Ras Abu Galum and the Blue Lagoon: a day trip from Dahab
A Ras Abu Galum day starts at the Blue Hole, follows the coast north into a protected area with no road, and ends on quiet reefs and beaches that few people dive. You walk, ride a camel or take a boat, then snorkel or dive at Ras Abu Galum, and on the right day carry on to the Blue Lagoon. I can organise it as a guided snorkel or dive day from Dahab.
The day at a glance
Ras Abu Galum is a full day out. Most trips leave Dahab in the morning, drive to the Blue Hole, and continue north on foot, by camel or by boat. You spend the middle of the day in the water and on the beach, and you are back in town by late afternoon.
Divers usually do two dives at the Abu Galum sites. Snorkelers spend longer on the shallow reef tops, which is where the best colour is. The Blue Lagoon, further north, is added when time, wind and sea allow.
What is included changes with the date, the transport and the plan, so ask what is included for your date before you book. There is no fixed package and no surprises.
What Ras Abu Galum is
Ras Abu Galum is a protected area on the Gulf of Aqaba coast between Dahab and Nuweiba. It was declared a protectorate in 1992 under Egypt’s Law 102 of 1983 on natural protectorates, and its size is given as roughly 400–500 square kilometres depending on the source, covering mountains, wadis, beach and reef.
The protected area begins at the Blue Hole and runs north. There is no tarmac road along this stretch of coast. A small Bedouin settlement sits on the beach, and Lonely Planet notes that Bedouin of the Mzeina tribe live inside the protectorate, where their fishing is regulated.
Because so few people get here, the reefs are some of the healthiest around Dahab. Expect hard and soft coral gardens, turtles, schooling reef fish and, on the deeper pinnacles, barracuda and eagle rays.
Ras Abu Galum dive site guide and map →
Getting there: walk, camel or boat from the Blue Hole
Every route starts at the Blue Hole, a short drive north of Dahab. From there you have three ways to reach Ras Abu Galum.
On foot, a coastal path runs north along the shoreline. Wikivoyage gives about 1.5 hours of walking, and hikers log the distance at around 7 km. The path is easy to follow because it hugs the sea, but it is rocky and has almost no shade, so start early.
By camel, Bedouin guides meet you at the Blue Hole and the ride takes about 90 minutes. Dive gear travels on the camels too, which is the classic way to do a Ras Abu Galum dive day.
By boat, a Bedouin speedboat runs up the coast from the Blue Hole in a fraction of the time. Boats depend on wind and sea state, so the boat option can change at short notice. I choose the route with you the day before, based on the forecast and how you want to spend the day.
💬 Ask about a Ras Abu Galum day
Snorkel spots and dives
The Abu Galum coast has several sites rather than one, spread between the village and the Blue Lagoon. The typical layout is a sandy slope from the beach with reef on either side, a shallow hard-coral plateau and pinnacles that act as cleaning stations.
For divers, dives usually stay within 25 m, with a 30 m recreational limit, and conditions are normally calm. Red Tooth Trigger Bay, which the Bedouin call the Garden, is a small, packed site with coral pinnacles from about 3 m down and big schools of red-tooth triggerfish and bannerfish.
For snorkelers, the shallow reef tops are bright and easy to reach from the beach. A guide shows you where to enter and exit, which matters on a coast with no lifeguards and no facilities beyond the camps.
The Blue Lagoon: beach, kite spot and Bedouin camps
The Blue Lagoon lies north of the Ras Abu Galum village, in the same protected area. It is a shallow, sheltered lagoon of pale turquoise water behind a sandbar, which keeps it calm while the open Gulf is choppy.
That flat, wind-swept water makes it a well-known kitesurfing spot, and on windy days you will often see kites over the lagoon. For everyone else it is a place to swim, float and lie on the sand.
Simple Bedouin camps with palm-roofed huts line parts of the shore, and some visitors stay overnight. Facilities are basic: shade, tea and simple food at the camps, and no shops.
Reaching the lagoon adds time, and the route depends on the sea, so treat it as a highlight to add when the day works rather than a fixed stop.
Park fee and permits
Ras Abu Galum and the Blue Hole are inside a protected area, and a protectorate fee applies to visitors. The amount is set by the authorities and changes from time to time, so the current fee is confirmed when you book rather than printed here.
Protectorate rules apply on land and in the water. No touching, collecting or feeding marine life, no fishing, and take all your rubbish back with you. Carry your passport: Sinai roads have police checkpoints, and you may be asked for ID on the way to the Blue Hole.
Is the Blue Hole dangerous? Honest answers →
What to bring
Bring at least two litres of water per person, a sun hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen. There is very little shade on the coastal path, and the sun on the water is strong all year.
Wear closed shoes or sturdy sandals if you walk, because the path is rocky. Pack a towel, a long-sleeved top or rash guard, a light layer for the boat or the evening in winter, and some cash in Egyptian pounds for drinks at the camps.
Snorkelers can bring their own mask and fins or ask what is available. Divers should bring their certification card and logbook, and anyone who has not dived recently should plan a check dive in town first.
Divers and snorkelers on one trip
Ras Abu Galum works well for mixed groups. The best reefs are shallow, so a diver and a snorkeling partner can be in the water at the same spot at the same time, and meet up again on the beach.
New divers are welcome too. Open Water divers have plenty to see within 18 m, and non-divers can ask about a first try dive on a calm day. Tell me who is diving, who is snorkeling and what levels you have, and I will plan the day around that.
Snorkeling in Dahab: the best spots →
Book your Ras Abu Galum day
Send me your dates, how many of you snorkel and how many dive, and whether you would rather walk, ride or take the boat. I will check the forecast, suggest a plan and tell you exactly what is included for your date.
Questions
How do you get to Ras Abu Galum from Dahab?
Drive to the Blue Hole, then walk north along the coast for about 1.5 hours, ride a camel for about 90 minutes, or take a boat. There is no road along the coast.
How long is the hike from the Blue Hole to Ras Abu Galum?
Around 7 km along the coastal path, usually about 1.5 to 2 hours on foot. It is rocky and has little shade, so start early and carry plenty of water.
Where is the Blue Lagoon in Dahab?
The Blue Lagoon is north of the Ras Abu Galum village, inside the Ras Abu Galum protected area. It is a shallow lagoon behind a sandbar, with Bedouin camps on the shore.
Is there an entrance fee for Ras Abu Galum?
Yes, a protectorate fee applies to the Blue Hole and Ras Abu Galum area. The amount changes from time to time, so the current fee is confirmed when you book.
Can you snorkel at Ras Abu Galum?
Yes. The shallow reef tops are some of the healthiest around Dahab and easy to reach from the beach. A guide helps with entries and exits on this remote coast.
Can you kitesurf at the Blue Lagoon?
Yes. The flat, sheltered water and steady wind make the Blue Lagoon a well-known kitesurf spot. Bring your own gear or arrange it in Dahab before you go.
Can you stay overnight at Ras Abu Galum?
Yes. Bedouin camps rent simple huts along the beach, and some dive trips run overnight with a night dive. Facilities are basic.