Your guide to enjoying Giftun Island
If you decided to go to Egypt – the country of the picturesque coast of the Red Sea – it is best to go to the shores of Giftun Island. It is located in the vicinity of the Hurghada, which, by the way, is considered one of the most popular cities in Egypt.
The Giftun Islands, Egypt, are two small islands they are:
- Big Giftun that you will locate further west and near the coast in general.
- Small Giftun which is further east.
Where is Giftun Island?
Giftun Island is very close to Hurghada. The boat ride to Giftun Island takes only about 45 minutes. Right in front of Hurghada is the Giftun Islands National Park, as well as a series of desert islands and islets rich in amazing sea beds.
Orange Bay is located in the center of the island on the west side. Mahmiya and Paradise Island are located in the south.
The area is particularly famous for the extraordinary development of coral formations and the numerous dream islands that characterize this area.
It is no coincidence that this is a privileged destination, loved and chosen by many tourists from all over the world. The archipelago is truly enchanting, in addition to the island of Giftun and the islands of Abu Ramada, Magawish, and Abu Monkar are of equal beauty.
What will you find in Giftun Island?
Around these islands you will find many popular diving sites, making them an ideal destination for it. Because the waters of the Red Sea are the dream space to practice snorkeling and diving thanks to its abundant marine life.
Its picturesque corals, in the company of the varied amount of corals that there are; They are of special beauty and fascinate with their shapes those who dare to explore their waters.
One of the most remarkable and most striking aspects of this little place is that when you arrive at them you have the feeling of reaching the tropical islands of the Caribbean Sea.
But in the middle of the Red Sea being in reality, you will be in the presence of a perfect destination for a romantic getaway or simply a relaxing trip.
The Environmental aspect of the Giftun Islands
Of both islands, the most developed for tourism is the big Giftun, which, being the largest island, is where you will find more tourist services, as expected. It is there where you will locate the Mahmya Complex, an eco-tourist destination.
This complex was built taking care of every aspect of it so that it does not negatively impact the environment of the island. Thus, to ensure this, it had the supervision of the Egyptian Agency for Environmental Affairs (EEAA).
Everything you will find in the place is made to take care of the nature of the site without limitations. So everything is friendly to the environment such as:
- The grass huts
- Wooden bridges made by hand with logs
- Palm tree umbrellas
- The furniture is made of native wood
- Other local products
But its main attraction is the protected marine park it has, where it offers one of the best diving opportunities in the entire Red Sea. In this area of crystalline waters, you can swim with tuna, octopus, barracuda, starfish, rays, moray eels, turtles, and dolphins.
Useful Tips for tourists
Recently, Giftun Island in Hurghada has become quite visited by tourists and diving enthusiasts. After all, it is near the shores of this island that you can see moray eels, stingrays, cuttlefish, and many other inhabitants of the underwater world.
And for those who want to see something more, it is worth exploring the many underwater caves, of which there are many on this island. Some are up to 45 meters deep.
It should be noted that in the vicinity of Giftun Island there are also quite dangerous sea inhabitants. Barracuda, long-winged, and whale sharks can be found here.
Hurghada has many interesting sights, but Giftun Island is considered the most remarkable and desirable for many vacationers.
The island of Hurghada is considered a protected water park, entry to its territory is paid.
It is worth noting that the local authorities in Hurghada are trying to protect nature and strictly prohibit breaking off pieces from coral reefs, catching local fish, and plucking plants. All these violations are severely punished.
There are no settlements and houses throughout the island of Hurghada, only small shops with fruits and drinks.
For those who went on an excursion to one of the Giftun islands, the program also includes, in addition to diving, a delicious lunch prepared right on the beach.
Also, the price of the excursion includes the appropriate inventory (fins, mask, snorkel), as well as soft drinks.
Beaches and coral to discover on Giftun Island
These islands, among the closest to Hurghada, are part of a marine reserve and are surrounded by a series of spectacular cliffs teeming with marine life, including Hamda, Banana Reef, Sha’ab Sabrina, Erg Somaya, and Sha’ab Torfa.
Their depths range from 5 meters minimum to 100 meters maximum. It is a recommended site for divers who already have the experience, the level of these dives ranges from intermediate to advanced.
The large island of Giftun is one of the largest islands in the Red Sea as it is, in fact, the second-largest island after Shedwan Island, a rocky island located just over 50 kilometers from Sharm El Sheikh, south of this popular tourist destination on the Sinai Peninsula.
Giftun is known for its coral reefs of rare beauty, the colorful fish that inhabit them, but also extraordinary bird species.
The solid coral reefs it includes are over 190 types and represent about 80% of the biodiversity of the Red Sea coral reefs.
Also, there are more than 794 species of coral reef fish that inhabit these reefs.
This figure represents about 65% of the fish biodiversity, a particularly important number.
In Giftun Island there are two very rare types of birds, which are in danger of extinction.
These birds are the Kittiwake and a specific type of eagle. Also, a very rare species of turtles live on the beaches of Giftun Island.
In recent years, the whale shark, one of the largest sharks in the world, has been sighted near the islands of Giftun.
Activities to do in Giftun Island
1- The nature of the islands
The islands of Giftun are divided into two islets Giftun El Saghier (small) and Giftun El Khebier (large). The island of Giftun is visible from Hurghada along its 45 km of coastline, it represents a wonderful panorama, beautiful natural landscape. The islands of Giftun are part of the archipelago of islands that were declared a marine park in 1955.
2-Snorkeling on the islands of Giftun
The islands of Giftun are surrounded by numerous coral reefs populated by beautiful fish of all kinds and offer 14 dive sites, which are among the most beautiful in Hurghada. The coral reefs on the islands of Giftun are ideal for diving in the depths of the Red Sea. The wide sandy beaches make this place an ideal beach destination for all travelers.
Day Trip to Giftun Island from Hurghada
The basic boat trip from Hurghada to Giftun Island includes a day at sea. The boat is your base for the whole day: You dive, you swim, and you dive from the boat. When you travel to Giftun Island, you will be transferred there by a small boat.
The price of the trip includes a transfer from your hotel to the boat. The day begins when you arrive by boat, which usually takes you to two different places to swim, snorkel or dive in the Red Sea. After that, you can spend some time on the beaches of Giftun Island. The trip usually includes lunch, snorkeling equipment, and entrance fees.
