The white-sand sandbar of Hula Hula is the dream Instagram backdrop. Yours for a day.
About this trip
Hula Hula sits 33 nautical miles north of Hurghada and only appears at low tide. Most public boats skip it because the timing demands a route change. A private booking lets us match the boat to the tide chart, the sandbar typically appears between 11:00 and 14:00 from May to October.
The tide decides the day
Hula Hula is a sandbar that only exists at low tide. It appears for about three hours, typically between 11:00 and 14:00 from May to October, and the rest of the time it is under water. Most public boats skip it because the timing demands a route change rather than a standard schedule, and a fixed-departure operation cannot easily accommodate a target that moves with the moon. A private booking can. We read the tide chart the night before and time the boat to arrive about half an hour before exposure, so you are on the water watching the sand emerge rather than turning up to a strip that has already been walked over. If your dates fall outside the season, or the tide window lands badly for your day, we will tell you rather than sell you the trip anyway.
Two reefs on the way, by design
The crossing is around sixty-five minutes each way along the inner reef line, which is calmer than the open-water leg to Orange Bay. We stop at two reefs on the way out. Those stops are not filler. Because the sandbar is only usable for a few hours, a Hula Hula day that consisted solely of the sandbar would be mostly travelling. Building the reefs into the outbound leg turns the journey into part of the trip and means you are in the water three times rather than once. It also gives the day a shape: reef, reef, sandbar at the peak of the tide, lunch, and a slower run home. On a private boat any of that can be reordered if your group wants it differently.
Trip highlights
- Pristine sandbar of Hula Hula
- Private boat, customizable day
- Lunch & gear included
What's included
- Hotel pickup & drop-off
- Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, vest)
- Buffet lunch on board
- Soft drinks, tea & water
- Certified captain & crew
- Underwater camera (extra)
- Tip for captain & crew (optional)
Daily itinerary
Approximate. Subject to weather and sea conditions.
- 1Pickup at your timeFlexible
Your boat, your start time. Most groups choose 08:00–09:00.
- 2Boarding & route planning+30m
Discuss with the captain which reefs and bays you want to visit.
- 3Snorkeling stops on demandMid-day
Two or three reefs, with as much or as little time as you want at each.
- 4Private buffet on boardLunch
Tailored to your group. Vegan, gluten-free or kids' menu on request.
- 5Beach time or extra snorkelAfternoon
Decide on the day. Captain follows your call.
- 6Return to marinaSunset
Music, drinks, photos on the way back.
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
38 verified reviews from real guests
Hele dag, eigen tempo
Met de hele familie op één boot en zelf bepalen wanneer je waar bent. Bij de zandbank zijn we lang gebleven omdat het zo mooi was. Bemanning van drie, alles werd geregeld.
The sandbar at the right time
The crew timed it so we hit the sandbar when it was fully out of the water. Having the boat to ourselves for the day meant nobody was hurrying us back. Easily the best day of the trip.
Незабываемо!
Забронировали в последний момент, не пожалели. Песчаная коса Хула-Хула как из кино. Обязательно поедем снова.
Echt geweldig. We waren bijna alleen op de zandbank. Ophalen bij hotel op tijd, crew vriendelijk.
Am rezervat în ultima clipă și am făcut bine. Banca Hula Hula pare dintr-un film. Sigur rezervăm din nou.
أنصح بشدة
العيلة كلها استمتعت. كنا لوحدنا تقريباً على الرملة. هحجز معاهم تاني أكيد.
Spontan gebucht und nicht bereut. Wir hatten die Sandbank fast für uns allein. Pünktliche Hotelabholung, freundliche Crew.
Recomand din toată inima
Pur și simplu wow. Banca Hula Hula pare dintr-un film. Preluare la hotel la timp, echipaj prietenos.
Show more reviews
Cel mai bun moment al vacanței
Întreaga familie s-a distrat. Eram aproape singuri pe banc. Preluare la hotel la timp, echipaj prietenos.
Was für ein Tag! Wir hatten die Sandbank fast für uns allein. Klare Empfehlung für jeden Ägypten-Besucher.
Лучшее впечатление от отпуска. Песчаная коса Хула-Хула как из кино. Бронирование простое, цена честная.
真是难以置信的一天！ Hula Hula 沙洲美得像电影。 酒店准时接送，船员友好。
Was für ein Tag! Wir hatten die Sandbank fast für uns allein. Beim nächsten Mal definitiv wieder.
Az egész család imádta. A Hula Hula homokpad olyan, mint egy filmben. Foglalás egyszerű, ár tisztességes.
绝对超棒
全家都很喜欢。 我们几乎独享沙洲。 预订简单，价格诚实。
Was für ein Tag! Wir hatten die Sandbank fast für uns allein. Klare Empfehlung für jeden Ägypten-Besucher.
10/10 would book again
Wow, just wow. We had this remote sandbar almost to ourselves. Lunch on board was tasty and plenty.
يستحق كل قرش
حجزنا في آخر لحظة ومبسوطين جداً. جزيرة الرمل هولا هولا زي الحلم. هحجز معاهم تاني أكيد.
رائعة فعلاً
حجزنا في آخر لحظة ومبسوطين جداً. جزيرة الرمل هولا هولا زي الحلم. التوصيل من الفندق في موعده وطاقم لطيف.
Het hoogtepunt van onze vakantie. We waren bijna alleen op de zandbank. Lunch aan boord lekker en ruim.
Einfach Wahnsinn. Die Hula-Hula-Sandbank ist wie aus dem Film. Beim nächsten Mal definitiv wieder.
Топ
Вся семья в восторге. Песчаная коса Хула-Хула как из кино. Рекомендую всем, кто едет в Египет.
Réservation de dernière minute, aucun regret. Quasi seuls sur ce banc isolé. Réservation simple, prix juste.
Le meilleur jour du séjour
Le top de nos vacances. Quasi seuls sur ce banc isolé. Déjeuner à bord copieux et savoureux.
Top-Erlebnis
Das Highlight unseres Urlaubs. Die Hula-Hula-Sandbank ist wie aus dem Film. Pünktliche Hotelabholung, freundliche Crew.
Highly recommend!
Smooth booking, smooth day. Hula Hula sandbar is unreal, like a movie set. Will definitely book with them again next visit.
Top dag
Hele gezin genoot. Hula Hula zandbank lijkt op een film. Boeking moeiteloos, prijs eerlijk.
Top expérience
Tout simplement bluffant. Quasi seuls sur ce banc isolé. Recommandé sans hésiter pour qui visite l'Égypte.
Felejthetetlen!
A vakáció fénypontja. Szinte egyedül voltunk a homokpadon. Bárkinek, aki Egyiptomba megy.
Trip-specific questions
Will the sandbar actually be there?
It depends on the tide. Hula Hula appears for about three hours around low tide, May to October. We check the tide chart the night before and time the boat to arrive 30 minutes before exposure, so you watch the sand emerge from the water.
How long is the boat ride to Hula Hula?
Around 65 minutes each way on a standard private boat. The route runs along the inner reef line, calmer than the open-water leg to Orange Bay, and we stop at two reefs on the way out so the journey is part of the day.
Is it really an empty sandbar?
Most of the time, yes. Maybe two or three boats turn up on a peak Saturday, none on a Monday in May. It is not a developed beach, there is no shade, no kiosk, no toilet on the bar itself, just sand and water.
Can the captain go further than Hula Hula?
No, Hula Hula is at the northern edge of our standard private zone. Going further into the El Gouna area triggers a separate harbour fee. If you want a route that combines Hula Hula with a snorkeling spot, just tell us, that combination is included.
What if the sandbar is not exposed on our date?
We check the tide chart before confirming and will tell you if your date does not work rather than running the trip anyway. Tides are predictable, so this is a planning question rather than a gamble. Weather is the genuine variable and gives you a free date change or a refund.
Is the crossing rough?
Less than the open-water run to Orange Bay. The route follows the inner reef line, which is more sheltered, and a full-size private boat rides it far more comfortably than a speedboat would. It is around 65 minutes each way with two reef stops built into the outbound leg.
