Ras Muhammad Beach

You can reach Ras Mohammed by car from Sharm El Sheikh in roughly 40 minutes, or by boat from Naama Bay in about an hour — both options run daily. Parking inside the national park is free and included with your entry fee. Entry requires a national park permit; fees apply for non-Egyptian and Egyptian adults separately, plus a small environmental surcharge, and are subject to annual change — confirm current rates before you go. The park is open from sunrise to sunset only; no overnight stays without a special permit.

The Yolanda wreck, just 1 km away, is one of the Red Sea's most celebrated dive sites — a cargo ship whose scattered contents, including bathroom fixtures, have become an unlikely reef. Marsa Bareika, 4 km from the main beach, offers calmer snorkelling conditions worth exploring. Further along the coast, Ras Ghozlani and Marsa Kharita provide additional dive and snorkel spots for those with a full day and their own transport. The mangrove channels near the park are a quieter, equally rewarding detour.

There are no restaurants at the beach itself — the Ras Mohamed Nature Reserve facility on-site is the only option within the park boundaries, so pack your own food and water for the day. The nearest proper dining is back toward Sharm El Sheikh: Fares serves seafood about 13.9 km away, and El Masrien offers Arab, Italian, and tea at the same distance. Mera's Green House, around 13.8 km out, covers everything from breakfast to pasta to sushi if you want a post-dive meal.

There's no accommodation inside the park, so you'll base yourself in Sharm El Sheikh. Aqua Blu Resort, about 14.3 km away, is the furthest out but well-positioned for early morning departures to the park. Iberotel Palace and Seti Sharm sit around 13.8–14 km from the beach and offer a comfortable base, while Turquoise and Logaina are slightly closer at 13.3 km and 12.5 km respectively.

Arrive at sunrise before the day-trip boats arrive — the confluence point, where two differently coloured bodies of water visibly meet, is the single most striking above-water shot on the peninsula. For underwater photography, the coral wall and the Yolanda wreck's scattered cargo offer extraordinary frames, but only for divers with proper equipment and a certified guide.

Do not enter the water at the confluence point — strong currents and sheer drop-offs close to shore make this genuinely dangerous, and it is not suitable for weak swimmers. Oceanic whitetip and tiger sharks are present in these waters; past attacks have led to temporary closures of water activities, so follow all posted warnings and ranger instructions without exception. Day-trip boats flood the site between 10:00 and 14:00, so arrive at opening to get the reef to yourself. On land, stay on marked trails, do not touch or collect coral, fishing is strictly prohibited, and use only reef-safe sunscreen — the park rules are enforced.