Ras Mohammed National Park, Sharm El Sheikh

Ras Mohammed entrance fee and opening hours

There is no official price list online. Operators quote around US$5–7 per person for a day visit, with a separate charge for a car; we treat this as unofficial. On organised tours the fee is normally included, or the guide collects it in cash before the gate — ask when you book.

The park is open in daylight only. One operator running a camp inside says cars must enter between 8:00 and 15:00 and that no traffic is allowed from 30 minutes before sunset. That operator also says the gate takes cards; still, carry US dollars in small notes and some Egyptian pounds in case the machine is down.

Is Ras Mohammed worth it?

Yes, if you came to Sharm for the sea. The reefs here start a few metres from the shore and drop off into deep blue water, and the fish life is richer than off most hotel beaches. Even a half-day bus trip gives you proper snorkelling without a boat.

Skip it if you want a lazy beach day: there are no sunbeds, almost no shade, no changing rooms and nothing to buy inside. Bring everything with you. If you're not a confident swimmer, wear a life vest — the reef edge drops sharply.

Bus tour or boat trip?

What's included varies between agencies — check the park fee, snorkel gear and lunch before you pay.

What to see in Ras Mohammed

• Allah's Gate — the concrete arch near the entrance. It's modern, not ancient, but it's where every photo stop begins.
• The Crack — an earthquake fissure with clear water at the bottom.
• Mangrove channel — mangroves growing in salt water at the southern end of the peninsula.
• Magic Lake — a warm, very salty lagoon where you float easily.
• Shark Observatory — a clifftop viewpoint over the sea, and the reef below it.
• Shark and Yolanda reefs — the park's headline dive sites; toilets and bathtubs from the Yolanda's cargo still lie on the reef.
• Beaches with reef entry such as Main Beach — coral and fish within a few metres of the shore.

Snorkeling and diving at Ras Mohammed

Sources count more than 1,000 fish species here; coral species range from about 150 to 220-plus depending on who you read. Sea turtles are regular visitors, and the reef walls drop away dramatically.

The best-known dives are Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef. The Cypriot freighter Yolanda ran aground there on 1 April 1980 with a load of bathroom fittings; a storm later pushed the hull into deep water, but part of the cargo stayed on the reef. Sharm dive centres run boats here daily, and try-dives work in the shallows.

Snorkel only where your guide shows you, and wear reef shoes: the coral is alive and you must not stand on it. Don't feed the fish or take anything from the reef.

Ras Mohammed and White Island in one day

White Island is a sandbar in the open sea. Boat trips often pair it with Ras Mohammed: snorkel the park's reefs, then an hour or two on white sand. On that trip you won't see the land side of the park — the crack, the lake or Allah's Gate. Want both? Do a road trip and a boat trip on different days. There is no shade on the sandbar, so bring a hat and sunscreen.

Sharm El Sheikh by the sea, compared

Every waterside spot in Sharm El Sheikh rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

How to do it right

• Go early: calmer water, more fish and less heat.
• Want both the reefs from the water and the crack and lake? Book a road trip and a boat trip on separate days.
• Wear reef shoes — sharp rocks and sea urchins near the shore.
• Not a strong swimmer? Wear a vest: the reef edge drops off suddenly.
• Don't feed the fish or touch the coral — this is a protected reef.
• On the way back, stop at the Old Market in Old Sharm.

Questions