Sharm El Sheikh: ATV Quad & Camel Ride to Echo Mountain

4.67

(127 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the grit in my teeth — not in a bad way, just that dry, sandy taste you get when you’re flying across the Sinai outside Sharm El Sheikh on an ATV quad. Our guide, Mahmoud, gave us a quick rundown (I was a bit nervous about handling the bike but he made it seem less intimidating), and then we were off. The engine noise bounced around between these low hills and sometimes I’d catch a whiff of something sweet — maybe wild herbs? Or just the sun baking the sand. My hands were already dusty before we even reached the first valley.

I didn’t expect to laugh so much during the camel ride part. The camels look grumpy but mine kept turning its head like it wanted to check if I was still there. Mahmoud joked that mine was named “Facebook” because he’s always looking around. The pace slowed down here — you notice how quiet everything is except for the wind and the soft crunch of hooves. Somewhere out there, Echo Mountain started to rise up, nothing dramatic but somehow it pulls your eyes in.

We stopped at this Bedouin camp near Echo Mountain where they handed us glasses of hot tea (I think with sage? It tasted earthy and calming). There was this moment where nobody talked — just sitting with strangers, watching light shift on the rocks as the sun dipped lower. I still think about that view sometimes, honestly. The ride back felt faster, maybe because I finally relaxed into it or maybe just because dusk makes everything feel like it’s slipping away too soon.