Shedwan
One of the largest islands in the northern Red Sea, guarding the doorway to the Gulf of Suez. Mountains, empty beaches, healthy reef, and a lighthouse that has stood since the 1800s.
The island at the mouth of the Gulf of Suez
Shedwan is one of the largest islands in the northern Red Sea and sits right at the entrance of the Gulf of Suez, around 35km from Hurghada. It is a very different landscape from the flatter islands closer to the coast. Shedwan is long, rocky and mountainous, stretching roughly 16km from north to south, with its highest points rising close to 300 metres above sea level.
For most people the easiest way to reach Shedwan is by boat from El Gouna. You can rent a speedboat for the day and make the crossing from there, which has also made the island a well known destination among boat owners and people who spend a lot of time on the water around Gouna.
Most trips here are about spending the day on the water. The island has beautiful beaches, good snorkeling, fishing and, when the wind is right, some great spots for kitesurfing. There are no facilities of any kind, so everything you want for the day comes with you on the boat.
The weather matters more here than on a normal coastal boat trip. Shedwan is exposed, currents around the island can be strong, and the crossing can become uncomfortable when the northern wind picks up. With good conditions though, it is easily one of the most interesting islands around Hurghada and Gouna. You get good reef, beaches, fishing, open water and a bit of Red Sea history all in the same place.
Reef, fish and open beach
Why Shedwan matters
Shedwan's location is what makes the island particularly interesting. It sits on one of the most important maritime routes in the region, and that strategic position is also why the island has both a lighthouse and a military presence.
Shedwan sits directly at the entrance of the Gulf of Suez, beside the shipping route leading towards the Suez Canal. The Straits of Gubal pass between Shedwan and the Sinai Peninsula, which makes this one of the most important maritime routes in the region and explains almost everything else about the island.
The lighthouse dates back to the late 1800s and was built to help ships navigate the entrance of the Gulf of Suez and the surrounding reefs. It is the most recognisable thing on the island and still the first structure most people notice on the approach.
There is an Egyptian military base on Shedwan. Some areas of the island are restricted as a result, so landing somewhere on the coast does not mean the whole island is open to explore. Stay on the beaches, and do not go wandering inland.
Commercial traffic runs past the island constantly on its way to and from the canal. It is worth watching the shipping lane for a few minutes from a beach on the island to understand what this stretch of water actually carries.
The Battle of Shedwan
Shedwan also has an important place in Egyptian military history. During the War of Attrition, Egyptian forces operated a military and radar position on the island.
On 22 January 1970, Israeli forces launched an attack on Shedwan known as Operation Rhodes. Israeli paratroopers and naval forces landed on the island and fought Egyptian troops stationed there.
Israeli forces held parts of the island for roughly a day and a half before withdrawing, taking captured Egyptian soldiers and radar equipment with them. So Shedwan was briefly seized by Israeli forces during the operation, but it was not under a long term Israeli occupation.
Egyptian accounts of the battle also tell of fishermen from the Red Sea coast crossing towards Shedwan to help carry supplies and ammunition to Egyptian forces during the fighting. The battle remains a significant event in the history of Egypt's Red Sea coast.
Shedwan is a day on the water first and a history lesson second, but the two are not separable. The lighthouse, the base and the battle all exist for the same reason: this is the doorway to the Gulf of Suez, and whoever sits on it can see everything going through. Go for the reef and the beaches, and take five minutes on the way back to watch what passes through the strait.
How to reach Shedwan
Shedwan works best as a full day trip, and El Gouna is one of the easiest places to organize it from. A common setup is to rent a speedboat in Gouna, head across in the morning and spend the day moving around the island. For people with their own boats, Shedwan is already a well known run from Gouna and a popular day destination when the weather is good.
You can troll on the way across, stop for snorkeling, spend a few hours on one of the beaches and, if you have the equipment and the conditions are good, kite from the island as well. Check the forecast before you commit to the day. The island is exposed and the crossing is the part that turns unpleasant first when the northerly builds.
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