Tropical fish at coral reef in the Red sea in Ras Mohammed national park, Sinai peninsula in Egypt.

© OlyaSolodenko/Getty Images/iStock

Ras Mohammed National Park

Top choice in Sinai


The waters surrounding this peninsula, 20km west of Sharm El Sheikh, are home to spectacular coral reefs, including the world-famous Shark and Jolanda Reefs dive sites. Snorkelling just off the shore here is truly rewarding with plenty of corals and an incredible array of fish life. Back on land, Ras Mohammed's landscape of isolated beaches, mangrove forest and mammoth surface cracks (caused by ancient earthquakes) are a harshly barren counterpoint to the bright lights of nearby Sharm.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sinai attractions

1. Khashaba Beach

3.52 MILES

From Ras Mohammed visitors centre, a pink-signposted track leads to pretty Khashaba Beach, which has a designated camping area (permit necessary) nearby.

2. Marsa Bareika Beach

3.85 MILES

Yellow arrows point the way to the sandy beaches and calm waters of Marsa Bareika, an excellent spot for snorkelling and safe for children.

3. Alternatives

5.32 MILES

Flat-topped reefs called 'ergs' harbour plentiful fish. Rough waters or southerly currents can reduce visibility here to nada. Depth: 10m to 15m. Rating:…

4. Stingray Station

5.87 MILES

The stingrays this dive site is named after are most commonly seen in March and April, but there are plenty of other attractions year-round at this…

5. Dunraven

6.2 MILES

The Dunraven sank in 1876 on its way from Bombay to Newcastle. Today the wreck, found at the southeast tip of Sha’ab Mahmud, is encrusted in coral and…

6. Salt Lake

6.82 MILES

This stunningly aqua-blue salt lake is about 200m inland from Ras Mohammed's Mangrove Channel and is a popular swimming stop.

7. Aqaba Beach

6.94 MILES

A track (with brown arrows) leads to Aqaba Beach. Just offshore is the Eel Garden dive site, named after an eel colony 20m down.

8. Old Quay Beach

7.09 MILES

Old Quay Beach is perfect for snorkelling; it has a spectacular vertical reef teeming with fish just offshore.

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      "url": "egypt/sinai-coast/attractions/ras-mohammed-national-park/a/poi-sig/1136552/1330651",
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      "continent": "Africa",
      "country": "Egypt",
      "region": "Sinai",
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