High on the Om El Seed plateau at the quiet southern end of Sharm, Pickalbatros Royal Grand Sharm is a five star, adults only resort whose gardens step down in terraces to a 400 metre private beach, with a house reef beginning at the end of the jetty.
The hotel began life in 1998 as the Royal Grand Sharm Hotel, and Pickalbatros rebuilt it from the ground up before relaunching it in 2022 as an adults only resort for guests aged 16 and over. The renovation shows. Rooms are unusually large for Sharm el Sheikh, the public spaces feel bright and current, and the whole site is arranged down the hillside so the Red Sea stays in view from almost every level.
The setting is the real prize. Ras Um El Sid closes the old southern end of Sharm, a few minutes from the souks of the Old Market and the restaurants of Il Mercato, yet the resort itself faces nothing but open water towards the Strait of Tiran. Coral begins within metres of the shore on this stretch of coast, which is why it has long been a favourite with snorkellers and divers.
Who suits it best? Couples first, from honeymooners to the regulars who come back every winter for reliable sunshine, along with groups of friends who want serious snorkelling by day and a proper evening scene. In our view Royal Grand Sharm El Sheikh strikes an unusual balance: calm and spacious through the day, with five pools and sunbathing terraces on several levels, then livelier after dark than the hushed adults only norm, with live music and shows most nights. If you would rather have quiet at ten, tell us and we will request a room away from the action.
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Space is the headline here. Even the entry grade Superior rooms measure around 45 square metres, more than many so called suites elsewhere in Sharm el Sheikh, and every one of the 391 rooms and suites has a private balcony or terrace facing the gardens, a pool or the Red Sea. All were fitted out new in the 2022 rebuild, with individually controlled air conditioning, satellite TV, a kettle with tea and coffee, minibar, safe and free WiFi throughout. The buildings are low rise and terraced down the headland, so it pays to match your room position to your priorities: the widest sea views sit higher up, while lower blocks mean fewer steps to the beach. Tell us what matters most and we will request accordingly.
The core room and a generous starting point, looking over the landscaped gardens or one of the pools. King size or twin beds, a proper seating corner and a balcony or terrace.
The same footprint pointed at the water, with the reef and the Strait of Tiran beyond. Worth the modest step up in our view, particularly for winter sun trips when the balcony gets used all day.
A little more floor space again, sold with sea views as standard. Our pick of the standard grades for couples settling in for a week or more.
The newer premium grade, matching the Superior for size with an upgraded finish. Inclusions attached to the Elite label can vary by season, so ask us what applies to your dates.
A proper suite with a spacious separate living area and big sea facing outdoor space. Suits special occasions and longer stays where you want room to spread out.
The top of the tree at around 200 square metres, with a large living area and private balcony over the Red Sea. There is only a handful of accommodation like this in Sharm, so book well ahead.
Five outdoor pools are spread across the resort’s levels, which does two useful things: it splits sunbathers across the site rather than crowding one deck, and it gives you a choice of mood. The main pool near the centre of the resort carries the daytime energy, with aqua aerobics and games on the activity programme, while the smaller pools on other terraces stay noticeably quieter and suit a flat out do nothing day.
Winter matters in Sharm el Sheikh, and this is a genuine year round resort. In the cooler months at least one pool is heated, so a morning swim in January is comfortable rather than character building, and the Red Sea itself rarely drops below the low twenties. Sunbeds, umbrellas and pool towels are free throughout, and with 52,000 square metres of grounds there is space to find your own corner even in peak weeks.
Our tip: sea view sunbathing is the underrated option here. The lower terraces above the beach catch the breeze off the water and look straight out towards Tiran, and many of our customers tell us they barely used the pools at all once they found them.
The beach is a 400 metre stretch of private, carefully groomed sand and coral shoreline at the foot of the headland, with sunbeds, umbrellas and towels provided free. A shallow, lagoon style corner gives you somewhere sandy to cool off and paddle, while the serious swimming and snorkelling happens from the jetty.
That jetty is the making of the place. A floating pontoon of around 70 metres carries you out over the coral so you can slip into deep, clear water without ever standing on the reef. Fish life starts from the first ladder: this coast sits between the reefs snorkellers and divers know as Paradise and Turtle Bay, and Ras Um El Sid has some of the healthiest coral on Sharm’s hotel strip. Many customers tell us they saw more from this jetty than on paid boat trips elsewhere.
Divers are well served too. A dive centre operates on the beach for try dives, courses and guided trips to the famous sites nearby, with Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran both within easy reach by boat. Non divers can join snorkelling excursions or simply work the house reef at different times of day, when the light changes what you see.
The Spa and Wellness Centre covers the full circuit: a traditional hammam, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, plus treatment rooms offering massages, scrubs, facials and body treatments, with a beauty salon attached. Treatments are payable locally and the therapists are kept busy in peak season, so book your slot early in the week rather than leaving it to the last day. An hour in the hammam after a long snorkelling session is, in our view, one of the best ways to spend an afternoon here.
The gym is a proper, air conditioned facility with modern cardio and strength training machines rather than a token corner of equipment, and entry is included for all guests.
Beyond the water there is a decent spread of included activity, pitched at grown ups rather than built around a kids club timetable.
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