From €65 / adult
Full day
Duration
Full day (9–10 hrs incl. transfer)
Group size
1–25 people
Availability
Several times per week (sea conditions permitting)
Difficulty
Easy
Languages
English, German, Italian
Minimum age
4+ years
Far south of the crowds, the Hamata (Qulaan) Islands are the Red Sea at its most pristine. This full-day boat trip drifts between mangrove-fringed sandbars and coral gardens inside a protected marine park, with water so clear and shallow it glows turquoise from the boat.
Snorkel over healthy reefs, wade onto empty white sandbars, and watch ospreys and herons work the mangroves. It’s a longer journey south — and the reward is a corner of Egypt that still feels wild.
Transfer south to Hamata harbour (around 2 hours).
Board and cruise into the protected archipelago.
Anchor at a coral garden for snorkeling with your guide.
Stop at a mangrove sandbar for lunch and beach time.
One more reef stop before the return sail.
Cruise back and transfer to your hotel.
Southern trip with an early start; times confirmed the day before.
Is your hotel included? Check pickup areasFree cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. If we cancel due to weather or safety, you receive a full refund or a free reschedule.
Questions & answers
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Hamata sits inside a protected marine park far to the south, so the reefs are healthier and the islands almost empty. It’s quieter and more nature-focused than northern trips.
Sataya Reef is in the same region, and some Hamata itineraries pass nearby — ask us about a combined dolphin-and-islands option.
No. The sandbars are flat and small; you simply wade ashore. It’s relaxed throughout.
Yes — mask, snorkel and fins are provided and sanitised. Bring your own if you prefer.
About 2 hours each way from Marsa Alam, which is why the day starts early. The remoteness is exactly what keeps Hamata pristine.
Yes. The shallow, calm lagoons and sandbars are family-friendly, and life jackets are available for non-swimmers.
The southern sea is usually calm in the morning. If you’re prone to motion sickness, take a tablet before boarding and stay on deck.
Yes, a fresh lunch is served on board or on the sandbar, with vegetarian options and soft drinks included.
Yes — the Qulaan mangroves are a highlight. We view them responsibly from the boat and sandbars to protect the fragile ecosystem.
It runs several times a week year-round, weather permitting. Winter water is cooler, so a wetsuit is recommended.
Before you go
Swimming with turtles in Abu Dabbab needs no boat and no experience: you wade in from the beach and float above the seagrass where wild green turtles feed. Here is how to find them, how to behave around them and how to plan your morning.
Sataya or Abu Dabbab? Choose Sataya for a full day at sea on the reef where wild spinner dolphins rest, and Abu Dabbab for a relaxed half day snorkeling from the beach in a bay where green turtles feed. Here is how the two trips compare.
The best beaches in Marsa Alam are not a busy town strip but quiet bays, lagoons and island sandbars: Abu Dabbab for turtles and an easy sandy entry, Sharm El Luli for white sand and turquoise water, and the Hamata sandbars for a wild day by boat.
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A full-day boat trip to Sataya Reef to snorkel pristine coral and share the water with wild spinner dolphins.
A relaxed half-day at Abu Dabbab Bay to snorkel with green sea turtles in calm, shallow water — perfect for beginners.
Tell us your dates and hotel — we’ll craft the perfect itinerary and confirm everything in minutes.
