Booking A Red Sea Island Day Trip: Boats, Lunch And Snorkel Gear Questions

Before you book a Red Sea island day trip, confirm five things: how you reach the boat, whether lunch is served on board or on the island, which snorkelling gear is included, whether a guide is in the water with you, and whether any park entrance fee is part of the price. Most trips from Hurghada include pickup, gear, a guide, lunch and soft drinks, but the details differ.

Key Takeaways

• The Orange Bay and Mahmya Island trips from Hurghada serve a buffet lunch on the island; the Giftun and Dolphin House trips serve lunch on board.
• Snorkelling equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) is included on all five trips compared below; ask whether life jackets come in your size.
• The Ras Mohamed trip from Sharm El Sheikh lists its park entrance fees as included; on other trips, ask whether any fee is extra.
• Tips are excluded on most trips, so carry small Egyptian pound notes for the crew.
• Hurghada's average daily high is 31.3 °C in October and 27.0 °C in November, comfortable months for a full day on the water.

How Red Sea island trips work

A typical day starts with a hotel pickup and a short drive to the marina. The boat then heads out to one or two snorkelling spots and, on island trips, anchors near a beach where you can swim and relax. The day ends with the return trip and a drop-off at your hotel. The main differences between trips are where you eat, how long you spend on the beach versus in the water, and how many snorkelling stops are planned.

What is included: five trips compared

Trip	Lunch	Snorkelling gear	Guide	Also included
Giftun Island snorkeling trip	On board	All gear for the day	English-speaking snorkelling instructor	Private air-conditioned transfer, water and soft drinks, service charges and taxes
Orange Bay Island trip	Buffet on the island	Mask, snorkel, fins	Professional snorkelling guide	Hotel pickup, boat, soft drinks and water, umbrellas and loungers
Mahmya Island trip	Buffet on the island	Mask, snorkel, fins	English-speaking guide	Hotel pickup, boat, soft drinks and water, beach access
Dolphin House snorkeling cruise	Buffet on board	Mask, snorkel, fins	Professional snorkelling guide	Hotel pickup, boat, soft drinks and water
Ras Mohamed snorkeling trip (Sharm El Sheikh)	Included	Snorkelling equipment	English-speaking guide	Ras Mohamed entrance fees, air-conditioned transfer, soft and hot drinks, taxes

Inclusions are taken from each trip's own page; always read the "Included" and "Excluded" lists of the trip you book, as they can change.

Questions to ask before you pay

The boat

• How many guests does the boat carry, and is there shade and a toilet on board?
• How long is the sail to the first stop?
• What happens if the sea is too rough to sail: is the trip moved or refunded?

Lunch and drinks

• Is lunch served on board or on the island, and can the crew handle vegetarian or allergy needs?
• Are water and soft drinks unlimited, and are other drinks extra?

Snorkel gear and safety

• Does the gear include fins in your size, and are life jackets or snorkel vests available for non-swimmers and children?
• Does a guide swim with the group, or only give a briefing from the boat?
• Is there a minimum age for children?

Price and fees

• Is any island or park entrance fee included, or paid on the day?
• Are tips excluded? On most of the trips above they are.

Best time of year

Hurghada is warm most of the year. Average highs are 21.7 °C in January, 29.3 °C in April, 35.0 °C in July and 31.3 °C in October. Spring and autumn give warm days without the peak summer heat, while winter days are pleasant on the beach but cooler once you are wet and in the wind, so bring a towel and a light layer for the ride back.

What to bring

• Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes.
• Reef-friendly sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
• Small Egyptian pound notes for tips.
• A waterproof phone pouch if you want photos in the water.

For more ideas on where to base yourself along the coast, read the Red Sea coastal planning guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lunch included on Red Sea island trips?

On all five trips compared above, yes. Orange Bay and Mahmya serve a buffet lunch on the island; Giftun and Dolphin House serve lunch on board.

Do I need my own snorkelling gear?

No. Mask, snorkel and fins are included on these trips, but you can bring your own mask for a better fit.

Can non-swimmers join a snorkelling trip?

Often yes, with a life jacket or snorkel vest and a guide nearby. Ask before booking whether these are provided.

Which month is best for a boat trip from Hurghada?

April, October and November balance warm air and comfortable sailing: Hurghada's average highs are 29.3 °C, 31.3 °C and 27.0 °C in those months.