A protected national-park archipelago off Hurghada with fringing coral reefs and postcard sandbars — the city's number-one snorkelling day trip. The Giftun Islands sit about 45–60 minutes by boat from Hurghada marina and form the heart of the Giftun Marine Protected Area. This is where the famous Orange Bay sandbar and the Mahmya beach club live, alongside quieter reef stops where you snorkel straight off the boat. Almost everyone visits on an organised day trip with hotel pickup, lunch and gear included; a small national-park fee applies on top.
WHAT IT IS: Protected marine-park islands off Hurghada
BEST FOR: Snorkellers, families, beach day-trippers
HOW TO VISIT: Boat day trip from Hurghada (~45–60 min)
DON'T MISS: Orange Bay sandbar & the house reef
Ask anyone in Hurghada where to spend a sunny day on the water and the answer is the same: the Giftun Islands. We run boats out here most weeks of the year, and it never gets old — you leave the marina, the coast drops away, and within the hour you're anchored over reefs so clear you can count the fish before you've even put your mask on. Giftun is not one island but a small protected archipelago, and the day usually splits between snorkelling reef stops and time ashore on a white-sand bar like Orange Bay. If you only do one Red Sea excursion from Hurghada, this is the one we'd point you to first.
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What Are the Giftun Islands & Why Visit
The Giftun Islands are two main islands — Big Giftun and Small Giftun — plus a scatter of sandbars and reefs a short boat ride off Hurghada. The whole area is a national park (the Giftun Marine Protected Area), which is exactly why it's worth the trip: because it's protected, the coral is healthier and the fish life richer than most of the shore reefs closer to town. Development on the islands themselves is deliberately limited, so what you get is desert-fringed beaches, turquoise shallows and reef walls dropping into deep blue. For a first-time Red Sea visitor, it's the easiest way to see why divers and snorkellers rave about this coast.
Highlights: What You'll See & Do
Snorkelling the reefs — fringing coral gardens with clownfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish and the odd turtle or ray; visibility is often 20 metres plus.
Orange Bay — the Instagram-famous sandbar off Giftun with shallow, waist-deep turquoise water and a beach-club vibe. Orange Bay guide
Mahmya — the long-running eco beach club on Giftun with loungers, shade and a calm house reef, popular with families. Mahmya Island guide
Dolphins — pods are seen fairly often on the crossing or at nearby reefs, though never guaranteed; keep your eyes on the bow.
Just floating — the shallow lagoons are warm, calm and safe for weak swimmers and kids with a vest.
Planning your dates? We'll match them to the best experience.
Tell us when you can travel and we'll suggest the ideal route and season — usually within the hour.
You visit the Giftun Islands on a boat day trip from Hurghada — there's no other practical way, and honestly no reason to want one. Boats leave from Hurghada marina in the morning, take roughly 45–60 minutes to reach the islands, make two or three snorkelling stops, and give you beach time on a sandbar before heading back mid-afternoon. Almost every trip includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a captain and guide, snorkelling gear, and lunch on board or on the beach. The one thing that isn't included is the national-park entry fee, a small per-person charge collected on the day that goes toward protecting the reef. We always book the Giftun run as an organised excursion rather than trying to charter privately — it's cheaper, the crews know the best reef stops, and pickup means no taxi hassle. Browse the full range of Hurghada boat trips and shore excursions to compare islands, boat sizes and inclusions. Hurghada day toursGiftun Island snorkelling tripMahmya Island snorkelling trip
Local tip: the big multi-deck party boats and the smaller premium boats visit the same islands but feel completely different. Families and keen snorkellers should pay a little more for a smaller boat with fewer people and an earlier start — you'll reach the reefs before the crowds and get far more time in the water.
★ Ready to hit the water? Our Hurghada day trips cover Giftun, Orange Bay and Mahmya with hotel pickup, gear and lunch sorted — just bring a towel and sunscreen. See all Hurghada day tours Hurghada day tours
Not sure which month suits you? Ask a local.
We'll tell you honestly what the weather and crowds are really like for your travel dates.
The Giftun Islands are a year-round trip, but the water is warmest and the days longest from roughly May to October, when sea temperatures sit in the high 20s°C and snorkelling is pure pleasure. Winter (December to February) is still very doable — the sun is out and the reef is just as good — but the water cools to around 21–22°C and the wind can pick up, so a shorty wetsuit or rash vest is welcome and the odd trip gets cancelled for choppy seas. Spring and autumn are the sweet spot: warm water, gentler crowds and comfortable air temperatures. If you're timing a wider Egypt trip around the Red Sea, our month-by-month notes help. Best time to visit EgyptEgypt in May
Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses — the sun on the water is fierce even in winter.
A rash vest or light long-sleeve top to avoid a burnt back while snorkelling face-down.
A towel, a change of clothes and water shoes for pebbly entries.
Cash in EGP for the national-park fee, drinks and tips.
An underwater phone case or action camera — the visibility here is made for it.
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Who the Giftun Islands Suit
This is one of the most crowd-pleasing days out on the whole coast, which is why it tops most lists of things to do in Hurghada. Snorkellers get genuinely good reefs without needing to dive; families get shallow, safe lagoons and beach clubs with shade and lunch; couples get that turquoise-sandbar backdrop everyone comes for. Divers can go too — the same marine park has dive sites — but Giftun really shines as a snorkel-and-beach day. If you'd rather stay on land or want a change of pace, Hurghada has aquariums, desert safaris and more besides. For serious underwater time, look at a dedicated diving trip instead. Things to do in HurghadaScuba diving in Egypt
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Combine It With
Giftun pairs naturally with the coast's other big draws. If you loved the sandbar, dedicate a whole day to Orange Bay; if you want a slower, family beach-club day, base yourself at Mahmya. Many visitors string together two or three boat days over a Hurghada stay, then break them up with a desert safari or an aquarium visit. For where to base yourself between trips, our Hurghada accommodation guide breaks down the resort strips and the town, and if you're chasing the best sand in the country, our beaches roundup is worth a look. A Red Sea package can bundle several of these excursions with your hotel and transfers in one booking. Where to stay in HurghadaBest beaches in EgyptRed Sea travel packages
★ Want the whole Red Sea trip sorted? Our Red Sea packages combine a Hurghada beach base with Giftun, Orange Bay and Mahmya excursions, transfers and hotels — planned around your dates. Explore our Red Sea travel packages Red Sea travel packages
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The Giftun Islands lie in the Red Sea just off Hurghada, Egypt, about 45–60 minutes by boat from the main marina. They form a protected national park (the Giftun Marine Protected Area) made up of Big Giftun, Small Giftun and several surrounding reefs and sandbars, including Orange Bay and Mahmya.
You get there on a boat day trip from Hurghada — there's no bridge or ferry service. Organised excursions include hotel pickup, the boat crossing, snorkelling stops and lunch, and drop you back mid-afternoon. Booking an escorted trip is cheaper and easier than chartering a boat yourself. Giftun Island snorkelling trip
Yes — because it's a protected marine park, Giftun has some of the healthiest, most colourful reefs near Hurghada, with clownfish, parrotfish and often turtles or rays in visibility that regularly tops 20 metres. Trips make two or three reef stops, and the coral is suitable for beginners and confident snorkellers alike.
Yes. A small national-park entry fee is collected per person on the day, separate from your tour price, and it funds reef protection. Bring cash in Egyptian pounds. The exact amount changes periodically, so confirm the current fee with your operator when you book.
Giftun is the island and marine-park area as a whole. Orange Bay is a famous white sandbar with shallow turquoise water and a beach-club scene, while Mahmya is a long-established eco beach club on Giftun with loungers, shade and a calm house reef. Many day trips visit a combination of them.
Sometimes. Dolphin pods are spotted fairly regularly on the crossing or around nearby reefs, but sightings are never guaranteed on a standard Giftun trip. If seeing dolphins is your priority, ask about a dedicated dolphin-watching excursion or a tailor-made day. Tailor-made Egypt tours
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