Paradise Island day trip from Hurghada
From €25 per person, transfer included
Paradise Island is a pale sandy beach off Hurghada, fringed by turquoise water so shallow you can stand a long way from the shore. The day mixes swimming, snorkelling and sunbed time, from about 8am to 4pm, with two hours on the island. Our partner Hurghada Habibi runs it from €25 per person, lunch on board included.
Where Paradise Island is
Paradise Island is one of the beaches on Giftun Island, facing Hurghada, about an hour away by boat depending on the harbour and the sea, usually with a snorkelling stop on the way.
A word on names: some local operators also call a beach on nearby Magawish island "Paradise". Whatever the poster says, the lagoon is what counts. During the crossing, head up to the top deck if the boat has one. It's the best seat for watching the water change colour.
How the day goes
- Around 8am: hotel pick-up, off from the harbour.
- Crossing, with a snorkelling stop on a reef.
- Lunch on board, drinks unlimited.
- Two hours on the island: lagoon, sunbeds, music, a wander through the water.
- Back at your hotel around 4pm.
Paradise is the slowest of the sea trips, on purpose. No rocks at the edge, no drop-off. Just a gentle beach sliding into warm, clear water.
What there is to do
You swim, you wade out waist-deep, you snorkel without going far. It's the perfect day for anyone putting on a mask for the first time, and for families.
On the beach, everyone finds their own speed. Some walk through the water for an hour. Some claim a shaded sunbed and never let go. Someone always starts a game of volleyball. The mood is more musical than at Mahmya and more laid-back than Orange Bay.
For snorkelling, stay close. Lie flat on the water in a metre of depth, keep still for a minute, and watch: small silver fish slip between your legs, sometimes a trumpetfish, or a ray gliding over the sand.
Between noon and 3pm, take a break in the shade. The breeze keeps you cool, so you don't feel the sun creeping up.
Is Paradise Island good for kids?
Yes, it's the easiest island day for children: the lagoon stays shallow a long way out, so the water near the shore is warmer and parents can stand next to little swimmers the whole time.
Bring water shoes. The sand is soft, the reef edges much less so. The float lent on board helps children who want to try the mask.
Best time to go
Paradise works all year and is even the easiest sea trip in winter, since shallow water near the shore stays warmer; October and November give the best balance, with the sea at 26 to 27°C.
What to bring
- Water shoes
- A hat or cap, and reef-friendly sun cream
- A book, or nothing at all
- A UV rash vest for snorkelling
- A waterproof pouch: photos in the lagoon are worth it
Paradise Island prices and booking
Hurghada Habibi runs Paradise Island from €25 per person: transfer, yacht, island entry, lunch and unlimited drinks, snorkelling and a float; partner price, confirmed on WhatsApp.
A lie-in, then Paradise by water taxi
Fancy the lagoon without the early start? The public Boxi water taxi also goes to Paradise Island, leaving at 9am, 11am or 1pm, advertised at €25 with hotel pick-up and island entry. The organised day with lunch and snorkelling is still the full package. Boxi is the flexible one. We book it for you on WhatsApp.
Finish with a sunset horse ride
Back from the island in the late afternoon, you can add the partner's horse ride, one hour in the desert and one along the sea as the sun goes down, from €25 per person, no riding experience needed.
Pack it in your bag in the morning: light trousers (shorts rub against the saddle), trainers and a hoodie for the ride back. Ask us on WhatsApp to pair the two.