“Swim with wild Dolphins”

Includes boat Safari ( 3 days ) + accomodation in resort (5 days)

Prices from £610

Group Dates

These trips ONLY available on scheduled dates

Dolphin Boat Safari Group dates:

Prices: See prices chart below

Autumn 2010

20th – 27th Oct 2010 ( Fully Booked )27th Oct – 3rd nov 2010 ( Fully Booked )

3rd Nov – 10th Nov 2010 ( 2 spaces ) boat safari 6/7/8 nov

Cost: from £580 adult/ £503 child see below

Spring 2011

We are offering a week long boat safari in May ( whitsun) ( apply for details )

Autumn 2011 ( Oct/Nov )

Advance booking for the high season in Egypt is advisable. We will run mini safaris combined with your resort through october and November 2011

Book Here

Cost

Prices range from £610 fully inclusive of all dolphin safari and food , child discounts

There is a choice of accommodation for all budgets from en suite deluxe chalets to beachside domed tents with shared washing facilities.

Contact Us for availability

Resort Accommodation

The Dolphin Safari 3 day boat cruise

This dolphin swim safari holiday combines a 3 night stay in the beachside eco village where you relax, unwind, snorkel in the house reef combined with a 3 day/2 night dolphin boat safari. Then another 2 nights at the resort before returning home.

These group trips are a particularly unique and exciting opportunity as there are few other tourists and the dolphins are very interactive with swimmers.

We let them lead the encounter and as we have plenty of time there is no pressure on the animals. Time on the boat in the sheltered reef is calm and offers plenty of time to relax on deck and snorkel in the reef. All freshly prepared meals are included and served in the on board restaurant. and be part of a group experience.

Boat Accommodation

Your Arrival

You will be transferred from the airport and meet our guide who will give you an orientation and arrange a snorkelling practice on your first day to get comfortable with your mask and snorkel if you need to. There will be a safety talk and opportunity to snorkel in the bay close to the resort. Guides are available if you need them and various extra excursions can be pre booked or arranged when you are there. You need to be able to swim, but no scuba experience is needed. You will be using a face mask and snorkel, and fins. Equipment may be hired on site.

We then transfer you to the dolphin safari cruise boat where we spend 2 nights out on the offshore reef with a resident pod of spinner dolphins.

You will then return to the resort for 2 further nights before returning home.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Marsa Alam – transfer to eco village resort ( ½ hour transfer from airport) where a lavish buffet style meal awaits you. All water and soft drinks also included

Day 2 Am Snorkelling preparation and briefing. The resort is also a diving school so it is possible to either learn to dive or dive with one of the groups. Pm relaxing and snorkelling around the beachside reefs

Day 3 Visit to dolphin House reef which is a day excursion from the resort if you are eager to take a boat trip and meet some dolphins. This reef can be quite crowded with other boats. Other extra activities such as camel rides, visit the ancient Egyptian sites of Luxor (very full day trip)

Day 4 You will be driven by our guide to the Marina ( 2 hours drive time) to board the safari boat. We will set off and arrive at the reef in time to enjoy lunch on board before spending the afternoon snorkelling with the dolphins or exploring the coral reef and the beautiful fish. This reef is situated about 2 & 1/2 hours cruise from the marina and does not get many tourists as it is relatively off the tourist trail. It is a special privilege to stay here for a few days ad relax into the experience, being looked after by the crew and socialise with everyone on board.

Day 5 You can swim before breakfast and you have a full day taking as many opportunities to be with the dolphins, from the big boat or from small zodiac boats. We may move to a different reef or to other parts of the reef depending on the conditions.

Day 6 Morning snorkelling and swimming with the dolphins before returning to the marina after lunch ( 2 1/2 hours cruise back ) You will then be driven back to the resort for your evening meal

Day 7 Final day to spend time on the beach, take a desert camel tour or an evening trek into the desert with the local bedoin

Day 8 Departure transfer to airport. As most of the flights are later in the day it is possible to enjoy a city tour on this day, shopping in the bazaars and buying Egyptian souvenirs. We will take lunch at a lovely beach side seafood restaurant before leaving for the airport and back home

What is included:

Airport transfers and transfers to the dolphin-swim boat trips
5 nights accommodation ( chalet/hut or domed tent options)
All meals served buffet style excellent cuisine and wide variety, soft drinks at resort and on boat
2 nights accommodation and meals on boat ( twin cabins)
Services of dolphin swim guides and local hosts who will look after any logistics of the holiday. Also the snorkelling briefing and safety talk,
On your free days will have the options of snorkelling on the coral reefs along the shore of the ecovillage and other bays in the area, extra day trips to the dolphins or even try scuba diving, or just relax and enjoy the peace of the desert and sea. Additional Excursions include horse riding, desert trips, city tour, and a day trip to Luxor can be pre arranged or booked whilst there, subject to availability

The Live-a-board Safari Boat

The boat has 8 en-suite twin bedded cabins. The well equipped galley serves an abundance of delicious international cuisine. It is spacious, bright and airy with a large saloon, 2 large sundecks, shaded areas and air conditioning, TV and video, with private cabins which amply accommodate all passengers.

We work with a local Egyptian Boat operator who has been taking people to swim with a very special pod of resident spinner dolphins for the last 2 years.

We are conducting a research program here to monitor the behaviour of these dolphins and ensure swimmers interact with them only when they want interaction to avoid any negative impact. It is important not to disturb them when they are quiet and resting.

The Dolphins

These dolphins live in the protected shallow waters of the lagoon during the day to rest, socialise and play. Dolphins spend a large part of their active time playing. At night they go out into the open ocean to hunt. When they come “home” they display very clear signs as to whether they wish to play with humans or would prefer to be quiet.

When the time is right, we have found these dolphins to be amazingly playful, curious and interactive with humans. It is an unbelievable experience of joy and delight.

The off-shore Coral Reef

We moor up the boat in this beautiful turquoise lagoon of exquisite coral reef, we can enter the water when the dolphins are socialising and playing and leave them alone when resting and sleeping. This is why we take you to the coral reef for 3 days moored in the calm shallow waters away from the open sea. Your time will be spent snorkelling in the brightly coloured coral and marine life, relaxing on a sunbed on deck, eating delicious meals prepared by the resident chefs, socialising and taking time to relax

Then, when the dolphins are in an active playful mood ( this will be for many hours each day) we can join them either from the cruise vessel or by using the RIB boat to get close to them.

Dolphin species we expect to see and swim with are Bottlenose, Spinners, and Common dolphins. Also resident but more unusual, are Rissos dolphins, whale sharks (plankton eaters) and manta rays. Rare sightings may include Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles and Dugong.

Marine park regulations : Whilst no regulations are in place in this area we do implement a very strict code of conduct so we do not disturb the dolphins natural behaviour. All interactions are on the dophin’s terms .