Banana Boat Ride
A fast inflatable ride across the sheltered turquoise shallows of the Red Sea — the simplest way onto the water for mixed-age groups.
About this experience
Not everything on the Red Sea needs a mask and a briefing. The banana boat is exactly what it sounds like: an inflatable towed behind a speedboat across the flat water inside the reef line, taken at whatever pace the group wants. It works because the water at Sharm is warm, clear and sheltered, and because it is the one activity on the coast that a mixed group of ages and swimming abilities can all do together. It also makes a good first half-hour of a boat day, before the snorkelling starts and the pace slows down.
What to expect
A short briefing and a properly fitted buoyancy aid before you board
Boarding the inflatable from a jetty or from the beach shallows
A tow across the flat water inside the reef, at a speed the driver matches to the group
Falling off is part of it — the driver circles back immediately
Straight back onto the boat or beach, usually with time for a swim afterwards
Good to know before you go
- Buoyancy aids are provided and worn by everyone, so confident swimming is not required
- Hold on with both hands and keep loose items — sunglasses, phones, jewellery — on shore
- Not advised in pregnancy or with back, neck or shoulder problems; the ride is bumpy by design
- Operators normally set a minimum age of around six, with an adult alongside younger children
- Reef-safe sunscreen only, and reapply after — you will get wet
Good to know
Do I need to be able to swim for a banana boat ride?
No. Everyone wears a buoyancy aid, the ride stays in sheltered shallow water inside the reef line, and the speedboat circles back immediately if anyone comes off. Nervous or non-swimming guests do it comfortably, and the driver will keep the pace gentle if you ask.
Is the banana boat suitable for children?
Yes, from around six years old with an adult alongside, though operators set their own minimum age. It is one of the few Red Sea activities that works for a whole family at once regardless of swimming ability.
Where does the banana boat ride take place?
In the sheltered bays along the Sharm El Sheikh coast, inside the reef line where the water is flat, shallow and warm. It is usually run from a hotel jetty or as the opening stretch of a private boat day.
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