4.9(388 reviews)Marsa Alam, EgyptFull day · ~10 hoursSmall group · max 16
Wild dolphins
Lagoon reef
Lunch on board
Overview
Swim beside wild dolphins in a turquoise lagoon.
Sataya — “Dolphin Reef” — is a vast crescent of coral four hours south of the crowds, where pods of spinner dolphins come to rest in the calm shallows. We anchor quietly at the lagoon’s edge, brief you on respectful swimming, and slip into water so clear it feels like floating in air.
Between dolphin swims you’ll snorkel the outer reef, eat a freshly cooked lunch on deck, and sail home golden-houred and salt-skinned. This is the day people mean when they say the Red Sea changed them.
Swim with wild spinner dolphins
Fresh lunch cooked on board
Hotel pickup & drop-off included
Outer-reef snorkel with turtles
Your day, hour by hour
Itinerary
06:30
06:30
Hotel pickup
Air-conditioned minibus from your hotel lobby. We text you the exact time the evening before.
08:30
08:30
Set sail from Hamata marina
Welcome aboard — safety briefing, tea and fresh fruit as we head south to the lagoon.
10:30
10:30
Dolphin lagoon — first swim
We anchor at the lagoon edge. Your guide leads small groups for a calm, respectful swim near the resting pods.
12:00
12:00
Outer reef snorkel
Drift gently over the coral crescent — turtles, anthias clouds and the occasional eagle ray.
13:00
13:00
Lunch on deck
Cooked fresh on board: grilled fish or chicken, rice, salads, tahini — vegetarian options always ready.
14:30
14:30
Second dolphin swim
Afternoon light, calmer water, and the pods at their most playful. Cameras ready.
17:00
17:00
Sail home & drop-off
Golden-hour cruise back to the marina, then minibus to your hotel door.
What’s covered
Included & not included
Included
Hotel pickup & drop-off (air-conditioned)
Premium boat with shaded deck & fresh-water shower
Licensed sea-trained guide, small groups
Snorkel set, fins & life jacket (kids’ sizes too)
Fresh lunch, soft drinks & mineral water all day
Marine-park entrance fees
Not included
Gratuities (optional, appreciated)
Underwater photo package (€15, optional)
Wetsuit rental in winter months (€5)
Bring with you
Swimwear
Towel
Reef-safe sunscreen
Sunglasses & hat
Camera / GoPro
From the water
Guest reviews
4.9· 388 reviews
LM
Lena M.
Germany · May 2026
Dolphins swam under us for twenty minutes. The crew never rushed anyone and the boat felt like a private charter. Worth every cent.
TW
Tom & Sarah W.
UK · April 2026
Our kids (6 and 9) were looked after brilliantly — kids’ gear, calm stops, endless snacks. Best day of the holiday by far.
YA
Yousef A.
UAE · March 2026
Organised on WhatsApp in five minutes. Pickup on time, sea was glass, lunch genuinely delicious. Five stars, no notes.
CD
Claire D.
France · May 2026
I was nervous about swimming in open water — the guide stayed beside me the whole time. Saw turtles AND dolphins. Magical.
Good to know
Trip questions
Sataya is a resting lagoon for resident pods, so sightings happen on the vast majority of trips — but these are wild animals and we never chase or corner them. If they don’t appear, you’ll still have two beautiful reef snorkels.
Yes. Life jackets are mandatory in the water, the lagoon is calm, and a guide accompanies every group. Non-swimmers can also enjoy the day from the shaded deck.
Between 60 and 90 minutes depending on your hotel, in an air-conditioned minibus. Hotels south of Marsa Alam are closer to Hamata marina.
If the coastguard closes the sea, we move your trip to the next available day or refund you in full — your choice.
