Glass Bottom Boat Trip — View Hurghada's Coral Reef Without Getting Wet

Hurghada

Overview

For a short, low-cost way to see Hurghada's coral reefs without swimming, snorkeling, or diving, a glass bottom boat trip is the simplest option available. The boat sails over shallow reef areas with a large viewing panel built into the hull, giving passengers a clear view of coral and fish from a dry, seated position — ideal as a shorter, cheaper alternative to the Sindbad Submarine for travelers with limited time or budget.

Egypt For Travel's glass bottom boat trip is a half-day excursion, shorter than the full-day snorkeling and island trips, making it easy to combine with a beach afternoon or an evening activity on the same day.

What to Expect

The boat cruises slowly over several shallow reef areas close to Hurghada, with the captain positioning the vessel over areas of high coral and fish activity. A guide typically narrates what's visible below, pointing out coral types and any larger marine life passing beneath the boat. Because the reef here is shallower than the dive and submarine sites, visibility of individual fish and coral detail is often excellent, even without descending underwater.

Detail	Information
Total duration	Approx. 2–3 hours
Water contact	None — viewing through a glass hull panel
Cost	Lower than the submarine tour, similar experience for shallower reef
Best for	Families with young children, non-swimmers, short-time-budget travelers

Want a longer, deeper underwater experience instead? See our Sindbad Submarine Tour. Ready to get in the water? See our Hurghada Snorkeling Trip. For general trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

Duration: Approx. 2–3 hours

Type: Day Tour

Run: Daily, several departures

Included

Round-trip boat transfer
Glass bottom boat cruise over reef areas
Guide commentary
Bottled water

Excluded

Hotel pickup/drop-off (confirm coverage area)
Meals
Gratuities

Itinerary:

Morning or afternoon — Hotel pickup or marina meet-up
Boat departure — Cruise to the first reef viewing area
Reef viewing — Slow cruise over coral with guide commentary
Second stop — Additional reef area, if included
Return — Boat transfer back to marina
Drop-off — Hotel drop-off

Prices:

Prices

2-3 Persons

$ 35 Per Person

4-6 Persons

$ 30 Per Person

7-9 Persons

$ 30 Per Person

10+

$ 20 Per Person

Notes:

Prices Policy

Price is per person. Confirm current pricing and departure times with our team.

Departure Tips

No special preparation needed — regular clothing is fine, no swimwear required unless combining with another activity. Bring sun protection as most of the trip is on open deck.

Children Policy

One of the most child-friendly marine excursions available, as no swimming is involved. Confirm current child pricing with our team.

Payment Policy

Full payment or deposit required to confirm booking — confirm current terms with Egypt For Travel.

Installment Policy

Not typically applicable given the low price point — confirm with our team if needed for group bookings.

Tipping Guide

Guide/crew tip: customary $2–3 per person. Not obligatory but appreciated for good service.

Cancellation Policy

Standard cancellation terms apply — confirm current policy with Egypt For Travel at booking. Departures may occasionally be affected by sea conditions and rescheduled without penalty.

Check Availability

Related Tours

Full day (approx. 8 hours)

Mahmya Island Boat Trip from Hurghada — White Sand Beach & Turquoise Water

Mahmya is a small private beach on Giftun Island, roughly 45 minutes by boat from Hurghada marina, and it has quietly become one of the most photographed stretches of coastline on the Egyptian Red Sea — white sand, water in three shades of turquoise, and a reef close enough to the shore that snorkeling requires nothing more than wading in. Unlike the open snorkeling boat trips that stop briefly at several reef points, a Mahmya Island Boat Trip is built around one destination: a full day to actually relax on the beach, swim, and snorkel at your own pace.

Egypt For Travel's Mahmya trip includes the round-trip boat from Hurghada marina, a full day's access to the beach, and a buffet lunch served on the island. The reef directly offshore holds a healthy range of reef fish and soft coral, making it a good option for snorkelers who'd rather stay in one calm, shallow spot than swim between multiple boat-anchored sites.

What to Expect

The boat departs from Hurghada marina in the morning and moors directly at Mahmya's jetty — there's no wading ashore with your bags, which makes this a comfortable option for families and less confident swimmers. Sun loungers line the beach, and the shallow, current-free water close to shore is ideal for children and beginner snorkelers, while the reef further out rewards anyone comfortable swimming a bit further. Lunch is a buffet served mid-afternoon, after which there's time for a second swim before the boat returns to the marina.

Detail	Information
Boat time	Approx. 45 minutes each way from Hurghada marina
Total duration	Full day, approx. 8 hours including transfers
Water access	Shallow, calm shore entry — suitable for beginners and children
Best for	Beach relaxation with light snorkeling, families, non-divers

Want a more active snorkeling day with multiple reef stops instead of one beach? See our Hurghada Snorkeling Trip — Giftun Island. For a chance to swim with wild dolphins, see our Dolphin House Snorkeling Trip. For general Hurghada trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 60 | Per person

Full day (approx. 8–9 hours)

Dolphin House Snorkeling Trip — Swim with Wild Spinner Dolphins from Hurghada

Sha'ab Samadai — known to almost everyone in Hurghada simply as Dolphin House — is a horseshoe-shaped reef lagoon roughly an hour south of Hurghada by boat, and it is home to a resident pod of spinner dolphins that use its calm, shallow waters to rest during the day after nights spent hunting in deeper water. It's one of the most reliable places in the world to snorkel alongside wild dolphins in their natural environment, rather than a controlled tank or enclosure.

Egypt For Travel's Dolphin House trip is a full-day boat excursion built around this lagoon, combining time in the water near the resting pod (respecting protected-area distance rules) with snorkeling on the surrounding reef, which is itself one of the healthier coral formations on this stretch of coast.

What to Expect

Sha'ab Samadai is a protected marine area, and boats follow strict rules designed to avoid disturbing the dolphins — no chasing, no touching, and a limit on how many boats can be in the lagoon at once. Sightings are very likely but never guaranteed, since the dolphins are wild and move freely; most days, the pod is present and visible either from the boat or while snorkeling at a respectful distance. Beyond the dolphin viewing area, the lagoon's reef offers genuinely good snorkeling in its own right, with clear water and a healthy range of reef fish.

Detail	Information
Boat time	Approx. 1 hour each way to Sha'ab Samadai
Total duration	Full day, approx. 8–9 hours including transfers
Dolphin sightings	Very likely, not guaranteed — wild, unconfined pod
Best for	Confident swimmers wanting a genuine wildlife encounter

Prefer a calmer beach-focused day instead? See our Mahmya Island Boat Trip. For a multi-stop reef snorkeling day, see our Hurghada Snorkeling Trip — Giftun Island. For general Hurghada trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 30 | Per person

Full day (approx. 8 hours)

Hurghada Snorkeling Trip — Giftun Island Reef, Two Stops, Full-Day Boat Excursion

The waters around Giftun Island, a short boat ride from Hurghada marina, hold some of the most accessible reef snorkeling on the Egyptian Red Sea coast — close enough for a comfortable day trip, shallow enough for beginners, and varied enough that most boats stop at two separate reef sites rather than just one. This is the classic Hurghada snorkeling excursion: a full day on the water, in and out of the sea at each stop, with lunch served on board between them.

Egypt For Travel's Giftun Island trip is built for snorkelers who want to actually spend the day snorkeling rather than sitting on a beach — if Mahmya Island is the relaxed version of a Red Sea day, this is the active version.

What to Expect

The boat typically anchors at two distinct reef points around Giftun Island and its smaller neighboring islands, giving snorkelers a chance to compare different reef formations and marine life in a single day — one stop often features a shallower reef shelf good for beginners, while the other offers a deeper drop-off with a wider range of fish. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and crew members are on hand in the water to assist less confident swimmers and point out marine life.

Detail	Information
Reef stops	2 separate snorkeling locations around Giftun Island
Total duration	Full day, approx. 8 hours including transfers
Equipment	Mask, snorkel and fins provided; crew assistance in the water
Best for	Snorkelers wanting maximum time in the water and reef variety

Prefer one relaxed beach day over two snorkeling stops? See our Mahmya Island Boat Trip. Want to add wild dolphins to the day? See our Dolphin House Snorkeling Trip. For general Hurghada trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 50 | Per person

Full day (approx. 8 hours)

Hurghada Scuba Diving Trip — 2 Boat Dives for Certified Divers or First-Timers

The Red Sea off Hurghada is one of the world's most accessible diving destinations — warm water year-round, visibility regularly exceeding 20 metres, and reef systems close enough to shore that a full two-dive day doesn't require a liveaboard. Egypt For Travel's Hurghada Scuba Diving Trip is built for two different divers on the same boat: certified divers doing two supervised dives at sites suited to their certification level, and complete beginners doing a Discover Scuba introductory dive with an instructor, no certification required.

Because these are two different experiences on the same trip, the boat and dive team split attention accordingly — certified divers dive independently in buddy pairs under a dive guide's supervision, while Discover Scuba participants get one-on-one instructor time for a shallow, closely supervised first dive.

What to Expect

For certified divers, the day includes two dives at sites selected by the dive team based on conditions and your certification level — reef walls, coral gardens, and the chance of encountering rays, turtles, and reef sharks depending on the site. For Discover Scuba participants, a short theory briefing on land or on the boat covers the basics of breathing underwater and equalizing, followed by a shallow dive (typically 6–12 metres) with an instructor holding your equipment steady throughout.

Detail	Information
Certified divers	2 boat dives, buddy pairs, dive guide supervision
Beginners	Discover Scuba — 1 shallow dive with a dedicated instructor, no certification required
Total duration	Full day, approx. 8 hours including transfers
Certification needed	Only for the 2-dive option — bring your certification card

Not ready to dive but want to see the reef anyway? Our Sindbad Submarine Tour shows you the same reefs without getting in the water. Want a snorkeling day instead? See our Hurghada Snorkeling Trip — Giftun Island. For general trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 55 | Per person

Approx. 2–3 hours total

Sindbad Submarine Tour — See the Red Sea Reef Without Getting Wet

Not every Red Sea visitor wants to snorkel or dive — some just want to see the reef. The Sindbad Submarine, based in Hurghada, is a real, purpose-built tourist submarine (not a glass-bottom boat) that descends to around 20–25 metres, giving every passenger a large viewport seat and a view of coral reef, fish, and occasionally larger marine life without getting in the water at all.

Egypt For Travel's Sindbad Submarine Tour includes the boat transfer out to the submarine's departure point, the underwater voyage itself, and return transport — making it one of the very few Red Sea experiences genuinely open to non-swimmers, people with mobility limitations, and young children who are too small for snorkeling or diving.

What to Expect

After boarding, the submarine descends gradually while a narrator (live or recorded, depending on the operator's setup) explains what's visible through the large viewports on either side. The vessel cruises slowly along a reef wall, giving extended viewing time at fish schools, coral formations, and any larger marine life that happens to be in the area that day. The whole underwater portion typically runs 35–45 minutes, air-conditioned and completely dry throughout.

Detail	Information
Underwater time	Approx. 35–45 minutes submerged
Depth	Approx. 20–25 metres
Water contact	None — fully dry, air-conditioned cabin
Best for	Non-swimmers, families with young children, travelers with mobility limitations

Ready to get in the water instead? See our Hurghada Snorkeling Trip or our Hurghada Scuba Diving Trip. For general trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 60 | Per person

Approx. 6–7 hours

Hurghada Super Safari Tour — Quad Bike, Jeep Safari, Camel Ride & Bedouin Dinner

For travelers who want the full Eastern Desert experience rather than just one activity, the Hurghada Super Safari Tour combines four desert experiences into a single evening: quad biking, a 4x4 jeep safari across rougher terrain, a camel ride, and a traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars with folkloric entertainment. It's the premium version of Egypt For Travel's desert offerings — longer, more varied, and timed for sunset and evening rather than a morning-only excursion.

The tour begins in the late afternoon so that the jeep safari portion crosses the desert in the golden hour before sunset, and the evening's Bedouin dinner takes place after dark, with a campfire, traditional music, and a menu of grilled meats and Egyptian dishes served in a desert camp setting.

What to Expect

The quad bike segment covers similar ground to Egypt For Travel's standard Desert Safari by Quad Bike, but is shorter here to make room for the jeep safari, which covers rockier, more dramatic terrain that quad bikes can't access as comfortably. The camel ride and Bedouin village stop happen at dusk, timed so the sun sets during the ride — a detail regular guests specifically request. Dinner follows in a fixed desert camp with seating, a campfire, and a live show featuring traditional Tanoura dancing and drumming.

Detail	Information
Activities	Quad bike · Jeep safari · Camel ride · Bedouin dinner & show
Timing	Late afternoon to evening, sunset ride included
Total duration	Approx. 6–7 hours
Best for	Groups and couples wanting a full desert evening rather than a short morning trip

Want the shorter, daytime-only version instead? See our Desert Safari by Quad Bike. For a shorter beachside sunset option, see our upcoming Sunset Camel Ride tour. For general trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 30 | Per person

Half day (approx. 4 hours)

Hurghada City Tour — Marina, El Dahar Old Town & Local Souq

Most Hurghada visitors never leave their resort strip, which means most never see the city that gives Hurghada its name — a working Red Sea port town with a genuinely old quarter, a fishing harbor, and a souq that has nothing to do with tourism. Egypt For Travel's Hurghada City Tour is a half-day trip built for guests who've had enough of the beach for one day and want to see the actual town: El Dahar, Hurghada's original old town, the Marina Boulevard, and the Al Mina Mosque overlooking the harbor.

This is a lower-key trip than the desert and sea excursions — no adrenaline, no snorkeling gear — and it appeals to a specific kind of traveler: those who want local color, real markets, and a sense of Hurghada as an actual Egyptian town rather than a resort backdrop.

What to Expect

El Dahar, Hurghada's original settlement before the tourism boom, has narrow streets, small local shops, and a market atmosphere closer to inland Egyptian towns than the resort strip further south. The Marina Boulevard is Hurghada's modern waterfront — yachts, cafes, and views over the harbor — a useful contrast to El Dahar's older character. The Al Mina Mosque, with its striking twin minarets visible from much of the harbor area, is one of the most-photographed buildings in Hurghada. The tour typically finishes with free time in the local souq for shopping and mingling with vendors away from the tourist-focused shops near the hotels.

Detail	Information
Stops	El Dahar old town · Marina Boulevard · Al Mina Mosque · local souq
Total duration	Half day, approx. 4 hours
Pace	Relaxed walking tour, no water or adventure activity
Best for	Travelers wanting local culture rather than beach or desert activity

Looking for more activity instead? See our Hurghada Snorkeling Trip or our Desert Safari by Quad Bike. For general trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 40 | Per person

Approx. 2–3 hours

Sunset Camel Ride in Hurghada — Short Evening Excursion Along the Beach or Desert Edge

Not every Hurghada excursion needs to fill a whole day. The Sunset Camel Ride is a short, low-cost evening trip — roughly an hour on the camel itself — timed to cross the beach or desert edge as the sun goes down over the Red Sea. It's a popular add-on for guests who want one memorable photo-worthy activity without committing an entire day away from the resort.

Egypt For Travel runs this as a simple, well-timed outing: hotel pickup in the late afternoon, transfer to the riding point, a guided camel ride with stops for photos, and return to your hotel by early evening — easily combined with dinner plans afterward.

What to Expect

Camels are led by an experienced handler at a gentle, steady pace suited to complete beginners — no riding experience or particular fitness level is needed. The route follows the beach or the desert edge depending on the specific departure point, with the guide timing the ride so the group is in position for sunset at the most scenic stretch. Photo stops are built into the ride itself, and most operators allow a short walk-around afterward for additional photos on foot.

Detail	Information
Riding time	Approx. 1 hour on the camel
Total duration	Approx. 2–3 hours including transfers
Experience needed	None — gentle pace, led by a handler
Best for	A short, easy evening add-on activity

Want more desert activity in the same evening? See our Hurghada Super Safari Tour, which includes a camel ride as part of a longer combo. For general trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 40 | Per person

Full day (approx. 8 hours)

Orange Bay Snorkeling Trip — White Sand Beach Day from Hurghada

Orange Bay is one of several small islands off the Hurghada coast known for genuinely white, powder-fine sand — a noticeable step up from the darker sand found on much of the mainland coast. It's a beach-day destination first and a snorkeling destination second: most visitors come for a full day of swimming, sunbathing, and beach games, with snorkeling available directly from shore as a bonus rather than the main draw.

Egypt For Travel's Orange Bay trip includes the round-trip boat from Hurghada, a full day's access to the beach, a buffet lunch, and time for both relaxing and light snorkeling — a good middle option between the more snorkeling-focused Giftun Island trip and the beach-club style of Mahmya.

What to Expect

The boat crossing takes roughly 45–60 minutes, arriving at a beach with noticeably finer, whiter sand than most of the Hurghada coastline — a result of the specific coral composition around this stretch of the Red Sea. The day is unstructured beyond the boat's departure and return times: swim, sunbathe, snorkel along the shoreline reef, or join in beach volleyball or other games some operators organize. Lunch is a buffet served on the island around midday.

Detail	Information
Boat time	Approx. 45–60 minutes each way
Total duration	Full day, approx. 8 hours including transfers
Sand quality	Notably fine, white sand — a distinguishing feature of this island
Best for	Beach-day travelers who also want some light snorkeling

Want a more snorkeling-focused day with multiple reef stops? See our Hurghada Snorkeling Trip — Giftun Island. Prefer a beach-club style island? See our Mahmya Island Boat Trip. For general trip planning, see our Hurghada Guide.

$ 30 | Per person