North of Dahab, the mountains run straight into the sea, and there is no road. This stretch of coast is the Ras Abu Galum Protected Area, and the only ways in are by boat, by camel or on foot. We use all the good ones: a boat ride out, a turquoise lagoon, two coastal hikes and some of the best snorkelling in the Gulf of Aqaba. Here is how our Blue Lagoon and Abu Galum trips work.
Two ways to do it
| Galuloom | Galum’s Phantasy | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1 day | 2 days, 1 night in Abu Galum |
| Type | Private trip for your group | Private trip for your group |
| Price | €190 per group, up to 10 people | €350 per group, up to 10 people |
| Meals included | Breakfast and a drink at the Blue Lagoon | Breakfast and a drink at the Blue Lagoon, dinner and breakfast in Abu Galum, dinner at the Blue Hole |
| Also included | Boat, transport, guides | |
Why we do it the other way round
Most trips here go the usual way: drive to the Blue Hole, on to Abu Galum, then the Blue Lagoon, and back again the same way by car, boat and car. We ran it like that for a while, and it cost our guests hours of waiting and switching between cars and boats. So we turned it around. We now take one direct boat from Dahab straight to the Blue Lagoon, and walk back along the coast. No backtracking, no wasted time, and the hike becomes the journey home.
How the day goes
- Boat to the Blue Lagoon. We meet at 7:45 AM and head out by boat. The lagoon is a shallow bay of white sand and water so turquoise it looks edited. Breakfast and a drink are waiting, then time to swim and snorkel.
- The coastal hike to Abu Galum. About 5 km on foot along the shore, with the mountains on one side and the reef on the other. One of the most beautiful walks in Sinai.
- Abu Galum. A small Bedouin camp on the beach. Order lunch if you like (not included), rest in the shade, and snorkel the reef.
- On to the Blue Hole. Another coastal hike of about 5 km brings you to the Blue Hole, where our car is waiting to take you back to Dahab.
On Galum’s Phantasy you do not walk on after lunch. You stay the night in Abu Galum, with dinner and breakfast included, and have the whole next morning on a beach with no road and almost nobody around. Around 4 PM we walk on to the Blue Hole and finish with dinner there before the drive back to Dahab.
Ras Abu Galum: why it is protected
Ras Abu Galum was declared a protected area in 1992. It covers about 400 square kilometres of coastal mountains, narrow valleys, dunes and gravel beaches, home to around 165 plant species (44 of them found only in this region), rock hyraxes, foxes and the Mizena Bedouin, who still fish here the traditional way. No road means no crowds: the only footprints on the trail are usually your own.
The Blue Hole
The trip ends at one of the most famous dive sites on Earth. The Blue Hole is a deep sinkhole in the reef just north of Dahab, more than 100 metres deep, and the home of freediving in the Red Sea. You do not need to dive to enjoy it: snorkelling along its edge, where the reef drops into deep blue, is unforgettable on its own.
What to bring
- Swimsuit, towel and your own snorkel mask if you have one
- Shoes for hiking on rocky paths (not just flip-flops)
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen
- At least 2 litres of water
- Cash for lunch at Abu Galum
- Your passport
- For Galum’s Phantasy: a warm layer for the night and a small bag for the overnight
Book your day
Both trips are private, so you choose the date. See Galuloom (1 day) or Galum’s Phantasy (2 days), or message us on WhatsApp.