Hurghada: Giftun Island Tour with Snorkeling & Buffet Lunch
A full day where the Red Sea does the talking. Cruise from Hurghada to Giftun Island for two snorkeling stops, a buffet lunch on deck, and unhurried hours in turquoise water.
Overview
Some mornings the Red Sea turns a blue that barely looks real — and Giftun Island is where you go to find it. Just off the Hurghada coast, this full-day boat trip trades the resort pool for open water, living coral, and a stretch of white sand ringed by turquoise shallows.
After a morning hotel pickup, you'll board at the marina and cruise out to the first reef. Slip in with your instructor and the day goes quiet — below you, coral gardens shelter clouds of butterflyfish, parrotfish, and the occasional passing ray. Back on deck, a freshly cooked buffet lunch and unlimited cold drinks are waiting, best enjoyed with your feet up and the horizon in every direction. A second snorkeling stop, a run of fresh fruit, and long, unhurried hours in the sun round out the day.
Giftun isn't just another beach. It sits inside a protected National Park, where mooring and fishing limits have kept the reefs alive — which is exactly why the fish here are so many and so unafraid. Snorkeling comes with a quiet responsibility: float, look, and leave the coral untouched. It's an easy day out that also happens to be a small act of care.
The pace is gentle and genuinely family-friendly — calm, shallow water, life vests for everyone, and a crew used to first-time snorkelers and children alike. Pick the option that suits you: snorkel and swim from the boat, add the island beach with National Park entry, or crown the day with a 10-minute parasail over the bay. Hotel pickup, lunch, and free cancellation up to 12 hours before departure are all included — so all you need to bring is a towel and sunscreen.
Highlights
- Snorkel two different Red Sea reefs — instructor and gear included
- Cruise to Giftun Island, a protected National Park ringed by turquoise shallows
- Freshly cooked buffet lunch on deck with unlimited soft drinks
- Calm, shallow water that's ideal for families and first-time snorkelers
- Round-trip hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Free cancellation up to 12 hours before — reserve now, pay later
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in air-conditioned vehicles
- Professional snorkeling instructor and guide
- Snorkeling gear (mask and fins)
- Delicious buffet lunch with salads
- Fresh seasonal fruit served on board
- Unlimited soft drinks, tea, coffee, and mineral water
- Hotspot Wi-Fi on board (upon request)
- Swimming access on Giftun Island's pristine beach (with the entrance-fee option)
- Complimentary life vests for safety
Not included
- Giftun Island National Park entrance fee (included in the "Island Beach Day" and "Beach + Parasailing" options; otherwise payable on the spot)
- Transfer from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, or El Gouna (available as a paid add-on)
- Transfer from Safaga or Soma Bay (available as a paid add-on)
- Optional extras such as the birthday cake and Egypt souvenir box (available as paid add-ons)
- Gratuities and personal expenses
Good to know
- Child price: ages 3-11 · Infants under 3
- Swimwear (worn under your clothes)
- A towel
- Sunglasses and a sun hat
- Sunscreen (reef-safe if possible)
- A camera
- Giftun Island sits inside a protected National Park — please don't touch, stand on, or take anything from the coral.
- Island entrance fees are not included in the "Snorkel & Swim" option; choose the "Island Beach Day" or "Beach + Parasailing" option to include them, or pay on the spot.
- Parasailing is weather-dependent and may be cancelled on windy days; the rest of the day runs as normal.
- Pickup from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Safaga, or Soma Bay carries an additional transfer fee (add-on).
- Wetsuits are available to rent on board if you'd like one.