Egypt · SAILING
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 sailing trips worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Spend eight hours on the Red Sea with Go Shalabi, visiting Orange Bay, Giftun, and Magawish. You will snorkel at two sites, search for dolphins, and eat breakfast and seafood lunch onboard. Guides such as Ashraf, Ahmed, Talal, and Sayed help with safety, timing, and the lively atmosphere.
“It was all absolutely amazing, great team on the boat”
Cruise from Sharm el Sheikh to Ras Mohamed National Park for two guided snorkeling stops, a visit to White Island, buffet lunch, and drinks. Hotel pickup is offered, with optional equipment and a 15-minute introductory scuba session. Ask about the boat, timing, and sea conditions before booking.
“The boat was large and not to crowded, as a boat trip it was very nice and lunch was good. As a snorkeling trip it was terrible. The stops was at very small reefs that you could swim around in less than 5 minutes, the reef was shared with several other boats, each carrying 40Read more”
You’ll sail from Sharm el Sheikh to Ras Mohamed and White Island on a spacious yacht, with one or two snorkeling stops, a seafood buffet, drinks, and playful water activities. Pickup is included, but snorkeling gear, breakfast, and snacks cost extra.
“The tour we received was not the tour we booked. The initial hotel pick up was late and in doing so we endured a speeding scary ride to the port, including double backing for nearly 40minutes. We specifically booked this tour as it was advertised with an English tour guide, Read more”
You’ll spend about three hours around Cairo’s Nile waterfront, with hotel pickup, an open buffet of Egyptian and international dishes, oriental sweets, live singing, Tanoura dancing, and belly dancing. Amir, Hassan, and Mohamed are among the drivers praised for smooth transfers, but boat quality, timing, and service can vary.
“If I could give 0 stars I would! To start with, our reservation was for the cruise at 19:00 and we were told that we were going to be picked up at 18:30. The driver got to our hotel at 19:10 with no explanation and took us to the cruise. When we got there around 19:45 we noticed Read more”
Set out from your Luxor hotel with a private guide and crew for one to two hours on a traditional felucca. Watch Luxor Temple glow from the Nile, sip Egyptian tea, and see both riverbanks. Guides may include Salah, Mustafa, Ahmed, or Mahmoud, depending on assignment.
“5 stars of thanks to these lovely people! 🌠⛵🏞️ everyone was warm and kind :) we felt really taken care of. they scooped us up no problem and it was a smooth fun evening with the drivers & awesome boat crew. so thankful for a sweet sunset and cool experience on Read more”
Spend 7.5 hours sailing from Mahmya Beach to a quiet Giftun Island beach, with snorkeling, swimming, towels, gear, lunch, and soft drinks included. You get a one-hour boat ride, a reef trip, beach time, and optional paid water sports, with English and Arabic support.
Join a private or small group yacht trip from Hurghada to Orange Bay with 10 to 15 people. You get hotel transfers, snorkeling gear, island time, two or three sea stops, seafood lunch, soft and hot drinks, and a chance to spot dolphins. Ahmed and Mahmood are among the crew members praised for friendly service.
“an amazing experience. value for money,great food,beautiful island, stunning snorkeling spots”
Take a private-car transfer from your Cairo hotel to the river, then spend about an hour on a traditional felucca with a local guide, bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks. Guides such as Fero, Ahmed, Mostafa, and Osama have helped make the ride personal, though low bridges can limit the route.
“A very nice Experience to enjoy the Nile river Our tour guide was the best and he explained to us everything about Cairo too !”
Cruise from Hurghada to Paradise Island with guides such as Pepsi, Oscar, and Gamal. Choose a relaxed seven-hour yacht trip or a three-hour speedboat outing, then snorkel coral reefs, enjoy an oriental buffet, and rest on sandy beaches. Hotel pickup is available from major Red Sea resorts.
“absolutely perfect day. the day was well organised with punctual pickup. the day was literally paradise. I would highly recommend this island as not too busy or overcrowded like the others. some people from our group went to other islands and said it was very busy. the food was really good and none of us had a bad belly from it. the snorkelling was very well done. staff worked hard all day. not too long of a day. I'd advise to take some snacks and some cash for tips. you have the option to buy photos too. the staff are really hard working and want you to enjoy every minute.…”
Cruise from Aswan to Luxor for two nights aboard an assigned riverboat, with meals, an Egyptologist, Kom Ombo and Edfu temples, horse-and-carriage transport, and airport or hotel transfers. Guides may include Zakaria, Mohamed Mamdouh, or Ahmed, while ship quality can vary.
“Very nice cruise, very beautiful but prepare cash. The crew is a bit agressive and they won't let you get out of the ship if you don't give them "tips". The price depends on the time spent on board. Bad way to finish this wonderful time.”
Spend about eight hours aboard a private yacht from Hurghada, with two Red Sea snorkeling stops, a visit to Dolphin House, lunch, fruit, unlimited drinks, and hotel transfers. A guide supplies the equipment and safety gear, while the private format keeps the day comfortable for your own group.
“Amazing experience with a very nice crew. I recommend if you want to discover the Red Sea wonders !!”
Sail from Hurghada to Orange Bay and Magawish Island with guides such as Abdull and Sayed, two snorkeling stops, a seafood lunch, drinks, and optional parasailing. Hotel pickup, island entry, equipment, and a guide are included, with long-range transfers available for an extra fee.
“Wir haben einen unvergesslichen Bootstrip zur Orange Bay und weiteren Inseln erlebt. Besonders beeindruckend waren die drei Schnorchelausflüge, bei denen wir wunderschöne Korallenriffe und zahlreiche bunte Fische sehen konnten – sogar Delfine durften wir beobachten! Die Guides waren sehr freundlich, humorvoll und stets um unser Wohl bemüht. Die Organisation an Bord war top und mit viel Herz gemacht. Absolut empfehlenswert! Ein kleiner Verbesserungsvorschlag: Die Kommunikation am Vorabend könnte klarer sein, insbesondere bezüglich des Treffpunkts. Ursprünglich sollten wir an der Hauptstraße abgeholt werden, was etwas unpraktisch war. Nach Rücksprache wurden wir dann aber pünktlich direkt an der Hotellobby abgeholt – vielen Dank dafür!Read more”
Spend five hours on a luxury yacht from Palm Royal Hotel marina, with snorkeling stops, floating beds, water toys, drinks, towels, and a chef-prepared lunch. Guides such as Shero and Mano help first-time swimmers feel safe, while the crew handles the details.
“We had the most amazing trip, the staff were lovely and so attentive. The snorkelling was like nothing I’ve ever experienced… just amazing. The boat itself, just absolutely out of this world! They thought everything through, to the food which was fabulous and couldn’t have asked for more. If there’s anyone you go on a day trip with, choose chill tours! The snorkelling guide was fantastic also, we got some amazing videos taken from him”
Spend 7 to 8 hours with a private guide visiting Al-Hakim, Ibn Tulun, and Refaai mosques, Coptic Cairo, Moez Street, and Khan El Khalili. You’ll eat koshary at Abu Tarek and finish with a felucca ride on the Nile. Guide Loaai is noted for calm, clear English.
“Super visite avec un excellent guide, Loaai, très avenant. On était ravie. Le guide ne parlait pas français (pas de guide français disponible pour cette visite) donc on a dû se débrouiller avec l'anglais. Il a parlé lentement et calmement avec un Read more”
Fly from Cairo to Luxor for a private day with an Egyptologist guide such as Hatem, Ahmad, or Ghada. Visit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak, and Banana Island, then sail a felucca with lunch, tea, and a camel ride before flying home.
“If you only have a limited time in Cairo, this is a good way (but a long day) to get a tour of the must-see historic sites in the Luxor area (Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Luxor temples). We modified our itinerary to skip the camel ride and go to Luxor temple instead - do not miss Luxor. Our guide, Ahmed, was very knowledgeable on Egyptian history and was very helpful in accommodating unexpected needs and in changing our lunch menu and itinerary. He also checked on us to make sure we got back to our hotel ok. He and the driver were very nice and we definitely recommend…”
Pick a temple, a reef or a dune.
