Hurghada Speedboat Trip to Orange Bay and Magawish Islands

Blue water, quick boats, two island moods. This five-hour Hurghada outing takes you by speedboat to Orange Bay, Magawish Island, and two snorkeling spots near the Giftun Islands. I like the mix of easy beach time and active water stops, and I especially like that the group is limited to 20 people. The main catch is that the schedule is fairly tight, with about one hour at each principal stop.

The tour costs $58.73 per person, which is reasonable if your package includes the boat, hotel pickup, equipment, snacks, drinks, and lunch. I would confirm the exact package before paying, since the description also refers to lunch as an optional add-on. Pickup from Makadi, Safaga, El Gouna, or Sahl Hasheesh costs an extra 10 euros.

Key points at a glance

• Orange Bay gives you one hour of white sand and shallow-looking clear water: This is the best stop for relaxing, taking photos, and enjoying music by the sea.
• Magawish Island adds a more active hour: You can use the included snorkeling equipment and look beneath the Red Sea surface.
• Two Giftun snorkeling stops last about 20 minutes each: These short stops are useful for seeing more of the water without giving up island time.
• The boat carries no more than 20 people: That is a manageable group size, especially when guides need to help with snorkeling.
• Youssef offers personal snorkeling help: He gave one participant one-on-one support to help them feel safe in the water.
• Mohammed and his crew handled a last-minute booking well: Their flexible response can matter if another excursion falls through.

Three Red Sea stops in five hours

This is a compact sea outing rather than a slow, full-day cruise. You leave Hurghada in the morning after hotel pickup, reach the islands by speedboat, spend time on the sand and in the water, then return to the marina.

The speedboat is the main reason to choose this trip. It cuts down the feeling of being stuck in transit and gives the journey a little energy of its own. You are not simply being taken to one beach and left there. The route includes an island stop, a second island stop, and two snorkeling sessions around the Giftun Islands.

I like this arrangement for a short holiday in Hurghada. You get several kinds of Red Sea scenery in one outing: beach, open water, island views, and coral-area snorkeling. You do not get long, lazy hours at any one place, so set your expectations correctly. This is a sampler with a motor, not a quiet island retreat.

The listed duration is about five hours. The exact time spent moving between the marina and the stops is not specified, but the planned stops add up to roughly three hours. That leaves the rest for pickup, boarding, boat travel, and returning to shore.

Orange Bay: one hour on the sand

Orange Bay is the first stop, with about one hour set aside. The appeal is simple: white sand, clear water, music, and a chance to stretch out after the boat ride.

This is the most relaxed part of the outing. You can work on your tan, enjoy the island setting, and socialize with people from different countries. The music gives the stop a lively holiday mood rather than a silent, remote-beach feel.

I would use this hour for photos and a quick swim if conditions suit you. Because the visit is short, do not spend the whole time looking for the perfect spot or waiting for everyone else to finish. The value here comes from getting a taste of the island without committing an entire day.

The trade-off is time. One hour passes quickly, particularly if the group needs to get on and off the boat. Orange Bay is best viewed as a scenic break, not the central reason to book the trip. If you want hours of uninterrupted beach time, this schedule may feel rushed.

Magawish Island and the first chance to snorkel

The second island stop is Magawish, where you have about one hour. Here, the focus shifts from beach relaxation to the underwater world of the Red Sea.

Snorkeling equipment and life jackets are included. That saves you from arranging separate gear and makes it easier to try the activity even if you did not bring equipment from home. The tour also includes bottled water, soft drinks, fruit, and snacks, useful extras when you are spending the morning in the sun.

A strong point is the personal help described from Youssef’s team. Youssef took one person aside for one-on-one snorkeling guidance, helping them feel safer in the water. That is exactly the sort of practical support that can change the outing for someone who is nervous around open water.

You should still remember that this is a group activity. Personal assistance may depend on the guide’s availability and the needs of the rest of the group. If snorkeling is your main goal, tell the crew early that you would appreciate help. Life jackets are provided, but the supplied information does not give details about swimming ability requirements or specific reef conditions.

Giftun Islands: two short snorkeling sessions

The Giftun Islands portion includes two snorkeling stops, each lasting about 20 minutes. Together, they take roughly one hour once time for moving between spots and getting ready is considered.

These short sessions give you two chances to look below the surface instead of relying on one single location. That is useful because water conditions can vary, and one stop may suit you better than the other. You can also treat the first session as a warm-up and feel more comfortable during the second.

Do not expect a long, unhurried snorkel. Twenty minutes is enough for a focused look, but it is not enough to drift around for hours. The schedule favors variety over depth. You will need to listen for instructions, use the supplied gear, and be ready when the boat moves on.

The information provided does not promise particular fish, coral formations, or visibility on a given day. That is worth keeping in mind. The Red Sea is famous for its underwater scenery, but the quality of any snorkeling stop depends on weather and sea conditions. The trip requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

What the speedboat changes

A speedboat gives this tour a different rhythm from a larger party boat. You spend less time feeling like you are simply being transported and more time moving quickly between stops.

That speed is useful in a five-hour schedule. You can fit Orange Bay, Magawish, and the Giftun snorkeling stops into one morning without turning the day into an all-day commitment. If you have only a few days in Hurghada, that efficient route has real value.

There is also a social side. Music and a group of no more than 20 people create an outgoing atmosphere. You can meet people from different places without being placed in a very large crowd.

The same design may not suit everyone. Speedboat travel can feel less calm than a slow boat ride, and the tour is built around movement. If you prefer a quiet day with plenty of personal space, ask yourself if the social music-and-islands mood fits your style.

Lunch, drinks, and what is really included

The included items make the price easier to assess. The package lists bottled water, soft drinks, fruit, snacks, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, an air-conditioned vehicle, and a lunch box with cheese and turkey sandwiches.

That is a practical set of provisions for a five-hour outing. You are not left to find food on an island, and the drinks matter in the Egyptian sun. The air-conditioned vehicle is also welcome during hotel pickup and the return journey.

There is one point to clarify before booking. The overview describes lunch as available when selected as an add-on, while the included section lists lunch as part of the package. Because those details do not perfectly match, check the exact option attached to your booking. You should know if the sandwich lunch is included in the $58.73 price or requires an extra selection.

The food should be viewed as a simple packed lunch, not a restaurant meal. The cheese and turkey sandwich is convenient and easy to eat between water activities. Bring realistic expectations and focus on the islands, not a culinary event.

The tour price also excludes all fees and taxes. Those charges are not itemized in the information provided, so ask for the final total before confirming.

Pickup from Hurghada and nearby resorts

Hotel pickup is offered, which makes the trip easier for anyone staying in Hurghada. The air-conditioned vehicle is included, and the tour is listed as being near public transportation.

Long-distance pickup is treated differently. Collection from Makadi, Safaga, El Gouna, or Sahl Hasheesh costs an additional 10 euros. That charge is easy to overlook if you are comparing the headline price with other excursions, so factor it in from the start.

The pickup time is not stated here. Since the experience starts in the morning, you should keep your schedule open before departure and avoid booking another activity too close to the return. Boat travel, marina boarding, and group coordination all need some breathing room.

The operator is Go shalabi. Confirmation is sent at the time of booking, and the mobile ticket is useful when you are moving between hotel, vehicle, marina, and boat. Keep the booking details accessible on your phone.

A good group size, with a human touch

The maximum group size is 20 people. That is large enough to create a social mood but small enough that the boat should not feel like a mass outing.

The strongest personal touch comes from the guides. Youssef and his team helped one person snorkel by offering one-on-one support. That suggests the crew can be attentive when someone needs reassurance, though you should not assume a private guide for the entire day.

Mohammed and his crew also handled a last-minute booking after another company failed to show for a separate diving trip. The resulting speedboat outing became a useful rescue plan rather than a lost day. That kind of flexibility is valuable when your schedule changes suddenly, though booking ahead is still wiser than relying on a last-minute opening.

This is a shared adventure, not a private charter. You will follow the group’s timing, share the boat, and move on when the schedule says so. In exchange, you get a lower price than a private boat and the chance to meet other people.

Value at $58.73 per person

At $58.73, the value depends on what you want from a Red Sea day. The price is attractive if it includes transportation, the speedboat, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, drinks, fruit, snacks, and the lunch box.

You are paying for access to several locations in one outing, not only for a boat ride to Orange Bay. The combination of two island stops and two snorkeling sessions gives the fare more substance than a simple beach transfer.

The cost becomes less appealing if you want long stays at each island. One hour at Orange Bay and one hour at Magawish are enough for a taste, but not enough for deep relaxation. Extra pickup charges and any separate taxes also affect the final value.

For a first Red Sea outing, I see this as a sensible middle ground. It is more active and varied than a beach transfer, but shorter and less expensive than a full-day boat program. Check the lunch option and extra charges before deciding.

Who should book this speedboat trip?

I would point this tour toward you if you want:

• A five-hour outing instead of a full day at sea
• Several stops in one morning
• A social atmosphere with music
• A manageable group capped at 20 people
• A first try at snorkeling with equipment provided
• Hotel pickup from Hurghada
• A chance to visit Orange Bay and Magawish without arranging separate transport

Families and mixed groups may find the format useful because beach time and snorkeling share the same schedule. Someone who is uneasy in the water may also appreciate the possibility of personal help from the crew, though the supplied information does not promise private instruction.

I would hesitate if you want a silent boat, a private island visit, or hours at one beach. The short stops and shared format reward flexibility. You need to be comfortable following a timetable.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellation within 24 hours is not refunded, and changes during that period are not accepted. Since the trip depends on good weather, a cancellation by the operator for poor conditions brings an alternative date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this Hurghada speedboat trip if you want a lively, efficient introduction to the Red Sea. The best reasons are the three-stop route, the included snorkeling gear, the small maximum group, and the friendly support described from Youssef, Mohammed, and their crews.

Before paying, confirm two things: that your selected price includes the lunch box, and whether your hotel requires the 10-euro long-range pickup charge. If you accept the tight timetable and shared boat, $58.73 offers a useful mix of beach, speed, and snorkeling in one morning.

FAQ

How long does the speedboat trip last?

The experience lasts approximately five hours.

Which places does the trip visit?

The route includes Orange Bay, Magawish Island, and the Giftun Islands. The Giftun portion includes two snorkeling stops.

How long do you stay at Orange Bay?

You spend approximately one hour at Orange Bay.

How long do you stay at Magawish Island?

You spend approximately one hour at Magawish Island.

How many snorkeling stops are included?

There are two snorkeling stops at the Giftun Islands. Each one lasts about 20 minutes.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the package includes an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup from Makadi, Safaga, El Gouna, or Sahl Hasheesh costs an additional 10 euros.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

Because the experience requires good weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes cancellation.