Hurghada: Boat trip to Magawish island with Multi Options

Red Sea color, white sand, and a full day afloat. This Magawish Island trip gives you two snorkeling stops, island swimming, lunch, and a boat ride for $35 per person. I especially like the mix of active water time and easy beach hours, plus the included hotel pickup within Hurghada. The main drawback is the pickup window: your van may arrive 1 to 1.5 hours away from the originally scheduled time, so this is not a tightly timed outing.

I also like that you can shape the day to suit yourself. You can keep it simple with snorkeling, lunch, and a swim, or add a massage, parasailing, or seafood lunch if available during checkout. The island stay lasts about two hours, which is enough to relax without turning the day into a long stretch of sitting in the sun.

Key points before you book

• Two snorkeling stops: You get about two hours in the water, with guides available to help you explore coral and marine life.
• Around two hours on Magawish Island: Swim, sit on the white sand, take pictures, or simply slow down.
• $35 includes the basics: Hotel pickup in Hurghada, island fees, water, soft drinks, fruit, a guide, snorkeling assistance, and lunch.
• Optional extras change the day: Massage, parasailing, and seafood lunch are available only if you choose the related add-on.
• Pickup needs care: Wait at the main hotel entrance by the road, not the lobby or reception area, and check your email at 10 PM the night before.
• A good choice for mixed groups: Families, couples, and groups with different ideas of fun can combine snorkeling, swimming, and quiet beach time.

What your $35 buys on the Red Sea

At $35, this is a strong-value day on the water if you want several activities in one package. You are not paying only for a boat ride. The price covers transportation from a Hurghada hotel, the island entry fees, water, soft drinks, fruit, a guide, snorkeling support, and lunch.

That bundle matters in Hurghada, where small extras can quickly add up. A separate transfer, boat ticket, island fee, meal, and snorkeling guide could make a simple day more expensive and harder to arrange. Here, the main work is handled for you.

The standard meal is lunch on the island. A seafood lunch is available as an add-on, so check the booking choices carefully if that is important to you. The same applies to the massage and parasailing. The headline price should be treated as the basic package, not as the cost of every possible activity.

I see the best value here for anyone who wants a straightforward Red Sea day without booking several separate services. If you mainly want a private boat, long snorkeling sessions, or a quiet beach with very few other people, a smaller or more specialized trip may suit you better.

Getting from your hotel to the marina

The day begins with pickup from Hurghada 1, Hurghada, or Hurghada 2. The van ride is listed as about 30 minutes, though your total morning can be longer because the vehicle collects other people and routes may change.

Your exact pickup time arrives by email at 10 PM the night before. This is one detail you should not ignore. The scheduled time can shift by 1 to 1.5 hours, and the driver waits only a short time after the confirmed pickup. The instructions give both five and ten minutes in different places, so I would treat the safer rule as this: be at the meeting point 15 minutes early.

The meeting point is the hotel’s main entrance beside the road. It is not the reception desk, lobby, or an interior gate. Bring your nationality, hotel name, full address, room number, and a working contact number when you book. These details help the operator send the right vehicle and contact you if the route changes.

Pickup from Makadi Bay, Safaga, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, and Soma Bay is available as a paid long-range add-on. If you are staying in one of those areas, do not assume the standard Hurghada transfer covers you.

The transport has generally been praised for taking people directly from their hotels and returning them afterward. Still, vehicle planning can be imperfect. One account described a cramped arrangement involving seven people, two buggies, and a wheelchair. If you use a wheelchair or have bulky equipment, give the provider accurate information before the day.

Two hours at the snorkeling sites

Once you reach the boat, the first major part of the day is the Red Sea snorkeling. The schedule allows about two hours across two selected spots, so you are not limited to one quick swim beside the island.

The appeal is clear: warm, clear water, coral formations, and colorful marine life. The snorkeling guide is there to explain where to look and help participants in the water. That support is useful for first-timers and families, especially when people in the same group have different swimming confidence.

You should bring your own towel and sunscreen. Water, soft drinks, and fruit are included, but the supplied information does not say that snorkeling equipment is included, so confirm that point before departure if you do not have your own mask and fins.

The snorkeling time is also where you need realistic expectations. The trip promises access to coral and marine life, not a private reef or a guarantee of seeing a particular animal. One group happened to see dolphins swimming nearby, but that is a fortunate possibility rather than a scheduled part of the outing.

The two-stop format is useful because conditions can vary. If one spot is less appealing on the day, the second gives you another chance to enjoy the water. On the other hand, two hours includes getting ready, entering and leaving the water, and moving between places, so it will not feel like two uninterrupted hours of swimming.

Listen closely to the guide and crew. The water may look calm from the boat, but you still need to follow instructions about where to swim and when to return. Keep sunscreen, towels, and personal items organized so the change between snorkeling and the island does not eat into your free time.

Two hours on Magawish Island

After the snorkeling stops, the boat continues to Magawish Island. You get approximately two hours there, with time for swimming, beach sitting, photographs, and lunch.

The island’s main attraction is its simple setting: soft white sand and clear turquoise water. This is the part of the day for people who want less activity. You can sit near the beach, cool off in the water, or use the time to take photographs without having to keep moving from one stop to the next.

Magawish has also been described as less crowded than some other island options. That can make a real difference. A beach day is more pleasant when you can find a patch of sand and enjoy the view without feeling pressed into a packed group. I would still avoid assuming the island will be empty, especially during busy periods.

Lunch is served on the island, which is practical and pleasant. You do not have to rush back to the boat for a meal, and you can combine eating with your beach break. Water, soft drinks, and fruit are also included.

Two hours is a fair compromise, but it is not a long island stay. Lunch, changing clothes, swimming, and taking photos can quickly use most of the time. If your priority is a full afternoon on sand, this trip may feel too structured. If you want a taste of the island combined with snorkeling, the timing works well.

Choosing the massage, parasailing, and seafood options

The trip is designed around choices. The basic day includes snorkeling, beach time, lunch, and the boat ride. Additional options may include a massage on the island, parasailing, and seafood lunch.

A massage makes sense if your ideal holiday day includes very little effort. You can spend the morning in the water, then use the island stop to relax while someone else handles the activity. Confirm exactly when and where the massage takes place, since the supplied details do not give its length or treatment style.

Parasailing is the more active add-on. It gives you a higher view over the Red Sea and Magawish, but it is not part of the base $35 price. If you are comparing this trip with another boat excursion, include the cost of the extras rather than comparing only the advertised starting price.

The seafood lunch is another paid choice. The standard lunch is included, while seafood requires the add-on selected during checkout. This is helpful for people who want a more specific meal, but it is not necessary for a satisfying day.

For a family or large group, the multiple-option format can be handy. One person can swim, another can book a massage, and someone else can choose parasailing. The tradeoff is that everyone may not be doing the same thing at the same time, so agree on meeting points and return times.

The crew and languages

The listed guide languages are Arabic, English, and Russian. That covers many visitors, and the snorkeling guide adds practical help during the water portion rather than leaving you to figure out the reef alone.

The crew has received especially warm praise for being helpful, polite, and attentive from pickup through the boat ride and island stay. Names associated with particularly well-regarded crew members include Hasim and Akim. Guides have also been described as friendly without being pushy, which suits a day that includes plenty of free time.

One Spanish-speaking group had a guide who spoke Spanish, but Spanish is not listed among the regular guide languages. If language support is essential for you, confirm it before paying rather than relying on that isolated possibility.

The crew can make a major difference on a boat trip. Good timing, clear instructions, and a calm approach help the day feel easy. The experience is not a private charter, though, so the level of personal attention can depend on group size and the number of pickup stops.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a broad sample of the Red Sea in one day. It suits couples who want both water time and a beach break, families with children who need a change of pace, and groups where not everyone wants to snorkel all day.

It is also useful for first-time visitors to Hurghada. You get a boat trip, two reef stops, an island, lunch, and transport without having to coordinate each part yourself. The guide support makes the snorkeling less intimidating if you have not tried it before.

The trip may be less suitable if you dislike early uncertainty around pickup. The 1 to 1.5 hour variation can make the morning feel loose, especially if you have dinner plans or another booking later. The full duration is about eight hours, so leave the evening open.

I would also think twice if you want total quiet or a private schedule. This is a shared outing with hotel transfers and a planned route. It gives you variety and value, but not complete control.

Bring sunscreen, a towel, and cash for extras or personal purchases. Pets are not allowed. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the vehicle arrangements may vary, so share your mobility needs clearly before the trip.

Is the $35 Magawish trip worth booking?

For $35, I think this is a good buy for a full Red Sea day with two snorkeling stops, island time, lunch, drinks, and hotel transport. Its strongest feature is the balance. You get coral and marine life in the morning, then a slower beach break instead of spending all eight hours on a boat.

Book it if you value convenience, want several activities in one day, and are comfortable with a flexible pickup schedule. Select the long-range transfer if you are outside Hurghada, and add the massage, parasailing, or seafood lunch only if those extras genuinely matter to you.

I would skip it in favor of a private or more specialized cruise if you want long, uninterrupted snorkeling, a guaranteed dolphin encounter, or a completely personal timetable. For most people staying in Hurghada, though, Magawish offers a pleasant mix of water, sand, food, and easy logistics at a fair price.

FAQ

How long does the Magawish Island trip last?

The activity lasts about eight hours, including hotel transportation, the boat trip, snorkeling, island time, and the return journey.

How much time is spent snorkeling?

You spend about two hours swimming and snorkeling at two selected snorkeling locations.

How long do you stay on Magawish Island?

The island visit lasts approximately two hours, including time for lunch, swimming, relaxing, and photographs.

Is hotel pickup included?

Round-trip hotel pickup is included for hotels in the main Hurghada pickup areas. Pickup from Makadi Bay, Safaga, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, and Soma Bay requires the long-range pickup add-on.

What is included in the price?

The $35 package includes hotel transportation from Hurghada, island fees, water, soft drinks, fruit, a guide, snorkeling guidance, and lunch on the island.

When will I receive my exact pickup time?

The exact pickup time is sent by email at 10 PM the night before the trip. You should wait at your hotel’s main entrance by the road and be ready 15 minutes early.