Discovery Tours Egypt
Day TourHurghada

Private Boat Charter from Hurghada – Islands & Snorkeling

7 hours, private party only, up to 15 guests, snorkeling guide, equipment, lunch and marine park fees included.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

A 7-hour private boat day from Hurghada: 2 or 3 snorkeling stops, an island swim, lunch on board, and room for up to 15 guests on a boat that is yours alone.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Hurghada · Giftun Islands · Red Sea reefs
Includes
Private boat with captain and crew for your party only · Private hotel transfers · Snorkeling guide · Mask, snorkel and fins · Lunch on board with soft drinks and water
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

April to October has the warmest water and the calmest seas. In winter the sea can be cooler and windier, and the water is cooler, so a warmer layer may help.

  • Egyptian tour operator working since 1988; our Hurghada office organizes this trip
  • ETAA Licence 718, Category A, and an IATA member

02Overview

A first look

This is a seven-hour private boat day from Hurghada. A private driver takes you from your hotel to the marina, where you board a boat with its own captain and crew, used by your party only. The boat visits two or three reefs chosen for the sea conditions that day, usually including one near the Giftun islands, and you can swim off an island beach. A snorkeling guide goes with you, and mask, snorkel and fins are provided. Lunch is cooked on board and marine park fees are included. It suits families and groups who want their own pace.

Background

The facts

The trip leaves from the marina in Hurghada and visits reefs off the Red Sea coast, usually including one near the Giftun islands, about an hour's sail from the marina.

Named in this entry

Hurghada marina·Giftun islands·Orange Bay·Paradise Island·Mahmya·Red Sea reefs

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Families and groups who want their own boat and a flexible pace for snorkeling and swimming.

Maybe not, if

  • Not for people who dislike boats or get seasick easily, or travelers who cannot swim and do not want to stay on deck.

What lingers

  • 01A private boat with captain and crew, used by your party and nobody else
  • 02Two or three snorkeling stops on reefs picked for the day's sea conditions
  • 03A second stop on the reefs, usually near the Giftun islands, then free time to swim
  • 04Mask, snorkel and fins fitted at the start, with a safety briefing
  • 05Lunch cooked on board, with soft drinks and water, and marine park fees paid

Honest assessment

Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.

Highlights

  • The whole boat is yours, with no other guests
  • Flexible stops and pace
  • Equipment, lunch and marine park fees are included

Things to Consider

  • Island beach entrance is not included if you land
  • Sea conditions can change the plan on the day

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

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The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Private boat with captain and crew for your party only
  • Private hotel transfers
  • Snorkeling guide
  • Mask, snorkel and fins
  • Lunch on board with soft drinks and water
  • Marine park fees

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Island beach entrance (Orange Bay, Paradise, Mahmya) if you choose to land
  • Towels
  • Underwater photos
  • Personal expenses

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Ask the captain about the wind early, because the sheltered reef is a better bet on a breezy day

  2. 02

    Book seasickness tablets the night before, not on the morning of the trip

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

The price for children is shown when you enter their ages in your request. Children should be comfortable on a boat, and a parent should stay close in the water, as the guide cannot supervise every child.

Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01How is the price worked out for the private charter?
    The price is per person and falls as your party grows, because the boat, crew and fuel are shared between you. It includes transfers, the guide, equipment, lunch and marine park fees. Children's prices appear when you enter their ages in the request. Prices are provisional until our team confirms.
  2. 02Who else is on the boat?
    Nobody except your own party, the captain, the crew and the snorkeling guide. That is the main difference from a shared boat. The boat takes up to 15 guests, and you decide how long to stay at each stop and whether to land on an island.
  3. 03Which reefs and islands do we visit?
    The captain chooses two or three reefs each day based on wind, waves and visibility, usually including one near the Giftun islands. You can ask to land at an island beach such as Orange Bay, Paradise or Mahmya, but the entrance fee is not included and is paid locally.
  4. 04I am a beginner and a bit nervous. Is that fine?
    Yes. The guide fits your equipment, explains the basics and swims with you. Weaker swimmers can stay near the boat. You can stop at any time and rest on deck. Tell us in your request so the crew is ready.
  5. 05What should I bring and wear?
    Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a dry change of clothes. Seasickness tablets help if you are prone to it. Wear light clothing over your swimwear and shoes that are easy to take off, because the deck is often wet.
  6. 06What if the weather stops the trip?
    If the port authority closes the sea for weather, we move your trip to another day or refund you.

If plans change

Cancellation and refunds

What you get back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your trip you tell us and the type of trip you book. Read our current cancellation and refund policy

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-HRG-966646

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