Giftun Island in Hurghada: a little paradise on the Red Sea

Giftun Island is considered one of the most popular destinations in all of Egypt.

Popular for its white sandy beaches, colourful coral reefs and exciting water sports, it is a paradise island in the Red Sea, just opposite Hurghada.

Holidaymakers from Egypt and around the world can explore the island's abundant marine life by scuba diving and snorkelling.

What's more, Hurghada's extremely high salinity and calm coastline make it a safe place for novice swimmers to take the plunge.

The island also boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the Red Sea. It's an ideal place to relax and enjoy adventures at sea, alone, with friends or family.

The name "Giftun" comes from the Arabic "jazirat al-jiftun", meaning "the island of the horn", which refers to the elongated shape of the island, which somewhat resembles a horn.

It is also possible that the name is derived from "giftoun", an Arabic word meaning "magnificent".

The island of Giftun is first and foremost a destination for beach lovers, with heavenly beaches all around the island.

Orange Bay is located on the south-western tip of Giftun Island and is a resort with a restaurant and bar, as well as a range of tourist facilities including pontoons, hanging hammocks and a shade dome.

The sand is pristine white and the water crystal clear. The slope of the beach is very gentle, making it a pleasant and safe beach for families with children.

You can relax under one of the parasols, sip a cocktail or a cold beer, or go snorkelling if you hire the equipment on site. Please note that bar prices are inflated. Expect to pay around €6 for a local beer.

Like all Giftun beaches, this is a place dedicated to mass tourism, which may suit some and scare others.

Orange bay has a kayak club, O2 Water Sports, where you can hire kayaks to explore the island's coastline at your leisure.

Paradise beach is aptly named... Umbrellas shelter you from the Egyptian sun on this beach of fine sand and turquoise water. Underwater, dolphins, colourful fish and even moray eels may be spotted.

As for activities, you won't be bored: transparent kayaks for watching the fish, jumping platforms, huge inflatable buoys or beach umbrellas and mattresses for a read or a nap, the choice is yours...

Unfortunately, we did spot some plastic waste in the coral, but it seems that the Egyptian government is taking the issue to heart. It is trying to reduce the impact of tourism on the fauna and flora of Giftun Island.

Mahmya beach is located at the southern tip of the island of Giftun.

Situated just in front of a small hamlet, this stretch of fine sand offers tourists parasols to hide from the sun as well as a pleasant, relaxed restaurant.

As everywhere on the island, the warm water, white sand and turquoise water make this a dream beach.

Like many places in the Red Sea, you can spot dolphins if you're patient enough... The beach is ideal for relaxing, snorkelling and diving.

It's a very popular spot.

There are a number of excursions to the coral reefs around Giftun Island. To book your day's diving or snorkelling, contact the reception of your hotel in Hurghada or a tourist agency. Read our article on scuba diving in Hurghada to find out how to choose your diving school.

If you want to plan ahead, the Viator website, for example, offers a number of itineraries including scuba diving. Find out more about prices and conditions on the Viator website.

Many organised tours from Hurghada include an excursion to Giftun. These offer visitors the chance to explore the island for the day.

Typically, group tours include snorkelling stops in the surrounding coral reefs before dropping you off at one of the island's beaches.

You have around 2 or 3 hours on the beach to eat, relax, swim, etc. Then the boat takes you back to Hurghada.

The disadvantage of group tours is that you only see the tourist spots on the island.

Alternatively, you can hire a private boat to Giftun and spend the day exploring the beaches and coral reefs at your leisure.

All the tourist agencies in Hurghada offer excursions to the Hurghada islands, in a variety of forms.

Most of the options are flexible: private, group, etc. Alternatively, you can book directly on the internet.

The Viator website offers a wide range of excursions to the islands of Hurghada, departing from your hotel. Discover all the boat trips to Gitfun, from Hurghada.