Orange Bay, Paradise Island or Nemo Island: which Hurghada island trip?

Orange Bay, Paradise Island and Nemo Island are all beach stops in the protected Giftun Islands, about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by boat from Hurghada. Nemo Island (from $20) and Orange Bay (from $25) include snorkelling and a buffet lunch. Paradise Island (from $50) adds a belly dance show and foam party, with no lunch listed. A Giftun park fee of $5 to €10 is often charged separately.

Where are Orange Bay, Paradise Island and Nemo Island?

All three are in the Giftun Islands, a protected marine area off Hurghada. The group has two main islands: Giftun Kebir (Big Giftun), the western island closer to Hurghada, and Giftun Soraya (Little Giftun), further east. Orange Bay is a beach on Giftun. Paradise Island is the name tour operators use for another stretch of Giftun beach. Nemo Island is described by operators as a newer beach stop in the Giftun Islands. Mahmya, a beach club on Giftun Kebir, is a fourth option that is not part of our list.

Boat times quoted for the crossing vary from about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the marina and the boat. All three of our trips pick up from Hurghada hotels at about 8:00 AM and last 8 to 9 hours door to door.

Orange Bay, Paradise Island and Nemo Island compared

Trip	From (per person)	Duration	What is included	Best for
Nemo Island by Boat	$20	9 hours	Hotel transfer, guide, yacht with crew, Nemo beach, snorkelling instructor and equipment, drinks, buffet lunch	Lowest price and the longest day
Orange Bay by Boat	$25	8 hours	Hotel transfer, guide, yacht with crew, Orange Bay beach, snorkelling instructor and equipment, drinks, buffet lunch	A beach and snorkelling day with lunch at a low price
Paradise Island by Boat	$50	8 hours	Hotel transfer, guide, yacht with crew, Paradise beach, belly dance and foam party, snorkelling instructor and equipment, drinks	Groups who want entertainment on board and on the beach

On all three trips the snorkelling equipment includes a mask, fins, a vest and a thermal suit.

What time do the island trips leave and return?

All three trips collect you from your Hurghada hotel at about 8:00 AM. Orange Bay and Paradise Island are listed at 8 hours and Nemo Island at 9 hours, so expect to be back at your hotel at roughly 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Hotels outside central Hurghada may be collected earlier, and some operators add a surcharge for distant areas such as Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna or Soma Bay, so give your exact hotel name when booking.

Is there a Giftun national park fee?

Yes, a fee is commonly charged for visiting the Giftun protected area, but we could not find an official published tariff, and the amount quoted by tour operators varies:

Source (2025 to 2026)	Fee quoted	How it is paid
Pelago, Nemo Island trip	$5 per person	Listed as not included
Routri guide to Giftun beaches	$5 per person, plus a separate $5 Paradise Island admission on some tours	Collected by the operator, often on board
TUI, Paradise Island trip	€5 per person environmental fee	Cash at the marina, in USD, EUR, GBP or CHF
Civitatis, Orange Bay trip	€10 per person	Listed as not included

None of our three island trips list the park fee in their inclusions, so plan to carry about $5 to €10 per person in cash and ask us to confirm the amount for your date when you book.

Orange Bay: what to expect

The Orange Bay by Boat trip (from $25) includes time on Orange Bay beach, snorkelling with an instructor, drinks and a buffet lunch. It suits families and couples who want a straightforward day of beach, swimming and snorkelling without paying for extra entertainment.

Paradise Island: what to expect

The Paradise Island by Boat trip (from $50) has the same boat, snorkelling instructor and equipment, plus a belly dance show and a foam party. Drinks are included. Lunch is not listed among the inclusions, so ask when booking if a meal matters to you. One guide reports that some operators charge a separate $5 admission to the Paradise Island beach on top of the Giftun fee, so confirm this too.

Nemo Island: what to expect

The Nemo Island by Boat trip (from $20) is the lowest priced of the three and, at 9 hours, the longest. It includes Nemo beach, snorkelling with an instructor and full equipment, drinks and a buffet lunch. It is a good choice on a tight budget or when you want more hours at sea for the same early start.

How good is the snorkelling on a Giftun beach trip?

The reefs around Giftun Kebir and Giftun Soraya have hard and soft coral, parrotfish and, at some sites, Napoleon wrasse. A typical itinerary includes two snorkelling stops of about 30 to 40 minutes each, plus swimming off the beach. Popular reefs can get crowded when several boats stop at the same time. Water is coolest from February to March, at an average of about 22°C, and warmest in August, at about 29°C, so the thermal suit included with the equipment is useful outside summer.

If seeing dolphins is your priority, the House of Dolphins by Boat trip (from $33) is a better fit than a beach island. It includes a yacht with crew, snorkelling instructor and equipment, drinks and a buffet lunch.

Which Hurghada island trip should I choose?

• Cheapest full day with lunch: Nemo Island, from $20.
• Classic beach and snorkelling day: Orange Bay, from $25.
• Party atmosphere and shows: Paradise Island, from $50.
• Dolphins rather than a beach: House of Dolphins, from $33.

On any of these trips, bring sun cream, a hat, a towel, cash for the park fee and any extras, and something warm for the boat ride back in winter.