You soar across and over the plains, at high speeds, the sun glistening off the sand, hands on the steering wheel, taking in the authentic views of plain desert sands surrounded by mountains on the coast of the Red Sea.
What am I talking about? Desert tours, here, in Hurghada. With a mixture of driving jeeps across the desert, riding camels at sunset and then enjoying a traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars, you get to experience it all in one trip. That is why this is one of the most popular tours to be a part of in Hurghada.
What Kinds of Safaris Can You Do in Hurghada?
There are a few different experiences you can partake in; it depends on your expectations and whom you’re planning on doing the experience with. For the thrill-seeking peeps, there is the quad biking in Hurghada safari, racing across the sands at full speed, bouncing over the hills and leaving sand and dust clouds behind you.
This is one of the shorter trips, but that doesn’t mean it is any less fulfilling. Full of excitement, speed and beautiful views, after driving across the sands you stop and have your break at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Red Sea – a perfect photo opportunity for those who like to make a record of their experience.
This tour is usually the shortest option, lasting just an hour or two, but it’s so full of adrenaline and fun you won’t notice.
A quad biking experience in Hurghada
If you’re travelling with your family and looking for something you can enjoy altogether, children included, a Hurghada jeep safari is probably more up your street.
Driving in a four-wheeled jeep, you can sit altogether comfortably but still experience the bounce you get when driving across the sands. You’ll be driven to a small Bedouin camp where you will have the opportunity to take photos with the animals on site, have a traditional authentic cup of Egyptian tea (or some water), use the toilet and get ready for the scenic drive back. There will be a camel or two for you to ride upon, an experience in its own right.
Jeep Safaris in Hurghada
Then we have the buggy safari, perfect for the group travellers. A buggy is a mix between the quads and a jeep, with the ability to seat four but keeping the sides open so you feel at one with the sands flying past. Wearing an Arabian scarf – the ‘Keffiyeh’ – to cover your nose, mouth and head, keeping just your eyes visible (we recommend wearing sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes), protects your face.
With the chance to take turns driving (age permitting), it’s an experience the whole group can enjoy. This tour is a great way to entertain the whole group and fill an afternoon.
Buggies in Hurghada
If it is a whole-day tour you are looking for, then there is the option of doing the full desert tour – this includes a visit to a Bedouin village, dinner and a show. The transport there can be either the buggies or a desert jeep.
You will go to the Bedouin village located in the middle of the desert where you will see how the Bedouin tribes live. Being at one with nature is a core aspect of Bedouin life, a chance to disconnect and take in the beauty of the surrounding desert. Dinner will be a basic but delicious BBQ, accompanied by rice or potatoes and the standard Egyptian salad and Egyptian (homemade or tent-made) bread.
A Bedouin woman baking traditional bread
You will have the opportunity to ride a camel around camp and sometimes a donkey too! Then a late afternoon drive back, where you can usually catch the sun setting over the mountains.
For the night owls out there, how does an evening drive across the sands to the middle of the desert, where you can see the stars so clearly you’ll feel like you can touch them, sound? Perfect? Then the evening desert safari is for you. With all the fun the day trips have, this one has the added magic of sitting under the stars, alongside your loved ones, enjoying a hot cup of Egyptian tea (or a cold bottle of water if that suits you more).
What to Expect?
Expect to have your conceptions of desert life blown away. Expect to have your breath taken away and your mind awoken. Expect to have an experience full of fun, laughter, great memories, lots of sand and amazing photos. From start to finish, each trip is packed full of moments that suit everyone. You are usually picked up from your hotel or place of stay; you are then either driven to where you can pick up your quads or buggies or driven straight through the desert.
After driving across the desert in your selected transport, you will then meet some Bedouins and be treated like an extended member of their family. If dinner is included in your trip, this is where you’ll eat some tasty Egyptian BBQ and watch a show, until you make your way back to your final destination and get dropped back at your pick-up point.
If you have chosen to do the quad biking safari and are close enough to the desert, you may be picked up on the quad bikes directly. With the trip full of emotions and a great atmosphere, you will be in awe whether it is the middle of the day or the early evening.
What Should I Be Aware Of?
Of course, one of the things that is loved about Egypt is that it is always sunny no matter the time of year. This is important to bear in mind when doing any tours, but especially the desert safaris. Ensure you are covered appropriately, sun cream slathered on, sunglasses present and plenty of water at the ready.
It is recommended to wear closed shoes as the sand can get very hot. Depending on the time of year you go, the temperature you experience will vary.
Driving in full gear. Helmets on and scarves up
The months of June to September can reach very high temperatures throughout the day. If you are planning on travelling at that time of year and would like to do one of these tours, we recommend either doing it early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The perfect time to do this trip, in my opinion, is between March and May or September and October to enjoy the early afternoon sun.
When picking which one of these safaris you would like to do, it is definitely important to consider the ages of the people who will be accompanying you. For anyone under the age of 12, I would say the jeep safari is the best suited. The evening safari is a great option for couples, with a romantic flair of stargazing and dinner by the fire.
Safari Prices in Hurghada
These tours usually cost between £20 and £80 depending on which one you pick. The cheapest option is the short but jam-packed quad biking safari, which varies between £20 and £40. Jeep safaris also usually start at £30 but can go up to around £80 – the most expensive being the full-day or evening trips.
In a Nutshell
A Hurghada desert safari tour is a great way to experience an authentic, fast-paced, fun and fulfilling day. Leaving a lasting impression on every person who partakes, it’s a great opportunity to see the desert and Bedouin tribes in their natural elements. It’s a chance to get down and dusty with nature, feel the warmth of the sun on your face and get great (natural) photos whilst having the opportunity to disconnect from the mundane events of everyday life.
You do not need to be an experienced driver to drive the quads, and it is a tour that can suit the whole family.
