Hurghada: Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling & Buffet Lunch

Dolphins are only part of the fun. This Hurghada boat trip combines wild dolphin watching, two coral reef snorkeling stops, a buffet lunch, and time on a spacious boat with sun and shade. I like the friendly crew and the chance to spend a full day on the Red Sea for $26, though dolphin sightings and close encounters cannot be promised.

I also like that the price includes gear, lunch, soft drinks, water, guided snorkeling, and banana boat and sofa boat rides. The main point to consider is crowding: the boat may feel busy, especially when several people want to enter the water at the same time.

Quick points before you book

• Two snorkeling stops: You get two separate chances to see coral and colorful fish, rather than one short swim.
• Wild dolphin watching: The crew searches known areas, but these are free-ranging animals, not a scheduled show.
• Lunch stays on board: A buffet meal, soft drinks, and water make it easier to enjoy the full six to seven hours without arranging food.
• A lively boat day: Music, a sun deck, shaded areas, banana boat rides, and sofa boat rides keep the trip from feeling like a simple transfer.
• Useful for many hotel areas: Hurghada pickups are available, while transport from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Soma Bay, and Safaga costs an additional €10 per person.
• Good value with limits: At $26, the package covers a lot, but towels, photos, personal spending, and some hotel transfers cost extra.

Setting out from Public Beach Number 9

The tour begins and ends at Public Beach Number 9 in Hurghada. You should plan your morning around reaching that meeting point, unless you arrange an eligible hotel pickup in advance.

The boat ride gives you a different view of the Red Sea Governorate. Once away from the shore, the focus shifts from Hurghada’s hotels and streets to open water, sea air, and the long blue horizon. I like this kind of outing because the boat itself becomes part of the day, not just transportation between activities.

You get access to a spacious boat with both a sun deck and shaded areas. That matters in Egypt, where a few hours in direct sun can become tiring quickly. Bring a hat and sunscreen, but also choose a seat where you can retreat from the heat.

The crew includes a guide and snorkeling instructor, with two to four professional guides on each boat. Their role is practical: they help with masks and fins, explain the water activities, and assist you when you enter or leave the sea.

English, German, and Arabic are available. The exact feel of the group can vary, but the setup is designed to support families, couples, and people who are not expert swimmers.

Searching for dolphins in the open sea

The dolphin portion is the emotional centerpiece of the day, but it needs realistic expectations. The crew visits known dolphin areas and looks for animals living freely in the Red Sea. You may see dolphins from the boat, and some outings have allowed people to swim near them, but no sighting or close encounter is guaranteed.

That uncertainty is part of the deal. A wild dolphin is not waiting for a performance time, and responsible watching depends on the animals’ movements. I would book this for the chance to see dolphins, not for a promise that you will touch them or swim beside them.

The experience can be especially rewarding when dolphins appear more than once. The water may become quiet while everyone watches, then suddenly lively as the animals surface and move away. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire outing staring at a screen.

Photography services are not included. You can bring your own phone or camera, but protect it carefully around salt water. Any professional photo package or personal purchase is extra.

The dolphin stop also reveals one of the tour’s main limits: much depends on nature and conditions. If your priority is guaranteed animal contact, this is not the right type of attraction. If you prefer a chance to see wild animals without a captive show, the uncertainty is more acceptable.

Two coral reef snorkeling stops

After the dolphin search, the boat makes two snorkeling stops. Having two locations is useful because the water conditions, coral shapes, and fish activity may differ from one site to the next.

The trip provides masks, snorkels, and fins, along with a guided snorkeling session. You do not need to bring your own equipment, though you may prefer your own mask if you already have one that fits well.

The reef stops are where the day becomes more than a dolphin cruise. You can look below the surface at coral formations and schools of colorful fish, then return to the boat for a rest before the next water session. Several parts of the feedback praised these snorkeling locations for their coral and fish life, which suggests the reef time is a real strength of the trip.

You should bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Towels are not provided, and stepping back onto the boat without one can be uncomfortable, even in warm weather.

If you are nervous in the water, use the instructor and crew for help. The tour is not described as a technical snorkeling trip, so the emphasis is on seeing the reef and enjoying the water rather than covering long distances.

The two stops also help families manage energy. You can swim during the first session, rest, eat, and decide how much effort to give the second. Children should remain with their accompanying adults, and unaccompanied minors are not allowed.

Lunch, drinks, and time between stops

A fresh buffet lunch is served on board, with soft drinks and water available. This is a meaningful part of the $26 price because you do not need to leave the boat or arrange food during a six to seven-hour outing.

The meal is not just a break from snorkeling. It gives you a chance to dry off, sit in the shade, and enjoy the boat at a slower pace. Food quality can matter more than people expect on a full-day sea trip, and the lunch has received particularly warm praise.

I would still bring only what you need. Personal expenses are not included, so keep extra cash for anything you may want to buy. A hat, sunscreen, swimwear, towel, and a secure bag for small items are the practical basics.

Music plays between stops, adding a social holiday mood. If you want a quiet day on the water, the music and group setting may feel less peaceful than a private charter. If you like a friendly, animated boat, it adds energy rather than annoyance.

The crew’s attitude is another strong point. The guides are described as kind, funny, attentive, and well-organized. That matters when you need help with equipment, want advice in the water, or simply want the day to run without confusion.

Banana boat and sofa boat rides

The package includes banana boat and sofa boat activities. These add a burst of fun for people who want more than snorkeling and dolphin watching.

The supplied details do not specify the exact schedule or how long each ride lasts, so you should think of them as included extras rather than the main reason to book. The boat’s core program is still dolphin watching, two reef stops, lunch, and time at sea.

For families and groups of friends, these rides can help break up the day. Couples may enjoy them too, though anyone who prefers a calm boat trip can simply remain on deck and enjoy the views.

Use care with your belongings during these activities. A phone or camera that is safe on a dry sun deck may not be safe on a moving inflatable ride.

What the six to seven hours feel like

This is a full outing, not a quick two-hour excursion. You should expect time for the boat ride, dolphin search, two snorkeling sessions, lunch, water activities, and pauses between each part.

That longer schedule is a benefit if you want a full Red Sea day for a low price. It also means you should be comfortable spending much of the day on a boat. Bring sun protection, drink water, and use the shaded areas instead of staying in full sun from start to finish.

The pace should feel varied. One moment you may be scanning the sea for dolphins, then checking your mask before a reef stop, then sitting down with lunch. The changing activities prevent the day from becoming repetitive, although the boat can feel crowded when everyone gathers for a popular stop.

The experience is available to children under three at no charge. It is not suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility issues, and the unaccompanied minor rule is important for families planning independently.

Is $26 good value?

At $26 per person, I consider this a strong value if you want several activities in one package. You receive round-trip boat transport from the meeting point, dolphin watching, two snorkeling stops, equipment, guides, lunch, soft drinks, water, and the two inflatable boat rides.

You are not paying separately for a meal, mask, fins, snorkel, or a basic snorkeling guide. That keeps the final cost easier to understand than a cheaper-looking tour that adds each item later.

The price has boundaries. Towels, personal expenses, and photography are not included. Hotel transport from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Soma Bay, or Safaga costs an additional €10 per person, so compare the full price if you are staying outside Hurghada.

Crowding is the other value question. This is a shared boat, not a private trip. The social atmosphere can be enjoyable, but you should not expect personal space or a quiet, custom schedule at this price.

For a first Red Sea outing, the combination is hard to fault financially. You get wildlife, reefs, food, and several boat activities without booking separate tours.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend the cruise to couples who want a lively day together, families with children who can manage a long boat outing, and anyone who wants an easy introduction to Red Sea snorkeling.

It also suits nature lovers who accept that wild dolphins follow their own schedule. The reef stops are important here. Even if dolphins stay out of sight, you still have coral snorkeling, lunch, and time on the water.

You may want a different option if you need a private boat, guaranteed dolphin contact, a very quiet atmosphere, or extensive accessibility support. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility issues.

If you are staying in a nearby resort area, calculate the transfer charge before booking. The €10 add-on may still be reasonable, but the meeting point is Public Beach Number 9 in Hurghada, and you should know how you will get there.

My call: book it if you want a full Red Sea day

I would book this tour if I wanted a low-cost mix of wildlife, reef snorkeling, lunch, and simple water fun. The strongest reasons are the two snorkeling stops, the well-regarded crew, and the amount included for $26.

Go in with the right expectations. Dolphins are wild, the boat may be busy, and towels and photos cost extra. Bring a hat, sunscreen, swimwear, and your own towel, then let the day unfold without demanding a guaranteed animal encounter.

For a lively, social Red Sea experience with plenty packed into six to seven hours, this is a sensible choice. Its value is best for people who care more about a varied day on the water than private space or total control over the schedule.

FAQ

Where does the dolphin cruise start and finish?

The tour starts at Public Beach Number 9 in Hurghada and returns to the same meeting point at the end of the activity.

How long does the tour last?

The cruise lasts approximately six to seven hours.

Are dolphins guaranteed to appear?

No. The crew searches known dolphin areas, but sightings and close encounters with wild dolphins cannot be guaranteed.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Masks, snorkels, and fins are provided, and the tour includes two snorkeling stops with guidance from a snorkeling instructor.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch, soft drinks, and water are included on board.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is available from hotels in Hurghada, with possible extra charges. Transport from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Soma Bay, and Safaga is available as an add-on for €10 per person.