6-Day Marsa Alam Dolphins & Snorkeling Vacation
Four guided snorkeling excursions on the southern Red Sea coast, with gear, park fees and airport transfers included. Wildlife is wild, so sightings are likely, never promised.
The short answer
6-Day Marsa Alam Dolphins & Snorkeling Vacation is a 6-day, 5-night trip to Marsa Alam. It includes transfers. Prices start at $764 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Marsa Alam is the quiet end of the Egyptian Red Sea. The coast is long and open, the resorts are spread out, and the reef starts close to the shore. This vacation gives you five nights at one hotel and four snorkeling excursions to sample what the area is known for.
You spend a full day on a boat at Samadai Dolphin House, a morning at Abu Dabbab Bay where turtles and dugongs are seen, a day at Wadi El Gemal National Park and the beach at Sharm El Luli, and a boat trip to the islands of Hamata and Qulaan. Each day is one excursion, with the rest of the day for your hotel. You choose the hotel standard when you book, and we name the property for your dates.
What lingers
- 01A full boat day at Samadai Dolphin House, with lunch on board and snorkeling gear and a life jacket provided
- 02Abu Dabbab Bay, a shallow bay known for sea turtles and dugongs (wild animals, so sightings are likely at best)
- 03Wadi El Gemal National Park and a beach lunch at Sharm El Luli
- 04A full-day boat trip to Hamata and Qulaan islands with lunch on the boat
- 05Five nights at one hotel, with a free afternoon on most days
- 06Airport arrival and departure transfers included
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in USD, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom $7643★ hotels | $764May–Sep: from $811 | ||
| Comfortfrom $9904★ hotels | $990May–Sep: from $1,314 | ||
| Classicfrom $1,3695★ hotels | Marsa Alam · 5 nightsSENTIDO Reef Oasis Suakin Resort | $1,369May–Sep: from $1,506 | |
| Prestigefrom $1,5665★ deluxe hotels | $1,566May–Sep: from $1,510 | ||
| Luxuryfrom $1,6065★ luxury hotels | Marsa Alam · 5 nightsSteigenberger Coraya Beach (Adults Friendly 16+) · Pickalbatros Vita Resort Portofino | $1,606May–Sep: from $1,549 |
You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
6 Days / 5 Nights · Marsa Alam Airport · Marsa Alam · Samadai Dolphin House · Abu Dabbab Bay · Wadi El Gemal National Park · Sharm El Luli
- 1
You land at Marsa Alam Airport and a driver takes you on to your hotel on the coast. That is the whole plan for the day. Check in, find the beach and rest after your flight, so you are ready for the early pick-up tomorrow. Your guide's name and the pick-up time for day 2 are confirmed with you before you travel.
- 2
Your vehicle collects you from the hotel for a long day on the water, about 8 hours in all. A shared boat takes you out to Samadai, a protected reef also called Dolphin House. You snorkel from the boat with the mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket we provide, and the crew serve lunch on board with tea, coffee and water.
Dolphins are wild and may or may not come close, so we promise the reef and the sea, not the animals. The boat trip runs if the weather and sea allow, and the captain makes the call. You are back at the hotel for the evening.
- 3
A shorter day, about 5 hours, after a slower morning. A shared vehicle takes you to Abu Dabbab Bay, a sheltered beach with calm, shallow water over seagrass. Sea turtles and sometimes dugongs feed here, though as with all wild animals, we can only say they are often seen, not that they will be. Your guide helps you into the water with mask, snorkel and fins, and beach entry is paid.
Then back to the hotel, and the rest of the day is yours. Lunch is not part of this excursion, so you can eat at the hotel or on the beach.
- 4
This is the longest day, about 9 hours, and mostly by land. A shared air-conditioned vehicle takes you south into Wadi El Gemal National Park, a protected stretch of coast. The main stop is Sharm El Luli, a beach with clear water and a reef near the shore, where you snorkel with the gear we provide and eat a lunch served at the beach.
Your guide is with you throughout and the national park fee is already paid. You return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
- 5
Your last excursion is a full day by boat, about 8 hours, to the islands of Hamata and Qulaan. The crew and a guide take you to snorkel at the reefs there, with mask, snorkel and fins provided, and lunch is served on the boat along with tea, coffee and water. The boat and the vehicle are shared with other guests. As on every sea trip, the sailing depends on the weather and the captain's decision.
You are dropped back at your hotel in the afternoon or evening.
- 6
After breakfast you check out and a driver takes you to Marsa Alam Airport for your departure. Allow time for check-in, as flights from this small airport follow the airline's schedule, and we will confirm your pick-up time once we have your flight details. If you are connecting onward through Cairo on a separate ticket, please read the flight question in the FAQs below.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Five nights in a Marsa Alam hotel, standard chosen at booking
- Airport arrival and departure transfers at Marsa Alam
- Samadai Dolphin House boat day with lunch, tea, coffee and water on board
- Abu Dabbab Bay snorkeling trip with beach entrance and bottled water
- Wadi El Gemal National Park and Sharm El Luli beach day with beach lunch
- Hamata and Qulaan islands boat trip with lunch, tea, coffee and water
- Mask, snorkel and fins on every excursion, and a life jacket on the Dolphin House trip
- Marine park and national park fees
- Guide on every excursion, and boat crew on boat days
- Hotel pick-up and return for each excursion
Not included
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and boat crew
- Meals and drinks other than those stated
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Optional extras bought at the hotel or on the boat
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Enter the water slowly at Abu Dabbab and keep fins clear of the seagrass; turtles and dugongs feed there and spook easily.
- 02
At Samadai, listen to the crew briefing on where you may swim; the reef is protected and snorkeling is limited to set zones.
- 03
Bring a wide-brimmed hat and plenty of water for Wadi El Gemal; the national park has long dry stretches with little shade.
- 04
Take motion-sickness tablets before the Hamata and Qulaan boat day and pack a windproof layer for the open crossing.
Tailor it
Make it yours
Choose your hotel standard when you book. Ask us about extra nights, or about combining this stay with Cairo, Luxor or Aswan before your flight home.
All requests handled by your dedicated specialist before booking.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want a relaxed Red Sea vacation built around snorkeling. It suits confident swimmers and beginners who are happy in a life jacket, and anyone who likes a hotel base with a trip each day.
Maybe not, if
- Travelers who dislike boats or long days in the sun, who want temples and city sightseeing, or who need step-free access to boats and beaches.
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- Four different snorkeling settings in five days: dolphin reef, turtle bay, national park beach and islands
- One excursion per day, so most afternoons are free
- Gear, park fees, guides and hotel pick-up are all included
Things to Consider
- Wildlife is wild, so dolphin, turtle and dugong sightings are likely at best
- Boat trips depend on weather and the captain's decision
- Days 2, 4 and 5 are long, at 8 to 9 hours
Where it fits
A good fit for a week of sea and sun with a purpose each day. Extend it with Cairo or the Nile if you also want the ancient sites.
Worth knowing
How this compares
Marsa Alam is the quieter southern end of the Egyptian Red Sea, with fewer crowds than the northern resorts. This vacation concentrates on the sea: one trip a day, shared vehicles and boats, and gear and fees covered. It is not a sightseeing tour of Egyptian temples.
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On the ground
Where it is
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Beach Hotel Stay with Guided Snorkeling Excursions
- Accommodation
- One Marsa Alam hotel for five nights, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Marsa Alam Airport · Marsa Alam · Samadai Dolphin House · Abu Dabbab Bay · Wadi El Gemal National Park · Sharm El Luli · Hamata Island · Qulaan Islands
- Includes
- 5 nights in a Marsa Alam hotel · Airport arrival and departure transfers · Four guided snorkeling excursions · Mask, snorkel and fins, plus a life jacket on the Dolphin House trip · Marine park and national park fees · Lunch on the boat days and the Sharm El Luli beach day
- Best for
- Snorkelers and beach lovers · Nature-minded travelers · Couples and friends who want a quiet Red Sea stay
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Marsa Alam Airport, Arrivals HallMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any required travel documents
- Swimwear to wear under your clothes on boat days
- Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Two towels, one for the boat and one for the beach
- Refillable water bottle
- Any personal medication, including seasickness tablets if you need them
- Water shoes for rocky entries, if you have them
What to wear
- Swimsuit under light clothing on every excursion day
- A long-sleeved swim shirt or T-shirt to protect your back while snorkeling
- Sandals or water shoes that dry quickly
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light layer for the boat in the morning and for the air-conditioned vehicle
Children & families
Children are welcome. Prices for the hotel and the excursions depend on the child's age, so we give you exact figures when you tell us the ages at booking. Mask, snorkel and fin sizes and life jackets for small children, and any age limit on a boat trip, are confirmed with the operator when you book. Children must stay with an adult in the water, and the sun at sea is strong.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Most of this vacation happens on boats and beaches. Getting on and off a boat means steps, a gangway or a ladder, and entering the water from the beach can mean uneven sand or rock. Days are long and shade is limited. The vehicles are shared and air-conditioned, but we cannot promise wheelchair access on the boats or at the beaches. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which excursions might suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The trips use shared vehicles and shared boats, so guests travel together instead of in separate cars. Samadai, Wadi El Gemal and the other sites are protected areas, and the marine park and national park fees are part of the price. We ask guests not to touch or chase animals, not to stand on coral, to use reef-safe sun protection if they can, and to take their litter back with them. Hotel and boat staff are local, so much of what you spend stays on this coast.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Can we promise dolphins, turtles or dugongs?
No. They are wild animals. Samadai is known for dolphins, and Abu Dabbab for turtles and dugongs, so sightings are likely at best. Some days you will see them and some days you will not. The reef and the clear water are the part we can promise.02Is snorkeling gear included?
Yes. Each excursion lists a mask, snorkel and fins, and the Dolphin House day also lists a life jacket. Ask us at booking if you want your own gear for a better fit.03What if the sea is rough?
Boat trips run weather and sea-state permitting, and the captain can change or cancel a sailing for safety. If that happens we help you rearrange the day where we can. Any refund follows the cancellation text on this page and our policy page.04Is every day busy?
Each day after arrival has one excursion, and the rest of the day is free. Days 2, 4 and 5 are 8 to 9 hours, so they use most of the day. Day 3 is about 5 hours and leaves the afternoon open.05Are the trips private?
No. The vehicles and the boats are shared with other guests, and the transfers on days 1 and 6 are separate. The guide and boat crew are with you throughout each trip.06Where do you pick us up?
From your hotel in Marsa Alam town, Port Ghalib or the resorts between. El Quseir is possible on request. Tell us where you want to stay and we will check pick-up before you book.07Which hotel will we have?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the hotel for your dates. The excursions are the same whichever hotel you pick.08Will I make my international flight?
Domestic and international tickets are separate bookings, so a delayed domestic flight can cost you the connection. If you are flying from Marsa Alam through Cairo on separate tickets, we suggest one last night in Cairo. If you must connect the same day, choose a late-evening or night international flight and take travel insurance that covers missed connections.09What is not included?
International flights, the Egypt visa, tips for the guide and crew, meals and drinks that are not listed, travel insurance, and optional extras you add at the hotel.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-MRS-966401
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Includes
- Transfers