Travel & Planning
Speed boat trips from Hurghada: private or shared, and what to expect
A speedboat gets you to Dolphin House or the Giftun reefs fast, in a small private group, but it is smaller, livelier in waves and has less shade than a big day boat. Choose a speedboat for a short private trip; choose a day boat for a full day with lunch, shade and more time in the water. Our private speedboat dolphin trip takes up to 6 people for about 3 hours.
By 71 Guardians · Published 08 Nov 2026
What is the difference between a speedboat and a day boat?
| Private speedboat | Shared day boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is on board | Only your group | Several groups together |
| Trip length | Short trips of a few hours | A full day, with lunch on board |
| Ride | Fast, but you feel the waves more | Slower and steadier |
| Space and shade | Limited | Decks, shade and room to move |
| Timing | You choose the start time | Fixed schedule |
Neither is better in general: it depends on how long you want to be out and who you travel with.
Where do speedboat trips from Hurghada go?
The most popular short trip is to Dolphin House (Shaab El Erg), a horseshoe reef north of Hurghada used as a resting area by Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Speedboats also run to the islands of the Giftun national park, including the beaches sold as Orange Bay, Paradise Island and Mahmya.
Our private speedboat dolphin trip goes to Dolphin House: about 3 hours on the boat, up to 6 people, with mask, fins, life jackets, water and soft drinks included, and pickup from hotels in Hurghada. You choose the start time.
Is a speedboat good if you get seasick?
Usually not the best choice. A small boat moving fast feels every wave, and on windy days the ride can be bumpy. If you get seasick easily, a bigger day boat is steadier. Our guide to seasickness on boats explains where to sit and what helps.
How should a speedboat behave around dolphins?
HEPCA, the Red Sea conservation association, publishes a dolphin code of conduct: boats slow down near dolphins, never chase them or drive into a group, and people never touch or feed them. On our trip the dolphins choose whether to come close, and the crew never chases, touches or feeds them. Our article on choosing a dolphin trip lists the red flags to watch for.
Speedboat or day boat: which should you book?
- Book a private speedboat if you are a family or small group, want a short trip and like to choose your start time.
- Book a day boat if you want a full day with lunch, shade and two long stops: our snorkeling trip or the Orange Bay trip.
- Divers go out on our daily dive boat, and non-divers can join them to snorkel.
Today's prices are on each trip page and on our price list.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a speedboat trip to Dolphin House?
Our private speedboat trip is about 3 hours on the boat, plus hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada.
How many people fit on your private speedboat?
Up to 6 people. The boat is just for your group.
Is a speedboat safe for children?
Life jackets are on board and included. On windy days the ride is bumpier, so for small children or anyone prone to seasickness a bigger day boat is often more comfortable.
Will we definitely see dolphins?
No one can promise that: the dolphins are wild. Dolphin House is where they often rest, and the crew never chases them to make an encounter happen.
Questions before you dive with us?
Message our team on WhatsApp — we're divers in Hurghada and happy to help.
Chat with us on WhatsAppSources
- Dolphin code of conduct — HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association)
- Hurghada travel guide — Wikivoyage
- Northern Red Sea Islands IMMA factsheet — IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force