PRIVATE! | Full Day Charter Boat Trip| Up to 14 | Snorkeling and Islands tour

The best thing about this Hurghada charter is the control it gives you. Instead of following a large boat’s fixed schedule, you can ask the captain to spend more time snorkeling, look for dolphins, or head toward an island. I especially like the private setting and the chance to move between sunny and shaded areas on a spacious boat.

I also like that lunch, drinks, fruit, snacks, snorkeling equipment, and the national park ticket are included. The main catch is the island pricing: Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island are optional paid stops, so you should settle the route and extra fees before leaving the marina.

Key points to know before you book

• Private boat for your group: The tour is reserved for your party, with capacity advertised for up to 14 people. The listed price is $324.41 per group of up to 8, so confirm the exact rate for larger parties.
• Two named reef stops: Omo Gamaar usually allows about 30 minutes in the water, while Carless Reef is planned for about 45 minutes.
• Lunch is prepared on board: Fresh food, fruit, coffee or tea, bottled water, and snacks are included.
• Dolphin sightings are possible, not guaranteed: The captain may adjust the route if dolphins are nearby.
• Island visits cost extra: Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island each list an entrance fee of €10 per adult and €5 per child.
• Hotel transfers are available for a fee: Transfers inside Hurghada cost €15 for the full group, with higher rates from Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi, or El Gouna.

Why a private Hurghada boat day makes sense

A full day on the Red Sea can feel very different on a private boat than on a standard group cruise. You are not trying to match the pace of dozens of people. If someone in your party is nervous in the water, the crew can give more personal help. If the children have had enough snorkeling, you can move on. If everyone wants another reef stop, you can ask for more time.

That flexibility is the heart of this trip. The advertised route gives you a framework, but the day can include snorkeling, swimming, fishing, island time, and dolphin watching. The captain and crew have also helped nervous swimmers enter the water, which matters if you have a first-time snorkeler in your group.

The boat is described as large enough for groups to spread out, with areas for sun and shade, a large drinks refrigerator, speakers, and a restroom. It is not presented as a new luxury yacht, and one detailed account described the boat as older but well maintained. That is a fair way to think about it: this is a practical private charter built around the sea, crew service, and flexibility rather than polished yacht design.

Leaving Hurghada Marina for the open water

The day begins at Hurghada Marina, with about 10 minutes allocated for departure and boarding. Hotel pickup is not automatically part of the base price, but you can request a transfer. The stated group rates are €15 from inside Hurghada, €20 from Sahl Hasheesh, and €25 from Makadi or El Gouna.

Confirm your pickup point and price in advance. One booking account described difficulty finding the driver at the port, so clear meeting instructions are useful. You should also arrive ready for a full day outside, with swimwear, sunscreen, a hat, and something dry to wear later.

The booking is for roughly eight hours. That sounds generous, and it is, but time on the Red Sea includes moving between locations. If you want both reef snorkeling and an island visit, ask how the captain plans to divide the day. A private boat gives you choice, but it does not create extra hours.

Omo Gamaar: a first look below the surface

Omo Gamaar is planned as an approximately 30-minute snorkeling stop. The reef area is associated with blackback butterflyfish, Picasso fish, Red Sea clownfish, moray eels, and rays. Dolphins may also appear in the wider area, though nobody can promise a sighting.

This is a useful first water stop because it lets you settle into the sea before deciding how ambitious the rest of the day should be. Strong swimmers can explore at their own pace, while beginners can use the crew’s support and the provided equipment.

The description includes blue-spotted manta rays, though the exact animals you see will depend on conditions and luck. Marine life is never a menu. Clear water, weather, and boat traffic all affect what appears below you.

If you have a nervous swimmer, say so before reaching the reef. Several accounts describe crew members helping people who were anxious in the water. That kind of assistance is one of the better reasons to pay for a private boat rather than simply choosing the cheapest shared excursion.

Carless Reef: the main snorkeling stop

Carless Reef gets about 45 minutes in the planned schedule and is presented as one of the main marine stops. Expect coral, small reef fish, morays, eels, and a chance of seeing rays or dolphins nearby.

The most rewarding part of the day may be the guided time in the water. Crew members have led people around the reef and helped less confident swimmers. One family account described seeing clear water, live coral, colorful fish, and eagle rays during reef stops.

Keep your expectations sensible. The Red Sea can offer excellent visibility, but marine sightings vary. The promise here is access to reef areas and snorkeling gear, not a guaranteed list of animals. Also, 45 minutes passes quickly once you have adjusted your mask, entered the water, and found your rhythm.

If snorkeling is your priority, tell the captain at the start. A private route may let you spend less time at a beach club and more time at the reef. This is where the charter’s flexibility has real value.

Choosing between Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island

The island stops are optional and should be treated as separate paid additions, not automatic inclusions. Each is listed at €10 per adult and €5 per child. The descriptions present Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island as beach stops with shallow water, food or drinks, music, and places to relax.

Eden Island is described as a comfortable beach setting with restaurants, bars, loungers, and a mix of relaxation and family activities. It may suit you if your group wants a proper beach break after snorkeling. One detailed account praised its white sand, clear water, loungers, and photo-friendly spots.

Orange Bay sits in the Big Giftun Island National Park and is described as a shallow-water beach with bars, music, massage service, and other facilities. Its easy water entry may appeal to families and people who want to wade rather than snorkel over a reef.

Paradise Island is presented as an eco-tourism beach with white sand, food, music, and a relaxed island atmosphere. It is another option for a two-hour stop, though the precise feel of the beach can depend on how busy it is.

These are not quiet, untouched islands in the strict sense. They are organized beach stops with services and entrance charges. That can be helpful if you want a chair, a drink, and an easy swim. It can disappoint you if you imagined a completely empty shore.

The schedule lists up to two hours at an island. That is a substantial part of an eight-hour day, so choose carefully. If your group mainly wants coral and fish, use that time for another water stop if the captain agrees. If you want a slower day, a beach club may be exactly right.

Giftun Islands and the question of what is included

The Giftun Islands are a pair of Red Sea islands near Hurghada: Big Giftun, or Giftun Kebir, and Little Giftun, or Giftun Soraya. The route allows about 30 minutes around the islands, and the national park ticket is included.

Here is the important distinction: the park access is included, but the organized beach facilities at Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island carry their own fees. This difference has caused confusion, so ask the operator to name the exact beach or sandbank included in your plan.

The operator has also referred to Abu Minqar Island, a shallow-water sandbank, as an included option. Because the supplied route lists several paid island beaches, get the day’s plan in writing if island time matters to you.

Lunch, drinks, and life aboard the boat

Food is one of the strongest parts of the package. Lunch, snacks, coffee or tea, bottled water, and other beverages are included. The crew may prepare lunch on board, and detailed accounts describe fresh fruit platters, mango, drinks, and a satisfying meal served during the day.

The meal is not a restaurant tasting menu, but that is not the point. Having lunch prepared while you are out on the water saves time and keeps the group together. It also means you do not need to pack a full day of food.

You should still confirm any dietary needs before departure. The supplied information does not specify vegetarian, vegan, halal, or allergy menus. Ask early rather than hoping the cook can make a last-minute adjustment.

The boat includes a restroom, snorkeling equipment, space to sit or lie in the sun, and shaded areas. A large refrigerator was also described, which is useful on a hot day. Bring your own preferred mask if you are particular about fit, but the provided equipment is included.

Crew service and the personal feel

Crew names can vary by departure, but accounts identify captains and crew members including Mohammed, Abdul, Samir, Yousuf, Ayad, and cooks such as Regyep. The exact team assigned to your boat will not necessarily be the same.

What matters is the range of jobs on board. You may have a captain, cook, snorkeling helper, and someone handling drinks and general service. On one private group outing, four crew members looked after nine people, leaving enough room for the group to move around the boat.

That level of attention is useful for families, larger groups, and anyone who feels uncertain in the water. It also makes the charter work well for a celebration, such as a bachelorette day, when part of the value is having your own space and music.

Still, private does not mean every wish is automatic. The crew needs clear direction from you. Tell them if you want more reef time, less beach time, a quieter route, or help for a child or anxious swimmer.

Is $324.41 good value?

The listed price is $324.41 per group of up to eight people. Split eight ways, that is about $40.55 per person before optional island fees and transfers. For a smaller group of four, the same base price works out to about $81.10 each.

That makes the trip most attractive for families or groups that can fill much of the boat. The price includes eight hours, a private vessel, crew, lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, restroom access, and the national park ticket. Those inclusions reduce the number of add-on costs.

The capacity information needs clarification. The experience is advertised for groups of up to 14, but the displayed price covers up to eight. Ask for the total price if you have nine to 14 people. A larger group may still find the charter good value, but you should not assume the base rate applies.

Add €10 per adult and €5 per child for a paid island beach. Transfers cost extra as well. The trip offers good value when you want privacy and control, not simply the lowest possible fare.

Who should book this charter?

I would choose this tour for a group that values personal space and wants several ways to spend a day at sea. It suits families, couples, friend groups, first-time snorkelers, and celebrations. It is also a good fit if some people want serious reef time while others prefer sun, lunch, music, or a beach stop.

It is less suitable if you want a guaranteed dolphin encounter, a completely empty island, or a fixed luxury-yacht standard. Island access also needs careful discussion, since the popular beach stops cost extra.

The weather matters. The experience requires good conditions, and a cancellation caused by poor weather can result in a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded.

Should you book the Hurghada private boat trip?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and you care more about flexibility than a set group-cruise schedule. The strongest reasons are the private boat, helpful snorkeling support, fresh onboard lunch, and the ability to shape the day around reefs, dolphins, swimming, or an island.

Before paying, confirm three things: the price for your exact group size, which island or sandbank is included, and the cost of any hotel transfer. If you do that homework, this is a strong full-day option for seeing the Red Sea at your own pace.

FAQ

How long does the private boat trip last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours, beginning at Hurghada Marina.

How many people can join the boat?

The activity is described as private for your group and advertises capacity for up to 14 people. The displayed price of $324.41 applies to a group of up to eight, so larger groups should confirm the final cost.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel transfer is available on request for an additional fee. The stated rates are €15 for the full group inside Hurghada, €20 from Sahl Hasheesh, and €25 from Makadi or El Gouna.

Are snorkeling equipment and lunch included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, lunch, snacks, coffee or tea, bottled water, and beverages are included. A restroom is also available on board.

Do the island stops cost extra?

Yes. Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island each list an entrance fee of €10 per adult and €5 per child. Ask which stop is planned because the paid beach options are separate from the included national park ticket.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.