Giftun Island: Your Ultimate Guide to Egypt’s Red Sea Paradise

Giftun Island is one of the most famous and beautiful islands of the Red Sea as it is distinguished by its charming natural beauty.

It is one of the most important tourist destinations that visitors and tourists from all over the world go to, to enjoy seeing it and spend the most beautiful times. 

In this article, we will learn about what Giftun Island is, and the most important and prominent activities that can be practiced there.

What is Giftun Island?

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Giftun Island is one of the most important Egyptian islands, located in the city of Hurghada. It is the main home of seagulls. It is characterized by its beautiful beaches and clear waters.

It is one of the most famous Red Sea islands in terms of tourism and environmental activity. It also includes many rare coral reefs that are millions of years old. 

It has a group of diverse fish that can be seen on a diving trip on the island and there are also endangered species of birds on Giftun Island. Giftun Island is considered one of the most important tourist islands in the Red Sea, and a large number of tourists flock to visit it every year.

This is because it occupies a distinguished location near the city of Hurghada. 

It is also a solitary island, meaning that tourists are allowed to land there. It occupies an important position among the most beautiful diving sites in the Red Sea.

Giftun Island has greatly contributed to revitalizing the tourism movement in Egypt, due to its natural beauty and fame, which has encouraged visitors to visit it many times.

Where is Giftun Island?

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Giftun Island is very close to Hurghada. The boat trip to Giftun Island takes only about 45 minutes. Right in front of Hurghada, you can find Giftun Islands National Park, along with many small desert islands full of beautiful sea life.

Orange Bay is in the middle of the island on the west side. Mahmiya and Paradise Island are in the south.

This area is well known for its amazing coral reefs and the many stunning islands around it.

It’s no surprise that this place is popular and loved by tourists from all over the world. The archipelago is really beautiful. Besides Giftun Island, the islands of Abu Ramada, Magawish and Abu Monkar are just as lovely.

The Climate of Giftun Island

Giftun Island has a subtropical desert climate, with mild and warm winters and hot summers, making it a good place to visit any time of the year. The island is hot throughout the year, with daytime temperatures sometimes rising above 40°C (104°F). In winter, the weather is milder but still warm, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F).

The island’s climate is ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy water activities under clear skies and a calm atmosphere. It is important to drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and protect yourself from the strong sun.

What will you find on Giftun Island?

Around these islands, there are many popular diving spots, making them a perfect place for diving. The Red Sea is ideal for snorkeling and diving because it has so many fish and sea animals.

The colorful corals are very beautiful. Their shapes are amazing and fascinate anyone who explores the water.

One of the most impressive things about this place is that when you arrive, it feels like you are on a tropical island in the Caribbean.

But in the middle of the Red Sea, you are really in a perfect spot for a romantic trip or just a relaxing holiday.

Beaches and Coral to Discover on Giftun Island

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These islands, some of the closest to Hurghada, are part of a marine reserve. They are surrounded by amazing cliffs full of sea life, including spots like Hamda, Banana Reef, Sha’ab Sabrina, Erg Somaya and Sha’ab Torfa.

The water around them is between 5 meters and 100 meters deep. These dive spots are recommended for experienced divers, with dives from intermediate to advanced levels.

Giftun Island is one of the largest islands in the Red Sea. It is the second-largest island after Shedwan Island, a rocky island about 50 kilometers from Sharm El Sheikh in the south of the Sinai Peninsula.

Giftun is famous for its beautiful coral reefs, colorful fish and special birds.

The coral reefs are very rich, with over 190 types, making up about 80% of the Red Sea’s coral diversity.

There are more than 794 types of fish living in these coral reefs. This is about 65% of all fish species in the Red Sea which is very important.

On Giftun Island, there are two very rare birds that are in danger of disappearing. These are the Kittiwake and a special kind of eagle. There are also rare turtles living on the island’s beaches.

In recent years, the whale shark, one of the biggest sharks in the world, has been seen near the Giftun Islands.

Giftun Island Hotels

Giftun Azur Beach Resort is a great hotel with simple rooms that have garden or sea views. It is on the beach and has seven restaurants and seven bars.

The Boutique Hotel is a very relaxing place next to the marina. It has two restaurants, an outdoor pool and a private beach.

Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort is a high-class hotel on the beach. It has eight restaurants, an outdoor pool and a diving center.

Sand Beach Resort is an all-inclusive hotel on the beach. It has buffet meals, three bars, two outdoor pools and a spa.

Sunrise Holidays Resort is a wonderful place to relax on the Red Sea coast, offering a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

Diving Locations in Giftun Island

In the southern part of Giftun Island, there is a beautiful plateau that rises between 15 and 25 meters and then extends into a wide shelf, forming a deep underwater wall. Mooring points on the southern side help divers enter the water next to the vertical wall where they can follow the current southward. Although the mooring system makes it easier to reach the plateau, drifting with the current is the natural and preferred way.

The steep eastern wall goes down to great depths, showing a rugged surface with amazing caves, some very deep. The main coral reef curves slightly west, forming a zigzag pattern and has an impressive tunnel about 15 meters deep. The plateau itself has a partially covered coral garden that leads to shallower sections of the wall.

Many marine animals can be seen here, including longnose hawkish, turtles, Napoleon wrasse and moray eels, as well as larger fish like barracuda and tuna, making the diving experience truly spectacular.

The Most Important Landmarks Near Giftun Island

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Next to Giftun Island, there are many important tourist attractions, the most prominent of which are:

Sahl Hasheesh

It is located twenty-five kilometers from the Red Sea coast. Many tourist products have been built on it. It is distinguished by its clear waters and soft sands.

Diving is available there, in addition to many water sports. The Sahl Hasheesh area also includes many commercial markets, hotels, and golf courses.

El Gouna Resort

It’s one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hurghada. It is famous for the presence of Zaytouna Beach and Mangroovy Beach, in addition to the presence of many water channels.

El Gouna Resort is divided into six neighborhoods. These neighborhoods include many restaurants, clubs, and shopping centers, in addition to the presence of playgrounds, hospitals, and health products.

Hurghada Grand Aquarium

It is one of the largest tourism projects established in Hurghada. It is a large museum of marine life. It includes a very large number of fish and aquatic animals. It also has a garden that includes rare species of birds, and many fossils of the Western Desert.

Sand Museum

It is one of the most important landmarks of Hurghada. It contains many sand statues that represent famous personalities inside and outside Egypt. The museum also contains many restaurants and cafes.

Makadi Water World

It is one of the largest water parks in Hurghada. It includes many fun games, which are suitable for adults and children. There are also many restaurants and cafes inside.

Hurghada Marina

It is one of the most famous entertainment centers in Hurghada. It includes many shopping centers, markets, and restaurants. It is a starting point for many boat trips, and you can go to Giftun Island from there.

The Most Important Tourist Activities on Giftun Island

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Giftun Island is characterized by the diversity of tourist activities in it, so a large number of visitors go there. Among the most prominent of these activities are:

• Practicing diving and exploring the depths of the Red Sea, from colorful fish to coral reefs.
• Enjoying a safari trip, and visiting the Bedouin villages next to the island, and in the evening, enjoying a Bedouin dinner under the moonlight.
• Practicing water skiing, boating, and surfing.
• Enjoying the peace and relaxation in front of the beach, and looking at the seagulls.
• Walking in front of the beach and seeing the coral reefs, which are characterized by their bright and distinctive colors.

Tips for Tourists to Enjoy a Day Trip to Giftun

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There are many tips that tourists should follow in order to enjoy a fun trip on Giftun Island, and the most prominent of these tips are:

• Determine your trip budget, so that you can organize the trip, and know the activities that you will be able to do on the island.
• Be sure to eat the local food for which the people of Hurghada are famous.
• Respect local customs and traditions, and be careful not to smoke in places where smoking is prohibited.
• Wear appropriate clothes according to the weather. In summer, you should wear light clothes, and in winter, you should wear long-sleeved clothes.
• Make sure all your main needs, which you will need before going to the island, are available.
• Before leaving the island, be sure to take a tour of the tourist areas near the island.
• If you want to go diving or swimming, you should put on sunscreen, and use diving goggles.
• Be sure to have comfortable shoes for walking on the island.

FAQs

How to get to Giftun Island from Hurghada?

You can go to Giftun Island from Hurghada, by taking a boat, and it will take only 45 minutes.

What is the Best Time to Visit Giftun Island

Giftun Island is one of the most important and famous islands of the Red Sea, and a large number of tourists and visitors flock to it every year. 

The best time to visit it is from the beginning of May to October, because the weather in these months is warm, and you will be able to practice fun activities and spend the most beautiful times.

What are the best diving sites on Giftun Island?

Giftun Island is one of the open islands, and tourists are allowed to dive there. The best diving area on the island is the Erg Somaya area, which is located east of Giftun Island.

Giftun Island is one of the most important and famous tourist islands in the Red Sea, and visitors flock to it to enjoy seeing its clear blue waters and colorful fish. You can also experience diving and seeing the depths of the sea and explore a world full of beauty and surprises, so do not hesitate to visit Giftun Island.