Ras Mohammed National Park by Road from Sharm: Snorkeling
6 hours, shared minibus for up to 16. Two beach snorkels, Magic Lake, picnic lunch and park fee included.
The short answer
A 6-hour shared minibus trip from Sharm El Sheikh into Ras Mohammed National Park, with two shore snorkels, the Magic Lake, the mangrove channel and a picnic lunch.
- New
- Small group
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Sharm El Sheikh · Ras Mohammed National Park · Magic Lake
- Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market) · Air-conditioned minibus shared with other guests · Guide (English) · Mask and snorkel · Picnic lunch with water
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
The water is warmest from June to October, but the park is very hot then. From October to April the temperatures are gentler, and a thin wetsuit helps from December to February.
- Egyptian tour operator working since 1988
- ETAA Licence 718, Category A, and IATA member
02Overview
A first look
This is a 6-hour road trip into Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of Sinai, for up to 16 guests in a shared air-conditioned minibus. Instead of sailing, you drive between the sights: the Gate of Allah, the mangrove channel, the earthquake crack and the Magic Lake. You snorkel from the shore at two beaches, where the reef drops off a few metres out, and eat a picnic lunch. Hotel transfers, guide, mask, snorkel and the park fee are included. It suits swimmers who prefer land to boats.
Background
The facts
Ras Mohammed National Park is at the southern tip of Sinai, about an hour by road from the main Sharm El Sheikh hotel areas. The trip with transfers takes about 6 hours.
Named in this entry
Ras Mohammed National Park·Magic Lake·Gate of Allah·mangrove channel·Sharm El Sheikh
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Swimmers and snorkelers who get seasick or dislike boats, and families who prefer a shorter day.
Maybe not, if
- Anyone who cannot walk over rocky ground or enter the sea from a beach.
What lingers
- 01Snorkeling from the shore at two beaches, with the reef drop-off a few metres out
- 02Float in the Magic Lake, a salt lagoon where it is easy to stay on the surface
- 03Stops at the Gate of Allah, the mangrove channel and the earthquake crack
- 04No boat and no sailing, which suits travelers who get seasick or dislike the sea swell
- 05Air-conditioned minibus shared with a maximum of 16 guests, led by an English-speaking guide
- 06Picnic lunch with water, mask, snorkel and the national park fee are all included
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- No boat or sailing needed
- Several park sights in one day
- Picnic lunch and park fee included
Things to Consider
- Little shade at the stops
- Rocky ground at the beaches
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
The minibus collects you at 08:00 from your hotel in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba or the Old Market. It then drives to the park, which takes about an hour with the other pickups. Bring your passport or a copy, because it is checked at the park gate.
- 2
At about 09:00 you reach the park gate and then stop at the Gate of Allah, a natural rock arch above the coast. The guide explains how the park was set up to protect the reefs of the area. It is a short stop with good views of the sea.
- 3
At about 09:30 the group visits the mangrove channel, one of the few places on the Red Sea coast where mangroves grow. The guide also shows the earthquake crack, a deep fissure in the rock. Keep to the marked paths and do not pick or break anything in the park.
- 4
At about 10:15 you reach the Magic Lake, a salt lagoon where the water is so salty that floating is easy. It is a good stop for people who are not strong swimmers, but stay in the shallow part and keep an eye on children. Shoes help on the rocky shore.
- 5
At about 11:00 you snorkel from the shore at the first beach. You walk into the water with mask and snorkel, and the reef drop-off is only a few metres out. Because there is no boat, anyone prone to seasickness is comfortable. Reef shoes help on stones, and fins can be rented.
- 6
At about 12:30 the group sits down for a picnic lunch with water, included in the day. Find shade if you can, since the park has little cover. Tell the guide about any dietary needs when you book. Rinse the salt from your mask before you put it away.
- 7
At about 13:15 the minibus moves to a second beach for another shore snorkel, with a different stretch of reef and different fish. Stay with the group and within sight of the guide. Pack your wet things in a bag before the drive back.
- 8
At about 14:30 the minibus leaves the park and drops each guest at their hotel, usually by 15:30 to 16:00 depending on the route. The air-conditioning helps after a day in the sun. Most guests are glad of a shower and a cold drink on return.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market)
- Air-conditioned minibus shared with other guests
- Guide (English)
- Mask and snorkel
- Picnic lunch with water
- Ras Mohammed National Park fee
Not included
- Gratuities
- Fins and reef shoes rental
- Towels
- Personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Bring reef shoes, because the shore entry is stony
- 02
Rinse your mask in fresh water after use and carry a bag for wet gear
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. Children should be comfortable in the water, and an adult should stay within reach of any child who is swimming or floating.
Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.
On the ground
Where it is
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How does the price work for the road trip to Ras Mohammed?
The price is per person for a seat in a shared minibus of up to 16 guests. It covers transfers, guide, mask and snorkel, picnic lunch with water and the national park fee. Prices are provisional until our team confirms your request. Fins, reef shoes and towels are extras.02Where is the hotel pickup and at what time?
Pickup is at about 08:00 from hotels in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba and the Old Market. Our team confirms the exact time and meeting point once your request is accepted. Your passport or a copy is needed at the park gate.03Is this trip right for children?
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. Children should be comfortable in the water, and the Magic Lake and shore snorkeling suit those who can float with an adult nearby.04Why choose the road trip rather than the boat?
Choose the road if you get seasick or dislike sailing. You see the Gate of Allah, the mangroves and the Magic Lake, which the boat trip skips, and you snorkel from the beach. The boat day reaches different reef sites and the White Island sandbar instead.05What should I bring and wear?
Bring swimwear, a towel, reef shoes, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and your passport or a copy. Wear light clothes over your swimwear and shoes you can walk in on rocks. The park has little shade, so cover up between swims.06How do I cancel or change my booking?
More than 72 hours ahead, keep 100% as credit toward future travel or take a 100% refund, less bank charges. Between 72 and 24 hours, keep 100% as credit or take a 50% refund. Within 24 hours, or if you don't show up, there is no refund or credit. If we have to cancel, you lose nothing.
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Last updated Product ID: EXC-SHM-324642
At a glance
- Departs
- Daily
You Might Also Like
SharmMount Sinai Sunrise & St Catherine's Monastery from Sharm
A night climb of Mount Sinai for sunrise at the summit, 2,285 metres up, followed by a visit to St Catherine's Monastery at its foot. It is a hard night: about three hours climbing in the dark and cold, the last 750 rock steps on foot, and no sleep. The minibus is shared with up to 16 guests, and the whole trip takes about 17 hours from Sharm El Sheikh.
From $60
SharmCairo Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Flight: Pyramids & GEM
Fly from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo and back in a single day. A private Egyptologist guide and driver take your party to the Giza pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. We book the domestic flights and they are included. It is a 15-hour day that starts around 04:00, so it suits travelers who want to see Cairo without changing hotels.
From $496
SharmIntro Scuba Dive Day in Sharm El Sheikh: Two Guided Dives
Try scuba diving with no licence needed. A dive boat takes a group of up to 20 guests from Sharm El Sheikh to sheltered reefs, where you get a full briefing and make two shallow dives with an instructor beside you. Lunch is served on board and there is time for snorkeling between dives. The day lasts about 7 hours, door to door.
From $125