Snorkeling & Island Trips in Hurghada

Choose an island trip if a day without a beach would disappoint you, the snorkeling trip if one quick snorkel is enough, and Dolphin House if you would love dolphins but can live with maybe. Then think about who is coming: small children and non-swimmers change which boat suits best.

Start with one question: what would make you disappointed?

• If a day without a beach would disappoint you, choose an island trip: Orange Bay, Paradise Island or Giftun Island.
• If only one quick snorkel would disappoint you, choose the Hurghada Snorkeling Trip with two sea stops.
• If you'd love dolphins but can live with "maybe", choose Dolphin House.

Next, think about who's coming. Small children and non-swimmers usually have the best day at Orange Bay, where much of the water is shallow enough to stand in. Confident swimmers and keen snorkelers get more from the snorkel-first trip or Dolphin House. Groups and couples who want space can share a private speedboat and set the route with the captain.

Finally, if you're in Hurghada for a week or more, don't choose – combine. Many guests do one island day early in the trip and one snorkeling or Dolphin House day later, once they're comfortable with mask and fins. Because every trip is €45, it's easy to plan two different days without comparing prices.

Whatever you book, the day's exact spots depend on wind and sea. Captains move to sheltered reefs when needed – it's a safety call, not a downgrade.

Orange Bay and Paradise Island are beach stops on the Giftun islands, a protected national park of two islands opposite Hurghada, while Mahmya is an eco-beach opened in 1997 and served by its own boats. The choice is less about which island and more about which beach style and day rhythm you prefer.

Read a few websites and Hurghada seems to have a dozen islands. In reality, most of the famous names are beaches on Giftun.

The Giftun islands are two islands opposite Hurghada: Big Giftun, closer to the city, and Little Giftun further east. The whole area is a protected national park – no hotels, no overnight stays, and beaches cleared by sunset. The conservation group HEPCA describes it as the region's main green-turtle nesting ground, with a large share of Hurghada's dive sites around its shores.

Within Giftun you'll hear several names:

• Orange Bay – a day beach known for wide, shallow turquoise water.
• Paradise Island – not an official map name, but what tour boats call another set-up beach stop in the Giftun islands.
• Mahmya – an eco-beach that opened in 1997 under the supervision of Egypt's Environmental Affairs Agency and is served by its own boats.

So the choice between these trips is less about "which island" and more about which beach style and day rhythm you prefer. Because they're in a protected area, separate environmental fees may apply; we confirm any fee after booking rather than surprising you on the boat.

Dolphin House goes to Shaab El Erg, a horseshoe reef north of Hurghada where Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins rest. Sightings are never guaranteed, and swimmers must give the dolphins space: in 2013 the Red Sea Governor closed the reef for a month after dolphins were chased and harassed.

The Dolphin House trip goes to Shaab El Erg, a horseshoe reef north of Hurghada that HEPCA describes as a dolphin resting habitat. The dolphins usually seen around Hurghada's reefs are Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.

Because they come there to rest, how boats and swimmers behave matters. In 2013 the Red Sea Governor closed Shaab El Erg for a month after dolphins were being chased and harassed. It reopened with a code of conduct: boats keep their distance and approach slowly, swimmers never touch, chase or feed dolphins, and the dolphins decide how close to come.

What that means for you:

• Sightings are likely on some days and absent on others – never guaranteed.
• If dolphins are present and calm, you may snorkel in the same water and watch quietly.
• Anyone promising guaranteed contact is ignoring the rules.

Treat it as a snorkeling day with a possible bonus and you won't be disappointed. Read more on the Dolphin House trip page.

You can snorkel in Hurghada every month, with sea temperatures from about 21 °C in winter to around 30 °C in summer. Spring and autumn are many visitors' favourite. For any sea trip bring swimwear, a towel, comfortable clothes and sunscreen; the full packing list is below.

You can snorkel in Hurghada every month. Sea temperatures quoted by dive guides run from about 21°C in winter to around 30°C in summer. Spring and autumn are many visitors' favourite: warm water, calmer heat on deck and usually gentle seas. In summer the sun is the main thing to manage; in winter it's the wind on the ride home.

For any of our sea trips, pack:

• Swimwear, a towel and comfortable clothes
• Sunscreen (reef-safe if possible), sunglasses and a hat
• A T-shirt or rash vest to snorkel in – it protects your back better than cream
• A waterproof phone case or camera
• A warm layer between December and March
• A little cash for personal extras, drinks on the islands and photos

Snorkeling equipment is included on every trip. If you have your own well-fitting mask, bring it – comfort makes a big difference to how long you'll want to stay in the water.