Banana boat in Sharm El Sheikh: two rides, two styles
You can choose one inflatable or try both. They feel surprisingly different:
| Ride | How you sit | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Banana boat | In a row, astride the banana, holding the handle in front of you | Bumpy and social: the whole row leans and wobbles together, and often tips in together too |
| Sofa tube | Side by side, leaning back on a wide inflatable sofa | Bigger bounces over the wake, more laughing than balancing |
Both are towed by a speedboat with a driver, and every rider wears a life jacket. No experience is needed, and no swimming technique beyond being happy to float in a life jacket if you end up in the sea.
How a session typically runs
- Hotel pick-up and the short drive to the beach where the water sports start.
- Life jackets on and a quick safety talk from the crew: hold the handles, keep your feet in, and if you fall off, relax, float on your life jacket and wait for the boat to circle back for you.
- The ride. A few loops of the bay, with the driver adjusting the speed to the group.
- Swap or go again. If you’ve booked both rides, you change inflatables; otherwise it’s another round.
- Dry off and head back to your hotel.
Who it suits
The banana boat in Sharm is made for groups: friends on a birthday trip, families with teenagers, cousins on a reunion, colleagues on a team outing. Everyone rides at the same time, so nobody is left waiting on the sand. Younger children can sometimes join, but age and size limits depend on the operator and the ride, so we confirm them on WhatsApp before you book.
Tips from a local
- Decide the mood before you start. Tell the crew whether your group wants a gentle ride with the kids or a wild one with a few planned dunkings. They can set the pace accordingly.
- Hold on with both hands and grip with your knees on the banana. Most people fall the moment they let go to wave at someone’s camera.
- No sunglasses, no hats, no phones. If it isn’t strapped to you, the Red Sea gets to keep it.
- Pick the morning on breezy days. The water is often flatter early, which gives a smoother ride and fewer mouthfuls of sea.
- Put reef-safe sunscreen on well before you get in, so it has time to settle before the first splash.
- Ride after lunch, not straight after it. A full stomach and a bouncing sofa tube are a poor combination.
Make a water sports morning of it
The banana boat and sofa tube are quick, so they combine easily with other activities. A natural pairing is parasailing over the Red Sea on the same morning, with the glass bottom boat as a calmer option for anyone in the family who prefers to stay dry. For first-timers curious about what lies under the surface, an intro shore dive is the next step up. More ideas are in our guide to the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh.
Book your banana boat ride in Sharm El Sheikh by sending your date, hotel and group size to Mido Tours on WhatsApp (+20 10 1868 1624). Tell us if you want the banana, the sofa tube or both, and we’ll put it in one clear quote.
