Zanetta Tours Hurghada: our review of the Orange Bay day

Zanetta Tours Hurghada sells one of the best-value Orange Bay days on the market: one of the cheapest shared yacht trips to the Giftun beaches, about two hours on the sand, island entry fees covered and a published timetable. It is not a small-group trip, and some guests complain about waiting for transport, but for the price it is hard to beat.

Who Zanetta Tours Hurghada is

Zanetta trades as "Zanetta Tours Hurghada" and, on its logo, "Zanetta Sea Tours". It is a young company, founded in 2018 by its own account, and its website sits on a German domain, zanetta.de, with German and English versions and a German-language contact address. In practice it is a Hurghada boat company that sells mainly to German-speaking holidaymakers, though the Orange Bay day runs in English too.

The company gives Hurghada Marina as its base. It publishes no street address, no legal company name and no boat names. Its site says its operations are licensed by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and insured, but gives no licence details. That is not unusual for a Hurghada boat company, but it means you cannot check the boat before the day. If that matters to you, ask before you book. Snorkel providers in Egypt must be members of the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS), and you can search its member directory and black list.

The site claims more than 120,000 guests and over 30 tour experiences. Those are the company's own figures. Its fleet is described as boats "for groups of 40+", with no names or sizes.

What Zanetta sells: the Orange Bay day and more

Zanetta's best-known product, and the one sold on GetYourGuide, is the Orange Bay day. Orange Bay is a sandy beach on the west shore of Giftun Kebir, the big island facing Hurghada. Sellers call it "Orange Bay Island", but it is a beach on Giftun, not a separate island. The Orange Bay guide describes the beach and the crowds.

◐ Full day

GetYourGuideFull dayOrange Bay

HRG: Orange Bay Island with Snorkeling, Lunch and Drinks

4.9 (6,122)

from $26Check dates

Zanetta Tours on GetYourGuide →Prices checked on 20 October 2026

Its own site also sells:

• a Dolphin House day to Sha'ab El Erg, the reef north of Hurghada where wild dolphins rest by day,
• parasailing,
• private yachts and custom private days.

The Dolphin House day runs 07:00–14:30, reaches the reef at about 08:30 and includes two snorkel stops, breakfast and lunch, from $24.51 direct (listed at $29). Zanetta's own page says sightings cannot be guaranteed, which is the honest line. Wild dolphins are there some days and not others. Book that trip on zanetta.de. The Dolphin House listings on the platforms do not name their boat company, so none can be tied to Zanetta. The Dolphin House guide explains the rules boats must follow around the dolphins.

The Orange Bay day hour by hour

Zanetta publishes a timetable for its shared Orange Bay trip, which few sellers do. It tells you more than any star rating.

The shape of the day is sensible: both reef stops happen in the morning, lunch comes before the beach, and you get a full two hours ashore. The weak point is timing. Orange Bay is busiest from about 11:00, once the morning yachts have done their reef stops, so you arrive in the middle of the crowd. Shade on the beach is first-come. A private boat with Zanetta leaves later (09:30, 10:30 or 11:30), so it does not avoid the peak either. For a quieter beach, look at a speedboat that lands early, or at the Mahmya beach club, whose boats leave at 08:30.

Included: hotel transfer (depending on the package), the cruise, fruit, the buffet lunch, unlimited water, tea, instant coffee and soft drinks, two guided snorkel stops with gear, island entry fees, support for non-swimmers, toilets and a shower on board, and a crew of two to four.

Not included: tips, photos, transfers from outside the standard zone, and alcohol.

Zanetta says the trip is not suitable for people with heart problems or those prone to seasickness. The crossing to Giftun runs across open water exposed to the prevailing north wind. If you are a poor sailor, sit in the middle of the boat and look at the horizon (NHS advice).

Zanetta Tours prices: direct vs GetYourGuide

This is the simplest part of the review. On its own site, the Orange Bay day is listed at $31 and currently sold at $26.35. On GetYourGuide, the same Orange Bay day shows the same $26.35. There is no saving in booking direct and no mark-up on the platform.

That makes the choice about terms, not money:

• Direct: free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and you can reschedule before 12:00 the day before.
• GetYourGuide: the contract is still with the boat company, and the platform acts as its agent. Its default is free cancellation up to 24 hours before, unless the listing says otherwise. If the supplier cancels for weather, you are offered a new date or a full refund.

How it compares on price: budget shared yachts to Orange Bay cost about $24–33 on the platforms. Royal Cruise's Orange Bay day, sold as "luxury", costs $45 direct or about $53 on GetYourGuide and gives 75 minutes on the beach. Zanetta's day is roughly half the price and gives you more time ashore. What you give up is the massage and the banana-boat ride. The prices guide sets out every band.

Watch these extras. Island entry fees are covered, so you should not be asked for the Giftun park fee (USD 5, usually asked as about €5 in cash on trips that exclude it). If anyone asks for a cash fee at the marina, ask what it is for. Transfers from outer resorts such as Makadi, Soma Bay or Safaga are extra, and Zanetta does not publish the amount, so ask when you book. Bring small Egyptian-pound notes for the crew's tip box.

Zanetta Tours Hurghada reviews and complaints

On GetYourGuide the Orange Bay day holds one of the highest scores among the big Hurghada boat trips: 4.9 out of 5 from more than 6,000 reviews. On Trustpilot the company profile under zanetta.de shows about 260 reviews averaging 4.8.

The themes are consistent. Most reviewers praise the staff and the boat and snorkel days. The recurring complaints are about organisation, especially long waits for transport. The company answers complaints publicly, including in cases where it says it could not find the booking.

What this means for you:

• Expect a good, busy day on a big boat, not a private-feeling one.
• Make sure the pick-up message arrives the evening before, at about 20:00. If it does not, chase it.
• If you book on a platform, check that your booking reference matches what the driver has.
• Keep your hotel name and room number handy for the transfer.

How to book Zanetta Tours

You have two routes, at the same price.

1. On zanetta.de, in German or English. This is where its Dolphin House, parasailing and private-yacht trips are sold. Zanetta's site lists a WhatsApp contact for questions.
2. On GetYourGuide, for the Orange Bay day. You get the platform's booking record, its customer service and its weather-cancellation rules.

Either way, have your passport or a clear copy with you on the day: boat operators file passenger names with the coast guard. Keep a spare day early in your holiday. The Red Sea Ports Authority closes Hurghada port in strong wind, usually for one to three days, and no boat sails then.

Check dates for Zanetta's Orange Bay dayfrom $26Affiliate link: if you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Alternatives to Zanetta

• More extras, less beach: Royal Cruise Hurghada adds a massage, a banana-boat ride and a stop at the Abu Ramada reef, but only 75 minutes on Orange Bay.
• Less sailing, more speed: Go Shalabi sells shared speedboat days that reach Orange Bay in about 20 minutes. They are bumpy in a north wind.
• Pay cash on the day: Hurghada Lovers sells a €25 snorkel boat paid to the guide.
• Through your hotel: the hotel excursion desks include insurance and a 24-hour refund.
• Compare all formats: the Orange Bay by yacht guide and the operators directory.