borrows from Egyptian and regional performance traditions, but the package is designed for visitors and may include modern music or theatrical touches.

You should book this part for fun, not cultural purity. If you enjoy a lively camp program after dinner, it adds good value. If you want quiet conversation, traditional music only, or a very intimate setting, the show may feel too polished and busy.

Stargazing is the part worth protecting time for

The astronomy session gives the tour more substance than a standard dinner-and-show outing. A guide explains the stars visible that night, along with their makeup, distance, and conditions. You then use a telescope to see selected objects more closely.

Clear weather matters. On a clear night, the experience can be excellent, especially if you have never used a telescope in the desert. The lack of city light around the camp helps you see more of the sky than you normally can from Sharm’s hotel areas.

I like that the guide does not simply point upward and name a few stars. Ibrahim is praised for giving a detailed explanation of what you are seeing. That makes the session useful for children and adults alike, especially if you want more than a quick photo beneath the night sky.

The astronomy is still weather dependent. Clouds, haze, or poor visibility can affect what you see, and the tour cannot control that. The supplied information does not promise a particular planet or constellation, so book it as a guided look at the visible sky rather than a guaranteed list of celestial sights.

For many people, this is the strongest reason to choose this outing over a basic desert camp dinner. The camel ride is memorable, the shows are fun, and the BBQ fills the evening, but the telescope session gives you a chance to learn something and slow down.

What the $48 price really covers

At $48 per person, the tour bundles a lot into one evening. You receive two-way transport from your Sharm hotel, tour guides, a 15 to 20 minute camel ride, water, a soft drink, tea, Bedouin bread-making, an open buffet BBQ, stage shows, and astronomy.

The value is strongest if you want several desert activities without arranging them separately. A camel ride alone would not justify the price for everyone, but transport, dinner, entertainment, and a telescope session make this a fuller package.

It is also useful for families and mixed-interest groups. One person may care most about the camels, another about the food, and another about the stars. The schedule gives each person a different highlight, rather than asking everyone to enjoy the same activity.

The price is less attractive if you dislike group programs or already have a separate desert dinner planned. You are paying for convenience and variety, not privacy. You also need to accept that the meal and shows may feel more tourist-oriented than local.

The 4.3 rating from 124 reviews suggests a generally strong experience with some uneven points. Guide service, organization, camel riding, fire shows, and stargazing receive the most consistent praise. Food quality and the modern feel of some entertainment are the main areas where expectations should be measured.

Who should book this Sharm evening tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a taste of the Sinai Desert without giving up an entire day. The short transfer, compact camel ride, dinner, entertainment, and astronomy make it easy to fit into a holiday schedule.

It also suits families with older children. The activity is not suitable for children under four, pregnant women, or people with back problems. Camel riding can be uncomfortable, and the uneven desert setting may not suit anyone who needs a low-impact outing.

It is a good choice for couples who like an evening with several elements rather than a private meal. The desert setting adds a pleasant touch, but the group atmosphere and staged shows mean this is not a secluded date night.

I would be more cautious if your priority is a deeply traditional Bedouin experience. You will get bread-making, tea, a Bedouin-style camp, and a desert meal, but the fire show, Tannoura dancing, and modern music make the program clearly visitor-focused.

Bring your passport or ID card, camera, and closed-toe shoes. Scarves are available only if you select that add-on. Since pickup is usually around 4 PM and the return transfer takes you back to your Sharm hotel after the program, keep the evening free rather than scheduling another activity close behind it.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an easy, good-value desert sampler with strong guide support and a real astronomy component. The short camel ride, bread-making session, BBQ, fire show, and telescope viewing give you a broad evening for $48.

Skip it if you want a quiet private camp, a long camel trek, or food and music that feel entirely traditional. For most visitors, though, this is a well-packed introduction to the Sinai Desert, with the stargazing and attentive guides making it more worthwhile than a simple dinner show.

FAQ

What time is hotel pickup?

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

How long does the drive to Wadi Khrome Valley take?

The drive takes approximately 20 minutes from Sharm El-Sheikh city.

How long is the camel ride?

The included camel ride lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. Some descriptions place it closer to 20 to 30 minutes.

What food and drinks are included?

You receive an open buffet BBQ dinner, water, a soft drink, and Bedouin tea.

Is bread-making included?

Yes. You can watch Bedouin bread being baked and take part in the bread-making activity.

What entertainment is included?

The evening includes a fire show, Tannoura or folk dancing, and other oriental performances.

Is the tour suitable for young children?

Children under four are not permitted. The tour may suit older children, but camel riding and the desert setting should be considered.

Can I cancel the booking?

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