PRIVATE! | Full Day Charter Boat Trip| Up to 14 | Snorkeling and Islands tour

The best part of this Hurghada boat trip is control. You are not tied to a fixed group schedule. Your captain can spend more time at a reef, search for dolphins, stop for swimming, or steer toward an island, depending on sea conditions and your group’s wishes. Omo Gamaar and Carless Reef bring clear Red Sea water, coral, and fish such as clownfish, Picasso fish, morays, and sometimes rays or dolphins.

I like the private boat format and the fresh lunch prepared on board. I also like that snorkeling equipment, drinks, snacks, a restroom, and the national park ticket are included. The main point to watch is the island pricing: Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island are optional, paid stops, so you should agree on the plan and extra fees before leaving the marina.

Key points at a glance

• Private use of the boat: Your group has the vessel and crew to itself, with capacity advertised for up to 14, while the listed rate is priced for a group of up to 8.
• Two strong reef stops: Omo Gamaar offers about 30 minutes of snorkeling, while Carless Reef allows about 45 minutes.
• Fresh food at sea: Lunch, bottled water, tea or coffee, snacks, and drinks are included.
• Flexible day plan: You can request snorkeling, fishing, island time, swimming, or a search for dolphins.
• Optional island fees: Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island charge €10 per adult and €5 per child.
• Highly rated service: The experience carries a 4.9 rating from 479 ratings, with 98 percent recommending it.

A private Red Sea day from Hurghada Marina

This is an eight-hour charter built around your group rather than a large excursion crowd. You meet at Hurghada Marina, board the boat, and head out with a captain and crew who can adjust the day to your interests.

That flexibility matters. A snorkeling trip can feel rushed when everyone has to follow one timetable. Here, you can ask for a longer swim, a quieter reef, more time in the sun, or a slower lunch break. One group of four had time for dolphins, Eden Bay, lunch, and two snorkeling sites without feeling pressed. Another group changed its route at short notice to suit the mood of a bachelorette outing.

The boat is described as large, with room to move between sun and shade. A large refrigerator keeps drinks cold, and onboard speakers are available. Do not expect a sleek modern yacht in every case. One family found its 22-metre boat well maintained but not new. For most people, the space, crew, and private setup matter more than showroom polish.

Pickup is available by request. The stated transfer prices are €15 inside Hurghada, €20 from Sahl Hasheesh, and €25 from Makadi or El Gouna. Confirm the exact cost and pickup point before the day, since the marina can be confusing for drivers.

Omo Gamaar and Carless Reef: the main event

The strongest reason to book this trip is the Red Sea snorkeling. Omo Gamaar is planned for roughly 30 minutes, followed by about 45 minutes at Carless Reef. Those times are useful guides, but the captain may adjust the order and length based on weather, sea traffic, and your wishes.

You might see blackback butterflyfish, Picasso fish, Red Sea clownfish, moray eels, and other reef life. Blue-spotted manta rays are possible, and dolphins sometimes appear. An eagle ray was also seen during one family outing. Wildlife is never guaranteed, so book this for the reef setting and the chance of encounters, not for a promised dolphin show.

The crew can be especially helpful if you are new to snorkeling. One nervous swimmer received hands-on assistance from the captain, while another crew member helped a guest through anxiety in the water. That kind of support can make a real difference, but you should still tell the crew about your swimming ability before entering the sea.

Carless Reef is the longer planned stop and should give you more time to look closely at coral and fish. The water can be clear, with good visibility, but conditions vary. Bring sun protection and take care around coral. The reef is the attraction, not a place for careless kicking or standing.

Lunch, fruit, and a useful break from the water

Lunch is prepared on board, rather than handed to you in a packaged box. Food has been a major strength of this charter, with fresh fruit platters, mango, drinks, and a satisfying meal served during the day. The cook has been praised by name in individual outings, including Regyep, while other crews included captains and assistants such as Mohammed, Yousuf, Ayad, Abdul, and Samir.

The exact menu is not specified, so do not book based on a particular dish. If someone in your group has dietary needs, ask in advance. The important practical point is that you have a proper pause between swims, with coffee or tea, snacks, bottled water, and lunch included.

I like this rhythm. A full day on open water needs more than nonstop activity. You can eat, sit in the shade, listen to music, and let the crew handle the practical work before returning to the water.

Choosing an island stop

The island portion is where you need to read the plan carefully. Giftun Islands are included as a general destination, and the national park ticket is included. But the developed beach stops named in the schedule are optional and carry separate admission fees.

Eden Island

Eden Island is aimed at an easy beach day. You get white sand, shallow water, loungers, umbrellas, restaurants, and bars. It suits couples and families who want a comfortable break from snorkeling.

The stated admission is €10 per adult and €5 per child. Some groups have paired Eden Island with a dolphin search, lunch, and reef snorkeling. It can also become the main focus of the day if your group prefers sun and swimming to repeated reef stops.

Orange Bay

Orange Bay sits in the Giftun Islands national park and is presented as a developed beach stop with shallow water, music, a bar, massage service, and other facilities. The visit is planned for about two hours if selected.

This is not a quiet, empty beach experience. It is better for you if you want comfort and entertainment, with an easy place to sit, swim, and take photos. Admission is €10 per adult and €5 per child.

Paradise Island

Paradise Island offers a white-sand beach, food, music, and a relaxed beach-club feel. The schedule allows about two hours. It has been used as a pleasant lunch or relaxation stop, but it may not satisfy you if your priority is remote scenery and uninterrupted snorkeling.

Admission is again €10 per adult and €5 per child. Ask the captain which island best matches your group before departure. You probably do not need to visit all three, and trying to force every stop into one day could leave too little time for the reefs.

Giftun Islands and the question of crowds

Giftun Kebir and Giftun Soraya are the two main islands near Hurghada. The boat can include time around the Giftun area, and the national park ticket is included in the tour.

The private boat gives you privacy onboard, but it does not make every island beach private. Popular stops can have several boats in the same area. One group enjoyed a small island stop but wished it had moved on sooner to see another island. That is a useful warning: tell the captain if you prefer variety, quiet water, or more time in one place.

For a more personal day, I would prioritize one island and two reef stops rather than paying for several beach admissions. If your children need a break from snorkeling, a longer island visit may be the better choice.

Dolphins, fishing, and flexible planning

The experience allows more than snorkeling. You can ask to fish, swim, visit islands, or search for dolphins. Dolphins have been spotted during some outings, including a pod found early in one day. The captain followed them for a while before continuing to Eden Island and the reefs.

Still, dolphins are wild animals. The crew can look for them, but no responsible operator can promise a sighting. The same goes for rays and other larger sea life.

The flexible route is one of the clearest advantages over a standard group cruise. You can tell the crew what matters most at the start. If one person wants more snorkeling and another wants beach time, the captain can try to balance the day. Weather and sea conditions remain the final limit.

What the price means for your group

The listed price is $324.41 per group of up to eight people. The experience title gives a capacity of up to 14, so larger groups should confirm the exact price and boat arrangement before booking. A separate example involved five people paying $399 for a 22-metre boat, showing that rates can vary by boat or booking details.

For eight people, the advertised rate works out to about $41 per person before any transfer or optional island fees. That is a reasonable value when lunch, drinks, equipment, private use, restroom access, and the national park ticket are included. The calculation changes for a small group, but four people still get a more personal day than a standard shared cruise.

Add the transfer fee if needed, then add island entrance charges only if you choose one. This is why the experience can feel excellent value for a full group, but less simple if you assume every beach stop is covered.

What is included, and what you should clarify

Included items are coffee or tea, snacks, lunch, bottled water, snorkeling equipment, a restroom on board, and the national park ticket. Hotel transfer is available, but it is not included in the base price.

The main clarification is the phrase island tour. The schedule names Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island, but each is marked optional and has a separate entrance fee. An included shallow-water sandbank, identified by the operator as Abu Minqar Island, may also be part of the route.

Before boarding, confirm:

• Which reef stops are planned
• Which island, if any, you want to visit
• The entrance fee for each person
• The pickup price and location
• How much time you want for snorkeling versus beach time

That short conversation can prevent the one serious misunderstanding reported about the trip. The guest expected island visits to be included, while the crew understood the paid beaches to be optional.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would choose this for families, couples, friend groups, and celebrations that value privacy. It is especially suitable for a group of four to eight, since the cost spreads well and you can shape the day around different comfort levels.

It also suits first-time snorkelers. The crew has helped nervous swimmers, and equipment is supplied. Still, young children should be comfortable in open water. One useful tip from a family outing is to practice snorkeling in a pool before the trip, especially if your children have never used a mask.

You may prefer a standard group boat if your budget is very tight, you want a fixed schedule, or you do not care about privacy. You may also want a different outing if your only goal is a guaranteed island beach visit and you do not want to pay separate entrance fees.

The tour is suitable for most participants, and service animals are allowed. It requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Hurghada private boat trip?

Book it if you want a relaxed private day with strong snorkeling, a helpful crew, lunch on board, and the freedom to change the plan. The combination of Carless Reef, Omo Gamaar, possible dolphins, and flexible island time gives you plenty to do without forcing every hour into a rigid schedule.

I would book with one condition: settle the island fees and route before departure. If your group agrees on that point, this is a strong choice for a shared celebration or family day on the Red Sea. If you want a quiet reef-focused outing, skip the paid beach clubs and ask for more time in the water.

FAQ

How long is the private boat trip?

The trip lasts approximately eight hours.

Where does the boat depart?

The trip starts at Hurghada Marina.

How many people can join?

The experience is private and is advertised for up to 14 people. The listed price is for a group of up to eight, so larger groups should confirm the exact arrangement and price.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel transfer is available on request but costs extra. The stated prices are €15 inside Hurghada, €20 from Sahl Hasheesh, and €25 from Makadi or El Gouna.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with lunch, bottled water, snacks, coffee or tea, a restroom, and the national park ticket.

Are the island entrance fees included?

The national park ticket is included, but Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island charge separate entrance fees of €10 per adult and €5 per child.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The trip requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.