Dolphin House (Shaab El Erg) from Hurghada, what to expect

Dolphin House is the tourism nickname for Shaab El Erg, a horseshoe-shaped coral reef about 11 km north-east of Hurghada. The sheltered lagoon inside the reef is a known resting and socialising area for a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), usually 20 to 60 animals strong.

It is not an enclosure or a captive program. The dolphins are 100% wild and free to leave at any time. Some days they are right there in the lagoon, some days they are out hunting and not present.

On morning departures (before 11 AM) when the dolphins are resting in the lagoon, sightings are common, our captains report seeing dolphins on roughly 70 to 80% of mornings across the year.

On afternoon departures (after 2 PM) odds drop because the pod is often out hunting. Speedboat captains can also follow up on radio reports from other operators in the area, which boosts odds further.

No operator can guarantee a sighting. Anyone who promises one is not being honest with you. What we can guarantee is the chance, the route, the time at the reef, and that we follow the marine-park rules.

Egypt protects the Shaab El Erg dolphin pod under the Red Sea protected area regulations. Operators must follow strict rules to keep stress on the animals low:

No engine running while the boat is near a dolphin group. The boat drifts. No chasing. No herding. No deliberate splitting of a pod.

No touching, no feeding, no riding. If you snorkel near them you stay quiet, stay back, and let them approach you (or not).

A maximum group of swimmers in the water at one time. We brief everyone before they get in.

These rules exist because pre-regulation behaviour was stressing the pod into leaving the site entirely. Honest operators follow them. If the rules feel restrictive, that is the trade-off for the privilege of being there at all.

Tell us at booking. The simplest pairing is our morning Orange Bay speedboat (€130 flat for the whole boat, up to 8 guests) with a Dolphin House detour on the way back. The boat routes through Shaab El Erg, the captain looks for the pod, you get 30 to 45 minutes there if conditions allow.

For a higher-odds dedicated dolphin morning, the private charter (€450 flat) is the best option. We can leave earlier, stay longer, and route based on radio reports from other boats. Tell us at booking that dolphins are the priority and we plan accordingly.

Mask, snorkel, fins (provided). Underwater camera if you have one (no flash, please). Reef-safe sunscreen. A towel and a light jacket for the cruise back.

You do not need to be a strong swimmer to enjoy Dolphin House. The boat sits near the reef and you can observe from on board if you prefer not to swim.