Your itinerary

This is a sample itinerary. Weather or other outside factors may mean that your skipper sets an alternative course.

Arrival Day

Embarkation is possible from 5p.m., although you can check in and drop off your luggage when you arrive.

Your catamaran will be moored in front of the HSBC Bank, in the architecturally designed Abu Tig Marina. Upon arrival at the yacht in the Marina, you will be greeted by our Operations Manager who will go through the check-in procedure with you. You'll be introduced to your crew, your fellow sailors and your TradeWinds yacht whilst you enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail. After being shown to your cabin - your new home for the week - take a little time to settle in. Then enjoy your first delicious dinner aboard. Your yacht remains in the harbour for the evening to allow you to acclimatize. You may choose a relaxing time onboard or show yourself the charms of Abu Tig Marina with its numerous restaurants and bars.

Cruising Day 1

Breakfast is served followed by a safety briefing. We then set sail south to Shab-Abu-Nigara; a magical reef where we dive, swim or snorkel, the choice is yours!

Lunch is served before hoisting the sails for an invigorating sail downwind to the island of Small Gifton. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to try your hand at some trawl fishing, take the helm for a while, help trim the sails or just lie back and relax, its all up to you!

The sun sets just after our arrival, which is a perfect time to enjoy cocktails, followed by dinner.We spend the night at Small Gifton - usually as the only boat.

Cruising Day 2

For divers who are awake nice and early we do our second dive of the week before breakfast. Little Gifton is within the marine national park and so is a very popular dive site. At this time of day we have it to ourselves and the marine life here is breathtaking. Swim with "bonypart", a 1.5m Napolian Wrass, he lives here and visits us every week to watch us explore his back yard. Giant Moray eels poke their heads out of the coral as you swim by watching your every move.

As you finish breakfast you will be amazed as the armada of pleasure boats approach from Hurghada. At this point we depart to the centre of the marine park between Gifton and Little Gifton Islands to Banana Reef and some of the prettiest coral gardens on the tour. Swim and snorkel to your hearts content!

Lunch is followed by a short hop to "Paradise Bay" another charming spot on Gifton Island, where we have the opportunity for a beach walk and some island exploration. The use of local boats for getting onto the Island is obligatory and a unique chance to meet some working locals!! Monday night is spent at anchor here and, once again, we find ourselves ALONE!

Cruising Day 3

After a hearty breakfast, we hoist the sails and head west for Hurghada Marina. Here we have lunch and some onshore exploration of Downtown Hurghada.

This is a chance to sample the local Egyptian way of life and an experience not to be missed. The Souks and Bazaar are alive with traders. Leather is a particularly good buy as are the sheesha smoking pipes. Your crew are very knowledgeable about this area and will be happy to point you to the town's hidden gems.

On returning to your yacht a choice of local snacks and cocktails will greet you. Dinner is available ashore this evening and Hurghada Marina offers a selection of international restaurants with something to suit every tastebud!

Cruising Day 4

After breakfast your crew will collect fresh fish from the local market to be served that evening! We cast the lines and head north to Shab-El-Erg reef. Known locally as "dolphin alley". At least two pods of dolphins live here so the opportunity to swim with them is ever present. Dive, swim or snorkel, the choice is yours and all before lunch!

After lunch we set sail to Shaker Island where we anchor in the centre of this wonderful bay. This is a stunning spot to drink cocktails while enjoying the spectacular sight of the sun setting over the Eastern Sahara Desert. And then to bed, after yet another wonderful day...

Cruising Day 5

Before breakfast, we have a short hop to Shab-Abu-Nuhas. Known as the "wreck Reef", the reef rises like a small underwater mountain and its proximity to the main shipping lanes explains how it has gained seven - yes SEVEN! - major shipswrecks. Four of them are at shallow depths that make this reef dive one of the most popular in the area.

It is normally windy at Shab-Abu-Nuhas and combined with the wash from the large ships, this location is possible only with very calm conditions. However with fingers crossed and conditions permitting, we will dive early before a hearty breakfast!

If diving is not possible, then we sail to Siyol-Al-Kabeir, which is a stunning site. Here you can dive, swim and snorkel - and all before that hearty breakfast!

After breakfast, we pull up anchor and set sail east, between the reefs of Shi'b-Umn-Ushsh and Suyul-As-Sughra, to Tawilah Island and our evening stop in Endeavour Harbour. As we move into the warm shallow waters, we become completely surrounded by this flat desert island, which rises only a few feet above sea level.

This is a wonderful opportunity to snorkel or, if you prefer, go ashore and stretch your legs. You will be able to explore the ruins with nothing but the birds and the fish for company!

Watch the sun set over this beautiful island before dinner and retiring to bed.

Cruising Day 6

Endeavour Harbour is the perfect spot to rise early and watch the beautiful sunrise - highly recommended! After breakfast we cruise slowly back to the beautiful marina of Abu Tig, via the enormous reef of Shi'b Abu Shayban where, at times, we only have a few feet of water beneath us!

En route, we drop anchor in sand, in the middle of an extensive reef, that affords some of the most spectacular snorkelling of the week.

Lunch is served on our arrival in the Marina leaving the afternoon free for exploring El Gouna. This is a charming, relaxing place in which to stroll and window shop, or to have a Arabic coffee and watch the world go by.

Departure Day

After breakfast onboard, it is time to gather your belongings and memories. Your crew will arrange transport back to the airport before exchanging fond farewells. Already, you will be planning your next cruise...