Saint Catherine's Monastery
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
White Island, Sharm El Sheikh
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Photo: Yusuf Saad Eldin Akl, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Tour ≈ US$30–50 + park fee ≈ US$5
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daytime boat trips only; landing on the sandbar at low tide and in calm seas
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Trip price
- Group boat ≈ US$30–50 per person; private yacht from ≈ US$750 (unofficial)
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Park fee
- ≈ US$5 per person, often paid separately (unofficial)
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time needed
- 8–10 hours door to door, ≈ 30–60 minutes on the sandbar
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - When it shows
- At low tide; under water at a strong high tide
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Getting there
- Boat only, from the port in Old Sharm; swim the last stretch
- Documents
- Passport or a copy — checked at the port
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Bring US dollars and Egyptian pounds in cash; foreign cards work at hotels, rarely on boats
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
A sandbara strip of white sand in open water, with no buildings or trees
3 sourcesi
Tripstertravel2unlimitedyachtcharterfleetLow tide onlyat a strong high tide the sandbar disappears and landings are cancelled
3 sourcesi
TripsterHeadoutSharm ClubRas Mohammedin the marine part of the national park, off the west side of the peninsula
3 sourcesi
OpenStreetMaptravel2unlimitedyachtcharterfleet20–50 m swimboats can't reach the sand — you swim or wade chest-deep for the last stretch
3 sourcesi
Tripsteregyptra.proSputnik88–10 hourslength of a typical boat day including hotel transfers
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Sputnik8Sharm Clubegyptra.pro≈ US$5Ras Mohammed park fee per person, often not in the tour price (unofficial)
2 sourcesi
HeadoutSputnik81989Ras Mohammed became Egypt's first national park
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English and Russian WikipediaTwo gulfsthe Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet at Ras Mohammed
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English and Russian Wikipedia"Egyptian Maldives"a nickname used to sell the trips — marketing, not a fair comparison
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Sputnik8travel2unlimitedWhite Island boat trip: how the day works
White Island is almost never sold on its own. It's a stop on a full-day boat trip to Ras Mohammed. A typical day: a bus picks you up from your hotel around 7:30–8:00 and drives to the port in Old Sharm (Sharm El Maya). Passports are checked and guests sorted onto boats, which can take 30 minutes to an hour.
Boats leave around 9:00–9:30. During the day you get two or three snorkelling or diving stops on the park's reefs, lunch on board, and the White Island stop. The boat anchors 20–50 metres off the sand; you swim over in a life vest or wade chest-deep behind the guide. Most groups spend 30 minutes to an hour on the sandbar.
Boats are back in port by 16:30–17:00 and you're at your hotel by about 18:00. What's included varies: some operators include masks and fins, others charge for them, and some add try-dives. If you get seasick or are nervous in deep water, take the road trip to Ras Mohammed instead.
How much does a White Island trip cost?
There's no official price — operators set their own. A shared boat with lunch and hotel transfers runs roughly US$30–50 per person, with premium boats up to about US$70–80. A private yacht for up to ten people starts around US$750. All of these are unofficial figures that change with season and agency.
On top of that there's usually the Ras Mohammed park fee of about US$5 per person (young children are often exempt). Some operators include it; others collect it in cash on the day. Extras can include snorkel gear rental, a photographer, seafood at lunch and tips for the crew.
Payment: you book in hotels, agencies or online, often by card. On the day, everything on the boat and at the port is cash — bring small US dollar notes and some Egyptian pounds.
Where is White Island?
White Island is in the Red Sea, inside Ras Mohammed National Park at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. OpenStreetMap places it off the west side of the peninsula, south-west of Sharm El Sheikh, near where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba.
You can't drive there. Boats leave from the port in Old Sharm and round the cape, usually stopping at reefs on the way; expect one to one and a half hours to the first stop depending on the boat and the sea. Map apps place the sandbar in slightly different spots, so don't rely on a pin.
How to get to White Island
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- You can't go independently: there are no scheduled boats. The only way is a boat tour — a shared boat or a private yacht hired from a local operator.
- Book through your hotel, a local agency or online. Check whether the park fee, snorkel gear, lunch and transfers are included.
- Pick-up is usually around 7:30–8:00 at your hotel gate; from Naama Bay the drive to the port in Old Sharm takes about 15–20 minutes.
- Going on your own? Take a taxi to the port in Old Sharm (Sharm El Maya) and show the driver the pier name on your voucher — operators use different jetties. Agree the fare before you get in.
- At the port, show your passport (or a copy) and voucher, then collect your mask and vest.
- It's one to one and a half hours to the Ras Mohammed reefs. White Island is one of the stops, usually after snorkelling.
- Swim 20–50 metres to the sand in a life vest behind the guide. Boats are back by 16:30–17:00.
Is White Island worth it?
Yes, if you're in Sharm for the sea and want a proper day of snorkelling at Ras Mohammed. The sandbar is a nice last stop, not the main event — nobody should spend a whole day at sea just for half an hour on the sand.
In season it gets crowded: many boats arrive at the same time, so an empty white beach in your photos takes luck or an early start. There's no shade at all, and the sun bounces off the sand. Our advice: pick a smaller boat and ask when it reaches the sandbar — earlier is quieter.
Skip it if you can't swim and won't jump off a boat, if you get seasick, or if your kids are too young for a long day on the water.
Boat trip with White Island vs Ras Mohammed by road
| Boat with White Islandyou are here | 8–10 hours | Reefs from the water, the white sandbar | From the boat, straight into deep water | Usually on board | Confident swimmers, photographers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ras Mohammed by road | ≈ 5 hours | Allah's Gate, the crack, mangroves, salt lake, shore reefs | From the beach, through shallows | Usually not | Kids, beginners, anyone prone to seasickness |
Based on typical tour programmes — what's included varies by agency.
What to see on the way and on the sandbar
- The sandbar — walk on white sand in the middle of the sea and swim in shallow turquoise water.
- Ras Mohammed reefs — two or three snorkelling stops with coral, parrotfish and, with luck, turtles.
- Shark and Yolanda reefs — classic dive-boat stops; the guide picks sites according to the weather.
- Dolphins — sometimes seen on the way out, never guaranteed.
- Photos — the best shot is the turquoise water with dark coral heads, easiest from the deck before you land.
What to bring
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Sharm El Sheikh by the sea, compared
Every waterside spot in Sharm El Sheikh rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Naama Bay | 41 | 2 h | Free | 23.9 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Islandyou are here | 22 | 1 h 30 min | Tour ≈ US$30–50 + park fee ≈ US$5 | — |
| Tiran Island | 21 | 4 h | ≈ US$30–50 + ≈ US$5 park fee | 45.8 km |
| Ras Mohammed National Park | 16 | 4 h | ≈ US$5–7, usually included in tours | 5.3 km |
Off the boat, into Old Sharm
Boats return to the port in Old Sharm around five, close to the Old Market and Al Sahaba Mosque; finish on the Naama Bay promenade. YesGo works out timing and transfers.
- White Islandyou are here1 h 30 min · Tour ≈ US$30–50 + park fee ≈ US$5
- 324 min walk from the previous stopOld Market (Old Sharm)1 h 30 min · Free entry
- 3 min walk from the previous stopAl Sahaba Mosque30 min · Free
- 90 min walk from the previous stopNaama Bay2 h · Free (promenade)
4 places · about 12 h 27 min with walks · 417 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- Ask what time your boat reaches the sandbar — low tide and early means more sand and fewer people.
- Not a strong swimmer? Wear a vest and stay with the guide: there can be a current near the sandbar.
- Wear reef shoes, and don't take shells or coral — this is a national park.
- Put sunscreen on before you board, ideally a reef-safe one.
- Prone to seasickness? Take a tablet before you sail and sit near the stern.
- The port is close to the Old Market — a good stop on the way back.
Questions
Where is White Island in Sharm El Sheikh?
In the Red Sea, in the marine part of Ras Mohammed National Park, off the west side of the peninsula. It's reached only by boat from the port in Old Sharm.
How much is the White Island trip from Sharm?
Shared boats run about US$30–50 per person and private yachts from about US$750, plus a park fee of around US$5. These are unofficial prices.
Is White Island only visible at low tide?
Yes. The sandbar shows at low tide and disappears at a strong high tide. Landings are also cancelled in rough seas.
Can you do Ras Mohammed and White Island in one day?
Yes — that's the standard boat trip: snorkelling on the park's reefs plus a stop at the sandbar. You won't see the park's land sights from the boat.
How long is the White Island boat trip?
8–10 hours including hotel transfers: pick-up around 8:00, back around 18:00. Time on the sandbar itself is usually 30–60 minutes.
Do you have to swim to White Island?
Usually yes. Boats anchor 20–50 metres away and you swim or wade behind the guide. Life vests are provided.
Do I need my passport for the boat trip?
Yes, documents are checked at the port. A copy or a photo on your phone is usually accepted — check with your operator.
Is White Island good for kids?
It can be, if your kids cope with a full day on a boat. They'll need a vest and an adult in the water; diving usually starts at 10–12.
Is White Island worth it?
As part of a Ras Mohammed snorkelling day, yes. For the sandbar alone, no — it's busy, shadeless and you're there for under an hour.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- OpenStreetMap: White island, Ras Mohammed National Park
- Tripster: White Island tours from Sharm El Sheikh
- Sputnik8: White Island and Ras Mohammed by yacht
- Headout: Sharm El Sheikh — Ras Mohamed & White Island
- Sharm Club: White Island Ras Mohammed snorkeling tour
- egyptra.pro: White Island
- travel2unlimited: Ras Muhammad National Park — White Island
- yachtcharterfleet: White Island
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Ras Muhammad National Park
- GOV.UK: Egypt — entry requirements (Sinai-only stamp)
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