Boat or bus: which trip suits you?
Choose the boat if you want a whole day on the water and the best snorkeling. Choose the bus if you prefer to stay on land, get seasick, or only have a morning free.
| Boat trip with White Island | Land tour by bus | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | About 8 hours (pickup around 08:00, back around 17:00) | About 5 hours (pickup around 08:00, back around 13:30) |
| Price | €30 per adult, €20 per child aged 6–11 | €16 per adult |
| What you do | Two snorkeling stops on the park's reefs and a stop at White Island | Mangroves, Allah Gate, Magic Lake, Earthquake Cracks and snorkeling from the beach |
| Lunch | Cooked on board, with soft drinks all day | Not included: bring water and a snack |
| Best for | A full day at sea and the best reefs | Park scenery on land in a morning |
The boat trip, step by step
Included: hotel transfers, the park entrance fee, a guide who speaks your language, a professional diving instructor, lunch and soft drinks through the day, and a free life jacket. Not included: snorkeling equipment and towels, so bring your own or rent them. The price is €30 per adult and €20 per child aged 6–11; for younger children, tell us their ages when you book.
- 08:00: pickup from your hotel and transfer to the port.
- 08:30: the boat sails towards Ras Mohammed National Park.
- Morning: the first snorkeling stop on one of the park's reefs.
- Midday: a stop at White Island, then lunch cooked on board.
- Afternoon: the second snorkeling stop and free time on the sundeck.
- 16:00: the boat heads back, and you are at your hotel at about 17:00.
The land tour by bus, step by step
The land tour costs €16 per adult, with hotel transfers, the park entrance and a snorkeling guide. Food, drinks and snorkeling equipment are not included.
- 08:00: pickup after breakfast and about 30 minutes' drive to the park.
- Mangroves: trees that grow straight out of the salty sea, often with white herons and small crabs.
- Allah Gate: the large gateway with the word "Allah" on it, a classic photo stop.
- Magic Lake: also called the Wishes Lake, known for colours that change with the light. There is time for a swim.
- Earthquake Cracks: deep cracks in the rock, formed by earthquakes thousands of years ago.
- Late morning: snorkeling from the beach with a snorkeling guide.
- About 13:30: back at your hotel.
White Island
White Island is a bright sandbank in the middle of the sea at Ras Mohammed, near the point where the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet. The boat stops there so you can walk on the sand and swim in the shallow turquoise water around it. Only the boat trip goes to White Island; the bus tour stays on land.
What you might see underwater
- Hard and soft corals in clear, shallow water
- Reef fish such as parrotfish, butterflyfish and clouds of orange anthias
- Sometimes a turtle or a ray, although nobody can promise wildlife
Before you go
- For the boat trip, send us a copy of your passport at least one day before: boats to Ras Mohammed need a permit.
- Park rules say everyone who swims or snorkels in the sea must wear a life jacket.
- Bring sun cream, a hat, sunglasses and a towel. On the bus tour, also bring drinking water and some cash.
- Snorkeling equipment isn't included on either trip, so bring your own or rent it.
Want to dive at Ras Mohammed?
The snorkeling trips don't include diving. The Scuba Diving in Ras Mohammed trip is a full day on a diving boat with one introductory dive of 15–20 minutes, up to 9 m, with an instructor and all the equipment, for €40. You don't need a licence, and children can dive from age 10.