Hurghada: Giftun Islands with Snorkeling & Semi-Submarine

Giftun Island’s best feature is variety: in one day, you can sit on a white beach, watch fish through a semi-submarine window, and snorkel above Red Sea coral. The boat ride itself gives you a pleasant break from Hurghada’s hotels and resort streets.

I especially like the dry viewing cabin, which lets non-swimmers see the sea life, and the patient snorkeling support from guides such as Fady, Ali, and Youssef Jr. The main drawback is time: long transfers, waiting at the marina, and one island stop can leave you wishing for a second snorkeling site.

Key points

• Two different island moods: Choose calm Paradise Island or livelier Hula Hula Island.
• A good first snorkel: Guides provide masks, fins, life jackets, and hands-on help.
• Semi-submarine option: See coral and fish without entering the water.
• Lunch included: Paradise offers an open buffet, while Hula Hula serves a set meal.
• Long but full day: Allow about nine hours, including hotel transfers and boat time.
• Strong family value: Children can enjoy the island, glass-bottom viewing, and optional water rides.

White sand, coral reefs, and one long Red Sea day

This is a full-day sea outing rather than a quick boat trip. From Hurghada, you travel by van to the marina, board a yacht, and spend about 1.5 hours crossing the Red Sea before reaching Giftun Island.

At roughly $28 per person, the package covers a lot: round-trip hotel transfer, boat transport, island access, lunch, soft drinks on the boat, snorkeling equipment, a guide, and the semi-submarine ride if you select that option. That makes it a strong value for anyone who wants several Red Sea activities without arranging each one separately.

The tradeoff is pace. Shared transfers can take longer than expected, and the boat may wait while groups are organized. One report describes a lengthy wait before the submarine portion began, while another notes a delayed pickup. I would not book this expecting Swiss-watch timing. I would book it as a relaxed, busy day on the water.

Paradise Island or Hula Hula Island?

Your island choice matters more than the name might suggest. Both offer white sand, clear water, beach time, and access to Red Sea activities, but the mood is different.

Paradise Island is the calmer choice. You get time to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy a quieter beach setting. It suits you if your main goal is to slow down, read, float, and take photos.

Paradise also includes an open buffet lunch at the island restaurant. The food has been well received, with plenty served during the meal. The island may have inflatables in the water, adding a simple family-friendly touch.

The catch is that Paradise can feel too slow if you want constant activity. One schedule gives about three hours for lunch, swimming, and beach time, followed by an hour of snorkeling and an hour for the glass-bottom boat. Another account found the island time too long and would have preferred two snorkeling stops. If coral and fish matter more to you than beach lounging, keep that in mind.

Hula Hula Island has more action built into the visit. Along with beach time and snorkeling, the package includes a short massage and a banana boat or sofa ride. Hula Hula makes more sense if you want a livelier day with a little motion and extra entertainment.

Paradise is better for quiet. Hula Hula is better for activity. Check the exact option before paying, since massage and water rides are not available on Paradise Island in the same way. The supplied details also note a five-minute massage on yacht tours, while speedboat tours do not include one.

The morning schedule and the sunset schedule

The morning version usually begins with hotel pickup between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. The yacht leaves around 9:30 AM, and the day typically includes island time, lunch, one hour of guided snorkeling, the semi-submarine ride if selected, and the return to your hotel around 4:30 PM.

This option gives you more daylight and a standard sightseeing rhythm. I would choose it if you want to return to Hurghada with time left for dinner or an evening walk.

The sunset version starts later, with pickup generally between 10:00 and 11:00 AM and departure around 11:30 AM. You reach the island later, enjoy beach and water time, then fit in snorkeling, lunch, and the optional semi-submarine before returning around 5:30 PM.

The later schedule is useful if you dislike early starts. It also gives you the chance to return as the sun lowers over the Red Sea. Still, the schedule can feel tighter, and the order of activities may change. The submarine might come before the island or afterward, depending on the day’s arrangements.

What the yacht crossing is really like

The yacht ride is not just a transfer. It is a large part of your day, with about three hours of total boat travel if the listed timing holds. You get open views of the Red Sea and a chance to settle into the group before the activities begin.

The boat usually serves soft drinks, and the crew explains the plan once everyone is aboard. Groups can be fairly large, with several guides and photographers working at the same time. That can be helpful because there are more people available to assist in the water, but it can also create waiting between activities.

Bring a light cover-up if you burn easily, along with sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so pack a small day bag rather than arriving with resort-size baggage.

Professional photography and video are optional extras. Photographers may take pictures during the cruise, on the island, and in the water, then offer them for purchase. You can enjoy the trip without buying them, but if you want photos, ask about the price before agreeing to a package.

The semi-submarine is worth choosing

The semi-submarine is the smartest add-on for mixed groups. You sit in a dry underwater viewing cabin and watch fish and coral through wide windows. You do not need to swim, snorkel, or put your face in the water.

This matters if someone in your party has health concerns or simply dislikes open water. A non-swimmer can still get a genuine look at the Red Sea’s underwater world. One particularly useful account came from a couple in which one person could not enter the water. The semi-submarine gave that person a way to share in the main attraction.

For confident snorkelers, the semi-submarine is less active and less personal. You are looking through glass rather than moving above the reef, and the glass-bottom boat portion is aimed more at easy viewing than serious underwater observation. I would choose the submarine for children, non-swimmers, older family members, or anyone who wants a break from the sun.

Expect the timing to shift. The submarine may happen before you board the island yacht, after the island visit, or during a separate part of the day. Waiting is possible, so bring patience along with your camera.

Snorkeling with a careful crew

The snorkeling stop is the strongest part of the day for many people. You get about one hour at a Red Sea reef, with mask, fins, and life jacket supplied. A professional guide leads the session and explains the basic rules before you enter.

You do not need to be an expert swimmer. Guides have helped tired swimmers and people who were uneasy in the sea. If you cannot swim, tell the crew clearly before the session begins. The supplied equipment includes life jackets, and guides can assist people who need extra support with a flotation device.

This is also a good activity for first-timers. One guest who had never snorkeled and did not feel comfortable in the sea was made to feel at ease by the crew. Children receive close attention as well, although every child must be accompanied by an adult.

Names to listen for include Fady and Ali, who have been praised for professional instruction and friendly help, along with Oscar, who carefully explained sea rules and checked that people were comfortable. Guides change from boat to boat, so you may not meet these exact people, but the key point is to use the crew. Do not drift away from the marked group or attempt more than you can manage.

The Red Sea reward is the view below: colorful fish, coral, and the chance of spotting creatures such as a moray. Conditions vary, of course. Water clarity, weather, and the number of boats can affect what you see. The schedule includes one main guided snorkeling stop, not a full reef safari with several locations.

Lunch, drinks, massage, and water rides

Lunch depends on your island choice. Paradise Island includes an open buffet at the island restaurant. Hula Hula includes a set meal. Soft drinks are included on the boat, and some packages also include water and lemonade.

The food is practical tour fare, not a reason to choose the trip by itself. You should have enough to refuel after swimming and snorkeling, and the buffet at Paradise gives you a wider choice. Drinks bought on the beach can cost more than expected, so bring a little cash for personal purchases if you want anything beyond what is included.

Hula Hula adds the short massage and a banana boat or sofa ride. These are brief extras, not spa treatments or a full water-sports session. They help break up the beach time and suit you if you enjoy a little noise and movement.

Paradise is the better call for a restful beach day. It does not include massage or water sports in the same package, so do not select it expecting the Hula Hula extras. Read the island name and inclusions carefully when booking.

Hotel transfers from Hurghada and nearby resorts

Pickup is available from Hurghada and nearby resort areas, including Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Al Ahyaa, Soma Bay, El Gouna, and Safaga. Shared transfers are included from Hurghada, but the farther your hotel is from the marina, the more time you may spend in the van.

Be ready in the hotel lobby or at the main entrance at least ten minutes before the confirmed time. The exact pickup is sent by WhatsApp or email the day before, so check both. If a hotel vehicle cannot reach your property, the provider will give you a nearby meeting point.

Private transfers cost extra. I would consider one for a family with young children, a small group carrying equipment, or anyone staying far from Hurghada who wants a quicker start. If you choose no transfer, you must reach the marina on time. A late arrival can mean missing the boat without a refund.

The return transfer deserves attention. One account describes a missed pickup that required another bus and made the trip back much longer. This is not a reason to reject the tour, but it is a reason to confirm the return meeting point before leaving the boat.

Who gets the best value from this tour?

This outing suits you if you want to combine several easy Red Sea experiences in one booking. Families can spread their day across beach time, a semi-submarine, a glass-bottom viewing trip, and a gentle snorkeling session. The crew’s safety focus is useful for children and nervous swimmers.

It also works well for mixed-ability groups. A strong swimmer can snorkel while a non-swimmer watches from the submarine. A person who wants quiet can stay on Paradise Island, while someone else can choose Hula Hula’s water ride and massage.

At $28, the included items make the price attractive. Paying separately for a transfer, boat, island access, lunch, snorkeling gear, guide, and underwater viewing would usually create more decisions and extra costs. The value is best when you use several inclusions, not when you only want to sit on a beach.

I would hesitate if you dislike group tours, waiting, or long boat rides. The day can include a one-hour van journey each way, about an hour on the yacht in each direction, and possible delays while groups move between boats. You should also think twice if mobility is a concern, since the activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if your Hurghada plans are still shifting, but they do not remove the need to watch your confirmed pickup messages.

Should you book the Giftun Island day?

Book this tour if you want a good-value introduction to the Red Sea with snorkeling, beach time, lunch, and underwater viewing in one day. Choose Paradise Island for a quieter outing, or Hula Hula if the massage and banana boat or sofa ride appeal to you.

The best booking choice is the one that matches your group, not simply the cheapest option. Add the semi-submarine for non-swimmers, children, or anyone who wants to see the reef without getting wet. Choose private transfer if long shared rides will frustrate you.

Skip it if you want several serious snorkeling sites, a small private boat, or a perfectly timed schedule. For most families, first-time snorkelers, and mixed groups, though, the combination is hard to beat at this price. Pack sunscreen, accept a little waiting, and treat the day as a relaxed Red Sea outing rather than a tightly scripted expedition.

FAQ

How long does the Giftun Islands tour take?

The full experience lasts about nine hours, including hotel transfers, the boat journey, island time, snorkeling, and the optional semi-submarine ride.

Which hotels and areas offer pickup?

Pickup is available from Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Al Ahyaa, Soma Bay, El Gouna, and Safaga. The exact meeting point and time are confirmed by WhatsApp or email.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Paradise Island tours include an open buffet lunch at the island restaurant. Hula Hula tours include a set lunch. Soft drinks are included on the boat.

Is the semi-submarine included in the price?

The semi-submarine is included only if you select that option when booking. It lets you view fish and coral through underwater windows without getting wet.

Can non-swimmers join the snorkeling activity?

Non-swimmers can receive help from the snorkeling crew and use a life jacket or flotation support. Tell the guide before entering the water, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Pets and large bags are not allowed.