Tipping in Hurghada follows unwritten rules that catch first-time visitors off guard — too little feels rude, too much gets treated as the new baseline for the next tourist. This guide breaks down exactly what to hand boat crews, dive guides, desert safari drivers, and transfer drivers in 2026, in EGP and rough dollar terms.
- Boat crews get 50-100 EGP per person at trip's end, not per stop, on Hurghada tours in 2026.
- Dive guides are tipped per tank (150-200 EGP single, 250-350 EGP two-tank), not per day.
- Desert safari drivers and guides split 100-150 EGP per vehicle after the trip.
- Small EGP notes matter more than the amount, so carry 20s, 50s, and 100s before you board.
- Tipping guide for Hurghada tours in 2026: cash only, local currency preferred, no tip included in package price.
Why this matters
Tip amounts in Egypt aren't printed on any menu, and asking your guide directly puts them in an awkward spot. Crews on Red Sea boats and desert safari teams often work on a base wage plus tips, so getting this right affects their actual take-home pay, not just their mood.
Get it wrong in either direction and it shows: undertip and the next group gets a colder welcome, overtip and you've reset expectations for every traveler after you. A clear tipping guide for Hurghada tours removes the guesswork before you even land.
What you'll need
- Small EGP notes: 20, 50, and 100 denominations, since ATMs dispense large bills that are hard to break
- A rough sense of your itinerary length (half-day vs full-day changes the tip)
- Cash set aside separately from your main wallet, so you're not fumbling in front of the group
- No card or app, since tipping in Egypt is a cash-only custom in 2026
- If you're booking an island boat trip, budget tips as a separate line item from the trip price itself
The steps
1. Withdraw EGP before you need it
Pull cash from an ATM the day before your excursion, not the morning of. Ask for a mix of denominations if the machine allows it, because a stack of 200 EGP notes is useless when you need three separate 50s for three crew members. Expect ATM fees around 100-150 EGP per withdrawal in 2026, so pull enough for the week in one go.
Common mistake: showing up with only large bills and having to ask the guide to break a 200 EGP note, which puts them in the position of handling your change.
2. Tip boat crews at the end, not per stop
On a full-day island or snorkeling trip, the crew (captain, deckhand, sometimes a cook) gets tipped once, when you disembark, not after each snorkel stop. 50-100 EGP per person covers a standard day trip; round up toward 100 EGP if the crew handled gear, lunch service, or rough water with extra care.
This matters because tipping mid-trip creates pressure for repeat tips at every stop, which annoys both you and other guests on a shared boat.
3. Tip dive guides per tank, not per day
Scuba guides work differently from boat crews: tip 150-200 EGP for a single-tank dive and 250-350 EGP for a two-tank day. If you're working through a beginner scuba course, tip at the end of each teaching day rather than per dive, since the instructor's time is the same regardless of tank count.
Common mistake: assuming the dive shop adds gratuity to the invoice. It almost never does in Hurghada.
4. Separate the guide tip from the driver tip on desert trips
Desert safari and quad bike trips often run with two people: a driver and a guide or spotter. Split 100-150 EGP total between them rather than assuming one person covers both roles. If you're picking between operators, a desert safari guide built around what to expect will usually flag whether the vehicle runs with one crew member or two.
5. Round up for private transfer drivers
Airport and hotel transfer drivers get 50-100 EGP, higher end for late-night pickups or long routes like Hurghada to El Gouna. If your driver helped with heavy luggage or waited through a flight delay without complaint, round up to the top of that range.
Common mistake: tipping transfer drivers the same flat 20 EGP regardless of trip length. A 20-minute hotel run and a 45-minute airport run aren't the same job.
6. Adjust for multi-day historical tours
On overnight trips to Luxor or Cairo, tip the guide 150-250 EGP per day and the driver 100-150 EGP per day, handed over separately since they're often different companies. Multi-day tipping adds up fast on longer routes, so budget it into your total trip cost before you book, not as an afterthought at checkout.
7. Skip tipping for scripted add-ons
Some operators build in stops at photo opportunities, papyrus shops, or perfume shacks where staff expect a tip just for the pitch. You're not obligated to tip here, since this isn't part of the crew's actual service, and skipping it doesn't reflect on your guide.
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Troubleshooting
The crew hints for more after you've tipped. Politely decline and move on. The amounts above are standard for 2026, and a firm but friendly "that's what we have" ends it without conflict.
You only have large bills left. Ask your hotel reception to break a note before the trip rather than the guide on the boat; hotels handle this daily.
You're not sure if tip is included in the package price. Assume it isn't unless the operator states it explicitly in writing. Hurghada tour pricing rarely bundles gratuity.
A guide asks for USD instead of EGP. EGP is easier for crews to spend locally and avoids exchange confusion; stick with local currency even if a guide suggests otherwise.
You're traveling solo and worried the per-person rate looks stingy. The 50-100 EGP range is per person regardless of group size. Solo travelers pay the same rate, not a multiplied one.
You booked a private trip and aren't sure who to tip. On private snorkeling tours for small groups, tip whoever is physically running the boat and guiding in the water, not the office staff who booked it.
Tools and resources
- ATM withdrawal the day before departure, mixed denominations
- A small cash pouch kept separate from your main wallet
- Best private airport transfers in Hurghada for context on typical driver service length
- Your itinerary confirmation, so you know how many crew members are actually on board
What to do next
Once tipping is sorted, the bigger planning question is which excursion actually fits your trip. Start with the guide on how to pick an island boat trip in Hurghada if snorkeling and boat days are still on your list for 2026.
FAQ
How much do you tip a boat crew in Hurghada?
Tip 50-100 EGP per person at the end of a full-day boat or snorkeling trip in 2026. Round toward the higher end if the crew handled gear, food service, or rough conditions well.
Is tipping included in Hurghada tour prices?
No, tipping is almost never included in the quoted package price. Budget it as a separate cash expense before you book any excursion.
How much do you tip a dive guide in Hurghada?
Tip 150-200 EGP for a single-tank dive and 250-350 EGP for a two-tank day. Tip per tank, not per day, since dive shops rarely add gratuity to the invoice.
Should I tip in USD or Egyptian pounds?
Tip in Egyptian pounds (EGP). Local currency is easier for crews and drivers to spend immediately without an exchange step.
How much do you tip a desert safari driver?
Split 100-150 EGP between the driver and guide on a standard desert safari trip. Adjust upward if the trip includes off-road quad or dune buggy sections requiring extra skill.
Do you tip private airport transfer drivers in Hurghada?
Yes, tip 50-100 EGP depending on trip length and time of day. Late-night pickups and long routes like airport-to-hotel transfers sit at the higher end.
What happens if I don't have small bills to tip with?
Ask your hotel reception to break large notes before your excursion rather than asking the guide on-site. Guides handling change puts them in an awkward position mid-tour.
Do multi-day Luxor or Cairo tours need daily tips?
Yes, tip the guide 150-250 EGP per day and the driver 100-150 EGP per day on multi-day historical trips. Hand tips over separately since guide and driver are often different companies.
One last thing
The single biggest mistake travelers make isn't the amount, it's tipping in a currency the crew can't easily spend. A $20 bill looks generous, but it means a trip to a currency exchange counter that costs the crew member time and a fee. Fifty EGP handed over directly beats a foreign note every time in 2026.
