White Island or Tiran Island: which is better for snorkelling?

Choose White Island if you want sheltered reefs and about 20 minutes on a white sandbar. Choose Tiran Island if you are a confident swimmer who wants the well-known reefs of the Strait of Tiran. Both boat trips from Sharm El Sheikh cost from $30 per person, last about 9 hours and include three swim stops, a buffet lunch and soft drinks.

How do the two trips compare?

	White Island and Ras Mohammed by boat	Tiran Island by boat
Price	From $30 per person	From $30 per person
Duration	9 hours	9 hours
Hotel pickup	About 8:00	About 8:00
Back at hotel	About 17:00	About 17:00
Stops	2 reef stops in Ras Mohammed National Park, 1 stop at White Island	3 stops in the open sea at the Tiran reefs
Time on a beach	About 20 minutes on the sandbar, when conditions allow	None, you swim from the boat
Sea conditions	Often more sheltered	More exposed, currents can be strong
Snorkelling equipment	Rental extra	Rental extra
Intro dive	Available for a fee	Available for a fee

Both trips include the bus from your hotel, a guide, the yacht with crew, an instructor who goes with snorkellers, lunch and soft drinks.

Where are the reefs?

Tiran Island lies at the entrance to the Strait of Tiran, 5 to 6 km off the Sinai coast north-east of Sharm El Sheikh. The four reefs boats visit, Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon, sit in the strait between the island and the coast. The island itself has belonged to Saudi Arabia since an agreement with Egypt was ratified in 2017, and day trips do not land on it.

White Island is a sandbar inside Ras Mohammed National Park, at the southern tip of the Sinai. The park is about 12 km from Sharm El Sheikh. Our guide Is White Island worth it? covers the park in detail.

Which is better for beginners and children?

White Island and the Ras Mohammed reefs are usually the easier choice. Tiran is more exposed to wind and the open strait, and currents can pick up near the reef walls. Ras Mohammed reefs are often more sheltered, which suits first-time snorkellers and children.

Non-swimmers can join either trip. Wear a life jacket in the water or stay on the boat. An instructor swims with the group and watches for safety. An intro dive to 3 to 6 m for up to 10 minutes is possible on both trips, with no certificate, from age 10.

What will you see?

At Tiran you snorkel over coral walls with reef fish and larger fish, and turtles are seen at some reefs. In good weather you can see a wreck on the reef from the boat. At Ras Mohammed you snorkel at protected reefs in clear water, then swim or wade to the white sand. Dolphins are sometimes seen on both routes, but no trip can promise them.

Is there a park fee?

The entrance fee for Ras Mohammed National Park is not listed in the inclusions of either boat trip. Tour listings give about $5 to $7 per person for Ras Mohammed. We could not confirm a separate fee for Tiran, so ask us when you book and carry some cash in small notes.

Which trip should you choose?

• White Island and Ras Mohammed by boat (from $30): calmer reefs, a stop on the sandbar and a good first sea trip for families.
• Tiran Island by boat (from $30): the famous Tiran reefs for confident swimmers and anyone who has already been to Ras Mohammed.
• Ras Mohammed by bus with snorkelling (from $20): a 5-hour trip by road with shore snorkelling, for people who get seasick.
• Pirate boat day trip Sina Dream (from $65): three sea stops with a seafood buffet lunch on a themed boat.

Tips for both trips

• Book early in your holiday. Wind can change the route or cancel a stop, and you will have time to rebook.
• Keep a photo of your passport’s first page on your phone. We need it for the travel permit.
• Bring your own mask, snorkel and fins, or order them through us in advance for a lower fee.
• In winter the sea is about 22°C and it gets cool on deck, so take a sweatshirt and socks.
• If you get seasick, take medication before the boat leaves.

See all trips on the Sharm El Sheikh excursions page, and our tips for Sharm El Sheikh in winter.