Paradise Island Trip from Hurghada: trip overview
Paradise Island is the name most Hurghada boats use for Abu Minqar, one of the islands closest to town. Its east side has a white beach with calm, shallow water, and wide reef flats run all around the island — so the day is easy for children, beginners and anyone who simply wants a beach.
The programme is simple: two guided snorkel stops on nearby reefs, about two hours on the island beach and lunch cooked on the boat, with water and soft drinks free on board. The island entrance fee is included in our €45 price, so nobody asks you for money at the jetty. Choose this trip if you want a shorter boat ride and more relaxed time in the water; choose Orange Bay if you want the Giftun reefs.
Highlights
- About two hours on the white beach of Abu Minqar (Paradise Island)
- Two snorkel stops with a guide in the water
- Short boat ride — one of the closest islands to Hurghada
- Lunch cooked on board, plus free water and soft drinks on the boat
- Island entrance fee included in the price
Your day, as it feels
The boat ride is short, which already sets the tone. After a quick briefing the captain anchors at the first reef, the guide slips into the water and the first fish appear around your mask before you have properly settled in.
Then comes Abu Minqar, the island everyone in Hurghada calls Paradise Island. The water on its east side is shallow and clear, so children can splash safely while adults float over the reef flats close to shore. Two hours is enough to swim, read and do nothing at all.
Lunch is cooked on board, the afternoon reef is usually calm, and you are back at the hotel around four — relaxed, a little sun-kissed and not exhausted.
Why guests choose this trip with Hurghada Day Trips
An easy day for families
Shallow water on the island and a guide in the water at every snorkel stop.
Short boat time
Abu Minqar is one of the closest islands to Hurghada, so you spend more of the day in the water.
Entrance fee included
No money asked at the jetty. You know the full price before you pay.
Flexible booking
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup, and pay online or a small deposit with the rest in cash.
Itinerary, hour by hour
- 08:00
Hotel pickup
Pickup times vary by area; Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh and El Gouna are collected earlier. You get the exact time the evening before.
- 09:00
Board at the marina
Safety briefing, snorkel gear fitting and departure.
- 09:45
First snorkel stop
A shallow reef with hard corals and reef fish. Beginners can hold a float ring next to the guide.
- 11:00
Paradise Island beach
About two hours to swim in the shallows, relax on the sand or snorkel the reef flats close to shore.
- 13:15
Lunch on board
Rice, pasta, salads and grilled chicken or fish, with vegetarian options. Water and soft drinks are free on the boat all day.
- 14:15
Second snorkel stop
Another reef chosen by the captain for the day's wind and current.
- Around 16:00
Return and transfer
Back at the marina and driven to your hotel.
Times are approximate and confirmed with your booking. Pickup times vary by hotel area — you receive yours the evening before.
Places you'll visit
What you will see on this trip, in a few words. The exact order can change on the day.
Abu Minqar (Paradise Island)
Abu Minqar is one of the islands closest to Hurghada and the island most boats sell as 'Paradise Island'. It has a white beach on its east side, known as Bali Beach, and wide, shallow reef flats all around, which makes it ideal for families, non-swimmers and relaxed beach days with easy snorkeling close to shore. Entrance fees and facilities differ between offers, so we confirm exactly what is included. Full guide & map →
Read more about every reef and island in our Hurghada reefs, islands & wrecks guide.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Shared boat trip with crew and snorkel guide
- Paradise Island entrance fee
- Snorkel mask, fins and life jacket
- Lunch, drinking water and soft drinks (cola and another soft drink) on board
Not included
- Towels (bring one from your hotel)
- Drinks and snacks bought on the island
- Underwater photos and videos
- Tips for the crew (optional)
Optional extras — told to you before you book
| Optional extra | Cost |
|---|---|
| Drinks and snacks on the island | pay on the island |
| Photos (optional) | price told before shooting |
| Tips | optional |
Your safety on this trip
- Life jackets in adult and child sizes for every guest.
- A briefing before every snorkel stop and a guide in the water with the group.
- The captain chooses reefs according to wind and current on the day.
- Free drinking water and soft drinks on board all day, and shade on the boat.
What other travellers complain about — and what we do instead
We read public reviews of Hurghada excursions so you don't have to learn the hard way. Here is what goes wrong on some trips of this kind, and the standard we hold ourselves to.
Is this trip right for you?
Perfect for
- Families with young children
- Non-swimmers and first-time snorkelers
- Guests who want a short boat ride and a long swim
Maybe not for you if…
- Guests wanting deep reef walls (choose Orange Bay or an intro dive)
- Travellers looking for a quiet, capped-capacity beach (choose Mahmya)
Insider tips from our team
- Water shoes make the reef flats much more comfortable.
- Snorkel on the island at low tide only inside the area your guide shows you.
- Bring a small amount of cash for drinks or snacks on the island.
What to bring
- Swimwear and a towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
- Water shoes for the reef flats
- A little cash for drinks on the island
Good to know
- Shade and sun loungers on the island are first come, first served; your guide tells you on the day if any charge applies.
- The captain may change the order of the stops, or a reef, because of wind and current.
- Please do not touch or stand on the coral, and do not feed the fish.
- Children aged 0–4 travel free, ages 5–10 pay half the adult fare, ages 11 and over pay the full fare.
Hotel pickup areas
Pickup and drop-off are arranged from hotels in central Hurghada and from El Gouna, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay, Safaga. Read our pickup areas guide for typical transfer times.
Guest reviews
Reviews on this page come only from guests who booked this trip with us; we publish positive and critical ones alike. After your trip we send you a short review link.
Paradise Island Trip from Hurghada: questions & answers
Is Paradise Island the same as Abu Minqar?
Yes. Most boats in Hurghada sell Abu Minqar island as 'Paradise Island'. Our Paradise Island guide has a map of the beach and reef flats.
Is the entrance fee included?
Yes. The island entrance fee is included in the €45 price, and so are lunch, water and soft drinks on the boat. Only drinks or snacks you buy on the island, photos and tips are extra.
Paradise Island or Orange Bay — which is better?
Paradise Island is closer and calmer, with shallow water that suits families and non-swimmers. Orange Bay is on Giftun Kebir inside the marine park, with deeper reefs. Both include two snorkel stops and about two hours on the beach.
Can non-swimmers join?
Yes. Life jackets and float rings are on board, the guide stays in the water, and the beach has shallow water.
How long is the boat ride to Paradise Island?
Usually 30–45 minutes from the marina, depending on the sea and the first snorkel stop.
Do I pay anything at the marina or island?
No. The entrance fee is included. Only optional extras such as drinks on the island, photos or tips are paid on the day.
