Hurghada: 6 Islands Tour with Dolphin Watching & Snorkelling

The best part of this Hurghada boat trip is the sheer variety packed into one day: fast speedboat rides, coral reefs, white sandbanks, and several island stops. You can watch for dolphins early in the cruise, snorkel around colorful fish and a wreck, then spend an hour on popular Orange Bay or quieter Magawish Island.

I like the small-group feel, which gives the guides room to help nervous swimmers. I also like the route’s range: it is not just a beach day, and it is not just a snorkelling trip. The main drawback is that hotel transfers can take a long time, and lunch is not part of the basic $51 price.

Six useful things to know before you book

• Dolphins are possible, not guaranteed: Sightings depend on sea conditions and the animals, not the crew.
• The shipwreck snorkel is a real highlight: It adds something different from the usual reef stop.
• Small speedboat groups feel more personal: Guides such as Basil, Fatih, Omar, and Ahmed are often in the water helping people.
• The $51 price covers the main boat experience: Snorkelling gear, water, soft drinks, fruit, park access, and several entry fees are included.
• Lunch and parasailing cost extra: Seafood lunch is an add-on, and food prices on the islands can be high.
• Bring a warm layer in winter: The boat moves quickly, and wind can make the ride feel cold even when the water is comfortable.

What this Hurghada boat day is really like

This is an active day on the Red Sea, not a slow sailing cruise. You are collected from your Hurghada hotel, driven to the marina, fitted with snorkelling equipment, and placed on a speedboat with a captain and guide.

The ride itself is part of the attraction. Several people describe speeds of about 70 kilometres per hour, though the exact pace depends on the boat and sea conditions. Cushioned boats can be comfortable, but the ride may be bouncy. If you have back problems, this is not the right excursion.

The group size matters. A smaller boat means less time waiting for people to board and more room for the guide to watch swimmers. Guides including Basil, Fatih, Bram, Ahmed, Omar, and Khalid have been praised for helping children, first-time snorkellers, and people who cannot swim confidently. That support is useful, but you should still be comfortable entering the sea with a life jacket.

Expect music, drinks, fresh fruit, and plenty of sun. The crew provides a shaded area, but this is still a full day outdoors. Bring sunscreen, a towel, sunglasses, cash, and a light top for the ride back.

The first ride out: dolphins and Giftun National Park

The cruise usually begins with a search for dolphins while the boat heads toward the island waters. You may see dolphins close to the boat or leaping nearby, but sightings are never certain. Wind, waves, and animal movement can change the plan.

That uncertainty is worth understanding before you book. One group saw dolphins several times, while another had none. A good crew will look without turning the experience into a stressful chase, but no company can promise wildlife.

Giftun Island National Park is the main snorkelling area. Here you get two reef stops among coral and colorful fish, with a guide in the water. The clearest value in this part of the day is the guidance. If you are new to snorkelling, someone can help you get settled, point out fish, and keep you close to the group.

Several guides have helped non-swimmers try snorkelling for the first time. Basil, in particular, is noted for taking a child’s hand and helping him feel safe. That does not make the sea risk-free, but it can turn a frightening first attempt into a manageable one.

The water may feel warm, yet the wind can be cold in winter. Cloudy weather can also affect how colorful the reef looks. Keep your expectations sensible: some stops will be excellent, while others may feel less impressive depending on visibility and conditions.

Orange Bay: one hour on Hurghada’s popular beach

Orange Bay gives you a proper beach break after the first snorkelling sessions. You typically have about an hour to swim, sit in the sun, take photographs, and enjoy the bright sand and clear water.

This is one of the more polished and popular stops. You may find beach seating, shaded areas, food, and drinks, but prices can be noticeably higher than in Hurghada. The included boat refreshments help, so you do not need to buy something at every stop.

I would treat Orange Bay as a scenic rest period rather than an isolated beach experience. It is attractive and easy to enjoy, but you will not have the place entirely to yourself. The value comes from having time to relax without giving up the other parts of the day.

Nemo Bay and the shorter island visits

Nemo Bay is listed as a one-hour visit in the route, while another description places lunch and refreshments on selected islands rather than at every stop. This is a good place to slow down, swim, or simply sit after the active morning.

The exact order can shift with wind and sea conditions. You may also spend less time at some locations so the boat can keep the full route moving. That is normal for a six-stop day. The benefit is variety; the cost is that no single island gets a full afternoon.

Food and drinks are not available on every island. Nemo and Abu Monqar are specifically excluded from the island food service, so use the water and soft drinks supplied on the boat. If you want a larger meal, plan to pay for the lunch add-on or buy food on one of the islands.

Magawish Island and the middle-of-nowhere pool

Magawish Island is one of the more appealing stops because you get about an hour to swim, explore, and enjoy the views. It is also useful for people who find Orange Bay too busy or commercial.

The smaller Magawish stop has a natural-feeling swimming area described as a middle-of-nowhere pool. It is the kind of place where the setting matters more than the facilities. You step into the sea, look around, and see open water rather than a city beach.

Magawish can also be a lunch stop if you pay for the meal in advance or arrange food there. Be careful with the add-on. The seafood meal has received praise for large portions, but another meal was described as poor value and too small. Prices on the islands can also be high, so ask what is included in the meal before paying.

The basic tour includes water, soft drinks, and seasonal fruit. That is enough to keep you going, but I would bring a few small snacks from Hurghada. Cash is wise because card payments may not work consistently.

The three snorkelling stops, including the wreck

The tour includes three snorkelling stops, and they do not all offer the same experience. The first reef stop at Giftun is usually the strongest choice if you want coral and fish. You should have time to see different areas rather than rushing through one short swim.

The wreck stop adds variety. You can swim above submerged relics and look into the darker, more unusual structure below. Some people find it thrilling, while others find it spooky. If you are not comfortable in open water, tell the guide before entering.

A later snorkelling stop may be adjusted if weather or water conditions make one location less suitable. That flexibility is a good sign. One group received an extra snorkelling opportunity when a beach stop was affected by rubbish.

You do not need to be an expert swimmer, but you do need to follow the guide’s instructions. Life jackets are provided, and the guides often stay near weaker swimmers. Anyone with back problems should skip this boat, since the speed and repeated boarding can be hard on the body.

White Island and Abu Monqar sandbanks

The sandbank section is brief, usually about 30 minutes, but it gives the day a different rhythm. On White Island and Juzur Abu Monqar, the attraction is the clean, pale sand surrounded by shallow blue water.

This is the photo stop. You can walk barefoot, swim, and take pictures that look far removed from Hurghada’s hotel strip. The time passes quickly, especially if the group wants photographs, so do not expect a long beach stay.

The sandbanks are exposed and offer little shade. Apply sunscreen before leaving the boat and keep your phone protected from water and sand. The crew provides a shaded area on the boat, but not every beach stop will have the same comfort.

What the $51 price actually includes

At $51 per person, the tour offers strong value if you want to combine several Red Sea activities in one day. You get hotel pickup in Hurghada, the speedboat, captain, guide, snorkelling equipment, life jacket, three snorkelling stops, water, soft drinks, fruit, and entry to the listed islands and park area.

The price also covers Orange Bay, White Island, Magawish, and Abu Monqar entry fees. That matters because island fees can quickly make a cheap-looking boat trip more expensive.

The basic price does not include the long-distance pickup from Makadi, Safaga, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, or Soma Bay. That transfer costs an additional €10 per person if selected, and pickup windows can vary by up to 90 minutes in those areas.

Lunch is another point to check carefully. It is available as an add-on, but it is not part of the standard $51 package. Seafood lunch has received both strong praise and serious criticism, so compare the cost with buying food on the island. Parasailing is also optional and gives you about five minutes in the air.

Hotel pickup and the time cost

The advertised duration is eight hours, but your usable time on the water depends on hotel transfers. Hurghada pickup times can vary by up to an hour, and the extended areas can vary by up to 90 minutes.

The vehicle may spend a long time collecting people. One account describes almost two hours of hotel pickups, counted within the tour day. That can matter if you are hoping for a relaxed eight hours at sea.

You receive pickup details by email or WhatsApp at around 10:00 PM the night before. Wait at the hotel’s main entrance by the road, not at reception. Look for a white or black vehicle with the GoShalabi logo, and be ready because the driver may wait only five minutes.

Give the company your passport copy, nationality, hotel name, address, and room number. Keep your belongings with you. The company does not accept responsibility for lost or damaged personal items.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this trip if you want one busy day that covers beaches, reefs, a wreck, sandbanks, and several islands. It suits couples, families with older children, solo visitors, and first-time snorkellers who want help in the water.

It is especially good for people who dislike spending a whole day at one resort beach. The route keeps changing, and the speedboat reduces the time spent moving between stops.

I would not choose it if you want a quiet sailing trip, guaranteed dolphin watching, or a long meal in a comfortable restaurant. It is also a poor choice for anyone with back problems or a strong dislike of wind, bouncing boats, or repeated swimming stops.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That gives you some flexibility, but check the extended-transfer rules carefully if you are staying outside Hurghada.

My verdict on the GoShalabi six-island tour

You should book this tour if your priority is variety and active sightseeing. For $51, the combination of speedboat travel, three snorkelling stops, island access, fruit, drinks, equipment, and sandbanks is a solid deal.

Go with realistic expectations. Dolphins may not appear, island food can be expensive, the lunch add-on needs careful checking, and the hotel pickup can eat into the day. Bring cash, snacks, sunscreen, a towel, and a light shirt.

If you do book, ask about the lunch cost before departure and confirm the pickup message the night before. With those details sorted, this is one of the more complete ways to sample the Red Sea around Hurghada in a single day.

FAQ

How much does the Hurghada six-island tour cost?

The listed price is $51 per person. Long-distance pickup from Makadi, Safaga, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, or Soma Bay costs an additional €10 per person if selected.

How long does the tour last?

The planned duration is eight hours. Hotel pickup times can vary, and extended-area transfers may vary by up to 90 minutes.

Are dolphins guaranteed?

No. Dolphin watching is included when conditions allow, but sightings depend on sea and wildlife conditions.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is available as an add-on and is not included in the basic tour price. Seafood lunch is also available as an optional extra.

What food and drinks are included?

Water, soft drinks, and seasonal fruit are included on the boat. Food and drinks are available on some islands, but not on Nemo or Abu Monqar.

How many snorkelling stops are included?

The tour includes three snorkelling stops, including reef areas and a wreck snorkelling stop.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkelling gear and a life jacket are provided.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included from Hurghada. Pickup from Makadi, Safaga, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, and Soma Bay requires the paid add-on.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a light layer, and cash. Snacks may also be useful because island food and drinks can be expensive.

Is the tour suitable for people with back problems?

No. The speedboat ride can be bouncy, and the tour is not suitable for people with back problems.