Hurghada: Dolphin House Swim & Snorkel with Lunch

Swim Alongside Red Sea Dolphins at Hurghada's Dolphin House

You're picked up from your hotel, driven to the Dolphin House site north of Hurghada, and spend two hours snorkeling in the Red Sea while dolphins move freely around you. After that, the boat anchors at a second reef for lunch (a freshly cooked buffet with fruit and drinks), and another snorkel session before returning around 4pm. Equipment and a guide are included throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dolphin swim and snorkeling trip

• Pickup from holiday location
• Travel to northern Hurghada
• Watch Red Sea sunrise
• Snorkel and swim with dolphins
• Enjoy lunch buffet on board
• Snorkel again after lunch
• Return to center
• Transfer back to holiday location

The experience

Our boat captain, Hassan, was loading gear when I asked him in broken Arabic if we'd actually see dolphins or if it was one of those "maybe you will, maybe you won't" situations. He laughed and said something to the crew in rapid-fire Egyptian, then turned back: "You will see them. They come every day." That kind of casual certainty stuck with me. The Dolphin House trip from Hurghada starts with a 8am pickup from your hotel, and by the time the air-conditioned van reaches the departure point around 9:30am, you're already watching the Red Sea wake up. The water still glassy, the light soft. Hassan wasn't wrong about the dolphins.

The first two hours are spent snorkeling at the main site where the dolphins actually live. You're in the water with a guide who keeps things respectful: no chasing, no touching, just you and them in their space. The coral around you is alive with smaller fish, but honestly, once you spot the dolphins moving through, everything else becomes background. The guide carries a small air horn and uses it sparingly, just enough to keep the group together and aware. After that, the boat moves to a second snorkeling spot, and this is where lunch happens: a buffet that's actually fresh, cooked on board, not reheated from some kitchen on shore. There's fruit, soft drinks, coffee if you want it. You eat on the deck, still wet, still buzzing from what you just saw.

The whole thing wraps by 4pm when the van brings you back to your hotel. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you don't need to rent or buy anything. The group stays small enough that it doesn't feel like a cattle call, and the guide knows the water and the dolphins' patterns well enough that you're not just floating around hoping. If you've done other Red Sea tours, this one holds its own because the dolphins are the actual draw, not a bonus, not a maybe. They're the reason the boat goes out, and the reason Hassan was so sure about it.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• two hours of snorkeling at the Dolphin House site with a guide.
• a second snorkel session after lunch.
• freshly cooked buffet lunch on board.
• soft drinks, coffee, tea, and fresh fruit.
• snorkeling equipment.
• return transfer to your hotel by 4pm.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 32

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 11.26

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Hurghada Vacations

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Red Sea dolphins without arranging your own boat or worrying about whether they'll show up. The Dolphin House is where they actually live, so the guide's confidence about it isn't marketing.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): 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 time does the Dolphin House trip start and end?

Pickup is at 8am from your hotel. The boat departs around 9:30am and returns to the center by 4pm, with transfer back to your location after that.

How long do you actually spend snorkeling?

Two hours at the first stop where the dolphins are, plus a second snorkel session after lunch at a different reef.

Is the snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, an air-conditioned vehicle, guide services, and all meals and drinks on board are included in the price.

Can you touch or swim directly with the dolphins?

No. The guide ensures interactions are passive only. You observe the dolphins in their natural habitat without chasing or touching them.

What's included for lunch?

A freshly cooked buffet lunch on board, plus soft drinks, coffee, tea, and fresh fruit throughout the day.

Is this trip accessible for people with mobility concerns?

The vehicle and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed.

How big are the groups?

Groups are kept flexible and small enough to feel personalized, though exact numbers vary by departure.

What if I'm not a confident swimmer?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The guide is with you in the water, and you wear a snorkel vest for buoyancy.