Attraction Details
Overview
Giftun Island
Officially Giftun Kebir (Greater Giftun) — is a protected natural island approximately 8 km east of Hurghada in the Red Sea, surrounded by some of the finest coral reef systems accessible from Hurghada and designated as a national park. The island’s beaches — particularly the celebrated Abu Ramada and Mahmya beaches — are among the most beautiful on the Egyptian Red Sea coast, with fine white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, and the coral reef beginning just meters from the shoreline. The protected status of the island’s surrounding waters has preserved coral formations in better condition than many heavily dived reef systems closer to Hurghada’s main resorts.
Giftun Island is the primary destination for Hurghada’s extensive day-trip boat industry — dozens of boats depart from Hurghada marina daily, carrying snorkelers, divers, and beach visitors to the island’s beaches and reefs. The most popular beach, Mahmya, is managed by a beach club operator who controls visitor numbers and maintains the facility, while the broader island and its reef are part of the Giftun Island National Park managed by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency.
Snorkeling directly from the beach at Giftun reveals abundant reef fish, coral formations, and — with some luck — turtles and rays. Organized diving trips from Hurghada use Giftun’s surrounding reefs for both beginner and advanced dives, with the deeper outer reef walls providing excellent dive sites.
History & Significance
Giftun Island and the surrounding reef system were designated as a national park in 1986, recognizing the exceptional ecological value of the coral reef environment in what was then a largely undeveloped section of the Red Sea coast. The designation preceded the explosive growth of Hurghada’s resort development in the 1990s and 2000s, providing some protection for the island’s natural values even as the surrounding mainland coastline was dramatically transformed.
The Egyptian Red Sea’s coral reefs were among the most pristine in the world before mass tourism development began in the 1980s and 1990s. Despite significant pressure from diving, anchoring, and coastal development, Giftun’s protected status has helped maintain reef quality that has declined more severely at unprotected sites closer to Hurghada’s main hotel zone.
The island is uninhabited — no permanent residents live on Giftun — and visitors arrive exclusively by boat from Hurghada. The boat journey across the open Red Sea, with views of the Egyptian mountains to the west and the open water to the east, is itself a notable part of the Giftun experience.
What to See
Mahmya Beach
Fine white sand with crystal-clear turquoise water and the coral reef beginning just meters from the shore — one of the most beautiful beach settings on Egypt's Red Sea coast.
Beach Snorkeling
Abundant reef fish, coral formations, turtles, and rays accessible directly from the beach without a boat — the reef's proximity to the sand makes Giftun's snorkeling unusually accessible.
Protected Reef System
National park protection has preserved coral quality that exceeds most Hurghada-area reef systems — hard and soft corals in better condition than at sites subjected to heavier unprotected diving pressure.
Open Red Sea Crossing
The 30–45 minute boat journey from Hurghada marina to the island across open Red Sea water — with Egyptian mountains to the west and open horizon to the east.
Photo Gallery
Visitor Information
Day trips from Hurghada typically 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
⛔ Closed: NeverNo dress restrictions
Photography is free
Partially accessible
💡 Visitor Tips
Location & Map
🚕 How to Get There
Located approximately 8 km east of Hurghada marina; accessible by day-trip boat from Hurghada marina (30–45 min crossing) — organized through Hurghada hotels, dive centers, or marina boat operators.
