REVIEW · HURGHADA
Private Speedboat swimming and Dolphin Watching in Hurghada
Book on Viator →Operated by Bella Trips · Bookable on Viator
Dolphins, then snorkeling in the Red Sea. This private speedboat outing brings you out to open-water spots for dolphin watching with an stated 80% chance of seeing them, plus time to swim and snorkel with provided gear. I like that the day is built around real time on the water (not long sit-and-wait transfers) and that you get a friendly snorkeling guide with life vests for easy confidence in the water. One thing to weigh: you’re still at sea for a few hours, so if weather or waves are rough, plans can shift or the activity can be rescheduled.
Your group only, your pace, and the crew’s job is to find the animals. In the same trip, you’re also getting snacks and drinks handled for you, so you’re not hunting for water between dolphin sightings. I’d keep expectations practical: even with an 80% target, dolphin sightings aren’t a guarantee, and swimming with dolphins is harder than it looks.
In This Review
- Key Things That Make This Trip Worth Your Time
- Private Pickup and a 3-Hour Speedboat Schedule That Feels Efficient
- Dolphin Watching in Open Sea: How to Think About the 80% Chance
- Swimming and Snorkeling: What You Actually Get (and What Helps You Feel Confident)
- The Boat Ride Experience: Wind, Sun, and a Clean Private Setup
- Mohamed and Captain Abdo: Service Style That Makes a Difference
- Snacks, Drinks, and the Small Comforts That Stop Your Energy From Dropping
- What Costs Extra: National Park Fees and Transfer Charges
- Weather and Sea Conditions: When Your Day Can Change
- Who Should Book This Private Dolphin Speedboat Tour (and Who Might Not)
- Should You Book It? My Take on Value and Chances
- FAQ
- How long is the private speedboat swimming and dolphin watching tour?
- Do you get hotel pickup and drop-off?
- What is the chance of seeing dolphins?
- Is snorkeling included?
- What snacks and drinks are included?
- Are national park fees included?
- What if the tour is canceled due to weather?
Key Things That Make This Trip Worth Your Time

- 80% dolphin sighting focus in open sea: the route is aimed at maximizing chances, not just cruising near the harbor.
- Private speedboat, 3 hours on the water: fewer crowds, more actual time where it counts.
- Snorkeling gear + life vests included: you can snorkel comfortably even if you’re not a strong swimmer.
- Guides you can rely on: Mohamed and Captain Abdo are repeatedly credited with finding dolphins and keeping the experience smooth.
- Snacks, water, soft drinks, fruit: the little food-and-hydration pieces are built into the outing.
Private Pickup and a 3-Hour Speedboat Schedule That Feels Efficient
Hurghada is full of boat trips. What makes this one stand out is the private nature: you’re not squeezed into a mixed group, and you’re not spending your morning trying to figure out where everyone is. If you’re staying in a Hurghada hotel, you get hotel pickup and drop-off, which is a big deal when you’re trying to protect your day from chaos.
The active time is about 3 hours on the water. That’s a sweet spot. Long enough to get out, look for dolphins, and still enjoy swimming/snorkeling time. Short enough that it doesn’t eat the whole day—so you can pair it with a beach afternoon or dinner plan afterward.
Price-wise, it’s listed at $52.29 per person, and the booking pattern suggests people reserve it about 9 days ahead on average. That usually means the good departure times can go first. If dolphins are your priority, I’d book earlier rather than gambling on last-minute availability.
Dolphin Watching in Open Sea: How to Think About the 80% Chance

The headline here is simple: dolphin watching with an 80% chance at open sea. That’s not a promise, but it’s a strong target for a Red Sea excursion. The practical takeaway for you is to show up ready to spend time scanning the water and to listen closely when the crew starts looking.
In the real-world experience, the crew’s skill matters. In the information you provided, Mohamed and Captain Abdo are specifically praised as experts at finding dolphins, not just people who keep the boat moving. You’ll want that when conditions change and dolphins aren’t exactly where you hope they’ll be.
Also, keep your watchlist broad. Dolphins are the star, but you might also see other sea life. The trip description highlights dolphin behavior, and the feedback you shared includes sightings like turtles. One account also mentions sea cows (often called sea cows/dugongs) and sea birds. So when you spot something, don’t lock your eyes only on one species—watch the surface, then look again when the boat changes pace.
A good mindset: enjoy the chase, even if the animals don’t cooperate for a photo-perfect moment. Dolphin sightings happen in bursts. The best experience is often the moment when you feel the boat has truly found something, not when you stare at the horizon hoping hard.
Swimming and Snorkeling: What You Actually Get (and What Helps You Feel Confident)

This trip isn’t only about watching from the boat. It’s also built around time to swim and snorkel in clear Red Sea water. The goal is coral reef scenery and fish you can see up close—without you needing to bring your own equipment.
Here’s what’s included that helps you feel comfortable:
- Snorkeling guide & snorkeling gear
- Life vest
- A crew that’s already coordinating the boat and the timing
If you’re a beginner, the life vest and guide support are what make this manageable. If you’re a more confident snorkeler, you can focus on staying calm, equalizing comfortably, and getting a steady look at the reef and fish when you’re in the water.
One practical tip: don’t treat snorkeling like a training session. You’ll have limited time in the water, so move efficiently—gear on, good posture, and then enjoy the view. The snorkeling guide’s job is to help you get the best experience safely, not to test your limits.
You may also have time at a nearby sandbar/white island style spot, based on the accounts you shared. That can be nice because it gives you more relaxed sun-and-water time instead of constant motion. Still, expect it to be a sea-dependent plan—this is the ocean, not a swimming pool.
The Boat Ride Experience: Wind, Sun, and a Clean Private Setup

A lot of Hurghada boat tours feel the same until you step onto the right vessel. Here, the feedback includes that the boat feels clean and premium, and the speedboat aspect means you’re not stuck slowly grinding across the sea for half your trip.
The ride itself is part of the point: speed across turquoise waters, sun on your face, and the sense that you’re heading somewhere real. If you get motion-sick easily, you might want to take precautions before you go. That’s not listed as part of the tour notes, but it’s simply the reality of a speedboat.
For comfort and value, the trip also includes food and drinks while you’re out there. That matters because you don’t want to lose energy mid-excursion or start the snorkeling session dehydrated.
Mohamed and Captain Abdo: Service Style That Makes a Difference
A dolphin day can go two ways: either you feel taken care of, or you feel like you’re waiting for someone else to do the work. The information you shared points heavily toward the first option.
Mohamed is mentioned as the guide who helps coordinate the experience, while Captain Abdo is credited with the boat driving and the search. The recurring theme is competence plus kindness—people specifically describe the team as kind and professional, and they highlight how good the crew is at finding dolphins.
That’s not just warm and fuzzy. It affects what you actually see. When the captain and guide know where to look and how to position the boat, your time on the water turns into sightings and snorkeling opportunities instead of endless scanning.
There’s also mention of the crew handling extra touches—like taking photos or video—during the outing. That’s not spelled out in the core inclusions list you provided, so I’d treat it as a nice extra that can happen, not something you should count on for a paid-photo package. Either way, the overall service pattern is clear: they’re there to make the day work.
Snacks, Drinks, and the Small Comforts That Stop Your Energy From Dropping
If you’ve ever done a long outdoor tour in the sun, you already know what kills the mood: hunger and dehydration. This trip includes a basic set that supports the whole experience:
- Snacks
- Water
- Soft drinks
- Ice box
- Fruit
That means you can snack between dolphin spotting and snorkeling without turning the outing into a hunt. It also makes the post-swim period more pleasant. You won’t be racing to find cold drinks right after you climb back on the boat.
It’s a simple inclusion, but it’s one of the reasons this sort of outing feels smoother than cheaper options where you’re responsible for everything.
What Costs Extra: National Park Fees and Transfer Charges

Let’s talk real money and the parts that often surprise people.
The tour price you see does not include:
- National Park Fees: 5 Euro per person
It also notes transfer fees can apply depending on where you’re staying:
- Makadi & Sahl Hashesh hotels: transfer fees may apply
- El Gouna & Soma Bay hotels: transfer fees may apply
And while this activity ends back at the meeting point, the start point listed is:
- Public Beach Number 9, Hurghada Safaga Rd, Hurghada 1
If you’re in a Hurghada hotel, pickup/drop-off from your hotel is included. If you’re farther out, plan on the possibility that you’ll need to factor in the extra transfer piece.
Weather and Sea Conditions: When Your Day Can Change

This experience requires good weather. That’s not unusual for Hurghada, but it’s crucial for expectations. If conditions aren’t right, the tour can be canceled and you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
For planning, I’d treat this as a “choose your best weather window” type of day. If you’re juggling multiple activities, give yourself flexibility. Book something outdoor but not high-stakes on another day in case the sea doesn’t cooperate.
Also, this is a speedboat outing. Even with good weather, the sea can feel lively. Bring sun protection, and consider that comfort depends on wind and wave behavior that day.
Who Should Book This Private Dolphin Speedboat Tour (and Who Might Not)
This trip is a strong match if:
- Dolphins are your priority, and you want the crew actively searching in open sea.
- You want privacy (private speedboat, only your group).
- You want more than dolphin spotting—snorkeling and swimming time are part of the plan.
- You like having basics handled: gear, life vests, snacks, water, and soft drinks.
You might want to think twice if:
- You hate boats or motion, and you’re especially sensitive to choppy water.
- You’re chasing a specific fantasy like swimming directly alongside dolphins for long stretches. The dolphin chase is not fully controlled by humans, and the fastest animals aren’t always the ones that line up with your snorkel time.
Overall, it’s ideal for couples, small groups, and families who want a fun water day with enough structure that you don’t lose time figuring things out.
Should You Book It? My Take on Value and Chances
If you’re deciding between a generic group dolphin cruise and a private speedboat, this one feels like better value for people who care about time on the water and the chance to see dolphins. The 80% dolphin watching target, the included snorkeling gear and life vest, and the included snacks/drinks combine into a well-rounded outing rather than a one-note trip.
The tradeoff is normal for ocean wildlife experiences: you’re paying for the search and the opportunity, not a guaranteed animal parade. Still, with a crew repeatedly praised for finding dolphins and with a plan focused on open sea, your odds are meaningfully better than random cruising.
If the national park fee is no problem for your budget, and you can match the tour to a day with good weather, I think this is a smart book.
FAQ
How long is the private speedboat swimming and dolphin watching tour?
It lasts about 3 hours.
Do you get hotel pickup and drop-off?
Yes, there is hotel pickup and drop-off from Hurghada hotels. Transfer fees may apply from other areas mentioned.
What is the chance of seeing dolphins?
The tour is described as offering an 80% chance to see dolphins in open sea.
Is snorkeling included?
Yes. You get a snorkeling guide and snorkeling gear, and you’ll also have a life vest.
What snacks and drinks are included?
Included items are snacks, water, soft drinks, ice box, and fruit.
Are national park fees included?
No. National Park Fees are 5 Euro per person and are listed as not included.
What if the tour is canceled due to weather?
If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.










