Sharm El Luli

Sharm El Luli is a crescent of very pale sand in the far south of the Egyptian coast, reached by turning off the coast road onto a track and driving a few kilometres to the shore. Its appeal is that there is nothing there: no hotel, no concession, no buildings, just the bay, the sand and a fringing reef close in with good coral and reef fish, in water that shelves gently and is calm in most conditions. Turtles are seen and the snorkelling is genuinely good for a shore entry. Day trips run from Marsa Alam resorts, so it is not undiscovered, but outside those hours it is often empty. Take everything you need, because there is no shade, water or shelter of any kind.

What you actually see

• A pale sand crescent - a bay with no buildings on it.
• Fringing reef close inshore - snorkelling straight off the beach.
• Turtles in the shallows - regular sightings over the seagrass.
• Complete absence of development - rare on the developed coast.

When to go

October to May. Early or late in the day to avoid the organised trips that arrive mid-morning. A day. Wind can make the bay choppy and cut visibility, so calm mornings are best.

Honest expectations

There is nothing at all here: no shade, no water, no toilets, no shop. The track in is rough and ordinary cars sometimes struggle. Day trip buses can fill the beach for a few hours. Litter left by visitors is an increasing problem and nobody clears it.

Nearby

Wadi El Gemal is north; Berenike and Hamata lie further south.