- Giftun Island is a full day at sea: two snorkeling stops with gear and an English-speaking instructor, beach time and an open buffet lunch on board.
- The Sindbad submarine goes down to 22 meters below sea level, so you see the reef through large panoramic windows without swimming.
- The jeep desert safari runs from sunset into the evening, with a camel ride and barbecue dinner; the quad bike ride costs extra.
- Cairo in a day is by plane, and the flights are not included in the tour price; Luxor in a day is by road, 289.7 km to Karnak, about 3 h 43 min without traffic.
- Hurghada's average daily high is 21.7°C in January and 35.1°C in August.
It depends on how much of the day you want to give it. For the sea, Giftun Island snorkeling and the Dolphin House boat are full days on a boat, and the Sindbad submarine a trip of about two hours. For the desert, the jeep safari covers sunset and the evening. For Cairo, our Cairo day by plane fills a full day, and the flights are not included in the tour price. For Luxor's temples and tombs, Luxor in a day goes by road.
The trips side by side
| Giftun Island snorkeling | Sindbad submarine | Desert safari by jeep | Dolphin House by boat | Cairo in a day by plane | Luxor in a day by road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | Full day at sea | About two hours | Sunset and evening | Full day at sea | Full day, by plane | Full day, by road |
| From your hotel | Pickup by private air-conditioned vehicle | Pickup by modern air-conditioned vehicle | 4x4 jeep transfers; a hotel pickup is not stated, the transfer back to your hotel is | Pickup by private air-conditioned vehicle | Pickup by private air-conditioned vehicle | Early pickup by private air-conditioned vehicle |
| What you do | Two snorkeling stops around Giftun Island, then free time on the island's beach | Down to 22 meters below sea level, looking out through large panoramic windows | Camel ride, sunset, barbecue dinner, oriental entertainment show, stargazing | Snorkeling at the Dolphin House reef, where wild dolphins are often seen but not guaranteed, then a second snorkeling stop | Giza pyramids, the Sphinx and Valley Temple, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili bazaar | Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon |
| Food and drink | Open buffet lunch on board; water and soft drinks | Bottle of water | Barbecue dinner with mineral water and soft drinks | Lunch on board; bottled water | Lunch at a local restaurant; water and soft drinks; drinks with the meal not included | Lunch at a local restaurant; bottled water |
| With you | English-speaking snorkeling instructor; gear included | Tour leader; submarine ticket included | Not named in the included list | Private transfers and guide on a shared boat; gear included | Private English-speaking Egyptologist (a guide trained in ancient Egyptian history); site entrance fees included | Private English-speaking Egyptologist; site entrance fees included |
| Extra cost | Water sports mentioned in the itinerary are not in the included list | Personal expenses, tips | Quad bike ride around the Bedouin village, tips, personal expenses | Extras not in the program, tips | Flights, entry inside the Great Pyramid, tips, personal expenses | Tutankhamun's tomb ticket, extras not in the program, tips |
Dolphin House and Luxor in a day are new on this site: each program follows how the day usually runs and is confirmed with your quote.
Sea: Giftun Island, Dolphin House or the submarine?
Giftun Island is for swimmers. Snorkeling means swimming at the surface with a mask, a breathing tube and fins, looking down at the reef. The boat makes two stops at different spots with an English-speaking instructor, then gives you free time on the island's beach, with an open buffet lunch on board. The departure harbor is not named in the listing.
Dolphin House is also a day for swimmers, on a shared boat with private transfers and guide. The boat stops at the Dolphin House reef, where wild dolphins are often seen, though sightings are not guaranteed, then serves lunch on board before a second snorkeling stop. Snorkeling equipment is included; the listing names neither the marina nor the second stop.
The Sindbad submarine shows the reef without swimming: it goes down to 22 meters below sea level and has large panoramic windows. The listing does not say whether its two hours include the hotel transfers, or where the submarine leaves from. To compare Giftun with the boat days from Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam, see Giftun, Tiran or Port Ghalib; more sea days are on the sea experiences page.
