Hurghada: Giftun Islands with Snorkeling & Semi-Submarine

Red Sea color comes quickly here. This full-day Giftun Islands trip combines a white-sand beach, guided snorkeling, lunch, and an optional semi-submarine ride for about $28. I especially like the choice between calm Paradise Island and livelier Hula Hula Island, plus the helpful snorkeling team, including guides such as Ali, Fady, Oscar, and Youssef.

The main drawback is time and organization. Shared pickups can run late, the boat ride takes about 1.5 hours each way, and some people feel the island stop is too long when there is only one snorkeling location. Still, the excellent value and friendly crew make this a strong choice for a first Red Sea outing.

Giftun Islands at a glance

• Two island moods: Choose peaceful Paradise Island or more active Hula Hula, where a short massage and water sports are included.
• A dry view of the sea: The optional semi-submarine lets you see fish and coral through underwater windows without swimming.
• Good support in the water: Guides provide masks, fins, life jackets, and help for less confident swimmers.
• A full day for $28: Lunch, soft drinks, transfers, snorkeling, and the boat trip are included, depending on the package selected.
• Two departure patterns: Morning trips return around 4:30 PM, while sunset trips return around 5:30 PM.
• Expect shared-tour compromises: Pickup times, marina waiting, and activity order can change with the day’s operations.

Choosing between Paradise Island and Hula Hula

Your island choice shapes the day more than anything else. Both give you white sand, clear water, swimming time, and access to the Red Sea by boat. The difference is the mood.

Paradise Island is the quieter pick. You can stretch out on the beach, swim, enjoy the scenery, and eat at the island restaurant. It suits you if your ideal day is simple: sand, sea, lunch, and a little snorkeling without extra activities.

The beach has the kind of postcard appeal that brings people here, with pale sand and bright water. One useful detail is that Paradise Island does not include massage or water sports according to the island description. However, the general tour information says banana boat and sofa rides are included on all tours, so confirm exactly what your selected package includes before booking.

Hula Hula Island offers more activity. Along with beach time and snorkeling, the package includes a short massage and an optional banana boat or sofa ride. The massage lasts about five minutes, so think of it as a quick holiday extra rather than a spa treatment.

Hula Hula makes more sense if you want your beach stop broken up with small activities. Paradise is better if you want calm. Since the activity can operate with different island arrangements, check the selected option carefully rather than assuming the name of the tour tells you everything.

The morning pickup and 1.5-hour cruise

The morning version usually collects you between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. Pickup is available from Hurghada and nearby resort areas such as Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Al Ahyaa, Soma Bay, El Gouna, and Safaga.

The exact time is sent by WhatsApp or email the day before. I would check both, then wait at your hotel lobby or main entrance at least 10 minutes early. Shared vans can take longer because they serve several hotels, and the ride itself may last about an hour from some parts of the area.

At the marina, you board a yacht for a cruise of roughly 1.5 hours. The supplied route also describes about one hour on the yacht, so the exact sailing time depends on the marina, boat, and day’s schedule. Either way, this is not a quick hop. You should be comfortable spending a good part of the morning on a moving boat.

That boat time is part of the pleasure, with open Red Sea views and a slower start to the day. It can also be the least efficient part if you are eager to reach the island. Some people have had to wait before the boat or semi-submarine activity began, so bring patience along with your sunscreen.

The semi-submarine: worthwhile without getting wet

The semi-submarine is the most useful extra for mixed groups. You sit in a dry viewing cabin and watch fish and coral through wide underwater windows. If you cannot swim, prefer not to enter the sea, or simply want another angle on the Red Sea, this gives you a way to take part.

It is also helpful for families with different interests. One person can snorkel later while another gets an underwater look from inside the vessel. A guest with health restrictions found the semi-submarine particularly valuable because it offered a glimpse of the same underwater world without entering the water.

The activity may happen before or after the island visit. In one account, the semi-submarine came first, followed by a yacht briefing and the rest of the day. In another, a group waited about an hour before the semi-submarine began. That tells you two things: the ride can be very enjoyable, but the order is not fixed and waiting is possible.

I would select it if the extra cost is modest and you have never seen Red Sea coral before. It is not a replacement for snorkeling, since the view depends on the windows and conditions. Still, it is more than filler, especially for non-swimmers and children.

Snorkeling with guides who actually watch the group

The snorkeling stop lasts about one hour and includes equipment: mask, fins, and life jacket. A guide leads the session and helps you enter the water, understand the rules, and stay with the group.

This is where the tour earns much of its positive feedback. Guides named Ali, Fady, Oscar, Basam, Sayed, Youssef, and others are praised for being attentive and encouraging. Oscar, in particular, was noted for explaining sea safety and checking that people were comfortable.

You do not need to be an expert swimmer. The crew has helped tired swimmers and people who were nervous in the water, including by using a life buoy. That said, the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

The sea life can be a real highlight. Fish and coral are commonly seen, and one outing included a moray eel. Conditions vary, so you should not expect a private reef expedition or a guaranteed list of animals. The benefit here is having equipment and supervision included, with a guide nearby rather than trying to work everything out alone.

One concern is that the standard plan includes only one guided snorkeling stop. If snorkeling is your main reason for coming, you may prefer a trip built around several reef sites. One person found the long Paradise Island stay less satisfying because a second snorkeling stop would have been better.

Beach time, lunch, and the water sports question

The island stop lasts about three hours in the morning itinerary, including lunch and activities. You may have time to swim, sit under the sun, use beach inflatables, or simply enjoy the water before returning to the boat.

Paradise Island includes an open buffet lunch at the island restaurant. Hula Hula provides a set lunch. Soft drinks are included during the day, although drinks sold on the beach can cost extra and may feel expensive for what you receive.

Food feedback is strong. The buffet has been described as plentiful and good, while another person called the lunch very good with generous portions. It is not a fine-dining event, but it does the job after a morning in the sun and water.

The tour information is not fully consistent about water sports. The Hula Hula description specifically includes banana boat or sofa rides, while another section says these are included on all tours. Paradise Island is also described as having no water sports. Confirm this point for your chosen island before you pay, especially if a banana ride is important to your group.

The same applies to the massage. A five-minute massage is included on yacht tours, and the island description limits it to Hula Hula. Speedboat trips do not include it. This appears to be a yacht-based package, but check the exact booking option.

Morning or sunset: which schedule works better?

The Morning Adventure begins with pickup around 8:00 to 9:00 AM, leaves the marina around 9:30 AM, and returns to your hotel near 4:30 PM. This option gives you the evening free and is the safer choice if you have dinner plans, a flight the next day, or a young family that does better with an earlier start.

The Sunset Adventure collects you around 10:00 to 11:00 AM and departs at about 11:30 AM. You return around 5:30 PM, with the last part of the transfer timed around sunset.

The later start may appeal if you dislike early mornings. It also changes the feel of the day, with the return trip taking place as the light softens. The tradeoff is a later return and less flexibility afterward.

In both cases, allow the full nine hours. Do not schedule a tight evening activity. Pickup, marina waiting, the long boat ride, and shared hotel transfers can all stretch the day.

What the $28 price really covers

At $28 per person, this is a strong package if you use the included parts: hotel transfers, yacht cruise, island access, lunch, snorkeling equipment, a guide, soft drinks, and the semi-submarine if you select that version.

You are paying for a broad first look at the Red Sea, not a small private sailing trip. The price works because the boat, transport, food, and activities are shared. Families and first-time snorkelers will likely get the best value, since the equipment and support remove several extra costs.

Keep a little money aside for personal expenses and optional photography or video. Professional photographers may be on the boat and can offer pictures afterward. The photos can be attractive, but you are not required to buy them.

Private transfers cost extra and may be worthwhile for families or small groups wanting a quicker, more comfortable start. Shared transfers are cheaper, but you may wait for other pickups and take longer getting back to your hotel.

Practical points that can make or break the day

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, and strong sunscreen. The sun exposure is easy to underestimate when you are surrounded by water and moving between a boat and a bright beach.

Leave large luggage at your hotel. Pets and large bags are not allowed. A small day bag is the sensible choice, with valuables kept to a minimum.

If you book without a transfer, arrive at the marina on time. Missing the departure can mean missing the whole tour without a refund. With hotel pickup, wait at the confirmed meeting point and check your messages the day before.

The activity is advertised as wheelchair accessible, but it is also marked as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments. Those statements do not fully match. If you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, contact the provider before booking and ask about the van, marina access, boat boarding, and island facilities.

The tour is offered in English and runs daily, with morning and sunset departures depending on the selected format. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead, and reserve-now-pay-later booking is available.

Who will enjoy this Giftun Islands day?

I would recommend it to you if you want a low-cost introduction to Hurghada’s sea life without arranging transport, equipment, lunch, and a boat separately. It is especially practical for families, first-time snorkelers, mixed swimming abilities, and anyone who wants both an underwater view and beach time.

Paradise Island suits you if you value quiet beach hours and a generous buffet. Hula Hula suits you if you want a short massage and more activity around your beach stop.

I would choose another trip if your priority is serious snorkeling. One reef stop may feel limited, and the long transfer and boat time take up much of the day. I would also think twice if you dislike group schedules, waiting, or changing activity times.

Should you book it?

For $28, yes, if you want variety and can accept a shared-tour pace. The most praised parts are the helpful guides, the attractive island beach, the good lunch, and the semi-submarine option, which gives non-swimmers a genuine way to see below the surface.

Choose Paradise for a restful beach day, Hula Hula for added activity, and select the semi-submarine if anyone in your group cannot or does not want to snorkel. Confirm the water sports and massage details before booking, arrive ready for a long day, and treat the timetable as flexible rather than exact.

FAQ

How long does the Giftun Islands tour last?

The experience lasts about nine hours, including hotel transfers, the yacht cruise, island time, snorkeling, and the return journey.

What islands can I visit?

The tour visits either Paradise Island or Hula Hula Island. Paradise is presented as the calmer option, while Hula Hula includes more activities.

Is hotel pickup included?

Round-trip pickup is included from Hurghada. Pickup can also be arranged from Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Al Ahyaa, Soma Bay, El Gouna, and Safaga, depending on the selected transfer option.

Is the semi-submarine included?

The semi-submarine is included only if you select the relevant package. Otherwise, it is an extra option.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No specific swimming ability is required. The tour provides a life jacket, snorkeling equipment, and a guide. Less confident swimmers can receive assistance, but children must be with an adult.

What food is included?

Paradise Island tours include an open buffet lunch at the island restaurant. Hula Hula tours include a set lunch. Soft drinks are also included during the tour.

Are water sports included?

The information differs by package. Hula Hula specifically includes banana boat or sofa rides, while another tour detail says water sports are included on all tours. Confirm the exact inclusions for your selected island.

Is a massage included?

A short five-minute massage is included on yacht tours, with Hula Hula specifically associated with the massage option. Speedboat tours do not include massage.

Can I cancel the tour?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve-now-pay-later booking is also available.