Bedawi Camping

Top choice in Ras Mohammed National Park


Early-morning snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, spotting desert foxes loitering around camp under star-strewn night skies: camping in Ras Mohammed is a soul-soothing balm to the stress of everyday life. Bedawi is a locally run, sustainable travel company that sets up camp, complete with composting toilet, shower and canvas tents, on a prime slice of Ras Mohammed shore.

If you're not a hard-core camper, lugging your own tent and full equipment around with you, this is the perfect, and hugely comfortable, alternative for sampling Ras Mohammed's stark, visceral beauty at its best – after the day trippers have left. Tasty meals are whipped up by your hosts, there's a communal traditional-style Bedouin tent for lounging in the shade, and there's no generator, so after sunset no noise will cut through the silence.

Overnight trips include dinner, breakfast and all non-alcoholic drinks. Diving excursions right off the shore of the camp, guided tours of all the park's land-based sights, and transfers to the park can also be organised. The national park's LE80 camping fee is not included in the overnight trip fee. Reservations (at least a fortnight in advance) are essential. The entire camp caboodle is dismantled between guests, in keeping with Bedawi's philosophy to help preserve Ras Mohammed.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ras Mohammed National Park attractions

1. Khashaba Beach

0.41 MILES

From Ras Mohammed visitors centre, a pink-signposted track leads to pretty Khashaba Beach, which has a designated camping area (permit necessary) nearby.

2. Marsa Bareika Beach

1.26 MILES

Yellow arrows point the way to the sandy beaches and calm waters of Marsa Bareika, an excellent spot for snorkelling and safe for children.

3. Aqaba Beach

3.23 MILES

A track (with brown arrows) leads to Aqaba Beach. Just offshore is the Eel Garden dive site, named after an eel colony 20m down.

4. Salt Lake

3.41 MILES

This stunningly aqua-blue salt lake is about 200m inland from Ras Mohammed's Mangrove Channel and is a popular swimming stop.

5. Old Quay Beach

3.75 MILES

Old Quay Beach is perfect for snorkelling; it has a spectacular vertical reef teeming with fish just offshore.

6. Ras Za’atir

3.88 MILES

Off the south lip of the mouth of Marsa Bareika, marking the start of the Ras Mohammed wall, Ras Za’atir has a series of caves and overhangs where black…

7. Ras Mohammed National Park

3.9 MILES

The waters surrounding this peninsula, 20km west of Sharm El Sheikh, are home to spectacular coral reefs, including the world-famous Shark and Jolanda…

8. Jackfish Alley

3.94 MILES

A comparatively shallow site that is good for a second or third dive, Jackfish Alley has two enormous caves filled with shoaling glassfish. Depth: 6m to…