Sharm Al Sheik with Kids

by Maria Boletti
(Rome, Italy)

We caught an afternoon flight to Sharm El Sheikh. We stayed at the Delta Sharm. We rented a private holiday apartment. This complex is halfway between Old Sharm and Naama Bay. It was a great spot with tons of pools to choose from, a mini zoo, restaurants and a minimart.

We headed into Naama Bay in the morning in search of breakfast but the place was like a ghost town! We did manage to find a restaurant. After we ate we booked a tour on the submarine glass bottom boat. The kids had fun seeing all the beautiful fish and coral. After that we wandered around and did some souvenir shopping.

The next day we headed to the public beach. It was full of purple jellyfish. Although they do not sting it was a bit freaky swimming with them-there were lots of them! In the evening we headed out to the desert on a local tour. We had a delicious meal and relaxed on the pillows in the bedouin tents. The kids had another camel ride and then we watched the show. There were belly dancers, whirling dervishes and more traditional dancing. We had a great time.

The next day we did a day trip trip to Luxor. We had an early flight and were picked up at the airport by our guide. We headed to the Valley of the Kings first. We went in three tombs. The kids loved this, seeing all the interesting carvings on the walls and how each one was different. We then headed to Hapshetsut's temple and had a wander around. The kids bought some traditional instruments from the vendors on the way up and the guards were happy to play them. We stopped at an alabaster factory aka shop. It was interesting to see them hand carving the pieces.

Next stop was Karnak Temple. We had a fascinating tour-its really interesting to learn the history of Egypt- the kids had fun running around the scarab beetle for good luck. We then headed to Luxor temple. At this point my youngest daughter was having temple overload and did not want to see anymore! We hadnt eaten lunch yet which of course didnt help the situation.

Our guide then brought us to the Nile for a Felucca ride. This was amazing! The views were stunning. The boat pulled over to the river banks and a beautiful Egyptian lady emerged with a huge platter of home cooked food. It was the best meal we had while in Egypt.

After our feast the kids took turns slowly driving the boat. We got out on the banks further down and had a ride on a donkey. We watched the sunset and enjoyed the views after an exhausting day. The 2 boat operators were incredibly kind and patient and showed us amazing Egyptian hospitality. After our Felucca ride we headed to the local market for a quick stroll around. Then back to the airport for our flight. I wished we had more time to explore Luxor-it was very peaceful and full of amazing sites.

We spent the day checking out the many pools at the Delta Sharm. Relaxing and enjoying our vacation. In the early evening we headed to Old Sharm. We tried the koshari at a local restaurant and it was a hit. (And it fit my budget at 75 cents a plate!). We checked out the local vendors and then headed to the holiday flat for the night.

We had an incredible time in Egypt. It is one of those places every kid should visit! I would definitely like to return when my youngest is a teenager so we can explore the fascinating sites again.