From Hurghada: Giftun Island Cruise with Lunch & Watersports

This Hurghada boat trip is built around the Red Sea’s best simple pleasures: white sand, clear water, and coral snorkeling. You spend about two hours on Nemo or Orange Island, then return to the boat for reef stops, watersports, lunch, and open views across the sea.

I like the unusually full package for $41, especially the hotel transfer, equipment, island entry, buffet lunch, and boat drinks. I also like the variety: you are not stuck doing only one snorkeling stop. The main caution is organization. Some departures have combined groups, long waits, crowded water, and less island time than planned.

Key points at a glance

• Two hours on a Red Sea island: Nemo Island is praised for its quiet white beach and clear water, while some departures use Orange Island or another bay.
• Snorkeling at coral reefs: You receive equipment and a life vest, with an instructor and more than one possible reef stop.
• Watersports included: Banana boat and sofa rides may be part of the day, though the exact activities can vary by departure.
• Lunch and drinks aboard: An open buffet, mineral water, hot drinks, and soft drinks are included, but drinks on the island cost extra.
• Hotel pickup in Hurghada: Transport to and from the marina is included, though the morning transfer can take longer when several groups are combined.
• Good value with some crowd risk: The $41 price covers a full day at sea, but comfort depends heavily on group size and timing.

A Hurghada morning that begins before the boat

Your day starts with hotel pickup in Hurghada and a drive to the marina. The exact pickup time is not stated, but the excursion begins early and lasts most of the day, so plan for a long outing rather than a quick half-day swim.

The transfer is included, which matters in Hurghada. You do not need to arrange a separate taxi to the harbor or find your own way back after a day in the sun. Still, allow patience during the first part of the morning. One departure took about two hours from pickup to getting aboard, with a packed bus and several groups being collected.

That does not happen on every outing. Another departure had a quick transfer and smooth organization. The practical lesson is simple: the transfer is convenient, but not always fast. Bring water for the road, keep your swimwear and sunscreen easy to reach, and do not schedule an important afternoon appointment.

The boat staff can assist in Arabic, English, German, or Russian. A guide and snorkeling instructor are included, along with life vests and free snorkeling equipment. If you prefer your own mask, you can bring it, but the tour provides the basic kit.

Nemo Island, Orange Island, and a naming detail to check

The trip description uses both Orange Island and Nemo Island. It calls the outing an Orange Island tour, while the beach highlights refer to Nemo Island. The title also says Giftun Island. That mix of names is worth noting before you book, because the actual beach stop can depend on the boat and departure arrangement.

Nemo Island receives the strongest praise from the available feedback. It is described as beautiful, peaceful, and sometimes nearly empty, with white sand and clear water. That quiet setting gives you time for photographs, drinks, and a swim without the same level of pressure found at a crowded beach stop.

The planned island stay is two hours, but the actual time can be shorter. One boat reached Nemo after delays with the transport boat and gave the group about one hour and 20 minutes. Another departure had roughly one and a half hours, which was considered enough for a compact beach stop.

You may also be encouraged to use another island bay. If Nemo Island is important to you, confirm the destination at the start and listen carefully to the guide’s instructions. One group had to insist on visiting the bay they had booked after being steered toward another option.

Once you reach the sand, the appeal is straightforward. You get a break from the boat, a place to swim in shallow-looking clear water, and a clean setting for photographs. There is no need to turn the island stop into a major expedition. Two hours, or somewhat less, is enough to swim, sit on the beach, and take in the color of the sea.

Drinks on the island are not included. The boat does carry hot drinks, soft drinks, and mineral water, so fill up before going ashore or bring money for anything you want to buy there.

Coral snorkeling in water that can get crowded

The snorkeling stops are the heart of the day. The boat heads to coral reefs around the Red Sea islands, where you can see underwater marine life in clear water. An instructor is present, and the tour supplies masks, snorkels, and life vests.

The quality of the snorkeling depends on crowd levels. At one first stop, the water was so busy that it was hard to see much. Another issue is timing: getting a large group into the water can take a while, leaving only about 10 minutes of actual snorkeling before the boat moves on.

That is a significant difference from the idea of a relaxed reef visit. If 40 people are sharing one boat, the experience can feel more like a managed group activity than a quiet encounter with the reef. I would treat the snorkeling as a chance to see Red Sea coral and fish, not as a private marine-life session.

Some departures include two snorkeling stops. This gives you another opportunity if the first stop is crowded, though the second stop may be at the same general area and may also be brief. One positive is that the day remains varied, even when each stop is short.

There is one serious environmental concern to keep in mind. One departure encountered boats that appeared to be emptying toilets into the water. That is not presented as a feature of this excursion, but it is an unpleasant possibility in a busy marine area. If you see anything unsafe or unhygienic, tell the crew at once and avoid entering that patch of water.

For the best chance at a pleasant swim, take the instructor’s safety briefing seriously, stay with the group, and get ready before the crew calls people into the water. Children may snorkel only if they are good swimmers and are accompanied by an adult at all times.

Banana boat, sofa rides, and the day’s playful side

The watersports stop adds energy to what could otherwise be a standard beach and snorkeling outing. Banana boat and sofa rides have been included on some departures, and the combination is one of the more unusual parts of this package.

These rides are not guaranteed in every account of the route. One boat included both, while another departure had no watersports after snorkeling. That may be due to the boat arrangement, sea conditions, timing, or the way two tours were combined.

I would book this activity for the overall day rather than for a specific towable ride. If the banana boat and sofa are available, they give families and groups a fun break from sitting on the deck. If not, you still have the island, reef stops, and lunch.

The crew is described as open, funny, and trustworthy by people who had a good day. That tone matters on a boat trip, because the staff controls the movement between the beach, water, lunch, and return transfer. At the same time, friendly crew cannot fully solve the frustration caused by a crowded boat or a long wait for a transport boat.

Lunch on board, with a practical warning about portions

Lunch is served on the boat after the snorkeling stops. The meal is an open buffet, with soft drinks, hot drinks, and mineral water included. Eating while the Red Sea views pass by is a pleasant change from buying food at a beach resort.

The food appears to be adequate rather than lavish. One group found the amount sufficient, while another felt there was too little for the number of people, with children still hungry. That difference likely reflects group size and how quickly food is served.

If you have a large appetite, bring a small permitted snack or eat a solid breakfast before pickup. The tour includes lunch, but I would not count on a long restaurant-style meal with endless choices. The main value is convenience: you do not need to leave the boat to find food, and the meal breaks up the water activities.

Keep a towel and dry clothing in your bag rather than buried under beach items. You will likely be wet, exposed to sun, and moving between the boat and island. Sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, and beachwear are specifically recommended.

What $41 buys you

At $41 per person, this is a strong value if you want a full day that combines transport, a boat ride, an island visit, snorkeling, lunch, and drinks. You also receive snorkeling equipment, life vests, an instructor, and island entry. Paying separately for each part would quickly make the day more expensive and less convenient.

The price becomes less attractive if you want peace, precise timing, or long reef sessions. The boat may be full, the snorkeling may be short, and the island visit may fall below the advertised two hours. You are paying for a broad package, not a private charter.

I would compare it with your priorities:

• If you want the most activities for the least money, the package makes sense.
• If you care most about quiet snorkeling, ask about group size and exact route before paying.
• If you want Nemo Island specifically, confirm that the boat is going there rather than assuming the names are interchangeable.
• If you are traveling with hungry children, plan for the buffet to be basic and possibly limited.
• If you dislike long transfers or waiting, a smaller boat option may be worth a higher price.

The full-day format is useful for visitors who have free time and want one organized Red Sea outing. It is less suitable if you have a flight, dinner reservation, or another fixed plan later that day.

The crowd question: the biggest factor in your enjoyment

The most important variable here is not the beach or the reef. It is how many people share the boat and how many tours are combined.

Some departures are described as well organized, with quick hotel transfers and excellent support. Others combine two boat programs. One section of the boat headed to Orange Bay while another group was assigned to Nemo and Paradise, creating a very full vessel. That setup can affect every part of the day, from boarding to snorkeling to lunch.

A crowded boat also makes the island transfer slower. You may wait for smaller transport boats to carry people ashore, then wait again for the return. That is how an advertised two-hour island visit can shrink to about 80 or 90 minutes.

You can reduce the risk by asking before departure:

• Which island will this boat visit?
• How many people are expected on board?
• Are Orange Bay, Nemo, and Paradise groups being combined?
• How many snorkeling stops are planned?
• Are banana boat and sofa rides operating that day?

The answers may change, but asking helps you understand what you are buying. It also gives you a chance to decide if the schedule suits your family.

Who will enjoy this Red Sea trip most?

I would recommend this outing to first-time Hurghada visitors, families with confident swimmers, and anyone who wants a full day of sea activities without arranging each piece separately. The island, reef stops, lunch, and watersports create a varied day at a modest price.

It is also a good match for casual snorkelers. You receive equipment and instruction, so you do not need to arrive with specialist gear or experience. The water may be crowded, but the trip offers an easy introduction to the Red Sea.

I would be more cautious if you are an experienced snorkeler seeking long, quiet time over a reef. The short water sessions and large groups may frustrate you. The same is true if you dislike waiting, crowded transport, or flexible island arrangements.

Photos and videos are not included. You can take your own pictures, but protect your phone from water and keep in mind that an onboard photographer may offer separate services. Island drinks are also extra, so carry some spending money.

Bad weather can change the date, or you can receive a full refund. You may cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

Should you book the Giftun, Orange, or Nemo Island cruise?

Book it if you want good value and a busy full-day program rather than a private, carefully timed boat trip. The strongest parts are the clear water, Nemo Island’s peaceful beach when the route reaches it, the included lunch and drinks, and the chance to add banana boat or sofa rides.

Before booking, confirm the island name, group size, number of snorkeling stops, and watersports schedule. That short check can help you avoid the main disappointments: a crowded boat, long waits, brief snorkeling, or less beach time than expected.

For $41, I think this is a sensible choice for flexible visitors who accept some tour-group disorder. If quiet water time is your top priority, pay more for a smaller group. If you want a varied Red Sea day with hotel transport and most costs covered, this cruise earns a cautious recommendation.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start?

The tour includes pickup from your hotel in Hurghada, followed by transport to the marina. The boat departs from the marina.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $41 per person.

How long is the island visit?

The planned island stay is two hours. Actual time can be shorter because of transport delays and group arrangements, with some departures spending about one hour and 20 minutes to one and a half hours there.

Which island does the tour visit?

The information uses the names Orange Island, Nemo Island, and Giftun Island. The exact route can vary, so confirm the destination before departure if a particular island is important to you.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and life vests are included, along with a professional guide and snorkeling instructor.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An open buffet lunch is served on board. Hot drinks, soft drinks, and mineral water are also included.

Are watersports included?

Some departures include banana boat and sofa rides. Other departures may not offer watersports, so confirm what is operating on your date.

Can children snorkel?

Children may snorkel if they are good swimmers, but they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The date can be changed because of bad weather, or you can receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.