Paradise Island Day Trip from Hurghada

Paradise Island sits off the Giftun group, about an hour out of Hurghada, and it is the island most first-time visitors picture when they imagine the Red Sea: a low crescent of white sand, water that shifts from clear to turquoise to deep blue in the space of thirty meters, and reef close enough to the beach that you can swim to it.

It is a full day, and it suits every age. Nobody has to snorkel to enjoy it.

How the day runs

The boat leaves at around 9:00 and you are back by roughly 3:30, with hotel pickup and return included in an air-conditioned private vehicle. On the way out there are snorkeling stops over reef, with equipment and a guide in the water with you. Lunch and drinks are served on board.

On the island itself you have beach time - swimming in shallow, warm, calm water, or simply sitting on the sand. The group is capped at 20 people, so the boat stays comfortable and the ladder never has a queue.

Good to know before you book

• The island charges its own small entry fee on arrival, payable locally. Bring some cash.
• There is limited natural shade. A hat, a rash vest or a light long-sleeved shirt will do more for you than sunscreen alone.
• Transfers are included from hotels inside Hurghada; a $5 per person supplement applies from Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, El Ahyaa, El Gouna and Soma Bay.
• Photography and video are not included.
• The crossing can be choppy in windy weather. If you are prone to seasickness, take something before you board rather than after.

What to bring

Swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen and a hat - the four things people most often leave in the hotel room and regret by eleven o'clock.

$25 per person (regular price $30), including snorkeling equipment, guide, lunch and hotel transfers.