Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park occupies the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, roughly 25-40 km from Sharm el-Sheikh depending on the hotel area, and is the country's first national park. The drive takes about 45 minutes to an hour each way on a paved road, and the most practical transport is an organised minibus tour with hotel pickup at around 07:30, priced at roughly EGP 1,000-2,500. A taxi with a driver for the day costs about EGP 1,500-2,500 and allows a flexible schedule. The park fee, roughly USD 5-7, is normally collected at the gate, and visitors must carry a physical passport for the checkpoint. The reserve protects coral reefs, mangrove stands, salt marshes and desert headlands where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba. The best-known snorkelling sites are Shark and Yolanda Reef, where a dramatic wall drops into deep water, and Eel Garden, a sandy slope with a colony of garden eels. On land, a mangrove channel near Hamata Beach and the viewpoints above Marsa Bareika offer short walks and photo stops. A well-paced day follows a morning-to-afternoon arc. Departure around 08:00 brings arrival before the heat builds and before the largest boat groups reach the reef edges. Two snorkel sites fill the late morning, followed by a picnic lunch on the beach, which most tours supply. The early afternoon suits a stop at the viewpoints or a walk along the mangrove channel, with the return drive starting in mid-afternoon so that the group is back at the hotels by about 16:00. The best season runs from October to May, when air and sea temperatures are comfortable, while midsummer brings intense heat and strong glare. Food options inside the park are limited, so the picnic lunch or packed meal from the tour operator is the main meal, and visitors should carry extra water, reef-safe sun protection and a rash vest. Toilets and basic shade structures are found at the main beaches. Fishing, collecting shells and coral, and walking on the reef are prohibited, and rangers enforce these rules. Visitors should confirm the entry route in advance, since access arrangements can change.