Red Sea · Oct 24, 2026

Which Hurghada Boat Trip Is Right for You? The Islands Compared

Orange Bay, Paradise, Magawish, Hula Hula, Eden, Mahmya and Dolphin House — what each day is really like

Every Hurghada boat trip promises white sand and turquoise water, and from the photos they are hard to tell apart. They are not the same day. Some are about the beach, some about the reef, one about dolphins, and they differ a lot in how many people share the sand with you. This is how we explain the choice to guests who ask us at the hotel.

For the classic white-sand beach: Orange Bay

Orange Bay on Giftun Island is the picture most people have in mind: shallow, glass-clear water over white sand. It is also the busiest. The group boat day is the easy, affordable way to go, with a snorkel stop, about two hours on the beach and lunch on board. If you would rather arrive before the crowds and keep your own pace, the private speedboat gets there in about 20 minutes and turns it into a four-hour outing.

For a full island day: Paradise and Magawish

Paradise Island and Magawish are the long, relaxed days: two snorkel stops on shallow coral gardens, lunch, and hours on the island. Paradise adds a folklore show and has more going on; Magawish is the calmer of the two, with fine sand and a buffet prepared on board.

For something quieter: Eden, Hula Hula and Utopia

If the busy islands put you off, Eden Island is the calm alternative, with quiet reefs and a sandbar beach. Hula Hula is a dazzling white sandbank ringed by shallows, short and good value. Utopia, out of Safaga, is a sandbank that comes and goes with the tide — worth it if you are staying south of Hurghada.

For the best beach in the national park: Mahmya

Mahmya is the eco-beach of Giftun Island National Park: powder-white sand, sun loungers and a snorkel trip to the Sabina reef area. It costs more than the group boats because entry to the beach club is included, and it is the most comfortable beach day of all.

For dolphins: Dolphin House

Sha'ab El Erg reef is home to a resident pod of wild dolphins. The full-day boat makes one dolphin stop and two snorkel stops. The private speedboat leaves earlier and reaches the reef before the big boats, which is the best chance of a calm, uncrowded encounter. Dolphins are wild, so no one can promise them.

If you do not want to swim

Combine Orange Bay with the Sea Scope glass-bottom boat: about 45 minutes watching coral and fish through the hull without getting wet, then time on the island. Families with small children and non-swimmers usually enjoy this most.

Still not sure?

Open any of these trips and use Which one is right for me? under the options: tick what you would love to do, how much time you have and your budget, and it suggests the island that fits. Or write to us — we answer every question ourselves.

Book what you just read about

Explore related tours and check each trip for available booking options and inclusions.