Dolphin House Hurghada: How to Swim with Wild Dolphins Responsibly

Few moments on a Red Sea holiday compare with this: you slide off the boat into blue water, hear clicks and whistles all around you, and then a group of dolphins glides past beneath your fins. That's the promise of the Dolphin House, the most popular boat trip from Hurghada after the Giftun Islands.

It's also a trip where your choices matter. The dolphins are wild, and how boats and swimmers behave decides whether they keep coming back. This guide explains where the Dolphin House is, what the day looks like, the rules in the water, the best time to go and how to choose a responsible operator.

The Dolphin House at a glance

Where is the Dolphin House?

The Dolphin House is the common name for Sha'ab El Erg, a large horseshoe-shaped reef north-east of Hurghada. Inside the horseshoe lies a sheltered lagoon of about 8–10 metres depth, with sandy patches and coral pinnacles, while the outer walls drop away into deeper water.

A resident group of spinner dolphins uses the calm lagoon to rest during the day after hunting offshore at night. Bottlenose dolphins are sometimes seen too. Because they come here to rest, the lagoon is not a show – it's their bedroom, and that's why the rules matter.

How the day works

A typical Dolphin House trip runs roughly like this:

1. Hotel pick-up early in the morning and transfer to the marina.
2. Briefing on board about safety and how to behave around dolphins.
3. About an hour's ride to Sha'ab El Erg.
4. First snorkelling stop in the dolphin area, guided by the crew.
5. A second stop at the reef or a nearby coral garden.
6. Lunch on board, often with a third stop on the way back.
7. Return to the marina in the afternoon and transfer back to your hotel.

Snorkel gear is usually included; bring your own mask if you have one that fits well. Divers can book the same trip with two dives.

Rules in the water

To protect the dolphins, the local authorities and responsible operators follow clear rules:

• Never touch, feed, chase or ride a dolphin.
• Keep your distance – let the dolphins decide whether they come closer.
• Don't block their way to the surface, and don't dive down onto a group.
• Stay calm and quiet: no splashing, no shouting, no flash photography.
• Follow the guide and stay with your group; some areas of the reef are kept for the dolphins only.
• Boats must not chase dolphins or drive into a group – if your boat does, complain.

If you follow these rules, you'll often have the best encounters: curious dolphins approach calm swimmers far more often than noisy groups.

Best time to go

The dolphins are usually in the lagoon from early morning until around late morning, so early departures give the best chances. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) bring warm water and calmer seas. In winter the water is cooler (around 22°C), so a wetsuit or rash vest is a good idea; in July and August the sea is warm but the sun is fierce.

Wind and waves can make the open-sea crossing rough, and on very windy days boats may stay in port. If you're prone to seasickness, take a tablet before you set off and sit in the middle of the boat.

How to choose a good operator

• Choose licensed operators with good recent reviews that mention how the crew behaved around the dolphins.
• Avoid "guaranteed dolphins" promises – wild animals can't be guaranteed.
• Look for small groups and a proper briefing.
• Check what's included: hotel pick-up, snorkel gear, lunch, drinks and marine park fees.

You can compare the Dolphin House snorkelling trip with hotel pick-up on Hurghada Day Trips, which also has a detailed Dolphin House guide.

Dolphin House vs. Giftun Islands

The Dolphin House trip is about the dolphins and open-water snorkelling; the Giftun Islands trip is about beaches, shallow reefs and a relaxed day with swimming stops – better for small children and weak swimmers. If you have time for both, do both. Read our guide to Hurghada's island trips to compare.

Staying further south? In Marsa Alam, a similar reef – Samadai, also called the Dolphin House – has a strict zoning system and a daily limit on visitors. Read more in our Marsa Alam travel guide.

What to bring

• Swimwear, towel and a change of clothes
• Reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
• A rash vest or shorty wetsuit in winter
• Your own mask (optional) and an underwater camera without flash
• Seasickness tablets if needed
• Small Egyptian pound notes for tips for the crew

For more ways to explore the reefs, see our guide to snorkelling and diving in Hurghada and the Hurghada travel guide.