Sinai road trip itinerary: Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba by car
A Sinai road trip from Sharm El Sheikh fits into 3 to 7 days. The classic route follows the coast: Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, then back the same way. It is about 220 km each way. This guide gives the distances, three lengths of plan and what to agree with the rental company. We do not recommend hotels or restaurants and we quote no prices. Facts were checked on 15 October 2026. Distances are computed road estimates without traffic, and real times can be longer.
The route and distances: Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba
From Sharm El Sheikh to Dahab is about 90 to 95 km and roughly 1 h 15 to 1 h 30. To Nuweiba about 150 km and roughly 2 hours. To Taba about 220 km and roughly 2 h 45 to 3 h 15. Dahab to Nuweiba is about 60 km (the difference of two computed distances; we have no separate time), and Nuweiba to Taba about 70 km according to Wikipedia. St Catherine's Monastery is about 205 km from Sharm and roughly 2 h 45 to 3 h 30, and about 120 km from Nuweiba according to Wikipedia.
These are OpenStreetMap/OSRM estimates without traffic and without checkpoint stops, so leave a margin. Dahab has its own guide: the Sharm to Dahab day trip by car.
Plans for 3, 5 and 7 days
The 3-day plan: day one Sharm to Dahab, day two Dahab to Nuweiba with an optional push towards Taba, day three back to Sharm. The drive back from Taba is about 220 km, so leave in the morning to arrive before dark.
The 5-day plan: one more day in Dahab and one full day around Nuweiba or Taba, so that each drive stays short. The 7-day plan: add the drive up to St Catherine (about 120 km from Nuweiba according to Wikipedia) and return to Sharm through the Sinai interior. If you want to see Mount Sinai, the details are in our Mount Sinai guide. According to one source the inland stretches have more checkpoints than the coast, so allow time.
On every plan, drive in daylight. One longer drive a day is a sensible maximum.
Passport, checkpoints and the Sinai-only stamp
On the South Sinai coast police check ID regularly. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) says they ask for your passport and may detain someone who cannot show ID and a visa, or a copy. Carry the original passport, the rental contract and the car papers. If the rental company keeps your passport as the deposit, agree in advance which ID you will carry on the road.
The free entry stamp you get on arrival at Sharm covers, per the FCDO, stays of up to 15 days at the resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba (some sources say 14 days). St Catherine is disputed: some sources include it, but the FCDO does not list it, so check before you travel. According to our local partner companies, Russian and Ukrainian citizens receive the stamp for about a month (28 to 30 days). More in our entry rules guide.
Night driving, fuel and the condition of the car
The FCDO advises not driving outside main cities and resorts at night, because accidents are common given variable road conditions. The best plan is to finish each day's drive before sunset. For off-road driving the FCDO says to use a qualified guide and get a Ministry of Interior permit, so stay on paved roads.
Before a long stretch fill the tank and do not let it run low. Petrol prices are set nationally and last changed on 10 March 2026; current rates are in our fuel price guide. At pick-up check the spare wheel, lights, belts and air conditioning and take photos. The current lowest price per vehicle is shown on the offer page.
The rental company: what to ask, and when a driver is better
Ask the company in writing whether the contract covers the whole route through South Sinai, what the mileage limits are, what happens if the car breaks down far from Sharm and whether you can return it elsewhere. Do not assume everything is included. According to our local partner companies a national driving licence is enough to rent, while the FCDO and motoring clubs advise carrying an International Driving Permit as well for road checks. Details are in our IDP and documents guides.
If you would rather not drive long stretches, consider a car with a driver for several days. In that case send the request through Charm Rental and confirm the details, such as the number of days and the route. If you prefer to drive yourself, see the cars available.