Mahmya is an eco-beach club on Giftun Island — Hurghada's original barefoot day-trip escape. Set on a protected stretch of Big Giftun inside Giftun Islands National Park, Mahmya pairs a wide sweep of white sand and a shallow turquoise lagoon with a house snorkelling reef just offshore. A boat brings you out from Hurghada for the day, lunch and sunbeds included, and the whole place runs on a deliberately low-key, no-shoes rhythm. It's the pick for families, couples and anyone who wants reef time without a hardcore dive schedule.
WHAT IT IS: Eco-beach club on Giftun Island, in a protected marine park
BEST FOR: Families, couples, easy snorkelling & pure relaxing
HOW TO VISIT: Full-day boat trip from Hurghada (pickup, lunch, snorkelling included)
DON'T MISS: The house reef off the beach and the fresh lunch buffet
We run boats out to the Giftun islands most weeks of the year, and Mahmya is the one guests ask for by name. It was the first proper eco-beach concept in Hurghada — a beach club carved out of a protected island rather than another concrete resort — and it still sets the tone for how a Red Sea day trip should feel: slow, barefoot and built around the water rather than around a schedule. You step off the boat onto soft white sand, drop your bag under a straw umbrella, and spend the day drifting between the shallow lagoon, the snorkelling reef and a shaded lunch. If your idea of a perfect day is turquoise water, a cold drink and absolutely nowhere you need to be, this is it.
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What Is Mahmya Island & Why Visit
Strictly speaking, Mahmya isn't its own island — it's a beach club on Big Giftun (Giftun Kebir), the larger of the two Giftun islands that sit about an hour by boat off the Hurghada coast. The whole area falls inside Giftun Islands National Park, a protected zone, which is exactly why it looks the way it does: no high-rise hotels, no permanent concrete, just timber walkways, thatched shade and a beach that's kept clean and low-impact. Mahmya pioneered this model in the Red Sea and still runs it as its flagship, which is why 'mahmya giftun' and 'mahmya beach' get used almost interchangeably by returning visitors. Giftun Islands guide
The draw is simple. You get a genuinely beautiful, uncrowded-by-Red-Sea-standards beach, warm shallow water safe for kids, and a healthy fringing reef close enough to swim to from shore. Because it's a day-use eco-beach rather than a resort, the vibe stays relaxed all day — people snorkel, nap, read and eat, and that's about the extent of the agenda. If you want livelier, party-boat energy, Orange Bay next door leans that way; Mahmya is the calmer, more natural-feeling of the two. Orange Bay guide
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.
The headline is the sand — a long, soft, pale beach backed by simple shade structures and sunbeds, sloping into a shallow, clear lagoon. It's the kind of water where you can wade a long way out and still be waist-deep, which makes it genuinely relaxing with small children in tow.
The house snorkelling reef
Just off the beach there's a fringing reef you can reach with a mask and fins — expect coral heads, shoals of reef fish, the odd pufferfish and, on a good day, a passing ray. Most day trips also stop at a second, deeper snorkelling spot on the way out or back, so you get both easy shore snorkelling and a proper reef stop. Bring an underwater camera; visibility here is usually excellent. snorkelling day trip to Mahmya
The beach club & lunch
There's a restaurant and bar on the sand serving a fresh lunch buffet — usually grilled fish and meat, salads, rice and fruit — plus soft drinks, coffee and cocktails through the day. Sunbeds, umbrellas and toilets/changing facilities are all part of the set-up. It's comfortable without being flashy, which is the whole point.
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How to Visit Mahmya Island
Mahmya is a full-day boat trip from Hurghada, and a tour is by far the easiest way to do it — you can't just turn up, so access is bundled into an organised day out. A typical trip includes hotel pickup from anywhere in Hurghada, El Gouna, Makadi or Sahl Hasheesh, the boat transfer out to Giftun (around 45–60 minutes each way), the beach and reef access, snorkelling gear, the lunch buffet and the return. You leave mid-morning and get back late afternoon, so it fills a whole day comfortably. We handle the marine-park entry, the timing and the logistics; you just bring a towel and a swimsuit. Hurghada day toursMahmya snorkelling day trip
★ Ready for a barefoot day on Giftun? Our Hurghada day tours bundle the boat, hotel pickup, snorkelling gear and lunch into one easy Mahmya day — no queues, no hassle. Browse our 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.
Mahmya works year-round, but the sweet spot is spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when the air is warm, the sea sits around a comfortable 24–27°C and the sun isn't punishing. Summer (June–August) is hot but the water is bath-warm and the boat breeze keeps things bearable — start early to beat the peak heat. In winter (December–February) the beach is still lovely and quiet, but the sea cools to roughly 21–22°C, so snorkelling is best with a shorty wetsuit or at least a rash vest. Whatever the month, calm-sea days give the clearest snorkelling; your operator will flag if wind is forecast. best time to visit Egypt
Local tip: book a weekday if you can. Giftun day trips fill up fastest on weekends and around cruise-ship days, and Mahmya feels twice as relaxing when the beach isn't at capacity.
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What to Bring & Practical Tips
Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses — the sand and water throw a lot of glare, and this is a protected reef, so skip the heavy chemical creams.
A towel and a light cover-up; changing facilities exist but it's easier to arrive beach-ready.
Water shoes if your feet are tender — the odd rocky patch near the reef is easier with them.
Cash for extras (drinks beyond what's included, tips for the crew) — card isn't always an option out on the island.
An underwater or waterproof camera; the shallow lagoon and reef are made for it.
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Who Mahmya Island Suits
Mahmya is a families-and-couples beach first and foremost. The shallow, calm lagoon is reassuring for kids, the easy shore snorkelling suits nervous or first-time snorkellers, and the unhurried pace is exactly right for couples and anyone who just wants to switch off on good sand. Confident divers looking for wall dives and drift dives will get more out of a dedicated dive trip, but for a mixed group where some want reef time and others just want to lie on a sunbed with a book, it's hard to beat. best beaches in Egypt
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Combine It With
Mahmya slots neatly into a wider Hurghada stay. If you love the Giftun day, the neighbouring islands and Orange Bay make an obvious second excursion, while back on the mainland there's the marina, the aquarium, desert safaris and the old town of El Dahar to fill non-beach days. Base yourself well and everything is an easy transfer away. things to do in Hurghadawhere to stay in Hurghada
★ Turning Hurghada into a full Red Sea holiday? Our Red Sea travel packages combine Giftun beach days, snorkelling and desert trips with the right hotel — planned end to end. See our Red Sea travel packages Red Sea travel packages
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Yes — for a relaxed beach-and-snorkelling day it's one of the best trips out of Hurghada. You get soft white sand, a shallow turquoise lagoon, a healthy reef right off the beach and a fresh lunch, all on a protected island with a deliberately calm, barefoot atmosphere. It suits families and couples especially well.
Mahmya is reached only by boat from Hurghada, as part of an organised day trip. Tours include hotel pickup, the 45–60 minute boat transfer out to Big Giftun, beach and reef access, snorkelling gear and lunch. You can't visit independently, so booking a Hurghada day tour is the standard way in. Hurghada day tours
Both are beach clubs on the Giftun islands, but Mahmya is the older, more eco-focused and generally calmer option, with a natural, low-key feel. Orange Bay is bigger, glossier and livelier, with a party-boat atmosphere. Choose Mahmya for relaxing and easy snorkelling, Orange Bay for buzz and photos.
Very good. There's a fringing house reef you can swim to straight from the beach, with plenty of reef fish and coral, plus most trips add a second, deeper snorkelling stop by boat. Visibility is usually excellent on calm days, and the shallow entry makes it easy for beginners.
Prices vary by season and whether it's a shared or private boat, but shared Mahmya day trips from Hurghada typically start from around $40–60 per person, including transfers, lunch and snorkelling gear. Private and premium boats cost more. Always confirm what's included before booking. Red Sea travel packages
Yes. The beach stays beautiful and quiet in December–February, and the sun is pleasant for lounging. The sea cools to about 21–22°C, so snorkelling is more comfortable in a shorty wetsuit or rash vest, but the trip absolutely still runs and the crowds are thinner. best time to visit Egypt
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