Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park occupies the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula in South Sinai, Egypt, about 25 km from Sharm El Sheikh. Declared in 1983, it was the first national park in Egypt and remains the most celebrated marine reserve on the Red Sea. The park protects coral reefs, mangrove channels, salt marshes, raised fossil coral terraces and a stretch of desert coastline where the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet. Most visitors arrive on a day tour by minibus or boat from Sharm El Sheikh, or by taxi with a driver, and must carry a physical passport for the checkpoint at the main gate. The headline sites are underwater. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef form a dramatic drop-off where barracuda, jacks, snappers and turtles gather, and the wreck debris and scattered toilets from the cargo ship Yolanda are a well-known sight for divers and snorkellers. The Eel Garden, a calmer shore site, has a field of garden eels waving from the sand. On land, short paths lead to viewpoints over the cliffs and the Magic Lake, while the Mangrove Channel at the park's eastern side shelters Avicennia mangroves, herons and crabs. Visitors should expect a full or half day: most tours spend two stops snorkelling, an hour or so at a beach, and time at viewpoints, with lunch aboard a boat or at a simple beach area. The best photographs come from the cliff-top viewpoints in the morning light and from the water at Shark Reef, where visibility is often well beyond 20 metres. Crowds peak between 10:00 and 15:00 when tour buses arrive together; arriving at the gate when it opens around 08:00 gives quieter reefs. Summer is very hot with little shade, so sun protection, plenty of water and reef-safe sunscreen are important. Rules are strict: coral and shells may not be collected, feeding fish is banned, and standing on coral is prohibited. The entrance fee is paid in addition to most tour prices and is usually quoted at about USD 5-7 for foreigners, so confirm on arrival.