Giftun island boat day
The standard Hurghada day out — two or three snorkel stops and a few hours on an island beach, inside a protected area.
How long it really takes
Eight to nine hours door to door, of which perhaps four are actually on the water and two on a beach.
Boats leave Hurghada marina in the morning, run out to the Giftun islands in about 45 minutes, and work a rotation of snorkel stops before landing at a beach for lunch and a few hours. It is the most-sold excursion on this coast and, done well, one of the best value.
The variable is which beach and which boat. Orange Bay and Mahmya are the two big commercial beaches — well equipped, expensive on drinks, and busy. A smaller operator will often take you to quieter moorings, which is usually the better day if you came for the reef rather than the beach bar.
The islands sit inside a protected area. Entry fees apply and are legitimate; they fund the protection, and an operator quietly not paying them is not a bargain.
Is it worth it?
Yes. It is the easiest way to see genuinely good coral from Hurghada, and the boat time is pleasant rather than endured.
Skip it if
- You get seasick and the wind is up — ask about conditions before booking, not on the jetty
- You want quiet. On a peak-season day the popular beaches are extremely busy
- You are a confident snorkeller staying somewhere with a good house reef — you may find the stops shallow and crowded
What it costs, and how
Sold at every hotel desk and along every street. The cheap end packs large boats; the mid range gets you fewer people and better food. Ask specifically whether marine park fees, lunch, drinks and equipment are included — "all inclusive" here often means lunch and water only.
Watch out for
- Drinks on the commercial beaches are priced for a captive market. Take cash and expectations accordingly.
- Snorkel equipment on cheaper boats can be tired. If you own a mask, bring it — a leaking mask ruins the day.
- Standing on coral is the most common damage day-trippers do, and the reason some moorings have been closed.
Runs from
Last reviewed 25 July 2026. We take no commission on any excursion — how we make money. Sold something that did not match the description? Tell the desk.