Hurghada: Boat trip to Magawish island with Multi Options

Magawish Island gives you the kind of Red Sea day many people want: clear water, coral reefs, a sandy beach, and enough free time to stop following a schedule. The day combines two snorkeling stops with about two hours on the island, so you get both activity and downtime.

I like the simple value here: lunch, water, soft drinks, fruit, guides, island fees, and hotel pickup are included for $35. I also like the flexible feel, since you can add a massage, seafood lunch, or parasailing instead of paying for extras you do not want. The main catch is pickup timing. Your van may arrive one to one and a half hours away from the advertised start time, and the exact time is confirmed only at 10 PM the night before.

Key points before you book

• Two snorkeling stops: Spend about two hours in the water with a snorkeling guide and time to see coral and marine life.
• Two hours on Magawish Island: Swim, sit on the sand, take photos, or simply slow down before the ride back.
• Lunch is included: The standard package includes island lunch, water, soft drinks, and fruit. Seafood is an add-on.
• Extras change the day: A massage and parasailing are available only if selected during booking.
• Pickup needs care: Wait at your hotel’s main entrance by the road, not at reception, and be ready 15 minutes early.
• Good value at $35: The price covers the core day, but distant resorts require a paid long-range pickup add-on.

Why Magawish works as a Red Sea day trip

Hurghada has plenty of boat outings, but this one keeps the plan easy to understand. You leave by van, spend time snorkeling, continue to Magawish Island, eat lunch, and return to Hurghada after roughly eight hours.

That balance matters. Some sea trips focus almost entirely on snorkeling, leaving little time to sit on land. Here, the island stop gives you a proper break. If you are traveling with children, older family members, or one person who prefers not to spend all day in the water, that two-hour pause can make the outing much more comfortable.

Magawish is described as a beautiful island with white sand and turquoise water. The supplied details do not promise private beaches or a deserted setting, so I would not book it expecting complete solitude. Still, one outing was praised for having a pleasant number of people rather than feeling too crowded, which suggests the experience can feel calmer than some large resort activities.

The island is also a good place for photos. You can swim, sit near the shore, and enjoy the change from hotel pool to open Red Sea. The free time is not endless, so you will want to decide early if swimming, lunch, pictures, or resting matters most.

The morning pickup from Hurghada

The day begins with hotel pickup in the main Hurghada area. The service covers Hurghada 1, Hurghada, and Hurghada 2, with a van ride listed at about 30 minutes.

The pickup instructions deserve close attention. Your meeting point is the main entrance of the hotel by the road. It is not the reception desk, lobby, or an inner gate. Give the operator your nationality, full hotel name and address, room number, and reliable contact details when booking.

The exact pickup time arrives by email at 10 PM the night before. The scheduled time can shift by one to one and a half hours as the driver groups hotel stops together. I would check your email before bed and be at the roadside entrance 15 minutes before the confirmed time.

The driver can wait only a short time because other people are being collected. The information gives both five and ten minutes in different instructions, so the safe approach is simple: be ready early, keep your phone available, and do not wait inside the lobby.

Pickup service is also available from Makadi Bay, Safaga, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, and Soma Bay, but you must select the long-range pickup add-on at checkout. That extra cost can affect the value of the $35 base price, especially for a group staying far from central Hurghada.

Two snorkeling stops and the Red Sea underwater world

The first major part of the day is about two hours of swimming and snorkeling at two selected locations. A snorkeling guide is included, which is useful if you are new to the activity or want help finding the better spots.

The appeal is the water itself: clear conditions, coral formations, and colorful marine life. You should expect a guided recreational stop, not a specialist marine expedition. The quality of visibility and the amount of fish can change with weather, water conditions, and the day’s route.

Bring your own towel and sunscreen. Cash is also listed as something to bring, useful for optional purchases or extras. The operator supplies water, soft drinks, and fruit, so you do not need to pack a full day’s refreshments.

The two-hour water period is long enough to make the boat trip worthwhile, but it is not nonstop snorkeling. You will have transfers, preparation, and movement between stops. If you love being in the sea, this part will likely be the main reason to book. If you are uncomfortable swimming, ask the guide for help and use the island time as your main focus.

The guides speak Arabic, English, and Russian. One departure also had a Spanish-speaking guide, but Spanish is not listed as a standard language, so you should not assume it will be available every day.

Magawish Island: two hours to swim or switch off

After snorkeling, the boat continues to Magawish Island for around two hours. This is the point where the trip shifts from active to easygoing.

You can swim in the clear water, walk along the soft sand, sit in the sun, or take pictures. The island stop is short enough to keep the day moving, but long enough for lunch and a proper rest. I would bring a cover-up or light shirt because there is little reason to spend every minute in direct sun.

The island’s charm is its simplicity. There is no complicated sightseeing program to manage. You get a beach, sea, lunch, and open time. That makes it especially suitable if your ideal holiday day includes both a little adventure and a lot of sitting around.

The tradeoff is that two hours passes quickly. If you want a long beach day, this is not the right product. The island visit is one part of a full boat schedule, not a resort stay. You will need to keep an eye on the meeting time so you do not turn your peaceful break into a hurried return to the boat.

Lunch, drinks, and optional extras

Lunch on the island is included in the standard price. Water, soft drinks, and fruit are also provided. That makes the $35 cost easier to judge because the main food and drink needs of the day are covered.

A seafood lunch is available as an add-on. I would choose it only if seafood is important to you. The standard lunch already supports the basic outing, and the supplied details do not specify the exact menu, portion size, or seafood selection.

A massage on the island is another optional extra. This can suit you if you want the beach stop to feel more like a spa break, but it may reduce your time for swimming and exploring the shore. Check the available package carefully before paying, since massage is not part of the basic inclusion list.

Parasailing is also available if selected. It adds a short burst of height and activity to a day that otherwise centers on snorkeling and beach time. Again, treat it as an optional upgrade rather than something every participant receives.

The phrase multi options is useful here. A group can choose different add-ons according to interest, but you should confirm what each person has selected during booking. The base experience is snorkeling, island time, lunch, and the return transfer.

The boat ride back to Hurghada

After lunch and free time, you return by boat and then by van to your hotel. The return van ride is listed at about 30 minutes, though the full timing can change with the order of hotel drop-offs.

The return locations cover Hurghada 1, Hurghada, and Hurghada 2. If you are staying outside the main resort zone, confirm that your long-range transfer is included as an add-on before you arrive at the pickup point. This avoids an unpleasant surprise at the end of a long day.

The boat ride itself is part of the experience, but exact boat facilities and sailing times are not specified. I would pack light, protect your phone from spray, and keep sunscreen available. The Red Sea sun can feel strong even when the breeze makes the air comfortable.

What the $35 price really buys you

At $35 per person, the trip offers a solid package for a full day. You receive round-trip hotel pickup in the main Hurghada area, island fees, two snorkeling stops, a guide, a snorkeling guide, lunch, water, soft drinks, and fruit.

That price is especially useful for people who want one booking to handle the transport and meal. Organizing separate taxis, a boat, snorkeling equipment, and an island visit would take more planning, even if the comparison is not exact.

The value drops slightly if you need long-range pickup or want several extras. Add the transfer fee, seafood lunch, massage, or parasailing and the final cost can move well above the advertised base price. Look at the full checkout total rather than judging only the headline figure.

The experience also has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms help if your Hurghada plans are still changing, although you should check the final booking conditions at checkout.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this trip to you if you want:

• A full Red Sea day without arranging each part yourself
• Two snorkeling stops with a guide
• Beach time that is more relaxed than a nonstop boat schedule
• A reasonably priced package with lunch and drinks included
• A family or mixed-age group with different ideas of fun
• The option to add parasailing, a massage, or seafood

It is less suitable if you want a quiet private boat, a very long island stay, or a highly specialized snorkeling trip. The itinerary is structured, and pickup times can be inconvenient if you dislike waiting for shared transport.

Wheelchair access is listed, which is useful, but the information does not explain the exact boarding arrangements or beach access. If you use a wheelchair, contact the provider before booking to confirm how the van, boat, and island sections are handled.

The overall rating is 4.5 from 51 reviews, and the strongest pattern is clear: people value the helpful staff, hotel transport, attractive island, and smooth day when the vehicle arrangements work well. One outing had a cramped vehicle arrangement involving seven people, two buggies, and a wheelchair, so vehicle planning may not always be perfect. That is worth keeping in mind if your group has bulky equipment or mobility needs.

Should you book the Magawish Island trip?

Book it if you want a good-value group day that combines coral reefs, beach time, lunch, and hotel transport. The two snorkeling stops give the day some action, while Magawish Island keeps it from feeling like a race from one water stop to the next.

I would be more cautious if your hotel is in Safaga, El Gouna, Soma Bay, Makadi Bay, or Sahl Hasheesh. The long-range transfer add-on may still make sense, but compare the final price with a closer boat trip.

For most people staying in Hurghada, the decision is straightforward. Bring a towel, sunscreen, cash, and patience for the pickup window. Choose your extras with care, arrive early at the roadside entrance, and you get a practical Red Sea escape with enough time to snorkel and enough sand to simply do nothing.

FAQ

How long does the Magawish Island trip last?

The activity lasts about eight hours, including hotel transfers, snorkeling, the island visit, lunch, and the return journey.

What is included in the $35 price?

The base price includes round-trip hotel pickup from Hurghada, island fees, water, soft drinks, fruit, a guide, a snorkeling guide, and lunch on the island.

How much snorkeling time is provided?

The schedule allows about two hours for swimming and snorkeling at two stops.

How long do you stay on Magawish Island?

You have approximately two hours on the island for swimming, relaxing, lunch, and photos.

Is seafood lunch included?

Standard lunch is included, but seafood lunch is available only if you select the seafood add-on.

Where is hotel pickup?

Pickup is at the main entrance of your hotel by the road. You should not wait at reception, in the lobby, or at an interior hotel gate.

Can I book pickup from areas outside Hurghada?

Long-range pickup is available from Makadi Bay, Safaga, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, and Soma Bay as a paid add-on during checkout.