White Island: The Sandbar in the Middle of the Red Sea

Picture a strip of bright white sand in the open sea, with shallow turquoise water all around it and nothing on it but the people who've just stepped off a boat. That's White Island, a sandbar inside Ras Mohammed National Park, near the point where the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet. There's no road and no jetty, so the only way to visit is by boat, and the easiest way from Sharm El Sheikh is our Ras Mohammed and White Island boat trip, €30 with lunch and hotel pickup.

What White Island is like

White Island isn't an island with trees or buildings. It's a low bank of pale sand that rises just above the surface of the sea, so it looks almost unreal in photos. Around it the water is shallow and clear, shading from pale turquoise near the sand to deep blue further out.

What you do there is simple: walk on the sand, wade or swim in the shallows, take photos, and enjoy being in the middle of the sea. There's no shade, no café and no facilities, which is part of its charm, and part of why you need to come prepared.

How to get there

White Island is part of Ras Mohammed National Park, at the southern tip of Sinai. Our boat trip combines it with snorkeling on the park's reefs:

• •08:00 – Hotel pickup and transfer to the port.
• •08:30 – Set sail towards Ras Mohammed.
• •Morning – first snorkeling stop at one of the park's reefs.
• •Midday – White Island, followed by a freshly cooked lunch on board with soft drinks.
• •Afternoon – another snorkeling stop and time to relax on the sundeck.
• •16:00 – Head back to port; you're back at your hotel around 17:00.

In total that's two snorkeling stops and one stop at White Island, about 8 hours door to door. The Ras Mohammed land tour by bus (€16) doesn't go to White Island: it visits the mangroves, Magic Lake and the Earthquake Cracks instead. Our comparison of Ras Mohammed by boat or by bus explains which suits you.

Prices

• •Adults: €30.
• •Children aged 6–11: €20.
• •Want to dive? The scuba diving trip to Ras Mohammed (€40) includes one introductory dive, no licence needed.

The price includes hotel transfers, the national park entrance fee, lunch and soft drinks, a guide who speaks your language and a professional diving instructor. Snorkeling equipment and towels aren't included, so bring your own or ask us about equipment when you book.

What to bring

• •Sun cream, a hat and sunglasses. White Island has no shade at all, and the sand and water reflect the sun strongly.
• •A towel. Towels aren't provided on board.
• •Water shoes if you have them. They make walking into the sea easier.
• •A copy of your passport for the boat trip.
• •Your own mask and snorkel, if you prefer them to rented ones.
• •A camera or phone in a waterproof pouch. The colour of the water around the sandbar is the photo everyone wants.

Park rules: help keep it white

Ras Mohammed is a protected national park, and White Island is part of it. A few simple rules keep it beautiful:

• •Take nothing away: no shells, coral, stones or sand.
• •Leave nothing behind: bring all your rubbish back to the boat.
• •Don't feed the fish and don't touch or stand on coral when you swim.
• •Follow the crew's instructions about where to swim. The water around the sandbar is shallow, but conditions in the open sea can change.

Our guide to Red Sea fish will help you recognise what you see on the snorkeling stops. First time with a mask? Read snorkeling for beginners before you go.

Who is it for?

The boat trip suits most people, including families and non-swimmers, who can enjoy the shallow water at White Island and stay on the sundeck during the snorkeling stops. The boat crosses open water, so if you're prone to seasickness, take a remedy before you set off, or choose the land tour of Ras Mohammed instead.

White Island or Tiran Island?

Both are full days at sea with lunch. Choose Ras Mohammed and White Island for the sandbar and the national park's reefs. Choose the Tiran Island snorkeling trip (€30) for three snorkeling stops in the Strait of Tiran. Our Tiran Island reefs guide describes that trip in detail, and the Ras Mohammed boat trip page has more on the park.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to White Island from Sharm El Sheikh?

Only by boat. Our Ras Mohammed and White Island boat trip leaves the port at about 08:30, with hotel pickup at 08:00, and includes two snorkeling stops in Ras Mohammed National Park, a stop at White Island and lunch on board.

How much is the White Island trip?

€30 per adult and €20 for children aged 6–11. Hotel pickup, park entrance, lunch and soft drinks are included.

Is there shade on White Island?

No. White Island is a bare sandbar with no shade or facilities, so bring sun cream, a hat and sunglasses, and drink plenty of water.

Does the bus tour to Ras Mohammed visit White Island?

No. White Island can only be reached by boat. The bus tour visits the mangroves, Magic Lake, the Earthquake Cracks and a beach snorkeling spot.