There seems to be a bit of a misconception online that the Blue Hole is located in, or at least close to, Sharm El-Sheikh. While it is true that you can visit the Blue Hole from Sharm El-Sheikh within a single day, you do need to travel around 100 kilometres to do so.

In this Blue Hole Sharm El-Sheikh transfer guide, we will present all options or getting from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole, plus day tour options. Additionally, we will show you how you can make your trip up to the Blue Hole more worth it by including a stay in Dahab City. 

Key Takeaways 

• The Blue Hole is a famous natural underwater sinkhole near Dahab, about 100 km from Sharm El-Sheikh, known for its coral reefs and marine life.
• You can reach the Blue Hole from Sharm El-Sheikh by bus, taxi, or private transfer, with bus plus taxi being the most affordable option.
• Day tours from Sharm El-Sheikh include transfers, entrance fees, snorkeling, camel rides, and lunch, offering a convenient way to explore.
• Staying overnight in Dahab lets you enjoy more activities like snorkeling, hiking, and jeep tours in the Sinai desert.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting the Famous Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is a natural submarine sinkhole located on the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The sinkhole is famous among divers and snorkelers from all around the world because of its lush reefs and marine life and the technical challenge it persent. 

While some people think the Blue Hole is close to Sharm El-Sheikh, the opposite is true. There are some 100 kilometers of desert highway separated Sharm El-Sheikh from the Blue Hole. Still though, the Blue Hole dive site can be reached in under two hours making it a great choice for a day trip outside of the hotel. 

The Blue Hole is administered by the Egyptian military that is in charge of its preservation. Because of this it is often referred to as the Blue Hole National Park, although it has not officially been called one. Upon entering the Blue Hole area, however, you do have to register and pay an entrance fee of $ 20 as a foreign tourist. There is no need to make a reservation as there is no daily visitor limit. 

Wondering how the Blue Hole became famous?In another article, we did a deep dive into the Blue Hole’s history, its dangers such as nitrogen narcosis and famous tragedies such as Yuri Lipski’s death. 

Planning to Stay Overnight? Stay at One of These Hotels 

If you are planning to make your Blue Hole trip more than just a day trip, you should book a stay in Dahab. From budget to all-inclusive, these are the best hotel choices in Dahab: 

Budget	Rafiki Hostels	from $ 16 per night	Click here for rates.
Comfort	NEOM Hotel	from $ 125 per night	Click here for rates.
All-Inclusive	Tropitel Dahab Oasis	from $ 114 per night	Click here for rates.

How to Get from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole 

To get to the Blue Hole from Sharm El-Sheikh, you need to travel north on the highway to Dahab for about 1.5 hours. For the transfer to the Blue Hole you can book bus tickets, go by taxi or hire a private transfer. 

In the following, we will break down every option for your Blue Hole Sharm El-Sheikh transfer: 

By Bus 

The most affordable option for getting to the Blue Hole from Sharm El-Sheikh is getting a bus from Sharm El-Sheikh to Dahab. There are multiple bus companies with routes running from Sharm El-Sheikh to Dahab, Amon them Blue Bus, East Delta Travel and GoBus. From personal experience, we prefer travelling with GoBus. 

The bus company GoBus operates around five daily connections between Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab starting at 270 EGP. The ride starts art Sharm El-Sheikh GoBus Station and takes around 1.5 hours. You can easily book tickets online or at the till at the bus station. The buses are usually in good condition and feature A/C. In quality, they are comparable to Flixbus or Greyhound. 

Once you have made it to Dahab, you can continue your trip to the Blue Hole by taxi. Currently, a taxi to the Blue Hole should cost around 250 EGP, or 500 EGP, if you arrange a return journey. Simply hail down a taxi from the man street or head to El Fanar Street right in front of the German Bakery. There, you will find taxis drivers waiting and you will have the chance to discuss the route and prices without stressing. 

Bear in mind, that during the transfer to the Blue Hole, the taxi is required to make a stop at a military checkpoint. There, each foreign tourist has to pay an entrance fee of $ 20 and the driver has to pay an additional fee of $ 10 for entering with his vehicle. Riders usually pay this fee for the driver. 

By Taxi

If you’d like to spare yourself the transfer from bus to taxi in Dahab, you should consider getting an outright from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole. The great advantage is that you can simply get into the taxi and not have to worry about transferring and negotiating along the way. 

A taxi ride from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole would cost around 1,500 EGP, though it’s very dependent on how willing to negotiate the taxi drivers are. Depending on your luck, the price can also turn out higher, as not every driver will be head over heels driving over 100 kilometres out of town. A round trip between Sharm El-Sheikh and the Blue Hole would be around 3,000 EGP. 

To avoid having to negotiate taxi fares on the spot, we recommend using the intercity feature on the InDrive app. InDrive is available on South Sinai peninsula and allows you to scout drivers for rides in-between cities by choosing an itinerary and a price. This way, you can get an idea of a fair rate and discuss all the details for the transfer in advance. 

A taxi ride from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole takes around 1.5 hours without stops. Usually though, there are up to three military checkpoints on the way. If you are travelling with an InDriver, they might ask you not to mention that you are hiring them as a taxi as many drivers operate without an official taxi license. 

By Private Transfer

If you don’t like negotiating taxi rate either, you may also just book a private transfer from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole. To find reputable private transfers, simply google “Blue Hole Sharm El-Shekh private transfer” or join some Facebook group surrounding Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab. 

There are multiple companies operating private transfers between Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab, offering transfers to the Blue Hole itself, too. Simply reach out to the providers, ask for availability and rates (either per person or per vehicle) and see which option works best for you. 

Usually, private transfers between Sharm El-Sheikh and the Blue Hole are done with mini buses. The typical white mini buses that you can find all over Egypt accommodate larger groups, so if you end up renting a full vehicle, it might be worth it for you to find fellow travellers with the same itinerary in one of the Sharm El-Sheikh Facebook groups.

A private transfer from Dahab to the Blue Hotel takes around 1.5 hours. In case you travel with other travelers that are heading to Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport or Dahab, the ride may take a little longer. Private transfers to Dahab are 1,000 EGP to 1,500 EGP. For the extra minutes to the Blue Hole there might be an extra charge. 

Looking for more detailed information? Find additional info in our Sharm El-Sheikh Dahab transfer guide. 

Booking a Day Tour to the Blue Hole Dive Site

Travelling from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole by bus or taxi makes the most sense, if you are planning to spend a day or two in the nearby town of Dahab as well. If that is not the case, you might prefer booking a day tour to the Blue Hoe outright. 

A Blue Hole Sharm El-Sheikh day tour not only includes the transfer to the dive sire and the return trip, but often times also features stops and activities along the way, entrance fees and scuba diving the the Blue Hole itself. 

This Jeep Safari to the Blue Hole, for example, features stops at the Colored Canyon, Dahab and the Blue Hole for just $ 25 per person. This option does not include meals, equipment or entrance fees, however, and you will be bound to the rhythm and pace of your group. Still though, it’s a great option to venture out to the Blue Hole for a day without breaking the bank. 

For a more curated experience, you may also book this private tour from Sharm El-Sheikh to the Blue Hole, starting from around $ 200 per person. The great advantage of this full day tour is that it already includes all activities along the way. On this tour, you will get snorkeling gear and a life jacket for the Blue Hole, a 30-minute camel ride, two hours to explore Dahab, along with all meals and entrance fees. 

Where to Stay at the Blue Hole 

While visiting the Blue Hole from Sharm El-Sheikh is possible within a day, if you book a tour, many people choose to stay around to visit more attractions in the area. If you are decide to stay the night, you will need to book a hotel in Dahab. 

From affordable to all-inclusive, these are the best hotel options in Dahab for you: 

• Budget: Make your money go a long way by saving on your Dahab stay. Rafiki Hostels offers affordable stays in Dahab starting from just $ 16 per night including breakfast. At your hostel you will also find weekly group tour offers for the Blue Hole. 
• Comfort: For a more private and comfortable stay in Dahab, check out some of the beach hotels in Assalah. Our personal favourite is the newly opened NEOM Hotel. This boutique hotel features comfortable private rooms, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a beach café and a rooftop. 
• All-Inclusive: Whoever assumes that only Sharm El-Sheikh has great all-inclusive resorts is deeply mistaken. Continue your resort experience in Dahab with a stay at the Tropitel Dahab Oasis, just a few minutes from the Blue Hole. 

Travelling on a budget? Besides Rafiki Hostels, there are many more affordable hostels in Dahab. Find them in our Dahab hostel guide. 

3 Things to Do in and Around Dahab City 

Make the most of your trip to the Blue Hole by joining some more activities in and around Dahab. These are three of our favourite activities in Dahab that we think you should not miss out on: 

Snorkelling in the Red Sea 

The Blue Hole is by far not the only snorkel site in Dahab that’s is worth a visit. Beyond the Blue Hole, we can also vouch for Ras Abu Galoum, the Lighthouse Reef in Dahab and the Islands Dive site just south of Dahab. For more snorkelling sites in and around Dahab, check out our in-depth introduction into Dahab’s water sports scene. 

Hiking in the Sinai Mountains 

There are not many places in the world where you are so close to depths of the ocean and the height of the mountains as you are on the Sinai Peninsula. Make the most of it by going on a hike in the Sinai Mountains. Just outside of Dahab there are some great multi-hour hiking routes. For an more memorable experience, stay an extra night and do the Mount Sinai summit hike.

Go on a Jeep Tour in the Desert 

Some tours to the Blue Hole already include ATV tours or camel rides, others don’t. In any case, we do recommend to go on a day trip to the Sinai Desert, if you can spare the time. There are plenty of day trips from Dahab to places such as Wadi Gnai, the Colored Canyon, Wadi Wishwash or Salama Canyon. Check out one of the Dahab Facebook groups or a local hostel to find the best offers. 

The Bottom Line

Taking a day or two out of your Egypt vacation to visit the Blue Hole, is a great idea. The Blue Hole is one of the best attractions on the Sinai Peninsula and fairly easy to reach from Sharm El-Sheikh. 

For independent adventures, bus rides and taxi rides are the way to get to the Blue Hole. For those who prefer not to worry about stuff, booking a day tour on GetYourGuide might just get the job done. Plus, it’s much cheaper than the tours offered inside of hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh. 

Frequently Asked Questions