2-day Sataya overnight tour: Dolphins and coral from the Red Sea

Wake at anchor in Sataya and have the dolphins to yourself at first light

A 2-day overnight tour on a dive boat moored at Sataya in the Red Sea, where you sleep on board and spend your days snorkeling with dolphins and coral reefs. You arrive at the boat for check-in and a welcome drink, then sail two hours to Sataya for your first afternoon and evening in the water. The next morning you snorkel at dawn before the crowds, then visit Abu Galawa's coral before heading back to port. The boat carries 20 guests in air-conditioned cabins with private showers, and all meals, snacks and cold and hot drinks are included throughout.

The experience

You board the boat at the harbor and settle into your cabin. Each one has a private toilet, shower and air conditioning. After check-in and a soft drink in the saloon, the boat sails two hours into open water to reach Sataya. Your first day is spent snorkeling and swimming in the reef and among the dolphins, guided by one of the crew. At sunset you eat dinner on board while watching the light fade over the water. In the evening you can climb to the upper deck to watch the stars and moon from the sea.

The second morning starts early: you get into the water before any other boats arrive, so the dolphins and the reef are quieter and less crowded than they will be later in the day. After breakfast the boat moves to Abu Galawa, a smaller site known for some of the most intricate coral formations in the area. You snorkel there, then eat your final meal on board before the return journey to the harbor. The boat has two sun decks (one fully shaded, one partly shaded) a large saloon with a buffet area, and a wide dive platform with showers.

Cold and hot drinks, snacks, and all three meals are served throughout the two days. A professional snorkeling guide leads the water time, and the crew is trained to make the boat feel like home. The boat itself is built for this kind of overnight trip: ten cabins, each with either a double or single king-size bed, mean you are not crammed in, and the air conditioning keeps the heat at bay when you are resting between snorkels.

What’s included

• All meals (dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two) plus snacks throughout.
• cold and hot beverages served all day.
• a professional snorkeling guide.
• air-conditioned cabin with private toilet and shower.
• access to two sun decks, a large saloon with buffet area, and a wide dive platform with showers.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sataya Overnight snorkelGuide in 5 languages · 08:30Sleeping accommodation is provided on board for 2 days, with soft food and beverages; pickup is included.

Sataya overnight divingGuide in 5 languages · 08:30Overnight liveaboard trip with 4 dives: 3 daytime dives and 1 early morning dive, departing from Hamata port over 2 days. Meals and drinks are included: soft drinks, lunch, dinner and continental breakfast, with visits to Sataya and Abu Galawa, and pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Friday and SundayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Aquatic Divers

Is this one for you?Book this 2-day overnight if you want to snorkel at dawn before the crowds arrive and sleep on the water instead of rushing back to shore each night. The early morning timing is what makes the quieter dolphin encounter possible. The overnight boat is what makes two full days of reef time fit into a single trip away from the harbor.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the snorkel and diving options for this 2-day trip?

Sataya overnight offers both a snorkel version and a diving version. The snorkel tour is what is described here. You explore the reef and dolphins from the surface with a guide. The diving option uses SCUBA equipment and requires certification. That equipment is not included in either package and must be arranged separately.

How long is the sail from the harbor to Sataya?

The boat takes two hours to reach Sataya from the harbor. You board, check in, have a welcome drink, and then head out to the reef for your first afternoon in the water.

Do I get time alone with the dolphins, or is it always a guided group?

You snorkel with a professional guide who leads the group. The advantage of the early morning on day two is that you are in the water before other boats arrive, so the dolphins and reef are less crowded than they become later in the day.

What meals and drinks are included over the two days?

Dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two, plus snacks throughout are all included. Cold and hot drinks (coffee, tea and soft drinks) are available all day. The boat serves an open buffet in the saloon.

Are there showers on the boat, and do the cabins have air conditioning?

Each cabin has a private toilet and shower, and all cabins have air conditioning. The boat also has two public showers on the dive deck, so you can rinse off after snorkeling without going back to your room.

What is Abu Galawa, and why does the boat stop there on day two?

Abu Galawa is a smaller reef site in the Red Sea known for its coral formations. On day two, after the early morning snorkel at Sataya, the boat moves there so you can explore a different part of the reef before heading back to the harbor for lunch and the return journey.