Sharm El-Sheikh: Sinai Folk Music & Bedouin Poetry Evening

A world apart from the typical tourist show — this genuinely intimate evening invites guests to sit cross-legged on traditional Bedouin carpets and rugs beneath the open sky and experience the living folk music and oral poetry traditions of the Sinai Peninsula in an authentic setting. Hosted by a family of Sinai Bedouin musicians who have been custodians of these traditions for generations, the evening begins with the preparation and serving of the famous bitter Bedouin coffee (qahwa) and sweet mint tea, accompanied by dates, fresh bread, and small plates of traditional Sinai food. The music begins with the simsimiyya — a traditional Red Sea lyre unique to the Sinai coastal communities — played alongside the tabla and riq, building a hypnotic rhythmic and melodic fabric. Between musical pieces, an elder recites passages of classical Arabic oral poetry in the Sinai Bedouin dialect, with interpretation provided for non-Arabic speakers. The evening has a warm, communal atmosphere with no fixed programme — conversations, questions, and connections are all encouraged. Maximum 20 guests ensures the evening retains its intimate character. A culturally precious experience for thoughtful travellers.