Orange Bay, Magawish or Giftun? Choosing the right one
Three island trips that look alike on paper and feel nothing alike on the day. A straight comparison to help you pick.
This is the question we get most often on WhatsApp. The short answer: all three are good, and they are not the same day out. The difference is not quality — it is what kind of day you want.
Orange Bay — if you want a beach
White sand, shallow water in a colour that does not look real in photographs, and facilities on the island. The snorkelling is good but it is not the headline; the beach and the hours you spend on it are.
Suits: families, anyone with children, anyone who wants calm swimming plus time on land. Does not suit: anyone after the quietest possible spot — this is the best-known island off Hurghada and in season it is genuinely busy.
Magawish Island — the balanced one
Closer to Hurghada, so less time on the boat and more time in the water. A good beach and good snorkelling without either being exceptional, and usually quieter than Orange Bay.
Suits: anyone with only one day who does not want to get the choice wrong, and anyone who finds long crossings tiring.
Giftun Island — if you came for the snorkelling
The reefs off Giftun first, then the beach for the afternoon. It is the same eight hours as Orange Bay, ordered the other way round: the water is the point of the morning, and the sand is where the day finishes. Mask, snorkel, fins and a guide in the water are included, as they are on every boat we run.
Suits: anyone who came for what is under the water and still wants somewhere to lie down afterwards. Does not suit: anyone who would rather spend the whole day on the sand — for that, Orange Bay is the better booking.
And Dolphin House?
Not an island at all — a reef system dolphins frequent. Nobody can guarantee you will see them, and anyone promising otherwise is selling you something they do not have. It is one of the better reefs in the area even on a day with no dolphins, and that is the basis you should book it on. Trip details
The quick table
- Best beach: Orange Bay
- Best snorkelling: Giftun
- Least time on the boat: Magawish
- Quietest: Magawish
- Best with small children: Orange Bay
Still undecided? Message us on WhatsApp with how many days you have and who is with you, and we will suggest an order — without selling you a trip you do not need.