Giftun islands are small stripes of desert in the middle of the Red Sea, a few miles off the Hurghada shores. The only way to visit is either by an organized tour or renting a private boat. The tours usually stop at Big Giftun to the south, where the two beach bars of the island are placed. I booked an organized tour, as I was alone and couldn’t afford a private boat. First stop for snorkeling in two different spots of the coral reef, just a few miles off the islands, where unfortunately the coral reef was almost fully destroyed. Next and final stop, the big island for about 50’ and free time to relax at the nearest beach bar/the beach, or to swim in the wonderful emerald/blue waters.
The island is uninhabited, with fine white sand and crystal-clear sea. We stopped at the public beach, a free area in between the two private beach bars of the island. Although the coral reef was completely dead in front of the beachfront, swimming felt very pleasant, while the water temperature was around 25 oC in mid November. The place was very nice, however, as the organized tours used to stop at this side of the island, the beach was super crowded. I left for a another part, where the beach was totally empty. In any case, visiting Giftun is totally worth it. That’s why the beaches are known as the best of Hurghada and the island as heaven on earth.
The island as seen from the beach
The dead reef
a cute Picasso fish
