Ras Mohammed or Tiran Island Snorkelling Day

Ras Mohammed or Tiran Island: which snorkelling day to pick

Two boat days and one road day all reach good reef from Sharm El Sheikh; the choice comes down to the sea, the group size and what you want to see.

Egypt Discovery editorsUpdated 27 September 20264 min readReviewed by Egypt Discovery

In short

Pick the Ras Mohammed boat day if you want the most varied day on the water, with two reef stops and a walk on the White Island sandbar when the tide allows. Pick the Tiran Island boat day for two or three stops over shallow coral gardens and a lagoon swim. Pick the Ras Mohammed road trip if boats make you ill. The boat days last about eight hours and take up to 40 guests. The road trip lasts about six hours and takes up to 16. All three collect you from your hotel at 08:00.

Both boat days last about eight hours, leave your hotel at 08:00 and include mask, snorkel, fins, a snorkelling guide and lunch on board.
The Ras Mohammed road trip lasts about six hours, takes no more than 16 guests and lets you snorkel from the shore, so it suits anyone who gets seasick.
You cannot land on Tiran Island itself; the day is spent on the water, at the reef and in a shallow lagoon.
White Island is a sandbar that you can only walk on when the tide has uncovered it, so that stop depends on the day.
Sea trips can be stopped by the port authority for weather, and in that case they are moved or refunded.

Choose by how you feel on a boat first, and by the reef second. If you are comfortable at sea, the Ras Mohammed boat day gives the widest mix: two snorkelling stops, a sandbar walk and lunch on board. The Tiran Island boat day suits you if you want shallow coral gardens and a calm lagoon swim. If you dislike boats, the road trip into Ras Mohammed gets you into the same national park, with snorkelling from the beach.

The two boat days are shaped alike. Each lasts about eight hours, collects you from your Sharm El Sheikh hotel at 08:00, carries up to 40 guests and returns you around 16:00. Mask, snorkel and fins are included, as are a guide in the water and lunch on board. The road trip is shorter and smaller. For current prices, open each trip page, because shared boat and minibus places are priced separately.

The Ras Mohammed and White Island boat day

After the transfer to the jetty you sail south for about 75 minutes to Ras Mohammed National Park, at the southern tip of Sinai. The first snorkelling stop is around 10:30 on a park reef, with the guide beside you. At about 12:00 the boat goes to White Island, where you can wade and walk on a sandbar if the tide is low. Lunch on board follows at 13:00, then a second snorkelling stop at 14:00.

The park fee is included. Wetsuit hire in winter, towels and underwater photos are extra. This is the better choice for families with mixed abilities, because there is time on the boat to rest between stops, and the sandbar gives non-swimmers something to do. It is also the day that is most affected by wind, so ask about the sea state if you are unsure.

The Tiran Island boat day

This day heads north-east across the Straits of Tiran, about an hour from the jetty. You make two or three stops, depending on the sea: a first snorkel over a Tiran reef at about 10:00, a second at a shallow lagoon around 11:30, and a third stop or a free swim after lunch at 14:00. The water in the lagoon is shallow and clear, which helps nervous swimmers.

Landing on Tiran Island is not permitted, so the day is all on and in the water. Mask, snorkel, fins, the guide, lunch and the marine park fees are included. Water sports offered on the boat cost extra. If you imagined walking on the island, this is not that trip.

The Ras Mohammed road trip

The minibus collects you at 08:00 and reaches the park gate and the Gate of Allah around 09:00. You then see the mangrove channel and the earthquake crack, float in the salt water of the Magic Lake at about 10:15, and snorkel from the shore at two beaches, where the reef drop-off is a few metres out. A picnic lunch is included and you are back at your hotel at about 14:30.

Fins and reef shoes are not included, so hire them or bring your own. Without the boat there is no rocking, no engine noise and no seasickness. The compromise is that you snorkel only where the beaches are, rather than choosing among reefs. If you hold the free Sinai-only entry stamp, ask our team before you book, because our trip details say nothing about visas for this day.

How the three days compare

Most varied day: Ras Mohammed by boat, with two reefs and the White Island sandbar.
Calmest, shallowest water: Tiran Island by boat, with the lagoon swim.
Best for seasickness: Ras Mohammed by road, six hours and 16 guests at most.
Best for keeping to a short day: the road trip, back by about 14:30.
Landing on an island: not possible on Tiran, and White Island depends on the tide.

If you can only manage one day, base the decision on who is coming. A group with one nervous swimmer or a grandparent is better on the road trip or the lagoon day. Confident swimmers who want a longer time in the water will get more from the Ras Mohammed boat day. If you have a week or more, doing one boat day and the road trip covers both sides of the national park.

Weather, children and booking

The sea decides everything on the boat days. If the port authority stops sailings for weather, the trip is moved to another day or refunded. On shared trips, children under 2 travel free and children aged 2 to 11 pay half the adult price. Most trips can be booked online up to 48 hours before; inside that window, send a request instead. Cancel three or more days ahead for a full refund, or between three days and 24 hours for half.

Plan with us

Ras Mohammed or Tiran Island: which snorkelling day to pick

Ras Mohammed by boat, Tiran Island by boat or Ras Mohammed by road: how the three snorkelling days from Sharm El Sheikh differ and which suits you.

Speak to a specialist →View tours

Frequently asked questions

Is Ras Mohammed better than Tiran Island for snorkelling?

Neither is better in every way. Ras Mohammed adds the national park, the White Island sandbar and a road option, while Tiran offers shallow coral gardens and a calm lagoon. Both boat days give two or three guided stops, so pick by whether you want the park scenery or the lagoon.

Can I get off the boat and walk on Tiran Island?

No. Landing on Tiran Island is not permitted, so the day is spent snorkelling at the reef and swimming in a shallow lagoon, with lunch on board. If you want to walk on a sandbar, the Ras Mohammed boat day includes White Island when the tide is low.

I get seasick. Can I still see Ras Mohammed?

Yes, by road. The minibus trip lasts about six hours, drives through the national park and lets you snorkel from the beach at two stops. It also includes the mangrove channel, the Gate of Allah and the Magic Lake, with no time spent on the water.

Do I need to bring snorkelling gear?

Not on the boat days, which include mask, snorkel and fins. On the road trip, mask and snorkel are included but fins and reef shoes are not, so bring your own or hire them. A wetsuit in winter is hired separately on the Ras Mohammed boat day.

What happens if bad weather prevents the boat from going out?

When the port authority stops sea trips for weather, we move your trip to another day or refund it. This applies to the two boat days, not to the road trip. Check the cancellation terms on the trip page before you book if your dates are close to departure.