Desert excursion to Hurghada

Mystical and unknown, the desert remains in the collective imagination an immense land where nomads live at the whim of the wind. When visiting Egypt, it’s impossible not to take advantage of an excursion to the Hurghada desert. The beauty of the landscape, the authenticity of the Bedouin way of life and the change of scenery are just some of the reasons why a trip to the Hurghada desert is a must.

There are several departures from Hurghada. Each offers a different perspective on the desert. While one offers a more leisurely experience of stargazing, Bedouin dinner and sunset, the other focuses more on the sporting activity of quad biking.

In this guide, you’ll find all the information you need to know. Which one is best? What do we see? How long does it last? How much does it cost? We’ll give you all the answers here.

Practical information

Here’s the essential information you need to know before booking your desert excursion in Hurghada.

Alternatives and prices

There are several excursions to the Hurghada desert. They offer different activities, allowing you to target the one you want according to your preferences. Here are the possibilities:

We’ll describe the first one here. That is, the jeep tour, followed by a Bedouin dinner and stargazing. If you’re interested in a more sporty outing, we recommend the quad bike tour, which is described in our dedicated guide.

Access and opening hours

For this tour, you will be picked up directly at your hotel in the afternoon.

Once you have made your reservation, the tour operator will contact you on WhatsApp to confirm your pick-up time. Guides have a 15-minute window before and after the scheduled time to pick you up.

The driver parks directly in front of the hotel with his jeep (or mini-bus). All you have to do is give your name and room number before climbing into the back.

Then it’s time to finish collecting the other tourists from their respective accommodations. It depends on the order of arrival, but if you’re among the first, allow 30 minutes on average.

Please note that pick-up is included if you are staying in the city center, but remains extra for those staying in Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, Soma Bay, El Gouna or Safaga.

How long does the Hurghada desert tour last?

Allow an average of 5 to 6 hours to complete the entire activity, including the drive there and back (about 2 hours). This means you’ll be out and about with the guides for 4 hours.

Note that the tour starts mid-afternoon, around 4pm, and ends around 10pm.

We therefore recommend that you do not plan any additional evening activities. On the one hand, you’ll be tired, but also because the return schedule is uncertain, remaining at the expense of the driver and everyone’s location.

How does the Hurghada desert excursion work?

Now that the practical details have been covered, here are the details of the Hurghada desert excursion. You’ll find photos and descriptions of the various stages of this activity later in this chapter.

How the tour works

You’ll be picked up directly at your hotel. Once everyone is present, you’ll be taken to the desert, about 30 minutes away by car.

Note that there will be around 20 of you, divided into 2 groups of 10.

The driver and tour guide will accompany you throughout the excursion to the various geographical points. There is a first stop before arriving at the Bedouin house, where the majority of the outing will take place.

Jeep safari in the Hurghada desert

Before setting off, a short camel ride is offered. This is followed by a jeep ride through the Hurghada desert. We take you well to the west between Hurghada and El Gouna, about 25 kilometers from the coast.

The desert panorama that unfolds before your eyes is sumptuous: the mountains in the distance are bathed in soft light, and the veiled sky adds a beautiful ambiance to the experience.

The ground is fairly flat, punctuated by hills which the driver will make the most of. He rides hard on the sand, and it shakes! It’s a fun ride that lasts an average of forty minutes.

For the more adventurous, ask to climb onto the roof of the vehicle. The guides will then take you to a Bedouin camp, where you’ll spend the rest of the evening.

Traditional camp tea

Once there, you can settle back on the cushions and rest for a while. You’ll be given a small Bedouin herbal tea, to take with or without sugar.

The guide then takes you on a tour of the small Bedouin house, adding details and anecdotes about this nomadic way of life.

You’ll also be able to watch traditional bread being baked, while enjoying a slice. You’ll also be able to buy bracelets and other jewelry made by the Bedouins.

Watch the sunset in the heart of the mountains

Then it’s time for sunset in the heart of the Hurghada desert. The guide takes you to his favorite spot, just a few steps away. It’s easy to climb up to the huge rock for an incredible view of the mountains.

The place is deserted, just us. It’s magical, surreal and exotic!

Enjoy a Bedouin meal

Night falls, the candles light up. Then it’s time for a BBQ dinner on the cushions. Kefta, rice, Lebanese tabbouleh, kebabs, raw vegetables and fruit are all available.

All served from a small buffet. The atmosphere is warm and peaceful.

Night sky and stargazing

It’s when it gets dark that the guide starts talking astronomy. Using a beam of light, he points in the direction of the various stars that can be seen. He also uses a mobile app to show those interested.

With the help of a professional telescope, you’ll get a close-up view of the stars, several planets and even the Milky Way. The guide gives scientific facts and talks about outer space in between anecdotes. As well as this educational aspect, you can also simply admire all the stars and constellations.

This moment is of course weighted by the weather. If it’s cloudy or overcast, you won’t see much. But in any case, the guide will do his utmost to teach you as much as possible about the stars.

Clouds or no clouds, you’ll come away with some interesting astronomical facts!

From here, you’ll head back to your respective jeeps, crossing the desert again along the same route as the outward journey. The driver will take you directly back to your hotel. Allow a good hour’s drive, depending on the location of your accommodation.

Frequently asked questions about the Hurghada desert trip

Here you’ll find the usual questions and answers about the Hurghada desert tour. They are presented in the form of a list so that you can quickly find what interests you.

Can I take photos?

It’s perfectly possible to take photos, while respecting the nomadic populations.

For stargazing photos, on the other hand, you’ll need a minimum of equipment. You’ll need a tripod for long exposure photography.

In poor lighting conditions, this is absolutely necessary if you want sharp shots. You’re perfectly entitled to take a tripod with you, one that takes up as little space as possible.

Some smartphones also allow you to shoot in “night” mode. In this case, the camera digitally compensates for camera shake. If your phone has this mode, don’t hesitate to use it in this context – it works pretty well!

Is jeep driving in the desert dangerous?

No. Rest assured, the driver knows exactly what he’s doing, as he’sused to driving in this kind of environment. Please note, however, that the machine is pretty shaky, so if you get sick in transit, eat light or take a motion sickness medication.

Can everyone participate?

No. Even if the jeep ride is not dangerous, this excursion into the Hurghada desert is not recommended for pregnant women or children under 4. Not least because the jeep ride is quite bumpy and not suitable for babies.

Similarly, people with back problems can suffer from shocks.

Is the camel ride worth it?

No, if your main objective is to take a camel ride, we advise you to opt for another excursion.

Choose one dedicated to this activity, since here, the activities are essentially focused on the jeep ride, the sunset, the discovery of the stars and the Bedouin meal. The camel ride lasts only a short time and is very basic…

Is it hot in the Hurghada desert?

No, the wind in Hurghada is dry. So it’s quite possible to stand the heat, even more so in the desert, where there are draughts.

As night falls, temperatures drop but the weather remains pleasant. If you’re feeling the cold, you’ll appreciate a little wool.

This guide to the Hurghada desert tour is coming to an end. You now know everything you need to know about this outing. Star-gazing, dinner with the Bedouins, sunset and a jeep ride through the desert await you here. It’s clearly an experience to be enjoyed during a stay in the Egyptian city, as a complement to seaside activities.

As we travel by jeep, the number of places is limited each day. Once you’ve made up your mind, we advise you to book as soon as possible. Note that to benefit from such experiences, it’s much simpler and smoother to book online than to go through your hotel’s reps. Prices aren’t fixed on a whim, and you know what to expect.

If you’re looking for other activities, take a look at our guide to excursions in Hurghada.