Hurghada: Private Speedboat to Magawish Island

Magawish Island is the main prize here: a sandy Red Sea escape reached by private speedboat, with time for swimming, snorkeling, and sitting by the water. The short ride keeps the day focused on the sea rather than on a long, crowded boat transfer.

I like the flexible 4 to 8-hour format, which lets you fit the outing around your Hurghada plans. I also like the practical setup: hotel pickup, snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, snacks, fruit, soft drinks, and an English or Arabic guide are included. The main consideration is pickup timing, which can shift by 1 to 1.5 hours, and the shorter option may feel tight once road transfers are counted.

Key points to know before booking

• Private speedboat ride: You travel with your own private group rather than on a large shared boat.
• Two water stops: The plan includes swimming and snorkeling near Hurghada, followed by more time at Magawish Island.
• Beginner-friendly snorkeling: Calm, shallow water and a snorkeling guide make this workable for less confident swimmers.
• Flexible duration: Choose a 4-hour or 8-hour outing, depending on how much beach time you want.
• Useful extras included: Hotel transfers, equipment, life jackets, water, soft drinks, snacks, fruit, and island entry are covered.
• Optional upgrades: Lunch, parasailing, and massage can be added, though lunch and parasailing are not part of the basic package.

Why Magawish Island makes a good half-day escape

Hurghada is built around the Red Sea, yet a hotel pool can never replace open water and a sandy island. This trip gives you a change of scene without committing to a full day on a large excursion boat.

The ride to Magawish Island is by speedboat, so you spend less time waiting for other groups and more time near the water. You get the fun part of a boat trip, open views across the Red Sea, without making the boat itself the whole experience.

Magawish Island is best understood as a place for simple pleasures. You come for clear water, coral, sandy beach, and a few unhurried hours. There is no promise of a packed sightseeing program, and that is part of the appeal. If you want sun, swimming, photographs, and a break from hotel routines, the island gives you exactly that.

The island stop is scheduled for about two hours in the standard outline. That is enough for a swim, some snorkeling, and beach time, but it is not an all-day island stay unless you choose the longer option. Check the available departure and return times carefully if the island itself is your priority.

From your Hurghada hotel to the marina

Pickup is included from Hurghada hotels, with return transport afterward. The van ride is listed at about 30 minutes each way, although hotel location and road traffic can affect the actual timing.

A small but important detail: pickup is from the main hotel gate on the road, not from the reception area. You should be ready there rather than waiting inside the lobby. Pickup details are sent by email at 10:00 PM the evening before the trip, so check your inbox and make sure your booking includes the correct nationality, hotel name, and room number.

The pickup window can vary by 1 to 1.5 hours. That is not ideal if you have a fixed dinner booking or another tour later in the day, but it is common sense for a transfer serving hotels in different parts of Hurghada. Keep your morning flexible.

Hotels in Makadi Bay, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay, and Safaga are not included in the standard Hurghada pickup. You can add pickup from those areas during checkout. Confirm the extra cost before paying, since the headline price applies to the stated Hurghada pickup area.

The speedboat crossing and first water stop

After the transfer, you receive a short safety briefing before boarding. Life jackets and snorkeling gear are included. The boat ride offers the first open-water views, and the speedboat format should appeal to you if you prefer a smaller, more direct outing.

The itinerary includes swimming and snorkeling near Hurghada for about two hours before the Magawish Island visit. This first stop helps break up the trip and gives you time in the water before reaching the beach.

The snorkeling is presented as suitable for beginners and experienced swimmers. The water is described as shallow and calm, though Red Sea conditions can change. A snorkeling guide is included, and one useful feature is assistance for less confident swimmers. A buoyancy aid such as a swimming ring may be available through the guide, but you should still be comfortable following water-safety instructions.

Snorkeling conditions matter more than the boat itself. If the sea is calm, you can focus on coral and fish instead of fighting waves. Bring sunscreen and use it before boarding, since shade and shelter on a small speedboat can be limited. A towel is also on the required packing list.

Some outings have included a dolphin sighting, but you should treat that as luck rather than part of the program. The reliable attraction is the water, coral, and time to swim.

Magawish Island: beach time with no complicated agenda

The second main stop is Magawish Island, where you get about two hours for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on the sandy beach. The island entrance fee is included, so you do not need to budget a separate admission payment.

The appeal is the freedom to set your own pace. You can snorkel for a while, dry off on the sand, swim again, or simply sit with a drink and look across the Red Sea. This is a good contrast to a tightly scheduled sightseeing tour.

The island is described as calm and pleasant rather than packed with attractions. That means you should not book this expecting ruins, museums, shopping, or a long list of organized activities. It is a sea-and-sand stop. Bring a phone or camera for photographs, but protect it from spray and sand.

The standard food and drink package includes water, soft drinks, snacks, and fruit. Lunch is included only if you select that option. A lunch upgrade may make sense for the 8-hour outing, especially if you want to stay on the island longer. For a 4-hour trip, snacks may be enough, depending on your usual appetite.

One useful food tip is to favor salads over pizza if both are available with the lunch option. That advice comes directly from the practical experience of the trip, but food choices can vary. If lunch matters to you, confirm exactly what the selected option includes at checkout.

Choosing four hours or eight hours

The shorter option is for you if you want a quick Red Sea outing without giving up most of the day. It can work well for a first snorkeling trip, a family schedule, or a day when you have evening plans.

The longer option is better if you want the island to feel like a real beach escape. Extra time gives you more room to snorkel without rushing, enjoy lunch, and sit on the beach. It also makes the transfer time feel more worthwhile.

Look closely at the timing. The route includes roughly 30 minutes by van in each direction, plus the boat transfer, safety briefing, and boarding. The listed activity schedule shows about two hours for the first water stop and two hours at Magawish Island. That makes the 4-hour option a compact day, while the 8-hour choice gives the experience more breathing room.

If you are comparing the two, ask yourself what you want from the trip. Choose four hours for convenience. Choose eight hours for a slower island day and a better chance to enjoy lunch or an optional activity.

What the $88 price really covers

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the Red Sea. You can find lower-cost shared boat outings, but they often involve larger groups and less control over the schedule.

Here, the price includes private round-trip hotel transport from Hurghada, the speedboat, island entry, a guide, snorkeling instruction, equipment, a life jacket, water, soft drinks, snacks, fruit, and one snorkeling stop. Those inclusions make the price easier to justify, especially for couples, families, or small groups who value privacy.

The private format is the strongest value point. You are not simply paying for a ticket to an island. You are paying for a more personal boat arrangement and hotel-to-hotel handling. For a group splitting the cost, the package may compare well with arranging separate transport and boat services.

Lunch and parasailing cost extra, and massage is also presented as an optional upgrade. Do not assume these are included because they appear among the possible additions. Add only what you genuinely want, since the basic outing already centers on swimming, snorkeling, and beach time.

The activity has a 4.8 rating from 19 bookings, with strong praise for the snorkeling, staff attitude, island setting, and boat ride. That is a positive signal, though the sample is still small. The most useful pattern is not the number itself but the repeated emphasis on friendly staff and good time in the water.

Guides, safety, and the feel of the day

The tour operates with Arabic- and English-speaking guides. The guide and captain are central to the experience because this is a small private outing rather than a self-guided island transfer.

One particularly positive detail concerns Mohammed, identified as the boat company owner. After a guest suffered an ankle injury while changing boats, Mohammed helped arrange transport to the hospital, translated in Arabic, stayed through the medical process, and helped organize the return taxi. That is not a promise of medical service, but it does show the value of having a local operator involved when something goes wrong.

The snorkeling guide is also important for families and nervous swimmers. Assistance with a swimming ring has helped people who were not fully confident in the water take part. You still need to follow instructions and use the life jacket when advised.

The trip is listed as wheelchair accessible, but water activities and a speedboat can involve physical transfers. If you use a wheelchair, contact the provider before booking to confirm how boarding and island access will work for your needs.

Pets are not allowed. Bring cash for personal expenses or optional additions, along with sunscreen and a towel.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want:

• A private boat rather than a large group cruise
• Simple snorkeling in calm, shallow water
• A beach break without a long overland journey
• Flexible timing from a short outing to a longer day
• Hotel pickup and equipment handled in one booking
• A relaxed experience for couples, families, or small private groups

It may not suit you if you want an intensive snorkeling expedition, a packed cultural program, or guaranteed wildlife sightings. The island is the setting, not a historical attraction, and the program is built around water and relaxation.

Families should like the combination of a short transfer, life jackets, guided snorkeling, and beach time. Still, children need close supervision around the boat and water. Less confident swimmers can receive help, but this is not a substitute for adult attention.

Confident swimmers may find the snorkeling stop a little brief in the shorter package. If coral and underwater time are your main goals, the longer option gives you a better chance to enjoy the outing without watching the clock.

Booking details worth handling carefully

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now-pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Availability and starting times vary, so check those details before selecting a date.

Use the correct hotel name, room number, and nationality when booking. The late-night email with pickup details is easy to miss, but it matters because the pickup point is the main gate rather than reception.

Keep the day open around the expected pickup window. A 1 to 1.5-hour variation can affect breakfast plans, and the return time can also matter if you have an evening reservation.

Should you book the Magawish Island speedboat?

Book it if your ideal Hurghada day means clear Red Sea water, guided snorkeling, a sandy island, and a private boat without the feel of a mass excursion. The package has good practical value because it combines transport, equipment, snacks, island entry, and a guide.

Choose the 4-hour option for a compact outing. Choose 8 hours if you want lunch, extra beach time, and a slower pace. I would also confirm any add-ons before paying and keep expectations focused on swimming and relaxation, not sightseeing.

For a private Red Sea day with helpful staff and a straightforward plan, this is a sensible choice. Its only real weaknesses are the uncertain pickup window and the limited island time in the shorter version.

FAQ

Where does the Magawish Island trip depart from?

The trip includes pickup from hotels in Hurghada, followed by a van transfer to the marina.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Private round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off from Hurghada are included.

Can I be picked up from Makadi Bay or El Gouna?

Pickup from Makadi Bay, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay, and Safaga is available as an optional add-on during checkout.

How long does the activity last?

You can choose between a 4-hour and an 8-hour experience. Check the available starting times when booking.

Is the boat shared with other groups?

The activity is listed as a private group experience.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, and a snorkeling guide are included.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included only if you select the lunch option. Water, soft drinks, snacks, and fruit are included.

Are parasailing and massage included?

No. Parasailing and massage are optional upgrades. Parasailing is specifically listed as an add-on.

What languages do the guides speak?

The tour offers live guides in Arabic and English.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, sunscreen, and cash. Pets are not allowed.