The Red Sea’s clear waters, brilliant coral, and vibrant marine life make discovery a must. With two days in Sharm El Sheikh, you might want to spend the whole day exploring the reef, perhaps on an introduction to scuba or a snorkeling day cruise to Ras Mohammed National Park or Tiran Island.

If you’re not having lunch on a boat, savor a seafood feast in a beachfront restaurant before enjoying some water sports. The calm waters are perfect for parasailing, and even nonsnorkelers can experience the Red Sea’s epic reef on a glass-bottom boat cruise.

Scaling Mount Sinai—and touring the ancient desert monastery of St. Catherine’s—is a Sharm El Sheikh essential for many, not least because the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dine early, then catch some shut-eye before you depart for the predawn climb the next day.

Even if you’re not traveling all the way to St. Catherine’s, two days in Sharm El Sheikh allows you to venture farther into the desert. Start your second day with a 4WD safari with snorkeling included or a trip to the brilliant Colored Canyon. Along the way, discover the joys of Bedouin bread and tea.

Alternatively, stay closer to home on a thrilling desert adventure. Choose a camelback ride through arid valleys and undulating dunes, the adrenaline kicks of an ATV safari, or even a combo tour. Explore around sunset when the colors of the desert are at their most beautiful.

However you’ve spent the day, wrap it up with perhaps the ultimate Sharm El Sheikh experience: a Bedouin barbecue with authentic entertainment. Feast by firelight as belly dancers perform and tanoura dancers spin, then look for constellations in the unpolluted night sky.