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The 12 Best Guided Tours and Day-Trips from Hurghada

The Best Tours and Day-Trips from Hurghada

The 12 best guided tours and excursions in Hurghada. What are the best guided tours and day-trips departing from hotels and resorts on the beaches of Hurghada? And above all, what are the most interesting and beautiful places of the Red Sea and Egypt that can be reached from Hurghada with day-trips leaving Hurghada in the morning and coming back the same afternoon or evening? Where to go, which tour to choose and how to book? The detailed description of the 12 best tours and day-trips you can book in Hurghada to reach the most beautiful islands in the Red Sea and some of the most spectacular and interesting attractions in all of Egypt. These include group boat tours to Giftun Island, swimming with dolphins excursions, private boat tours, desert tours by Jeep, Quad and Dune Buggy, day-trips from Hurghada to Luxor and to the Valley of the Kings to enter the tombs of the pharaohs and guided tours from Hurghada, both in small groups and by private car and guide, or by plane, to visit Cairo, the Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza. With my comment, all pros of each tour, the useful information to organize the excursion and direct links to check prices and book easily online by credit card.

The Most Interesting Guided Tours and Excursions from Hurghada to Red Sea Islands, the Desert, to Visit Luxor, Cairo and the Pyramids
The Most Interesting Guided Tours and Excursions from Hurghada to Red Sea Islands, the Desert, to Visit Luxor, Cairo and the Pyramids

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

What Are the Best Excursions and Guided Day-Trips from Hurghada?

The Most Interesting Excursions from Hurghada to Red Sea Islands, the Desert, to Visit Luxor, Cairo and the Pyramids

Are you going to Hurghada and would you like to take a boat tour to visit Giftun Island, with one of the most beautiful beaches in the Red Sea? Want to see turtles and maybe swim with dolphins? Would you like to go and see the desert personally driving a Quad? Or are you looking for an organized tour with a guide to visit the fabulous temples of Luxor and enter the tombs of the Valley of the Kings? Are you wondering if it is possible to go and see the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo from Hurghada in one day?

  • I have selected tens of tours and day-trips from Hurghada organized by locally based travel suppliers and sold online, and have chosen 12 different tours.
  • These are not the only ones you can book, but in my opinion they are among the best and most complete tours and guided day-trips available on the market to explore Egypt and the Red Sea leaving Hurghada in the morning and returning in the afternoon or, for longer tours, in the evening.
  • All guided tours are described below, in a very detailed way, with my considerations, some suggestions and all the pros of each tour. You can book all these tours easily by credit card through GetYourGuide and Viator. For the great majority of tours you get instant confirmation, while for some, tour confirmation is subject to availability and will be given within 48 hours of your booking.
  • Keep in mind that, not always but often, the cost of the excursions booked online is generally lower than the same tour booked directly at the hotel, at least if you are staying in one of the luxury resorts. Read carefully, evaluate and see if there is something you like.
Giftun Island Boat Tour: Guided Snorkeling Day-Trip with 2 Hours at Amazing Orange Bay Beach
Giftun Island Boat Tour: Guided Snorkeling Day-Trip with 2 Hours at Amazing Orange Bay Beach

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

The 12 Best Tours and Guided Day-Trips from Hurghada

Giftun Island Boat Tour: Guided Snorkeling Day-Trip with 2 Hours at Amazing Orange Bay Beach

Orange Bay is a beautiful natural bay on the west coast of Giftun Island, just a few miles from Hurghada. Giftun Island is surrounded by a magnificent coral reef, the sea water is crystal clear, with amazing colours, just put on a mask to see dozens of different species of fish and colorful corals, a real show. And the highlight of this boat excursion from Hurghada are the two snorkeling sessions in two different points of the reef, as well as 2 full hours to enjoy the spectacular Orange Bay beach.

The price includes the boat tour, guided snorkeling with equipment (mask, snorkel and fins), breakfast, buffet lunch on board the boat with water, soft drinks, tea and coffee, as well as transfers from all resorts in El Gouna, Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay and Safaga, from some areas with a small supplement.

  • Duration of the tour: between 7 and 8 hours, it depends on where your resort is located, the further it is from Hurghada the longer the total duration of the excursion will be.
  • Guide: several languages, including among others English, German and Russian.
  • Tour features: both the transfers and the boat cruise are in a group together with other participants, the local supplier is the excellent Egyptra Travel Services.
  • Pros: the proximity of Giftun Island to the coast means that the sail to get there from Hurghada is fast and sheltered from the open sea; the 2 hours on the beach of Orange Bay, you can explore the bay, relax on the beach and swim where you want, the sloping seabed and the shallow water make it the perfect destination for families with small children.
Snorkeling Tour by Private Boat: Excursion to Hurghada's Most Beautiful Islands by Private Speedboat 
Snorkeling Tour by Private Boat: Excursion to Hurghada’s Most Beautiful Islands by Private Speedboat

Photo Credit: Viator

Snorkeling Tour by Private Boat: Excursion to Hurghada’s Most Beautiful Islands by Private Speedboat 

If you want to manage your tour to the beautiful islands in front of Hurghada at your own pace, and travel with family or a group of friends, instead of joining a shared boat tour, you can book a private motorboat, or better yet, a fast RIB speedboat in total exclusivity.

The approximately 4-hour excursion departing from Hurghada includes stops for snorkeling at the 3 islands of Magawish, Abu Minqar, and Giftun Island. The local operator has several RIB boats equipped with outboard motors ranging from 140 to 500 horsepower and a maximum capacity of 8 people each. If your group is larger, you will be assigned 2 motorboats.

The price includes the reserved RIB rigid-hulled inflatable boat just for you, a guide, snorkeling equipment, fruit, snacks, water, soft drinks, and entrance fee to the Giftun Island park. Starting from 4 people, the price becomes quite reasonable, and in addition, you have all the flexibility of a private boat that allows you to enjoy the tour without having to follow predetermined schedules or programs.

  • Duration of the tour: half-day, you decide what time to depart, if things haven’t changed, the boarding point is at Hurghada Marina, you will receive complete details upon booking. To reach the starting point ask your hotel to arrange a taxi for you.
  • Guide: at the time of updating this post, the available guides speak English, German, Arabic or Russian.
  • Tour features: exclusive private RIB tour, the local supplier is Bullet Speedboats and you will usually receive confirmation of the excursion within 48 hours of booking.
  • Pros: by reaching the starting point on your own by taxi, you avoid wasting time loading/unloading other participants from different hotels at the departure and arrival, which is typical of all group excursions. You can stop for as long as you want at the snorkeling spots that you like the most, and you can look for a more peaceful and less crowded corner of the beach.
  • Other private speedboat tours: before booking, it is worth investigating two other tours, both operated by Egyptboats/Skiptheline Private Tours Hurghada, a company based at the Hurghada Marina, using speed boats or private motorboats. The first one is Viator | PRIVATE! | 4-hour Speed Boat Trip | Eden Island or Orange Bay & Snorkeling. The tour lasts between 4 and 5 hours and is extremely convenient for groups of 4 or 5 people. The second tour, which is more focused on snorkeling and lasts the whole day, is Viator | PRIVATE! | Full-Day Charter Boat Trip | Up to 14 | Snorkeling and Island Tour. The latter is recommended for larger groups of 8 to 14 participants. For both excursions, you need to reach the Hurghada Marina on your own by taxi, so ask your hotel to organize a taxi for you or contact the local supplier yourself to arrange transportation.
Dolphins Tour: Full Day Boat Day-Trip from Hurghada to Swim with Dolphins and Coral Reef Snorkeling
Dolphins Tour: Full Day Boat Day-Trip from Hurghada to Swim with Dolphins and Coral Reef Snorkeling

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Dolphins Tour: Full Day Boat Day-Trip from Hurghada to Swim with Dolphins and Coral Reef Snorkeling

A full day on a boat, including lunch, with three snorkeling sessions, the first one dedicated to swimming with dolphins, and two different stops on the coral reef to admire fish and corals. The transfer by minibus from the hotels along the coast to the marina from where the boat departs and returns, lunch, the guide during snorkeling, and equipment are included.

Please note that unlike boat trips to the islands, if you book this tour you will spend the full day onboard the boat, without stops on land or on the beach. The excursion is therefore recommended for those who love swimming in the open sea and do not suffer from seasickness. If you have children, keep in mind that they will not be able to swim with the dolphins but only observe them from the boat.

  • Duration of the tour: the cruise lasts between 7 and 9 hours, depending on the season (the tour is shorter in Winter) and the location of your resort on the Hurghada coast.
  • Guide: several languages, including among others English, German and Russian.
  • Tour features: transfers and boat cruise shared with other participants.
  • Pros: swimming with dolphins is not something that happens every day.
  • Another dolphin tour option: a similar full-day boat tour to see dolphins and admire the coral reef is offered by Egypt Delight Trips and can be booked with Viator | Swimming with Dolphin VIP Snorkeling Sea Trip With Lunch and Transfer – Hurghada; the tour includes guided snorkeling, equipment, lunch, and is inclusive of transfers. As with the previous excursion, it is recommended for those who have already done snorkeling and have no problem swimming in the open sea.
Quad Desert Safari: 3 Hour Tour Driving a Quad/ATV in the Hurghada's Desert 
Quad Desert Safari: 3 Hour Tour Driving a Quad/ATV in the Hurghada’s Desert

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Quad Desert Safari: 3 Hour Tour Driving a Quad/ATV in the Hurghada’s Desert 

Have you always wanted to drive a Quad in the desert? In Hurghada this is possible, the tour is very well organized and above all it is inexpensive, or rather, very cheap.

Different departure times, both in the morning and in the afternoon, you can choose to book the Quad/ATV for 1 person (one driver for the entire excursion) or the Quad/ATV for 2 people, who can alternate driving the Quad if they wish. During the tour you make a stop to visit a Bedouin village (a bit fake, actually) and if you want you can get on a camel for a picture. The helmet is provided by the tour supplier, goggles and a scarf to protect yourself from the sand can be rented on site. This is not the right tour to do with contact lenses, you get dusty from head to toe.

Unless things have changed, pick-up and drop-off in all resorts in El Gouna, Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay and Safaga are included, from some locations for a small additional fee. Please note that you must be at least 16 years of age to drive Quad and Dune Buggy, children aged 8-15 can ride on the back of the Quad.

  • Duration of the tour: approx. 3 hours, it depends on the location of your hotel.
  • Guide: English, French, Russian, Italian and German.
  • Tour features: group tours, usually no more than 20 participants, sometimes less.
  • Pros: if you want to take a look at the desert behind Hurghada, personally driving a Quad, and spending very little money.
Dune Buggy, 4WD & Quad Tour: Afternoon Desert Safari from Hurghada Including Bedouin Dinner
Dune Buggy, 4WD & Quad Tour: Afternoon Desert Safari from Hurghada Including Bedouin Dinner

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Dune Buggy, 4WD & Quad Tour: Afternoon Desert Safari from Hurghada Including Bedouin Dinner

This excursion has everything, it’s interesting for the natural environment you see and for how it’s carried out. From your hotel in Hurghada, you first reach the desert by off-road vehicle, then there’s a briefing and you are given instructions on how to drive the Quad/ATV. Following the guide that leads the participants, you then explore the sand and rocky desert at the back of Hurghada driving your own Quad. After a stop of about 40 minutes, the second experience follows, now it’s time for the Dune Buggy, with a second ride in the desert, you are always the person who drives. Then you stop to visit a (fake) Bedouin village and then reach the camp, where at sunset, a barbecue dinner is served while you attend a traditional music and dance show. Afterwards, you are driven back to your hotel by jeep.

The price includes transfers from and to the hotels, the guide throughout the excursion, transportation by jeep, the double experience of driving the Quad/ATV and the Dune Buggy, a visit to a Bedouin village with a tea stop, a further stop at a terrarium to see desert snakes and scorpions, a brief ride of a few minutes on a camel, the evening show with a barbecue dinner including mineral water and soft drinks. There is sand, but don’t expect dunes, the desert between the Red Sea and the Nile valley is mostly rocky.

  • Duration of the tour: approx. 6 or 7 hours.
  • Guide: English, German, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, French, Italian, Arabic.
  • Tour features: small group tour, usually no more than 20 participants.
  • Pros: a fun and complete excursion, there is both the Quad and the Dune Buggy, dinner is already included, and as with most of the excursions in Hurghada all at a phenomenal price.
Luxor Small Group Tour: Guided Day-Trip to Luxor from Hurghada by Minibus in One Day
Luxor Small Group Tour: Guided Day-Trip to Luxor from Hurghada by Minibus in One Day

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Luxor Small Group Tour: Guided Day-Trip to Luxor from Hurghada by Minibus in One Day

Perhaps the most beautiful tour to do in Hurghada, at least if you have not already been to Luxor, or do not plan to go there soon. Of course, from Hurghada to Luxor it’s not exactly a short drive, it takes between 4 and 5 hours of travel to cover the 310 km that separate Luxor from Hurghada, but once you arrive what appears in front of your eyes is amazing.

The Nile, the grandiose temple of Karnak, the fabulous Valley of the Kings with the entrance and the visit of 3 tombs of the pharaohs, ending with the splendid mortuary temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari, dominated by a scenic and imposing rock wall. Don’t even miss a stop at the Colossi of Memnon.

Lunch, a guide and transfers from all the hotels on the coast of Hurghada are already included (from some areas with a small supplement), if you wish to cross the Nile by felucca you will have to pay the extra on the spot.

If there is a choice between booking the excursion with or without temple entrance tickets included, don’t hesitate to choose the formula that includes the entrance tickets. They are expensive and it’s better to include them in the cost. Please give full passport details at time of booking.

  • Duration of the tour: approx. 16 hours, departing around 5am with a return around 9pm. Hotels to the south of Hurghada are favored, as there is less distance to travel.
  • Guide: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian.
  • Tour features: this is a small group tour usually conducted in a minivan or microbus; the actual service provider is the highly appreciated Ägypten Ausflüge By FTS Travels, the reviews are generally very positive.
  • Pros: considering the length of the tour, the wonders you see, and the fact that both lunch and especially the entrance fees to the archaeological sites are already included, the quality/price ratio of this tour is phenomenal.
Luxor Private Tour: Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Luxor and Valley of the Kings by Private Car & Guide in One Day
Luxor Private Tour: Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Luxor and Valley of the Kings by Private Car & Guide in One Day

Photo Credit: Viator

Luxor Private Tour: Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Luxor and Valley of the Kings by Private Car & Guide in One Day

A private car with a driver, who picks you up and takes you back to your hotel on the coast of Hurghada, and once you arrive in Luxor, a guide reserved only for you, at your complete disposal, to visit the stellar attractions of Luxor.

The very reasonable price you pay includes a private car, driver, a guide expert in Egyptology and lunch, as well as entrance tickets to the Karnak temple, the Valley of the Kings, the Hatshepsut temple, and a stop at the Colossi of Memnon.

You can also decide to visit some tombs in the Valley of the Kings usually not included in group tours, and not included in the basic entrance ticket, from Tutankhamun’s tomb to the fabulous tomb of Seti I, the grandest and most spectacular of all the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. In case tell the guide and buy the additional ticket directly at the ticket office of the Valley of the Kings.

The local provider asks full passport information in advance in order to get the travel permit from the Egyptian tourist police, this is common practice to any excursion in Egypt involving long distance travel by car/bus.

  • Duration of the tour: approx. 16 hours, it also depends on the location of your hotel on the coast of Hurghada.
  • Guide: Arabic, German, Chinese, Russian, English, Italian, French, Dutch and Spanish.
  • Tour features: tour on a strictly private basis, with a completely exclusive car and guide, the local operator who actually provides the services is Memnon Reisen, with German-Egyptian management, the reviews on TripAdvisor are truly excellent.
  • Pros: avoiding wasting time in picking up/dropping the participants at the different hotels at the start and at the finish of the tour; being able to manage the trip at your own pace (within certain limits, of course), if you want to stay an extra half hour in one temple instead of another, you can do so freely; this specific tour already includes in the price the crossing of the Nile by boat, which is a nice thing.
  • Hot air balloon ride above Luxor from Hurghada: an unusual tour, very exciting! By private car in the heart of the night from Hurghada you reach Luxor, at dawn you participate in a hot air balloon flight to admire the Nile valley and the temples of Luxor from above, and then visit Karnak and the Valley of the Kings with a guide. The tour is organized by Nice Travel and can be booked with GetYourGuide | Hurghada: Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride and Day Tour With Meals, if things haven’t changed the tour already includes in the price the hot air balloon excursion and a short felucca cruise on the Nile, the entrance fees to the temples and Valley of the Kings are not included.
Luxor 2 Day Overnight Tour: 2 Days/1 Night Private Guided Tour to Luxor from Hurghada
Luxor 2 Day Overnight Tour: 2 Days/1 Night Private Guided Tour to Luxor from Hurghada

Photo Credit: Viator

Luxor 2 Day Overnight Tour: 2 Days/1 Night Private Guided Tour to Luxor from Hurghada

If you want to see Luxor properly, without being in a hurry, having time to explore and calmly enjoy the temples even after the first explanation given by the guide, i.e. having time to visit them on your own, then the tour that from Hurghada takes you to Luxor in 2 days is the best choice you can make.

The tour is carried out with a private car with a driver, once you arrive in Luxor a guide is added, it includes a night in a hotel with breakfast, two lunches and one dinner, as well as all the inevitable visits to Luxor including entrance tickets.

On the 1st day in the afternoon you visit the great temple complex of Karnak while in the evening there is the suggestive night visit of the illuminated Luxor temple. The 2nd day is dedicated to the tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut, before returning to Hurghada after lunch.

  • Duration of the tour: 2 days, departure in the morning of the first day with return in the late afternoon/early evening of the following day.
  • Guide: German, Arabic, English, Italian, French, Dutch.
  • Tour features: tour on a strictly private basis with a completely exclusive car and guide, the actual service provider is Marsa Alam Tours.
  • Pros: spreading the visits over 2 days means amortising the duration of the journey by car from Hurghada and having much more time available at the temples of Luxor to enjoy them properly.
  • The option with sunrise balloon ride: an unusual 2-day excursion from Hurghada, with 1 night included in a 4-star hotel in Luxor. On the first day you visit the temples and the Valley of the Kings, at sunrise on the second day take part in a hot air balloon flight to admire Luxor and the Nile valley from above, and then immediately return to Hurghada, this is the link to investigate Viator | Luxor Over Night Hot Air Balloon Ride & Kings Valley & 5 Star hotel – Hurghada. The local operator is Egypt Sea Trip, the tour is carried out in small groups with a maximum of 15 participants, in addition to the balloon ride and entrance tickets to all the main temples this tour also includes the Nile felucca cruise, one lunch, one dinner and breakfast.
Cairo & Pyramids Group Tour: Guided Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Cairo and Giza Pyramids by Bus in One Day
Cairo & Pyramids Group Tour: Guided Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Cairo and Giza Pyramids by Bus in One Day

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Cairo & Pyramids Group Tour: Guided Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Cairo and Giza Pyramids by Bus in One Day

Do you want to visit the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo with a group tour by bus from Hurghada? Spending as little as possible? Are you not daunted by the distances to be covered or the time spent traveling? Yes, it’s possible, and the tour is also very cheap. If you have a tight budget and still want to see the Sphinx and the famous Pyramid of Cheops up close, this could be the right opportunity.

This tour includes transfers from all hotels on the Hurghada coast, with a small additional charge for some, the bus or minibus ride to and from Cairo, a guided tour of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the archaeological area of the Pyramids of Giza accompanied by an expert guide in Egyptology, lunch at a restaurant. If you want to enter one of the Pyramids or take a camel ride, you will need to pay an extra fee on the spot, so inform the guide during the outward journey.

Please note that the time available both at the Pyramids, the Sphinx and at the Egyptian Museum is obviously very limited, the visits follow one another quickly, and there are two time-wasting stops that many, if not all, would avoid: a shop that sells papyrus and a perfumery. In reality, no one forces you to buy anything, but they take away precious time from the visits. This is not specific to this particular excursion; shopping stops are a constant feature of almost all guided tours to Cairo.

Have your hotel prepare a packed breakfast for you (by ordering it the day before) and ask what can be done for dinner upon your return, which will take place late in the evening.

  • Duration of the tour: about 20 hours, sometimes more, this is a very long excursion; the departure from the hotels in Hurghada generally takes place around 1 in the morning with return in the late evening.
  • Guide: English, German, Italian and Russian.
  • Tour features: shared group tour by minibus or bus, the local supplier is Egypt Voyage.
  • Pros: being able to visit the Pyramids in one day from Hurghada by spending very little, especially if you consider that the entrance tickets (rather expensive) to the Egyptian Museum and above all to the Pyramids of Giza are already included.
  • A tour to Cairo from Hurghada by Public Bus: an interesting excursion built differently from all the other tours. Transfers from hotels are arranged with a private car, transport from Hurghada to Cairo is by public bus, but once you arrive in Cairo, you have a private car and guide to visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum, and the Khan El-Khalili bazaar. The local supplier is the well-known agency OceanAir Travels with its main office in the United Arab Emirates and a branch in Egypt; here is the link to investigate GetYourGuide | From Hurghada: Cairo Day Trip by Shared Bus with Lunch
Cairo & Pyramids Private Tour: Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Cairo, Egyptian Museum and Giza Pyramids by Private Car & Guide in One Day
Cairo & Pyramids Private Tour: Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Cairo, Egyptian Museum and Giza Pyramids by Private Car & Guide in One Day

Photo Credit: Viator

Cairo & Pyramids Private Tour: Day-Trip from Hurghada to Visit Cairo, Egyptian Museum and Giza Pyramids by Private Car & Guide in One Day

If you want to visit the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo with a day-trip from Hurghada with your family or a group of friends, then a private transportation can be more comfortable and slightly faster than the classic group tour by bus.

By departing and returning by a private vehicle, you avoid stops at other hotels along the coast to pick up/drop off other participants, and even during the journey, stops for bathroom/break/food will be quicker compared to shared bus tours. Additionally, by tipping them, you can perhaps hope to convince your guide to avoid the usual unwanted stops at papyrus and perfume shops…

The price of this tour varies based on the number of participants and includes pick-up and drop-off directly at your Hurghada hotel, travel with a private car or minibus with a driver, a private guide in Cairo, lunch, and entrance tickets to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the archaeological complex of the Pyramids of Giza with the Sphinx.

Keep in mind that the Pyramids and Cairo are 470 kilometers away from Hurghada, which means that you depart around 2 am, spend at least 7 hours traveling to reach Cairo, and almost as long to return to Hurghada. If you opt for this tour, you need to be aware of this before booking.

  • Duration of the tour: approx. 19 hours, the further south along the coast line your hotel is the longer the journey will take.
  • Guide: Arabic, German, Russian, English, Italian, French.
  • Tour features: tour on a strictly private basis with a completely exclusive car and guide, the actual provider of the services is Manolo Tours Egypt.
  • Pros: if you are traveling with your family or with a small group of friends, the cost becomes competitive with that of a similar shared group tour, with the added convenience of a private vehicle and a private guide.
Cairo by Air Tour: Guided Day-Trip to Visit Cairo and Giza Pyramids from Hurghada by Plane
Cairo by Air Tour: Guided Day-Trip to Visit Cairo and Giza Pyramids from Hurghada by Plane

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Cairo by Air Tour: Guided Day-Trip to Visit Cairo and Giza Pyramids from Hurghada by Plane

If we want to tell the truth, this is the right tour if you want to visit the Pyramids and Cairo in a day-trip from Hurghada. Of course, the plane is obviously more expensive than the bus, but to reach Cairo from Hurghada it only takes 50 minutes, and allows you to have more time to visit not only the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, but also to take a guided walking tour of the fascinating Khan el-Khalili bazaar in the heart of Islamic Cairo.

The tour includes pick-up and drop-off from all hotels in and around Hurghada (with a small supplement from El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay, and Safaga), round-trip air tickets from Hurghada to Cairo, a guided tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, and Khan el-Khalili bazaar, entrance tickets to all attractions, and lunch.

Please note that, usually, the first morning flight from Hurghada to Cairo is around dawn, to return to Hurghada in the late afternoon or mid-evening, always by flight. Give your passports details at time of booking (or immediately sent them by mail after booking) in order the local supplier can issue the air tickets, and of course, bring with you the same passports on the day of the tour! If you want to visit inside one of the Pyramids, take a camel or carriage ride, or even take a boat for an optional short Nile cruise in Cairo (you can easily avoid it), these are all extra costs. And don’t forget that the guide will do his best… to try to take you to some shops where he gets a commission, don’t worry, that’s how it works here in Cairo!

  • Duration of the tour: approx. 18 hours, the further the hotel is from Hurghada airport, the longer the tour will be.
  • Guide: German, English, Spanish, Russian, Italian and French.
  • Tour features: tour by plane and visit of Cairo with a few other participants, sometimes in Cairo you have a private car and guide, the local supplier is the well known Ägypten Ausflüge By FTS Travels.
  • Pros: going to Cairo by the plane, you avoid at least 7 hours of travel time each way compared to bus or car excursions
Star Watching Desert Adventure: 4WD Desert Safari from Hurghada with Dinner and Star Watching Experience
Star Watching Desert Adventure: 4WD Desert Safari from Hurghada with Dinner and Star Watching Experience

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Star Watching Desert Adventure: 4WD Desert Safari from Hurghada with Dinner and Star Watching Experience

Observing the stars with a telescope with the assistance of an astronomer is perhaps just an excuse. Because the real interest of this excursion, short and not demanding, is being able to reach and see the desert near Hurghada, going there with a jeep and spending very little money.

The tour is conducted in small groups, includes transfers from hotels on the coast (from some locations with a small supplement) departing in the mid-afternoon and returning immediately after dinner, a 4WD safari in the desert, one stop to visit a (fake) Bedouin camp, ride a camel for a picture, and candlelit buffet dinner while watching the sunset, before returning to your hotel in Hurghada.

Excursion recommended for families with small children who cannot participate in Quad tours. Do not expect too much from dinner, to give everyone the opportunity to observe the stars through the telescope, everyone has no more than a few minutes available.

  • Duration of the tour: approx. 5 hours.
  • Guide: English, German, Italian, Russian.
  • Tour features: shared group tour, usually between 25 and 30 participants.
  • Pros: the short duration of the excursion, which does not commit too much and does not even take time away from the beach life; the chance to see the rocky desert with barren mountains as far as the eye can see and without even a single tree, all for very little money.
The Complete Guide to the Best Day Trips and Guided Day Tours from Hurghada
The Complete Guide to the Best Day Trips and Guided Day Tours from Hurghada

Photo Credit: GetYourGuide

Important!

  • Before booking please read the full description of the tour you like in the official page of Viator and GetYourGuide carefully, please check what is included and what is not, meeting points, times of departure and cancellation policies.
  • After booking, if you have any queries or doubts, immediately contact Viator or GetYourGuide customer service in order to receive assistance.
  • Shortly before the excursion you will usually be contacted with an email or a message on your phone by the organizer. But if not, you, at least the day before the excursion, reconfirm the tour with the local supplier, it is always very wise do so, with the exact place and time of departure/pick-up. Usually, your hotel can help.
  • Read the reviews. If the majority of the reviews are positive that’s a good thing. And always check all the info you read here in the official page of each tour, things change and the official site provides the latest updates.

Published: March 16th 2023

Front cover photo credit: Hurghada: Giftun Islands & Snorkeling Boat Tour with Lunch by GetYourGuide. Photos by GetYourGuide and Viator are Copyright © All Rights Reserved. Terms of license are valid at the time of publishing this post.

The 12 Best Tours and Day-Trips from Hurghada