Sharm El Sheikh: ATV, Camel Ride with BBQ Dinner and Show

Desert engines, camels, and firelight make a lively evening. This five-hour trip takes you from Sharm El Sheikh into the Sinai desert for a quad-bike ride, a stop at Echo Mountain, a short camel experience, and dinner with Bedouin-style entertainment. At about $23 per person, it packs a lot into one inexpensive outing.

I like the friendly guides, with names such as Abdul, Gilberto, Armando, and Alfredo praised for humor, photos, language skills, and personal attention. I also like the easy hotel pickup and the generous mix of activities. The main drawback is the organized chaos: the desert route can be crowded, the show may start late, and some people found the sales pitches and tipping pressure tiring.

Key points before you book

• Quad biking is the main event: Expect a substantial ride, with one account describing roughly 45 minutes of riding broken into several 10 to 15-minute stretches.
• The small group does not mean a private desert: Your booking may have no more than 15 people, but the shared safari area can contain many other quad bikes.
• The camel ride is brief: Treat it as a photo opportunity around the camp, not a long trek across the desert.
• Dinner and entertainment are included: The evening features BBQ-style food, dancing, fire entertainment, and in some cases stargazing.
• Bring water and a light jacket: Only one bottle of water may be provided, and the desert can feel cool after sunset.
• Extra charges can appear: Photos, videos, drinks, popcorn, scarves, tea, bracelets, and tips may cost more.

Leaving Sharm El Sheikh for the Sinai desert

The tour begins with pickup from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup and return are often praised for being smooth, with timing confirmed by WhatsApp in at least one case. That simple transfer matters in Sharm El Sheikh, where arranging transport to an off-site desert area on your own can be more trouble than it is worth.

The drive leads away from the resort streets and toward the open Sinai desert. The change is quick. Hotels, shops, and beach facilities give way to bare rock, sand, and wide views. You are not coming for an archaeological site or a quiet nature walk. This is a practical, entertainment-focused desert outing, built around motion and spectacle.

The listed maximum is 15 people, which sounds intimate compared with a large coach excursion. Still, the quad-bike route operates in a shared safari zone. One person described riding among hundreds of other quad bikers, so you should not expect a private convoy or untouched silence.

That distinction is important. The group may be manageable, and your guide may keep a close eye on you, but the wider setting can feel busy. If you want solitude, a private desert drive, or a slow photographic expedition, this is the wrong format. If you want an affordable activity with several parts in one afternoon, the crowds are easier to accept.

Quad biking through the desert

After a safety briefing and instructions on using the quad bike, you set off with the group. The ride is the strongest part of the experience for most people. It gives you real time on the machines rather than a token lap around a parking area.

One detailed account described riding for about 45 minutes in total, traveling between stops in sections of roughly 10 to 15 minutes. That is a useful guide to the pace. You are likely to stop for photos and other activities instead of riding continuously for an hour.

The views are the reward. The Sinai desert has a stark beauty, with open stretches, rocky edges, and long lines of distant hills. The setting feels very different from the polished resort area. Even a short ride gives you a sense of the scale and dryness of the region.

The guides receive some of the warmest praise. Abdul was described as funny, helpful, and willing to take photos. Gilberto was praised for checking on the group, speaking several languages, and keeping the mood light. Armando was also described as friendly and entertaining. Alfredo reportedly lent his jacket to someone who felt cold during the evening show. Those small acts can make a difference on a group outing.

Still, you need to ride defensively. The operation can feel loosely organized, with many vehicles and riders sharing the same area. Some people found that other quad bikers drove carelessly, even though staff worked to keep the activity under control. Safety instruction is provided, but the overall system may not feel as formal as an activity in a tightly regulated European adventure park.

If you have never ridden a quad bike, the guides can help you get started. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable following instructions, controlling a motorized vehicle, and coping with heat, dust, and an uneven route. You may also want to ask about goggles or face protection before setting off, since dust can be part of the ride.

Echo Mountain and the desert photo stops

Echo Mountain is one of the named stops on the route. The appeal is the setting rather than a long formal visit. It gives you a chance to pause the engines, look across the desert, and take photographs before moving on.

The stops also reveal one of the less polished sides of the outing. Some people encountered children offering bracelets and beads and later discovered that the items were not free. The approach was described as sympathy-based and uncomfortable by some. You should ask the price before accepting anything, and you should not feel obliged to buy.

Photography is another area where expectations matter. Staff may take photos and videos during the quad ride, sometimes producing attractive professional-looking images. Those pictures are not automatically part of the advertised price, and repeated offers to purchase them annoyed some people.

The best approach is simple: enjoy the scenery, take your own pictures when it is safe, and decide in advance how you will handle sales pitches. A polite no should be enough. If you are hoping for a quiet desert pause, the sellers and the activity around the stops may reduce that feeling.

The camel ride is short, not a desert trek

The camel portion adds local color, but keep its scale in mind. Several accounts describe it as a short walk around the camp, sometimes across the road and back, with staff offering to take photos. It is closer to a brief introduction and picture stop than a serious camel journey.

That can still be fun, especially if it is your first time sitting on a camel. The animal gives you a different view of the camp and makes for a memorable holiday photograph. But the short duration may disappoint you if you imagined crossing the desert at a slow Bedouin pace.

Animal welfare is also worth considering. One person chose not to ride because the camels did not appear well cared for. That is a personal decision, but it is fair to inspect the animals and equipment before taking part. You can enjoy the rest of the tour without riding if the camel experience does not feel right for you.

Tipping pressure was another complaint. Handlers may expect a tip, and you may feel pushed to pay. Carry small cash only if you want to tip, and decide what feels fair before the ride begins.

A Bedouin village with tea and herbal medicine

After the outdoor activities, the group reaches a Bedouin-style camp. The setting provides a change of pace from the quad bikes. You sit down, look around, and learn about traditional herbal medicine, an element that one person found especially interesting.

This cultural stop is modest rather than museum-like. You should not expect a full ethnographic presentation or a long lesson in Sinai traditions. It is a short, visitor-friendly introduction added to an adventure package. Even so, it gives the evening more texture than quad biking alone.

Be careful about what is included. Bedouin tea was not included for one booking, despite the camp setting, and drinks may cost extra. Scarves, popcorn, shisha, photos, and other items may also be offered for sale. One person reported paying about £8 for shisha, while another found the extra prices reasonable. Bring a little spending money if you want extras, but do not assume they are covered by the $23 price.

BBQ dinner under the desert sky

The evening meal is served at the camp and is presented as a BBQ dinner. Several people enjoyed the food, describing it as tasty and sufficient. One particularly positive account said staff filled plates and provided an additional serving of pasta, rice, and salad when requested.

The meal is not necessarily an all-you-can-eat buffet. One account specifically cautioned that plates were filled by staff rather than offering unlimited self-service. Portions may be adequate, but expectations should be realistic. This is a budget camp dinner, not a resort restaurant.

The serving style divided opinion. Some enjoyed the food but disliked how it was served. Others found the portions modest. One person reported that two family members became ill after eating, although a single report cannot establish the cause. Because food safety is a fair concern on any hot-weather excursion, use sensible judgment and tell staff quickly if something seems wrong.

Water deserves special attention. One person said only a single bottle was provided for the meal and advised bringing more. The desert heat, dust, and quad ride can leave you thirsty long before dinner. Carry extra water if you can, and do not rely on one bottle for the full afternoon and evening.

Dance, fire, and a stop-start show

The entertainment includes dancing, a fire show, and other performances. The fire act is often the evening favorite, and stargazing may follow the show. These parts create the classic desert-night feeling: food, music, dark skies, and performers working under the lights.

The timing is less consistent. Some people enjoyed the show from start to finish, while others waited one to one and a half hours before it began or encountered long gaps between dances. Delays can happen while groups gather, food is served, or other parts of the camp program are arranged.

That waiting time matters because the advertised five hours can feel much longer when the evening loses momentum. Bring a light jacket, especially if you are staying after sunset. Alfredo reportedly helped someone who was cold, but it is better to come prepared than depend on a guide’s spare clothing.

There is also an animal-welfare concern connected to the show. One account noted that animals were used in the entertainment and advised animal lovers to be cautious. If that is important to you, ask what the performance includes before committing to the full program. The dance and fire elements may appeal to you, while other parts may not.

What the $23 price really buys

At $23 per person, this is an unusually broad package. You receive hotel transport, quad biking, a camel encounter, desert stops, camp entertainment, and dinner. Some people booked it after finding their hotel’s excursion price was roughly double, and the low cost was repeatedly praised.

The value is best understood as a lot of activity for little money, not polished luxury. You trade privacy, quiet, and tight scheduling for variety and affordability. The package works particularly well if you want to try several classic Sharm El Sheikh activities without paying separately for each one.

The price does not cover every part of the day. Photos, videos, drinks, tea, snacks, scarves, bracelets, and tips can add to the bill. You do not need to buy these extras, but knowing this in advance keeps the low headline price from becoming a surprise.

A 4.7 rating from 394 ratings and a 94 percent recommendation rate suggest that the basic formula works for most people. The lower ratings are useful too. They point to the same weak spots: crowding, health and safety concerns, slow show timing, food complaints, and persistent selling.

Who will enjoy this desert outing

I would choose this tour if you want a budget-friendly first taste of the Sinai desert and like having several activities bundled into one day. Couples, friends, and families with older children may appreciate the mix of speed, animals, dinner, and entertainment.

It also suits you if your main goal is quad biking and you see the camel ride and show as added bonuses. The ride receives the most consistent praise, while the camp program is more variable.

I would think twice if you want a private experience, careful quiet, or a carefully timed cultural tour. The shared safari area can be crowded, and the show may involve long waits. I would also be cautious if you have strict food requirements, dislike sales pressure, or are uncomfortable with animal rides and animal-based entertainment.

The cancellation terms are straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the ATV and BBQ tour?

Book it for value, activity, and atmosphere. At $23, hotel transport plus a decent quad-bike outing already makes the package attractive. Add desert views, a short camel experience, dinner, dancing, and a fire show, and you have a full evening at a price that is hard to beat.

Just book it with clear expectations. This is not a private desert safari. The camel ride may last only a few minutes, the show can run late, and extra sales and tips may be part of the evening. Bring water, a light jacket, and a firm but polite no for unwanted purchases.

If you can accept a little disorder in exchange for a packed, inexpensive night out, this is a sensible Sharm El Sheikh choice. If you want calm, privacy, or strict attention to animal welfare and food standards, choose a more specialized excursion instead.

FAQ

How long does the Sharm El Sheikh ATV and camel tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five hours.

What is included in the experience?

The program includes hotel pickup and drop-off, quad biking, a camel ride option, a visit to Echo Mountain, a BBQ dinner, and live entertainment at a Bedouin-style village.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $23 per person.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your hotel are offered in an air-conditioned vehicle.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 15 people. The quad-bike route itself takes place in a shared safari area that may contain many other riders.

Do I need previous quad-bike experience?

No previous experience is stated as a requirement. Instruction on using the quad bike is provided before the ride, and most people can participate.

Is the camel ride a long trek?

No. Based on the available details, it may be a brief ride near the camp, sometimes mainly used for photographs.

Is the dinner an unlimited buffet?

You should not assume that it is all-you-can-eat. Food may be served onto your plate, with portions and the serving style varying.

Are drinks and Bedouin tea included?

Do not assume that all drinks or Bedouin tea are included. Extra charges may apply, and you should confirm prices before ordering.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.