A seven-hour boat trip from Soma Bay to Mahmya Island featuring hour-long transfers, guided snorkeling at Sabina Reef with gear provided, and a beach lunch. Ideal for swimmers and day-trippers seeking clear water and easy logistics.
A seven-hour boat trip from Soma Bay to Mahmya Island featuring hour-long transfers, guided snorkeling at Sabina Reef with gear provided, and a beach lunch. Ideal for swimmers and day-trippers seeking clear water and easy logistics.
The boat cuts through the Red Sea with a steady hiss; sunlight flickers off low swells as Soma Bay slips astern. An hour-long transfer sets the pace—time to feel the salt on your skin, unpack a reef mask, and watch the shoreline shrink until Mahmya Island appears as a bright strip of sand and reef.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by NORTH AFRICAN SHIPPING AND TOURISM COMPANY (NASCO TOURS) · Soma Bay, Red Sea Governorate
The boat cuts through the Red Sea with a steady hiss; sunlight flickers off low swells as Soma Bay slips astern. An hour-long transfer sets the pace—time to feel the salt on your skin, unpack a reef mask, and watch the shoreline shrink until Mahmya Island appears as a bright strip of sand and reef.
Mahmya sits off Giftun’s southern flank, part of a chain that formed where the Arabian and African plates pull apart, exposing coral gardens older than modern tourism. The island’s shallow lagoons and fringing reef have fed local fishing communities for generations and now host day-trippers drawn to clear water and abundant fish life.
The core of this outing is Sabina Reef: a snorkeling playground of bommies, branching corals, and bold parrotfish. Guides provide full snorkel kits and life jackets, and the itinerary balances surface time with a beachfront lunch—buffet or set menu—with water and soft drinks included. Expect roughly three hours around the island for snorkeling and beach time; total trip length is about seven hours including two one-hour boat transfers each way.
Practical notes: arrive with reef-safe sunscreen, a quick-dry towel, and a lightweight cover-up for the boat. Swim competency matters—guides run safety briefings and supply vests, but currents can shift. Morning departures give smoother seas and clearer visibility; afternoons can be windier.
Mahmya’s appeal is straightforward: bright reef, calm sand, and a day on the water that’s easy to plan for yet hard to forget.
easy.
7 hours.
Suitable for travelers in average physical condition who can swim short distances and handle brief periods in open water.
Each boat transfer takes about one hour, so plan roughly two hours round-trip on the water.
Yes — a mask, fins, snorkel, and life jacket are included for the Sabina Reef snorkeling session.
Water and soft drinks are included during lunch; alcoholic beverages and other drinks are not included.
The trip is family-friendly and life jackets are supplied, but participants should be comfortable in shallow open water; check with the operator about infant seats and child provisions.
Giftun and surrounding islets lie along ancient Red Sea trade routes; local communities historically fished these reefs long before tourism developed.
Coral reefs here are vulnerable to warming and physical damage; use reef-safe sunscreen, avoid touching coral, and follow guide instructions to minimize impact.
NORTH AFRICAN SHIPPING AND TOURISM COMPANY (NASCO TOURS) operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.




The boat cuts through the Red Sea with a steady hiss; sunlight flickers off low swells as Soma Bay slips astern. An hour-long transfer sets the pace—time to feel the salt on your skin, unpack a reef mask, and watch the shoreline shrink until Mahmya Island appears as a bright strip of sand and reef.
The boat cuts through the Red Sea with a steady hiss; sunlight flickers off low swells as Soma Bay slips astern. An hour-long transfer sets the pace—time to feel the salt on your skin, unpack a reef mask, and watch the shoreline shrink until Mahmya Island appears as a bright strip of sand and reef.
Mahmya sits off Giftun’s southern flank, part of a chain that formed where the Arabian and African plates pull apart, exposing coral gardens older than modern tourism. The island’s shallow lagoons and fringing reef have fed local fishing communities for generations and now host day-trippers drawn to clear water and abundant fish life.
The core of this outing is Sabina Reef: a snorkeling playground of bommies, branching corals, and bold parrotfish. Guides provide full snorkel kits and life jackets, and the itinerary balances surface time with a beachfront lunch—buffet or set menu—with water and soft drinks included. Expect roughly three hours around the island for snorkeling and beach time; total trip length is about seven hours including two one-hour boat transfers each way.
Practical notes: arrive with reef-safe sunscreen, a quick-dry towel, and a lightweight cover-up for the boat. Swim competency matters—guides run safety briefings and supply vests, but currents can shift. Morning departures give smoother seas and clearer visibility; afternoons can be windier.
Mahmya’s appeal is straightforward: bright reef, calm sand, and a day on the water that’s easy to plan for yet hard to forget.