Giftun Island Day Trip From Hurghada: Snorkeling Guide

Giftun Island is the name most visitors use for the Giftun Islands, a pair of low desert islands in the Red Sea just off Hurghada. A Giftun day trip means a boat ride from a Hurghada marina, two or three snorkeling stops on the surrounding reefs, and a few hours on a sandy beach. It is the easiest way to see Red Sea coral from Hurghada without being a certified diver.

This guide explains what the islands are, how a typical day is organized, what to bring, which safety advice applies, and how to fit Giftun into a wider Egypt itinerary.

Giftun Island at a Glance

What Are the Giftun Islands?

The Giftun Islands are two islands that sit a short way offshore from Hurghada, separated from each other by a channel. The larger island, Giftun Kebir, lies to the west and is the one most boats approach. It stretches for about 11 km along the coast and covers roughly 18 square kilometers. Giftun Soraya, often called Small Giftun, is much smaller at about 3 square kilometers and lies to the southeast.

On land, both islands are dry and nearly flat, with sand, rock and very little vegetation. The reason people come is what lies around them. Fringing reefs ring the islands, and the Arabic-language reference sources count about 14 dive sites in the Giftun group. Divers and snorkelers see hard and soft corals, reef fish and, on lucky days, turtles or dolphins.

A protected marine area

Egypt protects many of its Red Sea islands and reefs under its nature reserves law. The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency’s official list of protected areas includes a Northern Red Sea Islands National Park, declared in 2006 by Prime Minister’s Decree No. 1618 and covering about 1,709.7 square kilometers in the Red Sea Governorate. Egyptian government sources describe Giftun itself as a designated marine park.

Protection matters in practice. The decree that created the reserve lists activities that are banned inside it, and Egyptian reference sources explain that hunting, moving, killing or disturbing marine and land creatures is prohibited. For visitors, that translates into simple habits covered in the tips section below.

What a Giftun Day Trip Looks Like

Every boat operator sets its own program, so treat the outline below as a general shape rather than a fixed schedule. Your operator will confirm pickup times, sailing times and which reefs the captain chooses on the day, since sea conditions decide much of the route.

Pickup and boarding

Most trips start with a hotel pickup and a short drive to one of Hurghada’s marinas. You board a day boat, sign in, and receive snorkel gear and a safety briefing. Ask for a mask that fits before the boat leaves the dock. A poorly sealed mask is the most common reason a first-time snorkeler gives up early.

First snorkeling stop

The boat usually anchors or ties to a mooring line above a reef. A guide usually leads swimmers in the water. If you want a life jacket or flotation vest, ask for one before you get in. This first stop is a good moment to practice clearing your mask and breathing calmly through the snorkel.

Beach time on Big Giftun

Many trips spend a block of time on the sandy shore of Big Giftun. Egyptian government sources mention Paradise Beach, with fine sand and shallow water, and Mahmya, a managed beach area with loungers and a restaurant. Whether your trip lands at either place depends on the operator and the type of trip you book, so ask in advance if a particular beach matters to you.

Second reef and the return

Most programs include at least one more reef stop, often in the afternoon. Lunch is commonly served on board or on the beach. Boats then sail back to the marina in the late afternoon, and a driver returns you to your hotel.

Snorkeling or Diving: Which Suits You?

You do not need any qualification to snorkel at Giftun. If you can swim and float comfortably, a snorkel day shows you a lot of reef life in shallow water. Non-swimmers can still join many boats and spend time on the beach or in the shallows with a vest, though the experience is more limited.

Scuba diving opens up the deeper parts of the reefs. Certified divers can join dedicated dive boats, and some dive centers offer supervised introductory dives for beginners. If diving is a priority, book a dive-focused boat rather than a general snorkel trip, since the schedule and group size are different.

Is a Giftun Island Trip Safe?

Boat trips to the islands are a routine part of a Hurghada holiday, but standards vary from one boat to the next. The UK government’s Egypt travel advice notes recent incidents involving British nationals on diving boats and tours in the Red Sea, some fatal, and says safety standards of resort diving operators vary considerably.

The same advice suggests booking through a tour representative or reputable operator, observing safety standards on board, and not diving below your insurance policy’s depth limit. It also notes that shark attacks are rare but have happened in the Red Sea region, and recommends following updates from local authorities or your operator. Hurghada itself is not in any area where the UK advises against travel, as listed on the live FCDO page in October 2026.

Practical checks we suggest:

• Ask whether the boat carries life jackets for every passenger and a first-aid kit.
• Make sure a guide or crew member stays in the water or on watch during each swim.
• Tell the crew honestly how well you swim. Good crews adjust where they place weaker swimmers.
• Check that your travel insurance covers snorkeling, and diving if you plan to dive.
• Avoid boats that look overcrowded or skip the safety briefing.

Practical Tips for Your Day on the Water

What to bring

• Swimwear worn under your clothes, a towel and a change of clothes.
• A long-sleeved rash guard or swim shirt. It protects your back from sunburn while you snorkel face down.
• A hat and sunglasses with a strap.
• Reef-friendly sunscreen, applied well before you get in the water.
• Cash in small notes for drinks, tips and any extras on board.
• Seasickness tablets if you are prone to motion sickness. Take them before boarding, not once you feel ill.
• A waterproof phone pouch if you want photos.

How to protect the reef

• Never stand on coral. Rest by floating on your back or holding the boat’s line.
• Do not touch, feed or chase fish, turtles or dolphins.
• Take nothing from the water or the beach, including shells and coral pieces.
• Keep fins up and away from the reef, especially in shallow areas.
• Carry your rubbish back to the boat.

Fees

Some boat trips to protected Red Sea areas include a park or reserve fee in the price, and some collect it separately. We could not find a current, official per-person fee for Giftun published on a government site, so we have not listed a figure. Ask your operator whether any reserve fee is included before you pay.

Best Time to Visit Giftun Island

Boats run to Giftun year-round. Hurghada is sunny for most of the year, and the main differences between seasons are air temperature, water temperature and wind. Summer brings the hottest days and the warmest sea. Winter days are mild and pleasant on deck, but the water feels cooler, and some swimmers wear a light wetsuit. Spring and autumn are a comfortable middle ground for many travelers.

Wind matters more than the calendar for a boat day. On choppy days, captains may pick more sheltered reefs, and the crossing can feel rough. If you have flexibility, keep your Giftun day early in your Red Sea stay so you can move it if the sea is too rough. For month-by-month weather across Egypt, see our guide to the best time to visit Egypt.

How Giftun Fits Into an Egypt Trip

Most travelers from the USA and UK combine the Red Sea with the classic sights. A common pattern is Cairo and Giza first, then Luxor and Aswan by Nile cruise or land, and a few beach nights in Hurghada at the end. That order lets you rest after the busier sightseeing days, and it keeps the boat day flexible.

Hurghada is also a practical base for day trips inland. Luxor sits across the Eastern Desert from the coast, and some visitors visit its temples from the beach. Your driver or guide will confirm road timing for any such trip. For an overview of resorts, beaches and diving along the coast, read our Red Sea Egypt travel guide.

Delta tour packages that end with Hurghada include:

• Nile Legend – 10 Days (Cairo, Nile cruise and Hurghada), from $1,220 per person.
• HAPI – 10 Days (Cairo, Nile cruise and Hurghada), from $1,220 per person.
• Sun & Sea (Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada), from $1,180 per person.
• ISIS Dive – 8 Days (Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada), from $905 per person.
• Nile Dream – 10 Days (Cairo, Nile cruise and Hurghada), from $3,160 per person.

You can compare these and other combinations on our Egypt and Red Sea tours page. Families should also look at our Egypt family tours, since a calm snorkel day suits children who swim well.

Visit Giftun Island With Delta Tours Egypt

Delta Tours Egypt does not list a set Giftun Island boat trip as a standard product. We can arrange a private Giftun day on request as part of a tailor-made itinerary, matched to your swimming level and the rest of your trip. Share your dates and interests through our tailor-made Egypt tours page, and our Cairo team will build the plan around you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Giftun Island from Hurghada?

The islands lie a short way off the Hurghada coast, and Big Giftun is the closer of the two. Sailing time depends on your departure marina, the boat and the sea. Your boat crew will confirm timing on the day.

Can you snorkel at Giftun Island if you are not a strong swimmer?

Yes, many beginners do. Ask for a flotation vest, tell the crew your level, and stay close to the guide. A private boat gives slower swimmers more time and attention.

Is Giftun Island a protected area?

Yes. Egyptian government sources describe Giftun as a designated marine park, and Egypt protects many northern Red Sea islands and reefs under its nature reserves law. Harming or removing marine life is prohibited.

Is there an entrance fee for Giftun Island?

We could not confirm a current official fee on a government site. Some operators include a reserve fee in their price and others charge it separately. Ask before you book.

What is the best month for a Giftun Island trip?

Trips run all year. Summer has the warmest water, winter has milder air and cooler water, and spring and autumn sit in between. Calm wind matters as much as the month.

Can Delta Tours Egypt book a Giftun Island trip?

We do not sell a fixed Giftun product, but we can arrange a private boat day on request within a tailor-made trip. It can sit at the end of a Cairo and Nile itinerary.

A day at Giftun is a calm, simple reward after the temples and tombs of the Nile Valley. To plan Cairo, the Nile and a few beach days in one itinerary, start with our Egypt and Red Sea tours, or ask us to design a tailor-made trip around your dates.

Featured image: Beach on Giftun Island. Photo: Caprice4540 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0