Most holidaymakers in Hurghada end up choosing between the Dolphin House trip and Paradise Island. They are both eight-hour shared boat days with lunch, but they spend the day differently. Dolphin House is about the water, and Paradise Island is about the beach.
The private charter and the semi-submarine are the other two. The charter suits a family or a group of friends who want control. The semi-submarine suits anyone who cannot or does not want to swim. Here is how each works, so you can choose in a few minutes.
Dolphin House: the snorkeller's day
You are picked up at 08:00 and reach the marina for a 09:00 departure. The boat sails for about 90 minutes to the Dolphin House reef area. From about 10:30 you watch for wild spinner dolphins, and the guide takes snorkellers into the water if the dolphins come close and the crew judges it calm. There is a second stop on a coral reef, lunch on board, and a third stop or free swim before a 16:00 return.
Dolphins are wild, so sightings are common but never guaranteed, and we do not chase, feed or touch them. Even without them, you spend most of the day on reefs. Mask, snorkel, fins and marine park fees are included. Up to 30 guests share the boat.
Paradise Island: the beach day
This trip also leaves at 08:00 but sails for only about an hour, towards the Giftun islands. The first stop is a snorkelling stop on a coral reef with the guide. At 11:15 you land on Paradise Island, with sunbeds, parasols and shallow water, and you stay until lunch on board at 14:00. A short swim stop follows if the sea allows, and the boat is back at the marina at 16:00.
It is the easiest of the shared boat days, because you can snorkel as much or as little as you like. Entrance to the island, with a sunbed and parasol, is included. Banana boats and other water sports, drinks and snacks on the island are paid for on the day. Up to 40 guests share the boat.
Private charter and semi-submarine
- Private charter: seven hours, 08:30 hotel transfer, boarding at 09:00, two or three snorkelling stops, a swim off an island beach and lunch cooked on board, for up to 15 guests. Island beach entrance is extra if you choose to land.
- Semi-submarine: a two-hour trip with a glass-walled cabin below the waterline, an optional 30-minute snorkelling stop, a soft drink on board and hotel transfers, for up to 40 guests.
How much time each boat takes
Door to door, the Dolphin House and Paradise Island days both run about eight hours, the private charter about seven and the semi-submarine about three. Time on the water differs, though. Dolphin House puts about three hours of sailing into the day, Paradise Island about two, and the charter's reefs are chosen on the day to suit the sea conditions. If your children run out of energy quickly, count the sailing time, not the total.
What to bring is similar for all four: swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a dry change of clothes, plus seasickness tablets if you need them. For the charter, bring cash if you want to land on an island beach, because the entrance to Orange Bay, Paradise or Mahmya is not in the price. Gratuities are not included on any of the four.
Snorkelling is led by a guide, and mask, snorkel and fins are supplied on the shared boats and on the charter. Non-swimmers should say so at the start and stay on the boat or in the shallow water, and parents should keep a close watch on children at every stop. The semi-submarine asks none of this, because everything is seen from inside.
Seasickness is the most common problem, and the fix is simple. Take a tablet before you board, not after you feel unwell, eat a light breakfast and stay on deck in the fresh air near the middle of the boat. The semi-submarine and the shorter Paradise Island sail are the gentlest, while the 90-minute sail to Dolphin House is the longest.
How to choose in a minute
Choose Dolphin House if everyone in your party snorkels. Choose Paradise Island for mixed abilities, or for anyone who wants a day on the sand. Choose the private charter for a birthday, a family of five or any group that wants a slower pace. The price of the charter depends on how many people share it. Choose the semi-submarine for toddlers, older relatives and non-swimmers.
Finally, put the boat day early in your week. If the port authority closes the sea for wind, we can move you to another day, and an early boat day leaves room for that. Sailing times differ between the trips. Check each trip page for the current price and sailing times.
Plan with us
Which Hurghada boat day should you choose?
Dolphin House, Paradise Island, private charter or semi-submarine: compare duration, group size, swimming needed and who each Hurghada boat trip suits.