The Giftun Islands — Giftun Kebir (the large one) and Giftun Sughayer (the small one) — lie about an hour by boat from Hurghada and form part of a protected marine reserve. Between them they hold the beaches and reefs that most visitors picture when they imagine the Red Sea.
The different beaches, and how they differ
People talk about "the Giftun trip" as if it were one thing. It is not — there are several distinct beaches, and which one you book changes the day considerably.
- Orange Bay — the busiest and the most photographed. White sand, water that stays turquoise a long way out, umbrellas and loungers, and a lively atmosphere.
- Mahmya — on the northern tip, inside the national park, with a restaurant and shaded seating. Quieter and more comfortable, with a healthy reef just offshore.
- Paradise Island — a low crescent of sand with reef close enough to swim to. Simple and beautiful.
What makes the reef good
The islands sit inside a marine reserve, which limits what can be built and how boats behave. The result is coral in noticeably better condition than the sites closest to the city, with walls and drop-offs teeming with reef fish, and turtles and rays seen regularly.
How a day works
Hotel pickup in the morning, an hour or so across the water, one or two snorkeling stops over reef, then several hours on the island with lunch served on board or on the beach. Back at your hotel by late afternoon. Equipment, life jackets and a guide in the water are included on all our trips.
Practical advice
- The islands charge their own entry fee, collected on arrival and not included in the trip price. Bring cash.
- Shade is limited to the umbrellas. A hat and a rash vest will do more for you than sunscreen alone.
- The crossing can be choppy when the wind gets up. Take seasickness tablets before boarding rather than after.
- Bring a waterproof pouch for your phone, and a dry bag if you have one.
- Water shoes help if you plan to enter the sea from the beach rather than the boat ladder.
Please look after it
The reserve is the only reason these islands are worth visiting. Do not stand on or touch the coral, do not feed the fish, and take nothing out of the water. Coral recovers on a timescale measured in decades.
All our island day trips are on the tours page, with hotel transfers included from Hurghada.
