Seven days is the perfect length for South Sinai. With Dahab as your base you can snorkel the Blue Hole, ride a camel to a beach with no road, walk through coloured canyons, climb Mount Sinai at night and still have time to do nothing at all in a beach café. Here is a day-by-day itinerary for one week in Sinai, with the tours and prices for each day.
One Week in Sinai at a Glance
| Day | Plan | Tour / price from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive, settle in Dahab, sunset on the promenade | — |
| 2 | Snorkel the Canyon and the Blue Hole | The Canyon and Blue Hole, $30 |
| 3 | Camel or boat to Ras Abu Galum and the Blue Lagoon | Blue Hole, Ras Abu Galum & Blue Lagoon, $45 |
| 4 | Jeep day to the Coloured Canyon | Small Coloured Canyon & Wadi al-Weshwashy, $50 |
| 5 | Rest by day; night climb of Mount Sinai | See Mount Sinai from Dahab |
| 6 | Sunrise on the summit, St. Catherine’s Monastery, afternoon rest; Bedouin dinner | Bedouin Dinner, $30 |
| 7 | Ras Mohammed National Park by car — or the Three Pools and quad bikes | Ras Mohammed by Car, $90 |
Day 1: Arrive in Dahab
Most travellers fly into Sharm El Sheikh and drive about an hour north to Dahab. Check in, walk the promenade between Lighthouse and Mashraba and watch the sun set behind the mountains of Saudi Arabia across the gulf. Not sure where to stay? Read where to stay in Dahab.
Day 2: The Canyon and the Blue Hole
Start with Dahab’s most famous reefs. At the Canyon you snorkel over a dramatic crack in the reef; at the Blue Hole you float along the rim of a sinkhole more than 100 metres deep. Read our Blue Hole beginner’s guide.
Day 3: Ras Abu Galum and the Blue Lagoon
North of the Blue Hole the road ends. Continue by camel or boat to the protected area of Ras Abu Galum, with quiet reefs, Bedouin huts and the turquoise Blue Lagoon. Want to stay longer? Book the Overnight Ras Abu Galum trip instead.
Day 4: Into the Canyons
Swap the sea for the desert: a 4×4 day to the Small Coloured Canyon (Salama Canyon), where red, yellow and violet sandstone rises on both sides, and the valley of Wadi al-Weshwashy. More in our Coloured Canyon and White Canyon guide.
Days 5–6: Mount Sinai and St. Catherine
Rest during the day, then leave Dahab late in the evening for the night climb of Mount Sinai (Mount Moses). You reach the summit before dawn to watch the sunrise over the granite peaks, then visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world. Back in Dahab by early afternoon, sleep, and end the day with a Bedouin dinner under the stars.
Tip: Nights on Mount Sinai are cold from November to March — bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves.
Day 7: Ras Mohammed or a Lazy Day
Finish with the reefs of Ras Mohammed National Park, at the southern tip of Sinai — or keep it easy with the Three Pools and Quad Bikes tour (from $35).
Important: Ras Mohammed is generally outside the free Sinai Only entry stamp — check our Egypt visa guide.
Variations
- Divers: replace days 2 and 7 with dive days — see diving in Dahab.
- Kitesurfers and freedivers: book a course for three mornings and keep the desert days.
- Families: skip the night climb and add horse riding and a glass-bottom boat.
- Add Jordan: an extra day lets you visit Petra — see the Petra day excursion from Dahab.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is one week enough for Sinai?
Yes. A week covers the Blue Hole, Ras Abu Galum, the canyons, Mount Sinai and St. Catherine, and Ras Mohammed, with time to relax.
Should I stay in Dahab or Sharm El Sheikh?
Dahab is closer to Mount Sinai, the canyons and Ras Abu Galum and has reefs right off the shore. See Sharm vs Dahab vs Hurghada.
When is the best time for a week in Sinai?
October to May is ideal for desert trips and the Mount Sinai climb; summer is hot but excellent for the sea.
Do tours include hotel pick-up?
Yes, our Dahab excursions include pick-up from your accommodation in Dahab.
