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

The Red Sea rewards an early start. This private Hurghada charter gives you a full day on the water, with coral reefs, possible dolphin sightings, lunch on board, and the freedom to shape the route around your group. I like the private boat format, which avoids the fixed pace and crowded deck of a large group cruise. I also like that snorkeling equipment, food, drinks, the onboard restroom, and the national park ticket are included.

The main point to watch is the island pricing. Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island are optional stops, and each charges an extra entry fee. One unhappy booking came from a misunderstanding about which island visits were included, so confirm the route and all fees before leaving the marina. The boat may carry up to 14 people, but the advertised price of $324.41 covers a group of up to 8.

Key points before you book

• A genuinely private day on the Red Sea: Your group has the boat and crew to itself, with room to adjust the pace and route.
• Two strong reef stops: Omo Gamaar and Carless Reef offer coral, colorful fish, morays, rays, and the possibility of dolphins.
• Fresh food is a major strength: Lunch, fruit, snacks, tea, coffee, and bottled water are included, with several bookings praising the onboard cooking.
• Island visits cost extra: Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island charge €10 per adult and €5 per child.
• Hotel transfers are available: Transfers cost €15 from Hurghada, €20 from Sahl Hasheesh, and €25 from Makadi or El Gouna for the full group.
• The schedule needs a conversation: Eight hours is enough for snorkeling and one island stop, but probably not every listed beach at a relaxed pace.

Starting at Hurghada Marina

The day begins at Hurghada Marina, with about 10 minutes allowed for boarding and getting organized. The marina is the practical launch point for this part of the Red Sea, and the boat then heads toward the reef areas and island waters.

Pickup is available on request rather than automatically included in the advertised price. If you stay inside Hurghada, the transfer is €15 for the full group. Sahl Hasheesh costs €20, while Makadi or El Gouna costs €25. For a large party, that can be fair value, but agree on the pickup details in advance.

One family found the port transfer a little difficult because the driver had trouble locating the marina. That is a small but useful warning. Have the marina name and meeting point ready, and do not leave the pickup conversation until the morning of the trip.

Once on board, the private setup begins to make sense. You can move between sun and shade, spread out on the boat, play music through the speakers, and ask the captain to adjust the day. A group of nine used the boat for a bachelorette outing and appreciated having enough space to keep changing position as the mood shifted.

Omo Gamaar: A first look below the surface

Omo Gamaar is scheduled for about 30 minutes. The attraction is the underwater scenery, with coral and Red Sea fish including blackback butterflyfish, Picasso fish, and clownfish.

The area may also bring sightings of blue-spotted manta rays, morays, eels, and dolphins. Wildlife is never guaranteed, of course, but the range of possible sightings gives this stop real appeal. You might find the water clear enough to see coral formations and fish without needing to swim far from the boat.

The crew’s help is especially valuable if you are new to snorkeling. Several people were nervous before entering the water, and crew members stayed close, offered assistance, and helped less confident swimmers. Samir was praised for handling a nervous participant with patience, while Capt. Mohammed and crew members Yousuf and Ayad were singled out for friendly service on another trip.

That kind of support matters more than a fancy sales pitch. Snorkeling can be intimidating when the sea is unfamiliar, and a calm guide can turn a worrying first attempt into the best part of the day.

Carless Reef and the best snorkeling time

Carless Reef receives about 45 minutes in the planned schedule. It is presented as another strong coral site, with much the same mix of tropical fish, morays, rays, and occasional dolphins.

The reef is likely to be the heart of your day if underwater scenery matters most. One family described live coral, clear water, colorful fish, and eagle rays during its reef visits. Another group reached quieter snorkeling sites by starting at the farthest point and working back toward Hurghada, finding that they were alone at some stops.

That strategy is worth discussing with the captain. A private charter is most useful when it helps you avoid the most crowded timing, not just when it gives you a boat with your own group. The exact route depends on sea conditions, other boats, and what you ask for, but the captain can often shape the order of stops.

You receive snorkeling equipment as part of the package. The boat also has a restroom, bottled water, snacks, tea, coffee, and lunch, so you do not need to treat the reef stops as a race back to shore.

Choosing between Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island

The island choices are where the wording requires care. Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island are optional, and each lists an entry fee of €10 per adult and €5 per child. The national park ticket is included, but these beach facilities are separate.

You will not realistically spend two hours at all three islands and still enjoy both reef stops during an eight-hour outing. In practice, you should choose the beach that best suits your group, then use the remaining time for snorkeling or a second stop.

Eden Island

Eden Island is presented as a comfortable beach stop with restaurants, bars, loungers, and services. It suits couples or families who want a more organized place to relax rather than remaining on the boat all day.

A family of five visited Eden Island after spotting dolphins and before returning to a coral reef. They valued the white sand, clear water, umbrellas, sun loungers, and photo-friendly areas. Another group began its day there with milkshakes before heading to a snorkeling site.

The tradeoff is that Eden Island is not a remote beach experience. Its facilities are part of the attraction, but they also mean other boats and visitors may be present.

Orange Bay

Orange Bay is located in the Giftun Islands National Park and is known for shallow water and beach amenities. The stop may include music, a bar, massage services, and a relaxed beach setting.

This is a good choice if your group wants easy water access and time to sit on sand rather than spend every minute in the sea. A crew member accompanied one group to Orange Beach and helped them during the visit.

The extra fee is modest compared with the cost of a full private charter, but it still needs to be included in your budget. If you are booking for several adults and children, the total can add up.

Paradise Island

Paradise Island is another organized beach stop, with white sand, food, music, and a more recreational feel. It is described as an eco-tourism beach with Caribbean-style scenery in the Red Sea.

One booking used Paradise Island as the main beach destination and praised the food and captain. This stop may suit a group that wants a lively beach break alongside snorkeling.

Again, do not assume the island fee is part of the boat price. It is not. Ask which beach is planned and how long you will spend there.

Giftun Islands and the included national park ticket

The Giftun Islands are two islands near Hurghada, Big Giftun and Little Giftun. The charter includes a 30-minute visit to the island area and includes the national park ticket.

This is different from the optional beach clubs and island facilities. The included park access does not mean that every organized beach listed in the route is free. The distinction is easy to miss, so I would ask the operator to write down three things before departure: which island you will visit, whether the stop is a natural sandbank or a paid beach facility, and the total extra cost.

One booking expected more island time and instead spent the day snorkeling after learning that the preferred beach required an additional payment. The operator explained that Abu Minqar, a shallow-water sandbank, was the included island-style stop, while Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island had separate fees. Clear communication should prevent that problem.

Lunch, fruit, and the life of the boat

Food is one of the most consistently praised parts of this charter. Lunch is prepared on board, with snacks, fruit, coffee, tea, and bottled water included.

The meals are described as fresh, satisfying, and surprisingly good for food prepared at sea. Fruit platters with mango and sweets were a hit, and one group specifically praised cook Regyep after a fresh lunch. Another booking described the meal as the best food of its holiday.

Do not expect a restaurant kitchen or a formal dining room. The value is in having a hot, freshly prepared meal without returning to shore. It also gives you a proper break between swims, which is important on a long day in the sun.

The crew usually includes a captain, cook, and additional helpers. Their role goes beyond steering the boat. They bring drinks, help with snorkeling, guide you through the reef, and watch for anyone who is anxious in the water. The quality of that personal attention is a major reason this charter receives such strong ratings.

What the private format is really worth

The listed price is $324.41 per group of up to 8, with the boat able to accommodate up to 14 people. That makes the value depend heavily on group size.

For eight people, the base cost works out to roughly $41 per person before optional island fees and transfers. For a smaller group of four or five, the per-person price rises, but you are paying for privacy, flexibility, room on the boat, and a full crew rather than a seat on a standard shared cruise.

A family of five paid $399 for a larger 22-meter boat on one booking and felt it was the best choice of the holiday. Another group of four valued the ability to decide where to go and how long to stay. A party of nine found the boat spacious enough for a full-day celebration.

The strongest value comes when you care about personal service or have a larger group. If your main goal is simply to reach one snorkeling site as cheaply as possible, a shared excursion will cost less. If you want the captain to adjust the route, the crew to help nervous swimmers, and the freedom to combine a beach stop with reefs, the private price is easier to justify.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would recommend this trip to families, groups of friends, couples celebrating something, and anyone who dislikes crowded group boats. It is also a good fit for first-time snorkelers because the crew can offer hands-on help.

Small children may need preparation. One useful tip is to let children practice snorkeling in a swimming pool before the trip so the mask and breathing method feel familiar. The sea is a much harder place to learn from scratch.

The charter also suits mixed groups. Strong swimmers can spend more time at the reef, while others can relax on deck or choose a beach stop. The boat has enough room for sunbathing and shade, which helps on an eight-hour outing.

It may not suit you if you want a tightly fixed island-hopping schedule. The route is customizable, but the listed options compete for time. You should decide what matters most before you board.

Timing, weather, and cancellation details

The trip lasts about eight hours, and the schedule depends on the route you choose. Snorkeling at Omo Gamaar and Carless Reef, one island visit, lunch, and time on the water make a sensible full day. Trying to visit every optional beach would leave little time to enjoy any of them.

The trip requires good weather. If poor conditions cause cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

The tour is private, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed, and the departure point is near public transportation, though the optional hotel transfer is simpler if your group has luggage or an early start.

Should you book it?

Book this Hurghada private boat charter if you want the day to feel like your own. The best parts are the attentive crew, strong snorkeling locations, fresh lunch, flexible route, and the chance to get away from the fixed rhythm of a large group cruise.

Before paying, settle the island question in writing. Ask if you want Eden Island, Orange Bay, Paradise Island, or the included Abu Minqar sandbank, and confirm the added entry fees. Also confirm your group size, pickup cost, and preferred balance between reefs and beach time.

For a group of six to eight, the price is particularly attractive. For a smaller party, it remains worthwhile if privacy and personal help matter more than the lowest possible fare. With the route clarified in advance, this is one of Hurghada’s better choices for a relaxed day on the Red Sea.

FAQ

How long does the private boat trip last?

The charter lasts approximately eight hours.

Where does the boat leave from?

All trips begin at Hurghada Marina.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel transfers are available on request. The listed prices 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, bottled water, coffee, and tea are included. The boat also has a restroom.

Are Eden Island, Orange Bay, and Paradise Island included?

No. These are optional stops with an entry fee of €10 per adult and €5 per child. The national park ticket is included, but the optional beach entry fees are separate.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. If bad weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.