Hurghada: Private Speedboat to Magawish Island

Magawish Island gives you a fast, private ride across the Red Sea without committing to a full day on a large tour boat. You get clear water, coral reefs, sandy beach time, and the freedom to choose a shorter or longer outing. I especially like the private group format and the simple all-in package: hotel transfers, gear, drinks, fruit, snacks, and an island entrance fee are covered.

The two-hour island stop is the main prize, while the snorkeling stop adds another chance to see the reef. My one caution is the pickup window. Your driver may arrive up to 1 to 1.5 hours before or after the expected time, depending on your hotel and traffic, so this is not the trip for a tightly packed day.

Key points at a glance

• Magawish by speedboat: Reach the island by private speedboat rather than spending the day on a large shared vessel.
• Two ways to schedule it: Pick a 4-hour outing or an 8-hour version, depending on how much time you want on the water.
• Snorkeling help for mixed abilities: A guide, flotation gear, life jackets, and an optional swim ring make the water easier for less confident swimmers.
• Useful inclusions: Hotel pickup, boat transport, island entry, equipment, water, soft drinks, fruit, and snacks are included.
• Optional extras: Add lunch, parasailing, or a massage if you want more than swimming and beach time.
• Private group value: You avoid sharing the entire day with a large boatload of people, though pickup timing can still vary.

Why Magawish works so well as a short Red Sea escape

The appeal is straightforward: you leave Hurghada, cross the sea quickly, and spend your best hours in the water or on the sand. Magawish Island is not presented as a sightseeing stop packed with monuments. It is a place for sun, sea, snorkeling, and a change of pace.

That simplicity is a strength. If you have already spent time around Hurghada’s hotels and restaurants, the island offers a cleaner break from town. You can swim in shallow water, look over coral reefs, or simply sit on the beach without needing a long list of planned activities.

The speedboat also changes the feel of the outing. You get open-water views and a quicker route than a slower group boat. A private group makes the experience more flexible, especially for couples or families who want to set their own rhythm.

Still, keep your expectations in check. This is a beach and snorkeling trip, not a cultural tour. You will not be visiting ancient sites or learning a long sequence of historical facts. The value comes from time outside, access to the reef, and the convenience of having transport and basic supplies arranged.

Leaving Hurghada by van and speedboat

The day begins with pickup from your Hurghada hotel and a van transfer to the marina. The drive is listed at about 30 minutes, though the overall pickup period can be longer because the driver may be collecting people from different parts of Hurghada and dealing with traffic.

You need to wait at the main hotel gate on the road, not inside the reception area. This small detail matters. Give the correct nationality, hotel name, and room number when booking, then watch for the pickup message sent by email at 10:00 PM the evening before.

At the marina, you receive a safety briefing before boarding. The speedboat ride is part of the experience, not just a transfer. You will see the Red Sea open around you, and the quicker pace gives the crossing some energy without taking up the whole morning.

Because this is a private group, you avoid the usual feel of being one small party among many on a large excursion boat. That can make boarding, settling in, and moving between stops less hectic. The exact boat time is not specified, so you should think of the speedboat as a scenic and practical part of the trip rather than expect a set number of minutes on board.

The snorkeling stop and what the water is like

The program includes one snorkeling stop, with about two hours listed for swimming and snorkeling before or around the island portion. The water is described as clear and calm in the snorkeling areas, with colorful coral reefs below.

That makes this a good match for a mixed group. Strong swimmers can spend more time looking over the reef, while beginners can stay close to the boat or shore with a life jacket. A snorkeling guide is included, and equipment is provided, so you do not need to pack your own mask and fins.

The setup is also helpful if someone in your group is nervous in open water. One particularly useful detail is that a guide may use a swim ring to help less confident swimmers take part. That does not turn the sea into a swimming pool, but it can make the difference between sitting on the boat and actually seeing the reef.

You should bring sunscreen and a towel. Cash is also sensible for optional purchases or add-ons. The Red Sea sun can feel strong even when the air seems comfortable, so apply sunscreen before boarding and keep using it during beach time.

Do not treat coral as something to touch or stand on. The best experience comes from floating calmly, watching the fish and reef below, and letting the guide handle the water logistics.

Two hours on Magawish Island

The island visit is scheduled for about two hours, with time for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing on the sandy beach. This is where the trip slows down after the speedboat crossing.

You can use the time in different ways. Swimmers can head into the turquoise water, snorkel from the beach, or sit near the shore. If you prefer not to spend every minute in the sea, the island also gives you room to dry off, take photographs, and enjoy a quieter stretch of the day.

The island is described as calm and pleasant rather than packed with attractions. That is good news if you want a simple beach stop. It is less ideal if you need constant activity or a long menu of organized entertainment.

Two hours is enough to get wet, snorkel, rest, and take pictures, but it will not feel like a full beach holiday. If island time is your priority, choose the longer version and confirm exactly how the extra hours are arranged. The advertised experience allows a 4-hour or 8-hour choice, but the detailed schedule lists two hours at the snorkeling stop and two hours on Magawish, plus two 30-minute van rides.

That difference is worth clarifying before you pay. The shorter option should suit people who want a compact sea outing. The longer option makes more sense if you want a slower day, extra water time, or added activities.

Lunch, snacks, and optional upgrades

Water, soft drinks, snacks, and fruit are included. These are practical touches on a hot day, particularly after snorkeling. You will not need to rely entirely on your hotel breakfast carrying you through the morning.

Lunch on the island is available if you select that option. The food feedback has been positive overall, with a useful practical tip: salads were considered a better choice than pizza. That is a small but helpful guide when choosing what to eat after swimming.

Parasailing is another available add-on. It gives you a way to see the coast and island from above, but it is not included in the base price. A massage may also be available as an upgrade. Check the exact cost and availability at checkout rather than assuming these extras are part of the $88 price.

These additions can change the character of the trip. Without them, you have a focused snorkeling and beach outing. With lunch and parasailing, the day becomes a fuller island experience. I would choose extras based on your priorities rather than adding everything automatically. If your group mainly wants reef time, spend the money on the longer duration instead.

What the $88 price really covers

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the Red Sea. You are paying for a private group, hotel pickup and return, a speedboat, island entry, a guide, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, snacks, fruit, water, and soft drinks.

That package can be good value for a couple, family, or small group that wants privacy and a quicker boat experience. A large shared boat may cost less, but it can also mean more passengers, less control over the pace, and a longer day built around other people.

The price is harder to justify if you only want a short swim and already have easy access to a beach. In that case, the island entry and private boat may be more than you need.

The best value comes when you use the included parts fully: take the snorkeling stop, spend proper time at Magawish, use the equipment, and make the most of the private setup. If you are comparing options, check whether another tour also includes transfers, gear, food, and island fees. A cheaper headline price may not include the same basics.

Pickup details that can shape your day

Pickup is included from Hurghada, with drop-off back in the Hurghada area. The listed transfer time is about 30 minutes each way, but the collection window can shift by up to 1 to 1.5 hours because of hotel location and traffic.

Plan around that. Do not book a museum visit, airport transfer, or dinner reservation immediately after the stated return time. The flexible pickup is a minor nuisance, but it is the main logistical issue to understand before booking.

Pickup from Makadi Bay, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay, and Safaga is not included in the standard price. It can be added during checkout. If you are staying outside Hurghada, check this supplement before comparing the total cost with another excursion.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but water and speedboat activities can still involve boarding and transfers. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the exact assistance available before booking rather than relying only on the general accessibility label.

Service, safety, and the human side of the trip

The tour has Arabic and English support. A guide handles the snorkeling portion, and a short safety briefing comes before the boat departs.

The strongest service detail comes from an incident involving Mohammed, the boat company owner. When a passenger injured an ankle and needed hospital care, Mohammed helped arrange transport, translated in Arabic, stayed through the medical process, and helped the couple return without extra medical charges. You should never plan for an accident, but this shows the value of having a local operator who can help when a problem goes beyond the normal sightseeing routine.

Other service details are more ordinary but still useful. The snorkeling guide can assist people who are not strong swimmers, and the crew supplies flotation equipment. That makes the trip more approachable for families and mixed-ability groups.

You should still follow the boat crew’s instructions, wear the life jacket when asked, and tell the guide if you are uncomfortable in the water. A private tour is not a substitute for basic sea safety.

Who should book this speedboat outing

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Couples who want a private Red Sea day without a large shared boat
• Families who want swimming, beach time, and support for beginner snorkelers
• Small groups that value flexible timing and direct hotel transport
• People with only one free day who want both a reef stop and an island visit
• Visitors interested in adding lunch, parasailing, or a massage

It is less suitable if you want ancient Egyptian history, a long cultural explanation, nightlife, or a guaranteed exact timetable. It may also disappoint strong snorkelers who expect a full day at several separate reef sites, since the included program specifies one snorkeling stop.

The 4-hour option fits a compact schedule. The 8-hour option should suit you if you want the day to feel less rushed, but confirm how the extra hours are allocated. The overall rating is 4.8 from 19 ratings, with repeated praise for the snorkeling, the island, the boat ride, the attentive crew, and occasional dolphin sightings. Dolphins are wildlife, not a promised part of the outing, so consider them a lucky bonus.

Should you book Magawish Island?

Book this if you want a private, easy Red Sea escape with a speedboat ride, one snorkeling stop, and a proper island break. The package covers the essentials, and the guide support makes it more workable for beginners than a bare boat rental.

I would choose the longer option if you want lunch, parasailing, or plenty of time to relax. Choose the shorter trip if you mainly want a quick swim and reef visit. Just allow extra time for pickup and return, and confirm any add-on fees before checkout.

For a relaxed beach-and-snorkel day from Hurghada, the $88 price is reasonable when you use the private transport and included equipment. For a cultural excursion or a tightly timed schedule, choose something else.

FAQ

How long does the Magawish Island experience last?

You can choose between a 4-hour and an 8-hour experience. Check the available start times and confirm how the selected duration is structured.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Private round-trip pickup and drop-off are included from Hurghada. Pickup from Makadi Bay, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay, and Safaga requires an optional add-on.

Where does hotel pickup take place?

Pickup is from the main hotel gate on the road, not the hotel reception area. The pickup time may vary by up to 1 to 1.5 hours because of hotel location and traffic.

What languages are available?

Live tour support is available in Arabic and English.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, and a snorkeling guide are included. A swim ring may also be used to help people who are less confident in the water.

Is lunch included?

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

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve-now, pay-later booking is also available.