Dolphin House Snorkeling Tour: Hurghada Wild Dolphins

Swim alongside wild dolphins, not in a tank

A full-day snorkeling trip from Hurghada to Dolphin House and two coral reef sites, with hotel pickup, snorkeling gear, lunch and a guide in your language. The boat stops where wild dolphins swim freely—sightings are common but not guaranteed—and you'll explore vibrant reefs with an experienced guide before a banana boat ride and the return to your hotel.

The Experience

Eight hours on the Red Sea starts with pickup from your Hurghada hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and a transfer to the marina. You board a spacious boat with sun and shade areas, and as it heads into open water toward Dolphin House, the crew briefs you on snorkeling safety and gear. The boat carries small groups, which means less crowding and more room to move around—a real difference from the packed ferries that run the same route. Dolphin sightings happen often enough that the crew knows the patterns, though the sea and the animals decide on any given day.

Two guided snorkeling stops at coral reef sites anchor the afternoon. The reefs here run thick with color—parrotfish, angelfish, grouper, and branching corals that have built themselves over decades. Your guide stays in the water with you, pointing out what to look for and keeping an eye on swimmers of all levels. Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins) is provided, and life jackets are there if you want one. Between stops, the boat cruises to the next site, giving you time to rest and eat. A short banana boat or sofa ride—a towed inflatable that skims across the surface—adds a moment of pure speed and splash before the crew serves lunch: an open buffet of rice, pasta, chicken or fish, salad, bread, soft drinks and seasonal fruit, all prepared onboard.

The return to the marina takes the late afternoon. Your driver meets you at the dock and takes you back to your hotel. A guide in English, Spanish, Italian, German or one of ten other languages travels with the boat, so language is not a barrier. National Park fees (five euros per person, paid in cash at the marina) and any transfer surcharge from hotels outside central Hurghada are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned vehicle.
• snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins) and life jackets.
• professional guide in English, Spanish, Italian, German or ten other languages.
• two guided snorkeling stops at coral reef sites.
• open buffet lunch onboard with rice, pasta, chicken or fish, salad, bread, soft drinks and seasonal fruit.
• banana boat or sofa ride.
• full-day boat trip to Dolphin House and the Red Sea.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Red Sea Vibes

Is this one for you?Eight hours is a full day commitment, which means you'll miss other Hurghada activities—book this if the dolphins and the reef snorkeling are your priority for the day. The small-group boat and the guide in your language make it work for families and solo travelers alike, and the lunch and gear included mean you're not hunting for restaurants or rental shops between stops.

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Top questions

Can I really swim near wild dolphins on this trip, or are they kept in an enclosure?

The dolphins at Dolphin House swim wild and free in the Red Sea—not in captivity. Sightings are very common, though the sea and the animals' movement mean they're not guaranteed on every departure. The boat goes to where they're known to gather, and your guide will watch for them.

What's included in the lunch, and is there enough food for a full day on the water?

Lunch is an open buffet served onboard with rice, pasta, chicken or fish, salad, bread, soft drinks and seasonal fruit. It's prepared fresh on the boat and designed to refuel you between snorkeling stops—most travelers find it filling.

Do I need snorkeling experience, or can I go if I've never done it before?

The trip suits all fitness levels and all swimming abilities. A professional guide stays in the water with you at both snorkeling stops, and snorkeling gear is provided. Life jackets are available if you want one, and the crew briefs everyone on safety before the first stop.

How much of the eight hours is actually spent in the water snorkeling?

Two guided snorkeling stops make up the core of the day, with time between them for the boat to cruise to the next site, rest, and eat lunch. The banana boat ride is a short bonus activity. The rest of the time is travel to and from the marina and time on deck.

What if I get seasick or the weather turns rough?

The boat has both sun and shade areas where you can rest, and soft drinks are available throughout the day. The Red Sea is generally calm, but if conditions worsen, the crew will adjust the route or timing. Infants travel free but must sit on an adult's lap.

Is hotel pickup really included, or does it cost extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada are included in the tour price. If you're staying in Makadi or Sahl Hashesh, there's a five-euro surcharge per person; El Gouna, Safaga or Soma Bay hotels add ten euros per person. These are paid at checkout or to the driver.