El Mina Mosque
Hurghada, Egypt
Orange Bay, Hurghada
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Photo: Mahmoudxx1, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Trip from $20 + park fee ≈ $5
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Day trips only: hotel pickup around 7:45–8:30, back by 16:00–17:00; daily, all year
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 4 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Access
- By boat only, on a tour: large boat, yacht or speedboat
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Location
- South-west shore of Giftun Kebir, about 8 km in a straight line from Hurghada Marina
- Boat ride
- 40–60 minutes by large boat, 20–30 minutes by speedboat
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Beach time
- 1.5–2 hours; the whole trip takes 6–8 hours
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Trip price
- Group trips from about $20–35; small-group yachts up to $120
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Park fee
- About $5 or €5 per person in cash, often not included
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Cash on the island; cards rarely accepted
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Kids
- Yes: shallow lagoon by the shore, life jackets on board
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Boat onlyno roads or hotels on the island — only tour boats and speedboats land here
3 sourcesi
OpenStreetMapSputnik8Tripster tour listings1.5–2 hourson the beach — the rest of the day is the boat ride, lunch and snorkel stops
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Unofficial: Tripster, Sputnik8, Egyptra≈ $5national park fee per person in cash, often charged on top of the tour
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Unofficial: Sputnik8, Pelago, Expedia, Pure Nile Tours≈ 8 kmin a straight line from Hurghada Marina to the Orange Bay beach
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YesGo measurement on OpenStreetMap coordinatesPure Nile ToursGiftun Kebirthe beach sits on the south-west shore of Big Giftun, facing Hurghada
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OpenStreetMapHurghada tour operators2 islandsGiftun Kebir (Big) and Giftun Soraya or Saghir (Little) make up the Giftun group
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English Wikipedia: Giftun IslandsOpenStreetMapProtected areathe Giftun Islands are a nature protectorate; touching coral is banned
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HEPCAPure Nile ToursCashcards are rarely accepted on the island — bring Egyptian pounds, dollars or euros
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Unofficial: Sputnik8, Egyptra, The Abroad GuideMahmyathe other well-known beach club on Giftun, sold as separate trips
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Official Mahmya websitePure Nile ToursAll yeartrips run daily; strong wind can postpone a sailing
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Unofficial: Sputnik8, TripsterIs Orange Bay worth it?
Yes, if you want one day of postcard sea away from your hotel beach: white sand, a shallow turquoise lagoon and snorkeling on real reefs in a single trip. It's especially good with kids and weak swimmers, because the water near the shore is shallow and calm for a long way out.
No, if you're picturing a deserted island. Orange Bay is a managed beach club, many boats arrive at the same time in high season, and you get less than two hours on the sand. For a quieter day, book a speedboat with an early start or a small-group yacht rather than the cheapest big boat.
Our take: worth it as a beach-and-snorkel day, not as a castaway experience. The tour format matters more than the island itself — a crowded budget boat and a small yacht feel like two different trips.
How much is the Orange Bay trip and what's included?
Group trips on a large boat usually cost about $20–35 per person; small-group yachts with drinks and a barbecue run up to around $120. Most prices include hotel pickup, snorkeling gear and lunch on board. Prices change by season and operator, so treat them as unofficial.
On top of that, carry the park fee (about $5 or €5 in cash) and money for drinks, which cost noticeably more on the island than in town. Photographers on board and on the beach sell photo packages; ask the price before they start shooting.
Paying. The currency is the Egyptian pound. Your tour can usually be paid by card when you book online, but on the island it's cash: small pound notes for drinks and tips, and dollars or euros in exact change for the park fee. Uber and Careem work in Hurghada for getting to the marina.
What a day trip looks like
Expect 6–8 hours door to door. A minibus picks you up from your hotel at around 7:45–8:30, and collecting everyone can take up to 40 minutes. Boats leave from Hurghada Marina; the crossing takes 40–60 minutes on a large boat or 20–30 minutes by speedboat.
Most trips make one or two snorkel stops on Giftun's reefs on the way. Masks and fins are provided but basic, so bring your own mask if you have one. At the island, you either step onto the pier or a small shuttle boat runs you to the beach. You get 1.5–2 hours ashore, and lunch is usually served on board.
You're back at the marina by about 16:00–17:00.
Things to do at Orange Bay
- Wade the lagoon — knee-deep turquoise water that stretches far from the shore, easy for kids and non-swimmers.
- Walk the wooden pier — the classic Orange Bay view of the lagoon, the beach huts and boats at anchor.
- Snorkel Giftun's reefs — the boat stops over coral on the way, with plenty of reef fish.
- Hide in a beach hut — shade, sunbeds and a bar for the hottest part of the day.
- Try water sports — some trips add a banana boat, parasailing or an intro dive for an extra charge.
- Look back at Hurghada — the beach faces the city, and on the way back you see the marina and El Mina Mosque from the water.
How to get to Orange Bay
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- Book a trip a day ahead; hotel pickup is usually included, and the operator sends your pickup time the evening before.
- Staying in the old centre? Walk to the boat: from El Mina Mosque on El Shahid Street it's about 400 m to Hurghada Marina, a five-minute walk.
- From hotels on Village Road or Sheraton Road, Uber, Careem or a taxi to the marina takes 15–25 minutes; agree a taxi fare before you get in.
- At the marina, find your boat by the name and number on your booking — guides usually meet groups at the pier entrance.
- Pay the park fee in cash at the pier or on the island, wherever your guide says.
- Reach the beach by pier or a short shuttle-boat hop; return on the same boat to the marina, then walk or take a cab.
Orange Bay vs Paradise Island vs Mahmya
They're all on the Giftun Islands. Orange Bay is a private beach on the south-west shore of Giftun Kebir, the side closest to Hurghada. Mahmya is a separate beach club on Giftun with its own trips from Hurghada. Paradise Island is another beach on similar itineraries, and some operators offer it as an alternative to Orange Bay.
The reefs and water around Giftun are the same, so pick on tour format and price rather than the beach name. If a listing just says "Giftun Island", ask which beach the group lands on.
When to go and what about winter?
Trips run daily, all year. From December to February the days are warm but the sea is around 22–23 °C: fine for a dip in the lagoon, chilly for a long snorkel, and the deck gets cool in the wind — pack a layer.
Summer is hot and busy, so shade on the beach is precious. Spring and October–November are the most comfortable months. In any season, strong wind can cancel or postpone a sailing; operators normally offer another day or a refund. For photos, go early: fewer people on the pier, and the lagoon is brightest when the sun is high around midday.
What to bring to Orange Bay
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Hurghada by the water: compare and choose
Every Hurghada place by the water that YesGo has rated. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Hurghada Fish Market | 44 | 45 min | Free | 8.5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada Marina | 43 | 1 h | Free | 8.5 km |
| Sahl Hasheesh | 28 | 2 h | Free | 18.1 km |
| El Gouna | 26 | 4 h | No ticket; entry permit needed | 31.2 km |
| Hurghada Grand Aquarium | 24 | 1 h 30 min | $35, $32 online; kids 4–9 $17.50 | 13.2 km |
| Orange Bayyou are here | 21 | 4 h | Trip from $20 + park fee ≈ $5 | — |
| Dolphin House | 21 | 2 h | Tours from $17 + ≈ $5 fee | 23.2 km |
Orange Bay and an evening at the marina
Lagoon and reefs on Giftun by day; the boat brings you back to Hurghada Marina for a stroll past the yachts, and the mosque by the fishing harbour is five minutes away. YesGo sets the times and transfers.
- Orange Bayyou are here4 h · Trip from $20 + park fee ≈ $5
- 148 min walk from the previous stopHurghada Marina1 h · Free
- 7 min walk from the previous stopEl Mina Mosque30 min · Free, between prayers
3 places · about 8 h 5 min with walks · 155 min on foot in total
How to do it right
- Pick a trip with an early start — you reach the beach before the main wave of boats.
- Keep the park fee separate, in exact cash; it's collected at the pier or on the island.
- Don't touch or stand on coral: the Giftun Islands are a protected area.
- Not a strong swimmer? Ask for a life jacket for the snorkel stops — boats carry them.
- Back in town, stroll past the yachts at Hurghada Marina and look in at El Mina Mosque.
- Want reef fish without getting wet? Try Hurghada Grand Aquarium.
Questions
How much is the Orange Bay trip from Hurghada?
Group trips on a large boat usually cost about $20–35 per person; small-group yachts go up to around $120. Add about $5 or €5 in cash for the park fee. Prices are unofficial and change by season.
How long is the boat ride to Orange Bay?
40–60 minutes from Hurghada Marina on a large boat, 20–30 minutes by speedboat. The whole trip, with pickup, takes 6–8 hours.
How long do you get on the beach?
Usually 1.5–2 hours. The rest of the day goes on the boat ride, lunch and snorkel stops.
Is the national park fee included?
Often not. Expect to pay about $5 or €5 per person in cash at the pier or on the island. Check when you book.
Can you go to Orange Bay without a tour?
Not independently — only tour boats and private charters land there. You can hire a private boat at the marina, but you still pay the park fee and beach entry.
Is Orange Bay good for kids?
Yes. The lagoon is shallow and calm, and boats carry life jackets, but you'll need to watch children closely at the snorkel stops.
Can you visit Orange Bay in winter?
Yes, trips run all year. The sea is around 22–23 °C in winter and the deck can be chilly in the wind, so bring a layer.
Can I pay by card on the island?
Rarely. Bring cash: Egyptian pounds for drinks and tips, and dollars or euros for the park fee.
Is Orange Bay the same as Giftun Island?
Orange Bay is a beach on Giftun Kebir. Trips sold as "Giftun Island" often land there, but some go to Mahmya or Paradise Island instead — ask the operator.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- OpenStreetMap — coordinates of Orange Bay beach, Giftun Kebir and Giftun Saghir, Hurghada Marina and El Mina Mosque
- English Wikipedia: Giftun Islands; Wikidata Q3105444
- HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association) — protected status of the Giftun Islands
- Official Mahmya website — beach on Giftun Island
- Tripster and Sputnik8 — Orange Bay trip listings (duration, pickup times, inclusions, fees)
- Egyptra, Pure Nile Tours, The Abroad Guide — boat times, fees, payment, seasons
- Pelago and Expedia — park fees in tour listings
- Youm7 — Egypt's Environment Ministry decree on Red Sea protectorate fees (2019)
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