Discovery Tours Egypt
Day TourMarsa Alam

Samadai Dolphin House from Marsa Alam – Boat & Snorkeling

8 hours, shared boat of up to 25, marine park fee, equipment and lunch included, pick-up from 06:30. Sightings are likely, never guaranteed.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

An 8-hour shared boat trip from Marsa Alam: 30 minutes by boat to Samadai, snorkeling in the permitted zone with life jackets, a second reef stop and lunch on board. Dolphins are wild and not guaranteed.
  • New

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Marsa Alam · Samadai Reef
Includes
Hotel pick-up and return in Marsa Alam town, Port Ghalib and the resorts in between; El Quseir by request · Shared air-conditioned vehicle and shared boat · Marine park fee · Snorkeling mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket · Lunch served on board
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

Spring to autumn offers the warmest water and the calmest seas. Winter mornings can be cool and breezy on deck.

  • Run by our Marsa Alam team, one of six offices of an Egyptian operator founded in 1988
  • ETAA Licence 718 (Category A) and IATA accreditation

02Overview

A first look

Samadai is a protected horseshoe reef close to Marsa Alam, and it is the nearest place on this coast where spinner dolphins regularly rest. This eight-hour trip starts with a pick-up at 06:30 and a short drive to the harbour. The boat needs about 30 minutes to reach the reef. Rules protect the dolphins here. Swimming is limited to a permitted zone, and every swimmer wears a life jacket. The crew keeps the group calm and at a distance. After the first swim the boat moves to another reef for a second stop. Lunch is on board, and you reach your hotel around 15:00.

Background

The facts

Samadai is a horseshoe-shaped reef, about half an hour by boat from the Marsa Alam coast. It is a protected area, so swimming is limited to a permitted zone.

Named in this entry

Samadai·Dolphin House·Marsa Alam·Spinner dolphins·Marine park·Red Sea

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Guests who want to look for wild dolphins on a day that is shorter than the far-south Sataya trip.

Maybe not, if

  • Not for guests who need a certain sighting or who cannot wear a life jacket in the water.

What lingers

  • 01A short boat ride of about 30 minutes to the Samadai horseshoe reef
  • 02Snorkeling in the permitted zone, with life jackets worn and dolphins watched from a respectful distance
  • 03A second snorkeling stop on a nearby coral reef
  • 04Marine park fee, mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket all included
  • 05Lunch, tea, coffee and water on board

Honest assessment

Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.

Highlights

  • Short crossing of about 30 minutes
  • Marine park fee and lunch are included
  • Rules protect both the dolphins and the swimmers

Things to Consider

  • Life jackets are required in the swimming zone
  • The reef can be busy with other boats at peak times

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

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  5. 5

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  7. 7

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The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Hotel pick-up and return in Marsa Alam town, Port Ghalib and the resorts in between; El Quseir by request
  • Shared air-conditioned vehicle and shared boat
  • Marine park fee
  • Snorkeling mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket
  • Lunch served on board
  • Tea, coffee and bottled water
  • Guide and boat crew

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Drinks other than those listed
  • Upgraded snorkeling gear or underwater photos
  • Personal expenses

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Get in the water early, when the zone is usually calmer

  2. 02

    Keep your fins still and your hands to yourself when dolphins pass

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Under 2 travels free on this shared boat, and ages 2 to 11 are charged half the adult amount. Guests of 12 or older are charged the adult amount. There is no age minimum, and every child wears a life jacket in the water. Please keep young children beside an adult on deck.

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

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01What does the fare include for Dolphin House?
    The fare is per person for a shared boat of up to 25 guests. It includes the marine park fee, transfers, snorkeling gear with a life jacket, lunch and soft hot drinks. Children under 2 are free, children 2 to 11 pay half, and those 12 and older pay full. Our team confirms the exact amount after you send a request.
  2. 02Are dolphins guaranteed at Samadai?
    No. These are wild spinner dolphins that rest in the reef during the day, and sightings are likely but never guaranteed. Some mornings they are close, and some days they are away feeding. We keep a respectful distance, do not feed them and do not try to touch them.
  3. 03Why must I wear a life jacket?
    Samadai is a protected area, and the park rules require life jackets in the permitted swimming zone. The jacket also keeps swimmers floating quietly, which disturbs the dolphins less. We supply one for every guest, including children, in the right size.
  4. 04Can non-swimmers join?
    Yes. With a life jacket on, most non-swimmers float comfortably, and the guide stays close. You can also stay on deck and watch the water. Tell the crew when you board so they can keep an eye on you.
  5. 05What if I need to cancel or the sea is closed?
    If you cancel three or more days before, you get everything back. Cancel with less notice but more than 24 hours and you get half. After that, no refund applies. A port closure for weather means a new date or your money back.
  6. 06Do I share the boat with other guests?
    Yes. The boat is shared, with up to 25 guests who may be staying at different hotels. You swim and have lunch with the same group, led by one guide. If you would like a quieter day, a private trip is a different product we can arrange on request.

If plans change

Plans change? We make it easy.

  • More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit toward future travel with us, or take a refund.
  • Between 72 and 24 hours: keep the full amount as credit, or take a partial refund.
  • Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't show up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
  • If we ever have to cancel, for weather or anything beyond our control, you lose nothing.

Credit is valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can be used on any tour, cruise or stay with us.Read our full cancellation and refund policy

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-MRS-243693

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