Hurghada: a day at Giftun Island 
by Cristina Alesii
Very few places in the world can be so astonishingly beautiful, and be so perfectly conserved despite the daily load of visitors. All the imagery of perfect postcards is there: turquoise waters, fine powdery white sand, pristine coral reefs around, breathtaking views, and a non-obtrusive natural architecture of straw and wooden huts, plain stones and grass shacks. Mahmya Beach is on the shores of the Giftun Island National Park in front of Hurghada, and it is a remarkable example of how an ecosystem can be managed and enjoyed by human beings. In fact, Mahmya in Arabic simply means “protected area”. Located at around one hour by boat from its harbour in Hurghada, Mahmya has the privilege of being one of the only two establishments allowed on the island, 
which is, as all marine park islands in the Egyptian Red Sea, deserted and uninhabited, and where human settlements are strictly forbidden. A day at Mahmya typically starts at around 9 am when visitors board one of the two 27-seater Mahmya boats, to land on the island around an hour later. The boats moor at the buoys off the pristine bay, and visitors are shuttled to the shore by three smaller unobtrusive boats. From then on, guests are free to snorkel on the impressive coral heads scattered in the turquoise lagoon, have a walk along the sandy beach, get into action at the beach-volley ground, try scuba diving with the in-house diving centre, or just lounge around sun tanning on the beach. At lunch time everybody meets at the shadowy restaurant to have a sumptuous meal of fresh seafood and Italian specialities, and later at the bar for some ice cream, a beer or some refreshing cocktails. Special arrangements for physically challenged 
guests are available upon request. Kids too will spend a wonderful time on the island, as they will get to celebrate their birthdays in a very special way. A full first aid kit is available in cases of emergency. Moreover, security and rescue guards are present round the clock. For those sailing on their own boats, call Mahmya on VHF channel 76 to be picked up from your boat and transported to shore. Bear in mind that buoys are available on a first come first served basis. Smaller boats are encouraged to tie off to one another, allowing larger vessels access to the buoys. Keep an eye at all times for snorkellers, divers and swimmers and remember that it is strictly forbidden to through anchors on the reef.All major tour operators offer a daily trip to Mahmya, just ask your tour representative or the guest relations of your hotel, and don’t miss the chance to spend a day in an unusual kind of paradise.
Transferred from www.goredsea.com
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