The legendary Blue Hole, Bedouin lunch in Assalah and free time in Dahab village.
About this trip
Dahab is a 90-minute drive north of Sharm, the road hugs the Gulf of Aqaba coast. The Blue Hole is a 130-metre-deep submarine sinkhole that sits a few metres off the shore, snorkelers stay on the rim and look down into the abyss. Lunch is in Assalah, a Bedouin village with low cushions and grilled fish.
This is a road trip with a snorkel in the middle
Be clear about the shape of this day before you book it. Dahab is a ninety-minute drive north of Sharm, the road runs along the Gulf of Aqaba coast with mountains on one side and water on the other, and you do the drive twice. The whole day runs around ten hours. That is not a complaint, it is the appeal. The drive is genuinely one of the better roads in Egypt, and Dahab is a different place from Sharm entirely: low-rise, scruffy, relaxed, built around a Bedouin village rather than a resort strip. If what you want is maximum time in the water, this is the wrong trip and Tiran or Ras Mohamed will serve you better. If you want to see a piece of Sinai beyond the hotel zone and snorkel somewhere famous while you are there, this is the one.
The rim is safe, the legend is about divers
The Blue Hole has a reputation, and it is worth separating the reputation from what you will actually be doing. It is a submarine sinkhole roughly 130 metres deep, sitting a few metres off the shore. Snorkelers stay on the shallow shore-side rim, where the water is two to four metres deep. You look down into the drop, not into it. The accidents that gave the site its name all involve technical divers attempting a deep arch at around 55 metres, which is a completely different activity with completely different risks. It has no bearing on a surface snorkel on the rim. What you get instead is the colour change, turquoise shallows on one side and a dark blue circle on the other, and you float directly across the boundary.
Dahab is the other half of the day
Lunch is in Assalah, the Bedouin village that Dahab grew out of, at one of the low-cushion places along the water where you eat grilled fish sitting more or less on the floor. This part is why people who have done both often rate this trip above the boat days, and it is also why it does not suit everyone. There is no buffet on a boat and no sundeck. There is a village, a beach, a famous sinkhole and a long drive. Practical notes: bring something to cover your shoulders for the village, the site itself is shore entry over rock so water shoes help, and there is far less shade than on a boat. The return puts you back at your hotel in the evening, so do not plan anything for after.
Trip highlights
- Snorkel the famous Blue Hole
- Bedouin-style lunch
- Dahab old market visit
What's included
- Hotel pickup & drop-off
- Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, vest)
- Buffet lunch on board
- Soft drinks, tea & water
- Certified captain & crew
- Underwater camera (extra)
- Tip for captain & crew (optional)
Daily itinerary
Approximate. Subject to weather and sea conditions.
- 1Hotel pickup
- 2Arrival at the reef bay
- 3Snorkeling session 1
Easy shore entry. Resident turtles and reef fish.
- 4Refreshments break
- 5Snorkeling session 2
- 6Lunch
- 7Hotel drop-off
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours before the trip start time and get a full refund. After that, we can usually reschedule but cash is non-refundable.
Guest reviews
142 verified reviews from real guests
Long day but worth it
It is a long drive from Sharm and you start early, so be ready for that. The Blue Hole itself is something you do not forget. We snorkelled along the edge and the drop into the blue is unreal.
Megéri a korai kelést
Hosszú az út Sharmból, de a Blue Hole látványa mindent kárpótol. A perem mentén snorkeleztünk, a mélykék szakadék hihetetlen. A vezető végig figyelt, hol biztonságos maradni.
Sehr empfehlenswert
Spontan gebucht und nicht bereut. Das Blue Hole ist legendär, das beduinische Mittagessen authentisch. Klare Empfehlung für jeden Ägypten-Besucher.
Tout simplement bluffant. Le Blue Hole est mythique, déjeuner bédouin authentique. Déjeuner à bord copieux et savoureux.
Exceeded expectations
Smooth booking, smooth day. Loved the desert drive and Dahab village vibe. Will definitely book with them again next visit.
Perfect day on the water
Wow, just wow. Blue Hole is iconic and the Bedouin lunch was so authentic. Pickup was on time and crew super friendly.
Hoogtepunt van onze vakantie
Echt geweldig. Blue Hole is iconisch, bedoeïenenlunch authentiek. Ophalen bij hotel op tijd, crew vriendelijk.
Топ
Лучшее впечатление от отпуска. Blue Hole легендарный, бедуинский обед аутентичный. Бронирование простое, цена честная.
Show more reviews
Exceeded expectations
Spectacular from start to finish. Blue Hole is iconic and the Bedouin lunch was so authentic. Booking was effortless and price was honest.
Top-Erlebnis
Einfach Wahnsinn. Das Blue Hole ist legendär, das beduinische Mittagessen authentisch. Beim nächsten Mal definitiv wieder.
Onvergetelijk!
Het hoogtepunt van onze vakantie. Blue Hole is iconisch, bedoeïenenlunch authentiek. Lunch aan boord lekker en ruim.
Sehr empfehlenswert
Unsere Familie war begeistert. Das Blue Hole ist legendär, das beduinische Mittagessen authentisch. Buchung mühelos, Preis fair.
حبيتها جداً
يوم خرافي صراحة! حبيت الطلعة الصحراوية وجو دهب. الحجز سهل والسعر صادق.
Незабываемо!
Вся семья в восторге. Blue Hole легендарный, бедуинский обед аутентичный. Рекомендую всем, кто едет в Египет.
Worth every penny
Wow, just wow. Blue Hole is iconic and the Bedouin lunch was so authentic. Will definitely book with them again next visit.
Unforgettable!
Honestly the highlight of our holiday. Blue Hole is iconic and the Bedouin lunch was so authentic. Lunch on board was tasty and plenty.
Absolutely amazing
Wow, just wow. Loved the desert drive and Dahab village vibe. Pickup was on time and crew super friendly.
Hele gezin genoot. Blue Hole is iconisch, bedoeïenenlunch authentiek. Boeking moeiteloos, prijs eerlijk.
Bester Tag des Urlaubs
Das Highlight unseres Urlaubs. Das Blue Hole ist legendär, das beduinische Mittagessen authentisch. Pünktliche Hotelabholung, freundliche Crew.
حبيتها جداً
يوم خرافي صراحة! البلو هول مكان أسطوري، والغداء البدوي أصيل. التوصيل من الفندق في موعده وطاقم لطيف.
يستحق كل قرش
العيلة كلها استمتعت. حبيت الطلعة الصحراوية وجو دهب. هحجز معاهم تاني أكيد.
Worth every penny
Wow, just wow. Blue Hole is iconic and the Bedouin lunch was so authentic. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Egypt.
Absolut traumhaft
Unsere Familie war begeistert. Das Blue Hole ist legendär, das beduinische Mittagessen authentisch. Mittagessen an Bord war reichlich und lecker.
Best day of our trip
We booked last minute and so glad we did. Loved the desert drive and Dahab village vibe. Will definitely book with them again next visit.
What an incredible day! Blue Hole is iconic and the Bedouin lunch was so authentic. Pickup was on time and crew super friendly.
Worth every penny
Our family had a brilliant time. Loved the desert drive and Dahab village vibe. Booking was effortless and price was honest.
Sehr empfehlenswert
Spontan gebucht und nicht bereut. Das Blue Hole ist legendär, das beduinische Mittagessen authentisch. Pünktliche Hotelabholung, freundliche Crew.
Sehr empfehlenswert
Das Highlight unseres Urlaubs. Das Blue Hole ist legendär, das beduinische Mittagessen authentisch. Mittagessen an Bord war reichlich und lecker.
Незабываемо!
Лучшее впечатление от отпуска. Blue Hole легендарный, бедуинский обед аутентичный. Бронирование простое, цена честная.
أنصح بشدة
أحلى يوم في الإجازة. حبيت الطلعة الصحراوية وجو دهب. أنصح بشدة لأي حد جاي مصر.
Вся семья в восторге. Blue Hole легендарный, бедуинский обед аутентичный. Обязательно поедем снова.
Забронировали в последний момент, не пожалели. Blue Hole легендарный, бедуинский обед аутентичный. Обязательно поедем снова.
Trip-specific questions
Is the Blue Hole safe for snorkelers?
Yes, snorkelers stay on the shallow shore-side rim where the water is two to four metres deep. The 130-metre drop is what you look down into, not into. The deadly accidents at the Blue Hole are all technical divers attempting the arch at depth, irrelevant to a surface snorkel.
How deep is the water under me?
On the rim, two to four metres. A few finstrokes off the rim, the bottom drops to 130 metres. The colour change is the famous part, turquoise shallows on one side, a dark blue circle on the other. You float right across the edge.
Is there a current at the Blue Hole?
Light surface current most days, the bay is sheltered from north winds. The captain points out the exit reef before you swim, so even if you drift slightly, the path back is obvious. Vests are mandatory for non-confident swimmers.
How long is the bus ride from Sharm?
90 minutes each way on a comfortable air-conditioned coach. The road hugs the Gulf of Aqaba coast and is one of the most scenic drives in Sinai. We hand out water and snacks for the ride, you can sleep through it if you want.
How much of the day is spent travelling?
About three hours, ninety minutes each way, out of a ten-hour day. The road along the Gulf of Aqaba is scenic and the drive is part of what you are booking. If you want maximum water time, Ras Mohamed or Tiran are the better use of a day.
What should I wear for the village?
Something to cover your shoulders and knees for lunch in Assalah. It is a relaxed place and nobody will make a scene, but it is a working Bedouin village rather than a resort, and dressing for it is the ordinary courtesy. Water shoes help at the site itself, which is a shore entry over rock.
