Sharm El Sheikh: White Island & Ras Mohammed Snorkeling Day Trip

Summary

Snorkeling the shifting sands of White Island from Sharm el Sheikh

You’ll ride out from Sharm el Sheikh to Ras Mohammed with a local guide and friendly group, snorkeling twice among wild reefs before landing on White Island’s shifting sands. Enjoy lunch and soft drinks on deck as you swap stories in salty air. There’s a quiet magic to seeing land appear and vanish beneath your feet.

What’s the experience like?

“You see that line?” our guide Khaled pointed, his arm slicing through the morning haze as we bobbed on the boat just off Sharm el Sheikh. “That’s where the island disappears.” I squinted — honestly, I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. The sea here is this impossible blue, but it changes every few minutes. We’d left early (I’m not a morning person, but somehow it felt right), bundled into an air-conditioned minibus with a couple from Alexandria and two German families who kept offering us biscuits. There was this quiet excitement — or maybe just caffeine kicking in — as we headed for Ras Mohammed and the so-called Invisible Island.

The first time I slipped into the water near Ras Mohammed, my mask fogged up straight away (classic), but even through the blur you could make out flashes of yellow and electric blue darting between corals. Someone behind me laughed underwater — weird how you can hear that muffled sound even with your head submerged. The salt stings your lips a bit, and when you come up for air there’s this sharp smell of sunscreen mixed with something sweet from the boat’s kitchen. Lunch was simple but good: grilled chicken, rice, salad — nothing fancy, but after swimming it tasted like a feast. Khaled poured tea for everyone and told us about how White Island only shows itself at low tide; he said sometimes even locals miss it if they’re late.

I didn’t expect to feel so small standing on that patch of sand in the middle of all that water. It’s strange — one minute you’re surrounded by people snapping photos and then suddenly there’s this hush as everyone just looks around. The sun bounced off everything; I had to squint so hard my face hurt. Some kids tried to build a sandcastle but gave up because the tide started creeping in again, swallowing up their work grain by grain. We didn’t stay long before heading back toward Sharm el Sheikh (the ride felt slower somehow), but I still think about that moment when it felt like we were standing on something borrowed from the sea.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Boat trip to White Island and snorkeling

• Transfer from hotel to port
• Boat trip to White Island
• Snorkeling in Ras Mohammed National Park
• Enjoy lunch and soft drinks on board
• Return boat trip to port
• Transfer back to hotel by bus

Top questions

How do I get from my hotel in Sharm el Sheikh to White Island?

Your day trip includes hotel pickup by air-conditioned vehicle directly to the port where you board the boat for White Island.

Is snorkeling equipment included on this tour?

The description doesn’t mention equipment rental; check with your provider if gear is included or bring your own.

What is special about White Island near Ras Mohammed?

White Island is called “Invisible” because it only appears at low tide — at high tide it disappears beneath the water.

Are meals provided during the trip?

Yes, lunch is served onboard along with soft drinks, coffee or tea during your day trip.

Can children join this day trip from Sharm el Sheikh?

Yes, infants and small children are welcome; prams or strollers can be brought and infant seats are available.

How many times will we snorkel at Ras Mohammed?

You’ll have one or two opportunities to snorkel during the boat trip in Ras Mohammed area.

Is there an English-speaking guide on board?

The tour includes a local guide; languages may vary so confirm English availability when booking.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Sharm el Sheikh by air-conditioned vehicle, boat transfers out to White Island and Ras Mohammed for snorkeling stops, lunch served onboard along with coffee, tea and soft drinks before returning comfortably to your hotel in the afternoon.