Dolphin trip with kids in Marsa Alam: ages, life jackets, seasickness
Which trip works at which age, what the boats have on board, and how to keep the day easy.
Half of our guests travel with children, and the questions are always the same: from what age, is it safe, and how long is the day. Here is what we tell them.
Ages
From 4, children snorkel in a life jacket with a parent beside them and the guide within arm's reach. Under 4 stay on the boat with a parent and travel free. The Sataya day trip is from 5 and the overnight from 6 because of the long day and the night on board.
Which trip
The Samadai speedboat is the family trip: 15 minutes on the water each way, dolphins, reef, back by lunch. The Samadai full day adds a comfortable boat with toilets, shade and a hot lunch, and works from about 6 years. Wadi El Gemal adds an island hour that children love.
Seasickness
Samadai is close and sheltered. If your child is sensitive, choose the speedboat (short) or the full-day boat (stable) and sit outside in the fresh air. For Sataya give a children's tablet the night before.
The encounter
Children do well because the rule is simple: float still and look down. The guide holds the group together and the dolphins pass under. Most kids talk about it for the rest of the holiday.
