Egypt Discovery
ExcursionHurghada

Private Boat Hire from Hurghada: Giftun Reefs and Lunch

7 hours, private boat and crew for your party, snorkelling stops, lunch on board and marine park fees included.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

A 7-hour private boat day from Hurghada with a captain, crew and snorkelling guide, two or three reef stops, lunch on board and marine park fees included.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Hurghada · Giftun Islands · Red Sea reefs
Includes
A private boat with captain and crew, for your party only · Private transfers between your hotel and the marina · A guide to look after the snorkelling · Snorkelling kit: fins, mask and snorkel · Lunch on board, with soft drinks and water
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

Spring and autumn give warm water and moderate heat. In winter the sea can be cool and a wetsuit top is useful, and in high summer the midday sun is strong.

  • Egyptian tour operator working since 1988
  • Local team in our Hurghada office

02Overview

A first look

This is a private boat day from Hurghada marina. A driver collects your party at 08:30, and you board at 09:00 for a safety briefing and equipment fitting. The crew then takes you to two or three snorkelling reefs, usually including one near the Giftun islands, and you can swim off an island beach if you choose to land. Lunch is cooked on board. You are back at the marina around 15:30, and a driver takes you to your hotel. It suits families and friends who want a calm, flexible day without strangers.

Background

The facts

The trip leaves from the marina at Hurghada and heads out to reefs off the coast, usually near the Giftun islands, a short sail from the harbour. Most of the seven hours are spent anchored at snorkelling stops.

Named in this entry

Hurghada

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Families and friends who want a boat to themselves and a flexible schedule. Suits mixed-ability groups too.

Maybe not, if

  • Not suitable for people who get seasick easily and have no tablets, or who cannot swim and will not wear a life jacket.

What lingers

  • 01A private boat, captain and crew for your party alone, up to 15 people
  • 02Two or three snorkelling stops on reefs picked for the day's sea conditions
  • 03A second stop usually near the Giftun islands, with time to swim off an island beach
  • 04Lunch cooked on board by the crew, with soft drinks and water served
  • 05Mask, snorkel and fins, plus a snorkelling guide in the water with you
  • 06Marine park fees and private hotel transfers already paid for

Honest assessment

The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.

Highlights

  • Privacy and flexibility, with a pace you set
  • Marine park fees, lunch and equipment included
  • A snorkelling guide in the water with you

Things to Consider

  • Costs more per person than a shared boat for small parties
  • Island beach entrance is not included

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

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  5. 5

  6. 6

The fine print

What's included – and what is left out

Included

  • A private boat with captain and crew, for your party only
  • Private transfers between your hotel and the marina
  • A guide to look after the snorkelling
  • Snorkelling kit: fins, mask and snorkel
  • Lunch on board, with soft drinks and water
  • Fees for the marine park

Not included

  • Tips for the captain, crew and guide
  • Entry to island beaches (Orange Bay, Paradise, Mahmya) if you choose to land
  • Towels
  • Underwater photography
  • Your own spending money

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Choose a reef stop on the calm side of the island if anyone is nervous in the water

  2. 02

    Bring a towel for each person, as none are on board

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

The price for children is shown when you enter their ages in the request. Children are welcome aboard a private charter, and the crew and guide watch them closely in the water. Tell us if a child is a weak swimmer, so we can plan the stops.

These fares are a guide, as prices and departure move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01How is the price calculated for a private charter?
    Priced per person, the charter falls in cost as your party gets bigger, because the boat and crew are shared between more people. It includes lunch, equipment, transfers and marine park fees. Prices are provisional until we confirm your request. We are an Egyptian operator (ETAA Licence 718), not an ATOL or ABTA member, and we do not sell international flights.
  2. 02Where and when do you collect us?
    A private vehicle collects your party from your hotel at about 08:30 and takes you to the marina. Give us your hotel name and room number in the request. The boat leaves around 09:00, so please be ready in the lobby.
  3. 03How are children priced on a private charter?
    Prices for children are shown once you enter their ages in the request. Children can come aboard, and the guide and crew keep an eye on them in the water. Tell us if any child is a weak swimmer, so we can plan the stops.
  4. 04What should we bring for a day on the water?
    Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sun cream, a hat, sunglasses and a dry change of clothes. Seasickness tablets are worth packing if you need them. Towels are not provided, and photos taken underwater are an extra, so bring your own waterproof camera if you want one.
  5. 05What happens if the weather turns bad?
    Sea trips depend on the port authority. When it shuts the harbour because of wind or swell, your charter is rebooked for a different date or your money is returned in full.
  6. 06Is the boat really private?
    Absolutely. Only your party is on board with the captain, crew and snorkelling guide, up to 15 people. You can choose how long to swim, when to eat and whether to land on an island beach. Other boats will be in the same waters, but not yours.

If plans change

Cancellation and refunds

What you receive back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your holiday you let us know and the kind of holiday you book. See our current cancellation and refund terms

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-HRG-966646

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