A protected horseshoe lagoon home to a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins. Three snorkeling stops.
About this trip
Dolphin House is the local name for Shaab El Erg, a horseshoe-shaped reef 26 nautical miles north of Hurghada. A pod of around 250 bottlenose dolphins uses the inner lagoon as a daytime rest area. We do not feed them, we do not chase them, we simply slip into the water at the lagoon edge and wait. On most mornings the pod will swim past, sometimes within touching distance. The reef itself is one of the densest in the Red Sea, the western wall drops to 25 metres and is covered in soft coral.
Trip highlights
- Resident pod of bottlenose dolphins
- 3 snorkeling stops
- Lunch on board
- All gear included
What you will see underwater
Beyond dolphins: green turtles, eagle rays, occasional whitetip reef shark on the deep edge. The shallow side has crocodile fish, scorpionfish, and an unusual amount of nudibranch.
Identify every fish and coral you'll meetBest time to go
March to November is dolphin peak. The pod is in the lagoon five to six mornings a week from May to September. December to February is quieter, sightings drop to roughly 50 percent of trips.
Travel tips
Do not touch the dolphins, do not try to swim under them. Captains follow HEPCA's voluntary code of conduct, breaking the rules will end the encounter for the whole boat. Bring a GoPro on a wrist strap, not a stick, the pole upsets the pod.
Bringing kids?
Children from 6 years welcome. Younger kids can stay on the boat with a guardian and watch the pod from the upper deck.
What's included
- Hotel pickup & drop-off
- Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, vest)
- Buffet lunch on board
- Soft drinks, tea & water
- Certified captain & crew
- Insurance
- Underwater camera (extra)
- Alcoholic drinks (extra)
- Tip for captain & crew (optional)
Daily itinerary
Approximate. Subject to weather and sea conditions.
- 06:30Early hotel pickup
We start early because dolphins are most active in the morning.
- 07:30Boarding & briefing
Captain explains how to enter the water without scaring the pod.
- 09:00Search for the pod
Dolphins return to the same lagoons most days, captain knows the spots.
- 10:00Swim with dolphins
If they're playful, they'll come close. We never chase them.
- 12:00Reef snorkel stop
- 13:00Buffet lunch on board
- 15:00Second snorkel or beach stop
- 16:30Return & hotel drop-off
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours before the trip start time and get a full refund. After that, we can usually reschedule but cash is non-refundable.
Guest reviews
27 verified reviews from real guests
Felejthetetlen!
Az egész család imádta. Hatalmas csapat vad delfint láttunk. Bárkinek, aki Egyiptomba megy.
Лучший день отпуска
Просто вау. Этичный подход — без преследования. Забрали из отеля вовремя, экипаж дружелюбный.
Az egész család imádta. Hatalmas csapat vad delfint láttunk. Bárkinek, aki Egyiptomba megy.
Hele gezin genoot. Hele respectvolle benadering. Lunch aan boord lekker en ruim.
Ce zi incredibilă! Abordare respectuoasă, fără urmărire. Rezervare ușoară, preț corect.
Unvergesslich!
Unsere Familie war begeistert. Wir haben eine große Schule wilder Delfine gesehen. Klare Empfehlung für jeden Ägypten-Besucher.
يستحق كل قرش
أحلى يوم في الإجازة. شفنا دلافين كتيرة في البحر، تجربة سحرية. الغداء على المركب لذيذ.
Просто потрясающе
Забронировали в последний момент, не пожалели. Видели большую стаю диких дельфинов. Забрали из отеля вовремя, экипаж дружелюбный.
Show all 27 reviews
أحلى يوم في الإجازة. الكابتن محترم — لا مطاردة ولا لمس، مجرد مشاهدة. أنصح بشدة لأي حد جاي مصر.
Best day of our trip
Our family had a brilliant time. We saw a huge pod of wild dolphins, magical. Booking was effortless and price was honest.
Întreaga familie s-a distrat. Am văzut un banc mare de delfini sălbatici. Rezervare ușoară, preț corect.
Absolut traumhaft
Das Highlight unseres Urlaubs. Wir haben eine große Schule wilder Delfine gesehen. Mittagessen an Bord war reichlich und lecker.
Просто потрясающе
Забронировали в последний момент, не пожалели. Этичный подход — без преследования. Обязательно поедем снова.
Réservation de dernière minute, aucun regret. Approche très respectueuse, aucune chasse. Prise à l'hôtel à l'heure, équipage adorable.
真是难以置信的一天！ 看到一大群野生海豚。 船上午餐美味又丰盛。
Best day of our trip
Wow, just wow. We saw a huge pod of wild dolphins, magical. Booking was effortless and price was honest.
Toute la famille a adoré. Nous avons vu un grand banc de dauphins sauvages. Prise à l'hôtel à l'heure, équipage adorable.
Очень рекомендую
Какой потрясающий день! Этичный подход — без преследования. Обязательно поедем снова.
أفضل يوم في الرحلة
حجزنا في آخر لحظة ومبسوطين جداً. شفنا دلافين كتيرة في البحر، تجربة سحرية. الحجز سهل والسعر صادق.
Absolut superb
Am rezervat în ultima clipă și am făcut bine. Am văzut un banc mare de delfini sălbatici. Preluare la hotel la timp, echipaj prietenos.
Geweldig
Het hoogtepunt van onze vakantie. We zagen een grote groep wilde dolfijnen. Boeking moeiteloos, prijs eerlijk.
Quelle journée incroyable ! Approche très respectueuse, aucune chasse. Prise à l'hôtel à l'heure, équipage adorable.
Просто вау. Видели большую стаю диких дельфинов. Бронирование простое, цена честная.
Unvergesslich!
Das Highlight unseres Urlaubs. Sehr respektvoller Umgang mit den Tieren. Klare Empfehlung für jeden Ägypten-Besucher.
Топ
Лучшее впечатление от отпуска. Этичный подход — без преследования. Обед на борту вкусный, порций хватало.
رائعة فعلاً
حجزنا في آخر لحظة ومبسوطين جداً. الكابتن محترم — لا مطاردة ولا لمس، مجرد مشاهدة. هحجز معاهم تاني أكيد.
Inoubliable !
Le top de nos vacances. Nous avons vu un grand banc de dauphins sauvages. Déjeuner à bord copieux et savoureux.
Trip-specific questions
How likely are we to actually see dolphins?
The pod uses the lagoon five to six mornings a week from March to November, so sightings happen on roughly 85 percent of summer trips. December to February drops to about 50 percent. We never guarantee a wild encounter, but Shaab El Erg is the most reliable bottlenose site in Egypt.
Can we swim with the dolphins?
You enter the water at the lagoon edge and wait. If the pod chooses to swim past, you swim alongside, never toward them and never under. The captain briefs the HEPCA rules before you splash in.
Is this trip ethical?
Yes, with the rules. No feeding, no chasing, no touching, no surrounding. The captains follow the HEPCA voluntary code and pull the boat back if guests break protocol. The pod is wild and free to leave at any moment.
What time of day are dolphins most active?
Morning, 09:30 to 11:30. The pod rests in the inner lagoon after a night of offshore hunting. By 13:00 they typically move back out to deeper water, which is why our boats arrive between 09:00 and 10:00.
