REVIEW · HURGHADA
Hurghada: Orange Bay Dolphin Watching, Snorkeling & Lunch
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Go Shalabi · Bookable on GetYourGuide
A fast boat day can feel like a postcard. This one mixes dolphin watching, two snorkel breaks, and Orange Bay Beach/Giftun Island time in about half a day. I like that it’s structured, with a guide and gear ready, not just a random boat and hope.
Two things I’d bet you’ll enjoy: the high-speed pursuit for dolphins (when conditions allow), and the chance to snorkel at two different spots with provided equipment. One thing to plan around: dolphin sightings are not guaranteed, since you’re looking in their natural habitat and water traffic can affect how often you can swim with them.
In This Review
- Key Points You’ll Want to Know
- Dolphins, Snorkeling, and Orange Bay in One Speedboat Day
- How the Tour Runs: Pickup to Giftun Island Time
- Dolphin Watching: Fast Boat, Natural Habitat Reality
- Snorkeling at Two Spots Around Giftun Island
- Orange Bay Island: Beaches, Lunch Box, and Beach Options
- Food, Drinks, and Small Comforts on Board
- Price and Value at $47: What You Get for Your Money
- Who This Fits (and Who Should Skip It)
- Practical Tips to Make This Day Go Smoothly
- Should You Book This Hurghada Dolphin and Orange Bay Tour?
- FAQ
- Is dolphin spotting guaranteed on this tour?
- What snorkeling is included?
- How long will I spend snorkeling?
- Is lunch included?
- Do I get drinks and fruit?
- Is there an option to fly?
- Where do hotel pickups happen?
- What should I bring?
- Who should not take this tour?
- Can I cancel?
Key Points You’ll Want to Know

You’re doing dolphins + snorkeling + island beach time in one speedboat outing.
Two snorkel stops are usually back-to-back, with life jackets on board for comfort.
Orange Bay/Giftun Island includes entrance fees and a simple lunch box plus fruit and drinks.
Dolphins may not show. The tour searches, but nature sets the rules.
There’s an optional short flight (listed up to about 5–10 minutes) for a view from above.
Pickup timing is strict, and the meeting point is specific, not the hotel lobby.
Dolphins, Snorkeling, and Orange Bay in One Speedboat Day

If you want a Hurghada day that feels like it has three chapters instead of one, this tour fits. You start with a speedboat ride, then switch gears to snorkeling around the Giftun area, and finish with time at Orange Bay Island. It’s a good choice when you want the Red Sea to do the heavy lifting.
The best part is the variety without the hassle of switching tours. You don’t have to coordinate separate transfers for dolphins versus beaches. Everything is built around one boat day, with a guide, snorkeling equipment, and life jackets included.
The catch is the sea itself. Dolphins are wild animals, and the tour team is balancing dolphin behavior with boat traffic. That means the day can be amazing—or it can end up being more of a snorkeling and island day.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Hurghada.
How the Tour Runs: Pickup to Giftun Island Time

You’ll get hotel pickup in Hurghada, then go to the speedboat departure point with a guide in the mix. The pickup details are sent by email the night before (at 10 pm), so you’ll want to check your inbox and make sure your nationality and hotel info are correct. Also note the meeting point: it’s at the main entrance of the Main Gate hotel on the highway, not the reception gate.
Once you’re on the boat, the guide typically shares what to expect and where they’ll try first. From there, the day is paced to fit multiple activities without turning into a full-day grind.
A rough outline looks like this:
- Dolphin search and viewing from the speedboat, with chances to get photos
- Two snorkeling stops with gear, instruction, and time in the open sea
- Orange Bay Island time for beach relaxation and lunch
- Return transfer back to Hurghada hotels
Total time is often about 4.5 hours, depending on sea conditions and where the boat ends up.
Dolphin Watching: Fast Boat, Natural Habitat Reality

This tour’s dolphin segment is built around motion. You’ll ride out on a speedboat to search for dolphins in open water, and you’ll watch them swim and play around the boat when they appear.
Here’s the honest planning angle: dolphins are not guaranteed. The tour sets expectations that they search in the dolphins’ natural habitat and that swimming with dolphins may depend on how many boats are around. In other words, you’re not buying a promise of dolphin time—you’re buying a serious attempt.
That said, when you do get dolphins quickly, it can feel like the day clicked into place immediately. One captain is even called out by name in feedback, with Momo credited for handling everything well and being friendly. So if you get the vibe of a calm, organized crew, that’s a good sign you’re in capable hands.
Snorkeling at Two Spots Around Giftun Island

Snorkeling is the core backup plan, and it’s also the main reason many people book. You get snorkeling equipment and a guide briefing before you hit the water.
You’ll do two separate snorkeling locations. A key detail: the snorkel time is often split into shorter sessions back-to-back. One useful guideline from experience is about 1 hour total snorkeling in open sea, with roughly half an hour at a time before moving on.
What makes this valuable is variety. Two spots mean you’re not stuck at one reef view if conditions change (visibility, currents, crowding). You’re also more likely to find different coral structures and fish activity just by changing the location.
Also, you’ll have life jackets on board for getting comfortable before and after snorkeling. That doesn’t replace snorkeling skill, but it reduces stress if you’re not fully relaxed at the surface.
Orange Bay Island: Beaches, Lunch Box, and Beach Options

After snorkeling, you head toward Orange Bay Island, part of the Giftun area. This is your decompression segment: you get time on shore, with the entrance fee included and a shaded area covered by the tour.
On arrival, you’ll typically have options:
- relax on the beach
- take a dip in the sea
- snorkel again if conditions and timing allow
- just hang out and recover from the saltwater day
Orange Bay time is also a crowd factor. If you’re going later in the day, you might find it busier. For example, booking around 1 pm has been noted as feeling less crowded. If your schedule allows, that kind of mid-afternoon timing can help.
Lunch is provided as a boxed sandwich. The contents are listed as turkey, cheese, roast beef, pickles, juice, fruits. The tricky part is quality perception. Some people thought the lunch was disappointing, while others still rated the day highly, especially when the fruit and drinks on board were a strong add-on. Translation: plan for a basic lunch, not a gourmet picnic.
- Swimming with Dolphin VIP Snorkeling Sea Trip With Lunch and Transfer – Hurghada
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Food, Drinks, and Small Comforts on Board

This tour is not a restaurant day, but it does offer enough to keep you going. On board you should have soft drinks, water, and seasonal fruits. Some feedback also mentions a fruit platter, plus juice options available during the trip.
A shaded area on the boat is included, which matters more than you think in Hurghada heat. If you’re sun-sensitive, having shade between activities helps your energy level for snorkeling and island time.
One thing to keep in mind: lunch box quality can be hit or miss. I’d treat it as fuel, then rely on the fruit and drinks included to make the break feel more satisfying.
Price and Value at $47: What You Get for Your Money

At $47 per person, this can be a strong value if you care about getting multiple Red Sea experiences in one package. You’re not paying separately for hotel pickup, speedboat transport, a guide, two snorkeling stops, entrance to Orange Bay Island, and nature reserve fees. Those pieces add up quickly when booked individually.
What you’re really buying is logistics. A hotel pickup plus equipment plus two snorkel locations equals fewer moving parts for you.
The value shifts based on one gamble: dolphins. If dolphins show up fast, you feel like you got the full thrill package. If they don’t appear, the trip becomes more of a snorkeling + island day, which can still be great, but it’s not the same kind of excitement.
So I see this as a good deal for active travelers who will enjoy snorkeling even if the dolphin segment is shorter than hoped.
Who This Fits (and Who Should Skip It)

This is a good fit for:
- people who enjoy being on a boat and want speedboat thrills
- swimmers who are comfortable snorkeling in open sea
- beach lovers who want Orange Bay time without planning separate transport
It’s less ideal if:
- you have back problems. The tour specifically says it’s not suitable for people with back problems.
- you’re extremely concerned about dolphin uncertainty. The dolphin segment can change based on sea traffic and dolphin behavior.
If you’re traveling as a small group, you might experience it as more personal. There’s feedback praising a small, more intimate setup compared with larger tourist boats, though small-group size isn’t guaranteed. Still, it’s worth aiming for a time slot where fewer people are on the water.
Practical Tips to Make This Day Go Smoothly

You’ll get the most out of this tour if you prepare for it like a water day, not a sightseeing day.
What to bring:
- Swimwear
- towel
- cash
Also, don’t ignore the pickup details. Pickup is time-sensitive, and the team can wait no more than 5 minutes. Late pickups are adjusted based on other clients, but you shouldn’t plan on being late and hoping for the best.
For meeting the group, go to the main entrance of the Main Gate hotel on the highway, not the hotel reception gate. That’s the kind of detail that can save you from a stressful start.
On the day itself:
- Apply sunscreen before you’re out in the sun, and bring water mindset for snorkeling
- Wear footwear that’s easy for beach transitions
- If you’re prone to sea motion, plan for it before you go
And if you’re curious about the optional flight: there’s an add-on choice to fly briefly, listed as up to about 5 to 10 minutes depending on the option. It’s worth considering if you love Red Sea views from above and want a different angle.
Should You Book This Hurghada Dolphin and Orange Bay Tour?
Book it if you want a single speedboat day that gives you dolphin watching attempts, two snorkeling stops, and Orange Bay beach time with lunch and drinks handled. At $47, it’s a practical value when you treat dolphins as a bonus and snorkeling as the sure thing.
Skip it if you need guaranteed dolphin swimming, or if your body isn’t suited for boat movement and open sea snorkeling. And if lunch quality matters a lot to you, understand it’s a boxed sandwich setup, not a culinary centerpiece.
If you’re flexible and ready to roll with the sea, this is the kind of tour that can feel like you packed three great Red Sea experiences into one tidy morning-to-afternoon rhythm.
FAQ
Is dolphin spotting guaranteed on this tour?
No. Dolphin spotting is not guaranteed because the tour searches in dolphins’ natural habitat, and swimming with dolphins can depend on conditions such as how many boats are around.
What snorkeling is included?
You get snorkeling equipment, and the tour includes two snorkeling stops in open sea locations, with a guide providing a brief overview and support.
How long will I spend snorkeling?
You’ll snorkel in total for about 1 hour, split into shorter sessions (roughly half an hour at a time) at two spots.
Is lunch included?
Yes. You get a lunch box sandwich (turkey, cheese, roast beef, pickles) plus juice and fruits.
Do I get drinks and fruit?
Yes. Soft drinks, water, and seasonal fruits are included, and fruit is part of the included refreshment during the day.
Is there an option to fly?
There is an option to fly for a short time, listed as up to about 5 to 10 minutes, so you can see the Red Sea from above.
Where do hotel pickups happen?
Pickup is from your hotel in Hurghada. The meeting point is the main entrance of the Main Gate hotel on the highway, not the reception gate. Pickup details are sent by email at 10 pm the night before.
What should I bring?
Bring swimwear, a towel, and cash.
Who should not take this tour?
It is not suitable for people with back problems.
Can I cancel?
Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
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