Tiran Island, Sharm El Sheikh

Tiran Island snorkeling trip: how the day works

It's a full day at sea. Your boat heads north from Sharm into the Strait of Tiran and moors at two or three reefs for snorkelling, sometimes with diving too. Pick-up is around 7:00–8:00 at your hotel, then a short drive to the jetty, where passports (or copies) are checked and life vests handed out — some operators include masks and fins, others don't.

Getting to the first reef usually takes about an hour, depending on the jetty and the reef. Lunch is served on board between stops, typically a buffet with soft drinks. The island is in view all day — steep desert mountains dropping into blue water — but boats stay on the strait side and never go in to the shore.

You're back at the jetty around 17:00 and at your hotel by about 18:00. Inclusions vary: some boats include snorkel gear, others rent it at the jetty for a few dozen Egyptian pounds per item, and try-dives cost extra. The guide picks the reefs on the day — in strong wind, boats stick closer to the Sinai coast.

How much is a Tiran Island trip?

There's no official price; operators set their own. A shared boat with lunch and hotel transfers costs roughly US$30–50 per person, with bigger yachts up to about US$70. A speedboat for one to five people runs around US$100–200 per group, and a private yacht for the day starts at about US$900. All of these are unofficial and change with season and agency.

On top of that there's often a park fee of about US$5 per person: some operators include it, others collect it in cash on the day. Extras can include snorkel gear and wetsuit rental, a try-dive (around US$20), a photographer and tips for the crew.

Payment: you can usually book by card online or through your hotel. On the day, the jetty and the boat are cash-only in practice — bring small US dollar notes and some Egyptian pounds.

Who owns Tiran Island?

Saudi Arabia. In April 2016 Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed a maritime border agreement handing Tiran and neighbouring Sanafir to Riyadh. Egyptian courts ruled against it, but parliament approved the deal on 14 June 2017 and President Sisi ratified it on 24 June 2017.

Egypt had run the islands since 1950, by arrangement with Saudi Arabia. Israel took Tiran in the 1967 Six-Day War and returned it under the peace treaty, completing the handover in 1982. After that the island hosted a post of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), which monitors the Egypt–Israel treaty.

In July 2022 Israel signed off on the transfer and the US announced the observers would leave. We found no official confirmation that the withdrawal has been completed. For visitors, nothing changes: there was no landing under Egypt and there's none now, and boats from Sharm still visit the reefs of the strait.

Where is Tiran Island?

Tiran sits in the Red Sea at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, north-east of Sharm El Sheikh. Between the island and the Sinai coast lies the Strait of Tiran — the only sea route from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Red Sea, and so the only way by sea to Eilat and Aqaba. Sanafir Island lies just east of Tiran, with the Saudi coast beyond.

Closer to Sinai, a chain of four reefs runs through the strait: from south to north, Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse and Jackson. That's where the boats go. Gordon is nearest to Sharm; Jackson is the furthest north. Don't bother dropping a pin on the island — there's no way to reach it by land, and your operator will tell you which jetty to go to.

On a clear day you can see the island from the shore too — a dark mountain on the horizon from Sharm's northern beaches.

What to see: the reefs and wrecks of the Strait of Tiran

• Gordon Reef — nearest to Sharm, with a shallow plateau and lagoon that suit beginners. The rusting hull of the cargo ship Loullia, aground since 1981, sits on its edge.
• Thomas Reef — the smallest of the four, known for big gorgonian fans, with a canyon for experienced divers.
• Woodhouse Reef — long and narrow; guides run drift snorkels along its wall, letting the current carry you past the coral.
• Jackson Reef — the northernmost; the remains of the Cypriot freighter Lara lie off its northern end, also since 1981.
• The island — bare mountains rising straight out of the sea, with no trees and no visitor facilities; best photographed from the deck.
• Marine life — parrotfish, butterflyfish and moray eels; with luck, turtles or dolphins, though nobody can promise them.

Tiran Island vs White Island

Based on typical boat-trip programmes — what's included varies by agency.

Is a Tiran Island trip worth it?

Yes, if you're in Sharm for the sea. The reefs of the Strait of Tiran are among the best known in the Red Sea, and a day with two or three snorkelling stops shows you far more than your hotel's house reef. On a short holiday, we'd pick this as the first boat day.

Just don't expect to set foot on the island — Tiran is a backdrop, not a beach. If standing on sand in the middle of the sea is the point, go to White Island instead. If you get seasick or don't want to jump off a boat into deep water, the road trip to Ras Mohammed, with shore entries, is gentler.

The strait can get choppy on windy days and boats change their route. Don't leave this trip for your last day — you'll have no room to reschedule.

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

• Don't promise kids a beach on the island — there's no landing, the whole day is on the boat and in the water.
• Not a strong swimmer? Keep your vest on and stay with the guide: the strait can have currents.
• Don't touch the coral or take anything from the reef — these are protected waters.
• 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.
• Ask which jetty you sail from: from the marina in Old Sharm, the Old Market is close for the evening.

Questions