Sharm el Sheikh

Step aboard your 4x4 Jeep for a journey into the Sinai Desert. Along the way, pass by towering rock formations, the occasional acacia tree and, with a little luck, wild camels roaming free. Sheep and goats graze on the sparse desert vegetation, trying to survive in this arid, harsh environment. Several stops will be made, allowing you time for unique photo opportunities.

Experience another aspect of life in the desert by riding high on the back of a camel. You’ll be met by a group of Bedouins with their camels and the ‘caravan’ will follow a rocky trail, reaching a Bedouin tent after a ride of approximately 30 minutes.

Experience Bedouin hospitality as you enjoy refreshments of aromatic tea and unleavened bread.

After a short rest, you’ll head back to Sharm el-Sheikh, passing by the beautiful Egyptian Riviera resort of Na’ama Bay.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by 4WD jeep, camel and on foot. This tour is not suitable for those with injuries or conditions, which may be affected by the bumpy ride. Pregnant women and children under 12 may not participate. Comfortable walking shoes and a sun hat are recommended. You will be seated ‘astride’ the camels and not in baskets. Passengers are advised that toilet facilities on this tour are basic and are ‘Oriental style’.

Na’ama Bay has become a leading tourist resort, and is often referred to as the ‘capital of the Egyptian Riviera’. Enjoy a day relaxing and using the facilities of a deluxe hotel beach resort. The trip includes return transportation, admission and use of the swimming pool and private beach.

During your stay, take an inclusive hour-long glass-bottom boat trip and admire the amazing underwater world beneath you. Unique and wonderful corals of all shapes and sizes, as well as a multitude of rainbow-coloured schools of fish, present a panorama of unsurpassed beauty.

Enjoy a selection of dishes from the hotel buffet, including a glass of wine or beer, mineral water, tea or coffee.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by coach and glass bottom boat. There are independent suppliers on the beach that may offer water sports. These are provided by parties unconnected to P&O Cruises. Sun beds, umbrellas, changing room facilities and towels are included (subject to space availability around the pool). To join the glass-bottom boat there is a walk of 50 feet along a floating pontoon. There are no hand rails on the pontoon and the buoyancy changes with the slightest movement of the water. It is best to walk in the middle of it looking straight ahead, not down, thus avoiding losing your balance and falling in the water which at its deepest is shoulder high. Please remember to take swimwear, a hat and sun block.

A short coach transfer will take you to the bustling marina and your motorboat transfer to Ras Mohammed National Park. Ras Mohammed overlooks the juncture of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aquaba and is a vast and majestic area.

Once at the National Park, you will transfer to a snorkelling boat and meet your Captain and snorkelling instructor for the day. Listen carefully as you are advised of the safety procedures, equipment and the snorkelling site. During your journey you can sit back with a cool drink and enjoy the views of the stunning coast fringed with palm trees as you sail out to the reef.

You will join an expert diver and guide for a snorkel along one of the Parks fringing reefs. Watch out for beautiful butterfly fish, striped lionfish, wrasse and many other fantastic creatures of the Red Sea. There are over 25 species of colourful sea urchins and hundreds of different types of crustaceans and molluscs.

After your snorkelling tour you will return to the marina and your coach transfer back to the ship.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by boat.Participants should be competent swimmers and physically fit. Please take a hat, sunglasses, shoes that can get wet, a towel and non-oil sunscreen. You’ll be required to wear a life jacket. Snorkel equipment is included.

Take a short coach transfer to the jetty where a traditional wooden Gulet is waiting to whisk you away for a relaxing afternoon of sailing and scenery along the stunning Red Sea Riviera.

Find yourself a spot on the timbered deck to enjoy the sights as you cruise along and have your camera ready to capture some amazing views over the Sinai Mountains. Refreshments will be served while you are entertained with some traditional music and folkloric show.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by coach and by boat. This excursion involves minimal walking. The transfer time to the jetty is approximately 20 minutes. Passengers are required to remove their footwear onboard unless they have suitable boat shoes.

At St Catherine’s Monastery the most sanctified building is the church with the chapel of the Burning Bush from which God spoke to Moses. The chapel is dedicated to St Catherine, the legendary martyr of Alexandria, who was tortured for her Christianity. Her body disappeared and, according to legend, was transported by angels to the highest mountain peak in the Sinai. Three centuries later some monks of the Monastery, following a dream, found her body and placed it in a gold-plated sarcophagus, which now stands in the Basilica Choir.

The Monastery holds some of the world’s best preserved and priceless ancient manuscripts and icons, some of which are actually on display in the church and the museum.

A buffet lunch, including refreshments will be served at a deluxe beach resort on the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Essential information

This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. It can be very crowded in the Monastery due to the restricted opening hours, and the areas visited may vary from the above itinerary. Visitors to St Catherine’s Monastery will need to respect the quiet and calm of this Holy site and dress accordingly: no shorts, and shoulders and knees must be covered. Comfortable, non-slip walking shoes and a sun hat are recommended. Photography is permitted inside the Monastery (excluding the chapel), however videos are not allowed. There is a considerable amount of walking over uneven surfaces and steps. Journey time to and from St Catherine’s Monastery is 3 hours each way; coaches are equipped with toilets.