Mahmya Island

There are no ferries to the Giftun Islands so a tour is your only way of getting to Mahmya (sometimes written Mahmaya). Choose between early tours, which return in the afternoon, and later options, which stay until early evening. Most Mahmya Island tours include hotel transfers, snorkeling gear, and a guide, while a few add an open buffet lunch with soft drinks. Sunlovers may wish to spend the whole day on Mahmya; coral fans will want to visit as one stop on a snorkeling cruise.

• Mahmya Island is a good choice for sun worshippers and snorkelers.
• If snorkeling is your major focus, look for a snorkeling cruise with stops offshore. The coral out at sea is more colorful than the reefs close to the beach, which have been damaged by tourists.
• Coral can take centuries to grow but takes just seconds to destroy. Please avoid touching the reef with your body or fins.
• Mahmya Island boats are not accessible for travelers who use wheelchairs, and the island itself is mainly rock and sand.

Mahmya Island is on the southern end of Big Giftun Island, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) off Hurghada’s Red Sea coast. Boats leave from the Mahmya Beach Marina, east of the airport in southern Hurghada. Most packages include hotel transfers.

The best time to enjoy Mahmya Island (and Hurghada more generally) is in fall (roughly September through November), when the seas are warm and the weather sunny but not scorching hot. Mahmya is also a good option in spring and summer; in winter, water temperatures are too low for snorkeling.

The Red Sea offers colorful marine life and spectacular visibility, making it a great choice for snorkeling, but much of the best reef is found out at sea. Besides the Giftun Islands, top Hurghada snorkeling spots include Dolphin House, a patch of sea known for its wild dolphins, and Magawish Island, surrounded by coral gardens. There are also a wealth of scuba diving sites.