The boat out
After pickup at your Hurghada hotel, the day is spent on a boat around Giftun Island.
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Hurghada · Red Sea, off Hurghada
Giftun Island, Hurghada
A Red Sea island off Hurghada, inside the Red Sea protectorates, visited by boat for snorkeling on its reefs and time on its beach.
About Giftun Island
Giftun is an island in the Red Sea off Hurghada, reached by boat, with coral reefs around it and a beach. Egypt's environment ministry manages it as part of the Red Sea protectorates: in June 2026 the minister sailed to Giftun to inspect the marine activities on the island and backed day-only visits to reduce the pressure on the reefs.
The ministry names Giftun Island among the most prominent dive sites in the Red Sea, and its rangers use it as a field site: in June 2025 new researchers trained there in monitoring sea turtles, an endangered species the protectorates watch over.
A short history
- Protected watersVisits to Giftun come under the Red Sea protectorates, which set the environmental conditions for activities on the island and collect protectorate visit fees.
- April 2024An inspection by the head of Egypt's Environmental Affairs Agency covered the service projects on the Red Sea islands, Big Giftun (Giftun El Kebir) among them.
- June 2025Nineteen new protectorate researchers trained in sea-turtle monitoring at Giftun Island, one of two field sites with Marsa Shona in Marsa Alam.
- June 2026The environment minister and the Red Sea governor sailed to Giftun to inspect its marine activities, calling for a waste system so boats hand in their waste instead of throwing it into the sea, and for electronic booking of sea trips to the protectorates.
What you'll see
Two snorkeling stops
The boat stops at two reef spots, where an English-speaking instructor leads the snorkeling; the gear is included.
The beach
Free time ashore on the island to swim or rest on the sand; water sports there are not part of the program and may cost extra.
Getting there and how the visit runs
Our Giftun day picks you up at your Hurghada hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle; your transfers and guide are private. From the harbor the boat takes you to two snorkeling stops around Giftun with an English-speaking instructor and gear, then to the island's beach, with an open buffet lunch on board before the ride back to your hotel.
Before you go
What to wear and bring
- Swimwear and a cover-up for the boat
- Sun protection and a hat
- Modest clothes once you leave the resort and the beach
Photos
- Drones need permission from Egypt's Ministry of Defence
- Ask before photographing people
Average daily high in Hurghada (°C)
The coolest months are December to February.
World Meteorological Organization climate normals (monthly averages, not forecasts)
Questions about Giftun Island
Where are the best snorkeling spots in Hurghada?
Giftun Island is one of them: Egypt's environment ministry names it among the most prominent dive sites in the Red Sea. Our Giftun day stops at two reef spots around the island.
How do you get to Giftun Island?
By boat from Hurghada. On our tour you are picked up at your hotel and taken to the boat; snorkeling gear, an English-speaking instructor and lunch on board are included.
Is Giftun Island a protected area?
Yes. It is part of the Red Sea protectorates run by Egypt's environment ministry, which inspected the marine activities on the island in June 2026 and backs day-only visits to protect the reefs.
Can you see sea turtles at Giftun?
Sea turtles are monitored there: in June 2025 the protectorates trained new researchers in sea-turtle monitoring at Giftun Island. A sighting on any given day is never certain.
What is the weather like for a Giftun day?
Hurghada's average daily high runs from 21.7 °C in January to 35.1 °C in August, per WMO climate normals.
Sources: Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency; World Meteorological Organization; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Day tours
Tours that stop at Giftun Island
Guides
