Ras Mohammed by Boat or by Bus: Which Trip Should You Choose?

Ras Mohammed, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, became Egypt's first national park in 1983. It is where the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet, and its reefs are among the most famous in the world. From Sharm El Sheikh, about 30 minutes away, you can visit it in two ways: by boat or by bus. They are very different days.

At a glance

• •Boat trip: about 8 hours, from €27 per adult, lunch and soft drinks included, two snorkeling stops on the park's reefs plus a stop at White Island. See the boat trip.
• •Bus tour: about 5 hours, €16 per person, a land tour of the park with mangroves, viewpoints, the Magic Lake and the Earthquake Cracks, finishing with beach snorkeling. See the bus tour.

Park entrance and hotel pickup are included in both.

The boat trip: Ras Mohammed and White Island

This is the classic Red Sea day. You board at the marina around 8:30 and sail south along the coast to the park.

• •Snorkeling on the reefs: two stops at sites chosen for the day's conditions, with a professional diving instructor on board.
• •White Island: a bright sandbar in the middle of the sea, close to where the two gulfs meet, with shallow turquoise water around it.
• •Lunch on board, cooked by the crew, with soft drinks throughout the day.
• •Time on the sundeck between stops.

You can upgrade to include one introductory dive (€38 total) or two (€45 total), with no certification needed. Children under 2 travel free.

Choose the boat if your priority is coral and fish. The best of Ras Mohammed is underwater, and the reef walls reached by boat are far richer than anything you can reach from the shore.

The bus tour: Ras Mohammed by land

The bus tour shows you the park's landscape, which most boat passengers never see.

• •Mangroves: trees growing straight out of the salt water, often with herons and crabs.
• •Allah Gate: the monumental gate and a classic photo stop.
• •Magic Lake: a shallow lagoon whose colours shift with the light, with time for a swim.
• •Earthquake Cracks: fissures in the ground left by ancient earthquakes.
• •Beach snorkeling at one of the park's shore sites, with a snorkeling guide.

The tour leaves around 8:00 and has you back at your hotel by about 13:30, leaving the afternoon free. Snorkeling equipment, food and drinks are not included, so bring water, a snack and your own mask (or rent one).

Choose the bus if you get seasick, are travelling with young children, are on a tighter budget, or want to see the park's scenery as well as its sea.

Our recommendation

1. One day for Ras Mohammed, and you love snorkeling: take the boat.
2. Non-swimmers or nervous swimmers in the group: take the bus; the beach snorkeling is shallow and you can simply enjoy the scenery.
3. Seeing everything: do both. They overlap very little.

Whichever you choose, check your entry stamp: several governments' travel advice has said the free Sinai-only stamp does not cover Ras Mohammed, so buy the visa on arrival if you plan this trip. Our visa guide explains the options.

For more about the park itself, see our Ras Mohammed guide, and compare with the Tiran Island reefs.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ras Mohammed better by boat or by land?

For snorkeling, the boat is better: it takes you to the park's best reefs, includes lunch and stops at White Island. The land tour by bus is shorter and cheaper and shows you the mangroves, Magic Lake and Earthquake Cracks, with snorkeling from the beach.

How much does a Ras Mohammed trip cost?

Our Ras Mohammed and White Island boat trip starts at €27 per adult, and the land tour by bus costs €16 per person. Both include hotel pickup and park entrance.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. On both trips, bring your own mask, snorkel and fins or rent them. A life jacket is a good idea if you are not a strong swimmer.

Can children go on the Ras Mohammed boat trip?

Yes. Children under 2 travel free; young children should wear a life jacket in the water. Many families with young children prefer the shorter bus tour.