Red Sea Day Trips by Resort

Snorkellers should pick the Giftun Island Snorkeling Trip or the Tiran Island Snorkeling Trip. If you would rather stay dry, the Hurghada Submarine Tour has a window at every seat. Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Dahab each add a desert option with a camel ride.

Key Takeaways

• Hurghada has the widest choice here: snorkelling at Giftun Island, a submarine, and a 4x4 desert safari with a camel ride and a barbecue dinner.
• Sharm El Sheikh offers Tiran Island snorkelling with an open buffet lunch, a quad bike and camel safari, and a night climb of Mount Sinai.
• Marsa Alam offers snorkelling from Port Ghalib, where the second stop is Marsa Mubarak, and a sunset quad safari of about 22 km.
• Dahab's day starts with snorkelling at the Blue Hole, then quad biking and a camel safari.
• Average daily highs are 21.7 °C in Hurghada and 21.9 °C in Sharm El Sheikh in January, and 35.0 °C and 37.9 °C in July.

By resort

On the water

The Giftun Island trip from Hurghada visits a protected area with healthy reefs. It stops at two snorkelling spots, includes the equipment and an English-speaking instructor, and serves an open buffet lunch on board. The page says lucky travellers may meet dolphins.

From Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam, the boat first stops at Marsa El Shone and then at Marsa Mubarak, a protected lagoon with coral formations where the page says you may spot a dugong or sea turtles. A Zodiac speedboat ride and lunch on board are included. In Sharm El Sheikh, the Tiran Island trip crosses the Gulf of Aqaba, stops at the Blue Lagoon and several reefs, and includes an open buffet lunch.

The Sindbad submarine in Hurghada is the dry option. It takes you 22 meters below sea level for a two-hour trip, with large panoramic windows, so nobody needs diving experience. For the Blue Hole itself, read about the Blue Hole of Dahab and Ras Mohammed National Park.

In the desert

The Hurghada safari goes by 4x4 jeep, includes a camel ride, a barbecue dinner and an oriental show, and ends with stargazing. A quad bike ride around the Bedouin village is not included. The Marsa Alam safari is quad-based: a test drive, about 22 km through the mountains, tea at a Bedouin village, a camel ride at sunset and a barbecue dinner. In Sharm El Sheikh, the safari is about two hours of quad riding after a safety briefing, with tea at a Bedouin tent and a camel ride led by local Bedouins.

The Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery Tour from Sharm El Sheikh starts around 2:00 AM at the base of the mountain with a Bedouin guide. The hike is moderately challenging and reaches the summit for sunrise, before the day continues to St Catherine's Monastery. The entry fee for the monastery is included.

Plan around the heat

For more on choosing a resort and a season, see the best beaches in Egypt and our guide to the Egyptian Red Sea. Browse every trip by town: Hurghada day tours, Sharm El Sheikh day tours, Marsa Alam day tours and Dahab day tours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which trip is best if I do not want to swim? The Sindbad submarine in Hurghada.

Is snorkelling equipment included? Yes on the Giftun Island, Port Ghalib, Tiran Island and Dahab Blue Hole trips.

Is lunch included? Lunch is served on board on the Giftun Island, Port Ghalib and Tiran Island boats.

Can I ride a quad bike on the Hurghada safari? It is an extra: the Hurghada safari lists a quad bike ride around the Bedouin village as not included.

Do prices change over holidays? The Giftun Island page notes prices may vary over Christmas, New Year and Easter.