Hamata Islands: how to choose a snorkelling day trip
Updated October 18, 2026 · 5 min read
Only one trip to the Hamata Islands appears in our Marsa Alam data: the full-day snorkelling and beach trip with lunch. It takes 9 hours, costs €72 per person and has 6 reviews at 4.2 stars. That makes it one of the longest snorkelling days we list and one of the least reviewed, so treat it as a commitment, not a casual add-on.
What the listing says
The description promises snorkelling in the Red Sea, time on a sandy beach and a buffet lunch on the boat. It does not name the reefs, the number of stops, the pickup time or whether snorkelling equipment is included. Ask for each of these before booking. Hamata lies south of Marsa Alam, so a long transfer is probably part of the 9 hours; ask whether the duration counts from hotel pickup or from the boat leaving the harbour.
Hamata or Marsa Mubarak?
Marsa Mubarak is the closest comparison. The Marsa Mubarak trip with sea cows and turtles takes 4.5 hours and costs €60.08, and another Marsa Mubarak listing with lunch and transfers lasts 7 hours and costs €72. Marsa Mubarak is the better pick when you want turtle or dugong chances: those descriptions mention them and the Hamata one does not. Hamata makes sense when the beach and a full day away from your hotel are the point.
Comfort questions
A day this long needs shade, toilets and a plan for tired children, and the listing says nothing about any of them. Ask about shade on the beach and on the boat, and about the swell on the day. If you get seasick, a nine-hour outing is a poor place to find out; ask a pharmacist before travel, and do not rely on a travel article for medical advice.
Our take
Book Hamata for a long, relaxed day of reef and beach if you accept that very few travellers have reviewed it so far. If you want a shorter day, or one with better documentation, choose Marsa Mubarak.
