Giftun Island snorkeling trip from Hurghada puts the reefs first. A shared boat takes you about 45 minutes offshore to the Giftun Islands National Park, where you snorkel at two coral reef sites with an English-speaking guide. After the reefs and a buffet lunch on board, you stop for about an hour on a Giftun beach. Air-conditioned hotel transfers and snorkeling equipment are included.
Important information
- Pickup: Pickup is between about 7:30 and 8:00, depending on your hotel, and the exact time is confirmed after booking. Free pickup covers Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay.
- Snorkeling ability: No experience is needed, but snorkeling takes place in open water from the boat. Non-swimmers should wear a life jacket and tell the guide before entering the water.
- Shared trip: This is a shared boat trip with other travelers. For a private boat, see our private speedboat and snorkeling trip.
- Marine life: Reef fish and corals are seen on every stop, but dolphins, turtles and rays are wild animals and sightings are never guaranteed.
- Sea conditions: Boat trips depend on wind and sea conditions. The captain may change the reef sites or the order of stops for safety.
- National park rules: Do not stand on or touch coral, feed fish or remove shells, sand or coral. Bring cash for the park fee, which is collected on the day.
- Children: Children aged 0–3 travel free and children aged 4–11 pay half the adult price. Child-size life jackets are available.
What to bring?
- Swimwear and a towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard or T-shirt for snorkeling
- Hat and sunglasses
- Your own mask if you prefer one that already fits
- Cash for the national park fee and any extras
- Waterproof phone pouch or underwater camera
- Motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to seasickness
Who is this tour for?
This trip suits travelers staying in Hurghada who want to see the Red Sea’s reefs properly, with a guide in the water, rather than spend most of the day on a beach. It works for first-time snorkelers who want instruction, confident swimmers who want two different reef sites, couples, friends and families with children who are comfortable in the water.
If you want a longer beach stop, the Orange Bay Island trip is the better fit. If you want to dive rather than snorkel, look at the scuba diving experience instead.
Trip Info
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Free pickup in Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay; El Gouna, Soma Bay and Safaga on request with a supplement
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Air-conditioned minibus to Hurghada Marina, then a shared excursion boat
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English-speaking snorkeling guide
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Buffet lunch on board, soft drinks and water
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Overview
The Giftun Islands are the two closest islands to Hurghada: Giftun Kebir, the larger, and Giftun Saghir. Together with their surrounding reefs, they form a protected national park, and the fringing reefs around them are among the most visited snorkeling sites on this stretch of the Red Sea.
This trip is built for travelers who want time in the water rather than a long day on a beach. After morning hotel pickup, an air-conditioned minibus takes you to Hurghada Marina, where you board a shared excursion boat. The guide helps you fit your mask and fins and explains how to snorkel safely before the first stop.
You then snorkel at two different reef sites. Expect hard and soft corals, reef fish such as parrotfish, butterflyfish and anemonefish, and occasionally larger visitors such as rays or turtles, although no sighting is guaranteed. Life jackets are available for beginners, and the guide stays in the water with the group.
After the reefs, a buffet lunch is served on board. The boat then stops for about an hour at a beach on Giftun Island, giving you time to swim from the shore or rest on the sand before the return to Hurghada.
If you would rather spend longer on a beach, our Orange Bay Island trip gives you about two hours ashore. For a quieter day on your own schedule, choose the private speedboat and snorkeling trip.
Trip Highlights
- Snorkel two coral reef sites in the Giftun Islands National Park
- Swim with an English-speaking snorkeling guide in the water with the group
- Get a fitting and safety briefing before your first snorkel, with life jackets for beginners
- Stop for about an hour on a Giftun Island beach
- Enjoy a buffet lunch with soft drinks and water on board
- Travel by air-conditioned minibus between your hotel and Hurghada Marina
