Giftun Island Hurghada There is a moment on the boat journey to Giftun Island when the water changes color. One minute you are in the deep navy blue of the open Red Sea, and the next the hull is floating over something that looks like liquid turquoise glass. Below you, through water so clear it seems impossible, coral formations bloom in every direction and fish dart between them in flashes of silver, orange, and blue.
Giftun Island is the crown jewel of Hurghada’s Red Sea excursions — a protected national park island with some of the finest snorkeling and diving in Egypt. This guide covers everything you need to know to plan your visit: how to get there, what to expect, the best spots on the island, and practical tips for making the most of a day on the water.
What Is Giftun Island?
Giftun Island — officially the Giftun Island National Park — is Egypt’s first marine national park, located approximately 8 kilometers offshore from Hurghada in the Red Sea. The park encompasses two main islands: Big Giftun (Giftun el-Kebir) and Small Giftun (Giftun el-Saghir), along with the surrounding reef system.
The island was designated a protected area in 1986, restricting development and limiting the number of visitors to protect the coral ecosystems. As a result, the reefs around Giftun remain among the healthiest in the Red Sea — a significant distinction given how much coral bleaching and damage has affected other areas of the Red Sea coast in recent decades.
The island is accessible only by boat. Motorboats from Hurghada marina make the crossing in 20–40 minutes depending on the vessel and sea conditions.
What to Do at Giftun Island
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the primary activity for most visitors to Giftun Island, and the conditions are exceptional. The water is warm (26–30°C in summer, 22–26°C in winter), visibility frequently exceeds 20 meters, and the coral reefs begin just below the surface — no deep diving required.
Boat tours typically include two to three snorkeling stops around the island, each at a different reef section. Common species you are likely to encounter include:
- Clownfish (anemonefish) nestled in their sea anemones
- Parrotfish in vivid blues and greens, grazing on coral
- Sergeant major fish in their distinctive black-striped yellow pattern
- Stingrays gliding across sandy channels between reef sections
- Moray eels peering from crevices in the coral
- Sea turtles — occasional but memorable sightings
Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, and snorkel) is included with most boat tours. If you have your own equipment, bring it — personal-fit gear is always more comfortable than shared rental equipment.
Scuba Diving
For certified divers, Giftun Island offers some of Hurghada’s best dive sites. The reef systems here include significant wall dives, coral gardens, and the opportunity to reach deeper water where larger pelagic species — including reef sharks and schools of barracuda — are occasionally sighted.
Most boat tours to Giftun do not include guided scuba diving as standard. If you want to dive rather than snorkel, book specifically through a PADI-certified dive center in Hurghada that operates Giftun dive trips.
Beach Time at Mahmya Island
Mahmya is a small managed beach island adjacent to the main Giftun Island system, operated as a day-use beach destination. It features powder-white sand, clear shallow water ideal for swimming, sun loungers, and basic beach facilities.
Many Giftun Island day trips include a stop at Mahmya for 2–3 hours of beach relaxation after the snorkeling stops — a perfect combination of underwater exploration and surface relaxation.
Dolphin Watching
The waters between Hurghada and Giftun Island are home to a pod of bottlenose dolphins that frequently surface near boats. The area around Shaab El Erg (also called Dolphin House) is particularly well known for dolphin encounters, and many Giftun tours include a detour here.
Sighting dolphins in the wild is never guaranteed, but encounter rates in this area are high — particularly in the morning when the dolphins are most active. Swimming with dolphins in these conditions (in open water with wild animals, not captive shows) is one of the most memorable activities available from Hurghada.
Giftun Island Tour Options
Standard Group Boat Tour
The most affordable option, departing daily from Hurghada marina with groups of 20–40 passengers. A typical tour includes:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Boat transfer to Giftun Island
- 2–3 snorkeling stops
- Buffet lunch on the boat
- Beach time at Mahmya (optional stop)
- Snorkeling equipment
Cost: approximately $25–45 USD per person.
Private Boat Charter
For families, couples, or small groups seeking a more exclusive experience, chartering a private boat gives you full control over the itinerary, pace, and stops. Private boats are available from Hurghada marina in various sizes, from small speedboats to larger sailing yachts.
A private charter costs $150–400 USD for the boat (not per person), making it cost-effective for groups of 4+.
Luxury Yacht Experience
Several operators offer premium Giftun experiences on luxury yachts with higher-quality meals, fewer passengers, dedicated crew, and premium snorkeling equipment. These tours cost $80–150 USD per person but offer a significantly more comfortable and exclusive experience.
Practical Information
Getting to Giftun Island
All boats to Giftun depart from Hurghada Marina or the Sigala marina area. Hotel pickup from anywhere in Hurghada is included with most organized tours. The boat crossing takes 20–40 minutes.
Best Time to Visit
Best season: October through May offers ideal conditions — calm seas, good visibility, and comfortable temperatures.
Avoid: June through August can bring strong winds that occasionally cause choppy sea conditions and cancellations. Water visibility can also be slightly reduced in the hottest months due to plankton blooms.
Best time of day: Morning departures (8:00–9:00 AM) reach the island before afternoon winds pick up and before peak crowd times.
Entrance Fees
Giftun Island is a national park and charges an entrance fee separate from your boat tour ticket. As of 2026, the park entry fee is approximately $5–10 USD per person, usually collected at the marina before departure. Confirm with your tour operator whether this is included.
What to Bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen (regular sunscreen damages coral — check the label)
- Underwater camera or waterproof phone case
- Motion sickness medication if you are prone to seasickness
- A light jacket or layer for the boat journey
- Reusable water bottle
- Cash for park fees or tipping
Health and Safety
The Red Sea around Giftun Island is generally very safe for swimming and snorkeling. There are no dangerous currents at the snorkeling sites, and marine life encountered here is non-aggressive. Basic rules: do not touch the coral (it is illegal in the national park and damages the reef), do not feed fish, and follow your guide’s briefing.
The Coral Reefs of Giftun: Why They Matter
The Giftun Island reefs are among the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the Red Sea. The Red Sea itself is unique among the world’s oceans — its isolation has created endemic species found nowhere else, and its relatively stable temperatures have protected it somewhat from the worst coral bleaching events that have devastated reef systems in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
At Giftun specifically, the combination of national park protection and relatively low current levels has maintained reef health. The coral formations include:
- Brain corals — massive, rounded structures that can be hundreds of years old
- Table corals — broad flat formations that provide shelter for dozens of reef fish species
- Fire corals — distinctive yellow-orange formations (do not touch — they sting)
- Sea fans and soft corals — swaying formations that add color and movement to the reef
The experience of floating above a healthy coral garden, surrounded by fish and filtered light from above, is what draws divers and snorkelers to the Red Sea year after year.
Combining Giftun Island with Other Hurghada Activities
Giftun Island is typically a full-day activity (departing around 8:30 AM and returning by 4:00–5:00 PM). Most visitors combine it with:
- Desert safari: The evening after a Giftun day trip is ideal for a sunset desert safari into the Eastern Desert behind Hurghada.
- Luxor day trip: Schedule your Giftun Island day and Luxor day trip on separate days — both deserve full-day attention.
- Nile Cruise extension: Many travelers based in Hurghada use it as a starting point for a Nile Cruise to Luxor and Aswan. View Nile Cruise packages from Hurghada →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-swimmers visit Giftun Island?
Yes. Life jackets are provided on all boats and snorkeling can be done while floating with a life vest. Non-swimmers can enjoy the beach at Mahmya Island while others snorkel.
Is Giftun Island suitable for children?
Absolutely. The calm, shallow snorkeling areas are ideal for children, and the beach at Mahmya is perfect for families. Children typically love the fish and coral encounters.
How many times can I snorkel?
Most tours include 2–3 snorkeling stops of 45–60 minutes each. You can re-enter the water multiple times at each stop.
Are there restaurants or cafes on the island?
Giftun Island itself has no permanent facilities. Lunch is typically served on the boat. Mahmya Island has basic beach bar facilities.
What marine life can I expect to see?
Colorful reef fish, coral formations, possibly dolphins, occasionally sea turtles and reef sharks (harmless). The exact sightings vary by season and conditions.
Giftun Island is, quite simply, one of the best days you can have in Egypt. The Red Sea delivers underwater experiences that rival the Maldives and the Great Barrier Reef — and from Hurghada, the best of it is less than an hour away by boat.
