Things to Do in Hurghada: An Honest Guide from People Who Live Here

Most people land in Hurghada, check in, find the pool and stay there for three days. We get it. After a grey British winter, a sunbed and a cold drink feel like enough.

But then someone on the next lounger mentions the reef they saw that morning. Or the camel ride at sunset. Or the fact that Luxor's temples are only a long drive away. Suddenly the week feels short.

We're a local team, and we run trips out of Hurghada every day. This guide covers what we'd tell a friend: what's worth your time, what it costs, and which days are long. Some of it you can book with us. Some of it is free and you should just go and do it.

One quick note before we start. Every price below is a "from" price per person, with hotel pickup in Hurghada unless we say otherwise.

Get out on the Red Sea

If you only book one thing in Hurghada, make it a boat day. The reefs here are the reason the town exists. You don't need to dive, and you don't need to be a strong swimmer. A mask, a life jacket and a bit of nerve will do.

1. Orange Bay, for the postcard beach

Orange Bay is the beach you've seen on Instagram: soft white sand, water so clear it looks fake. Our Orange Bay boat trip is a 7-hour day from $30. You stop at a coral reef to snorkel (masks, snorkels and fins are on board), then spend time on the beach with a sunbed and parasol. Lunch is cooked on the boat, and the banana boat and sofa ride are included.

Worth knowing: it's a popular spot, so it's lively rather than empty. Pickup from Makadi Bay or El Gouna costs $10 extra.

2. Hula Hula Island, if you want more choice

The Hula Hula Island trip also starts from $30, and you pick how you get there. The yacht version is a relaxed 7-hour day with a buffet lunch, water sports and a short beach massage. The speedboat version is about 4 hours and puts more time into snorkelling.

With young kids, the yacht is the easier day. If you mainly want reef time, pick the speedboat.

Our honest tip for boat days

Take reef-safe sun cream and a T-shirt to snorkel in. The sun on your back while you float face-down is stronger than it feels. A burnt back after a snorkel is the classic first-day mistake.

See the reef without getting wet

Not everyone wants to put their face in the sea. That's fine. Two trips let you see the same fish from a dry seat.

3. The Sea Scope semi-submarine

The Sea Scope semi-submarine tour is about 2.5 hours from $45, leaving at 9:00 in the morning. You sit in an air-conditioned glass-sided deck below the waterline while the boat moves slowly over the reef. When you want fresh air, you climb to the open top deck.

It's a good pick for non-swimmers, grandparents and small children. One thing to know: this booking can't be refunded, so fix your date first.

4. Hurghada Grand Aquarium

On a windy day, when the boats stay in, the Hurghada Grand Aquarium is the obvious plan B. Tickets start at $50 for about 2 hours. There are more than 1,000 species across 22 exhibits, including sharks and sea turtles, and a shark tunnel that kids talk about for days.

This one is also non-refundable.

Head into the desert

Turn your back on the sea and Hurghada changes completely. A short drive out of town, it's mountains, sand and silence. The desert is the half of Hurghada most visitors never see.

5. Quad bikes and a camel ride

Our quad bike and camel ride is a short, fun 2 hours from $20, including transfers. You get a helmet and a quick lesson, ride out across the sand, then swap the engine for a slow camel walk with Bedouin handlers. There's a stop at a Bedouin camp for sweet tea in the shade.

It's dusty. Wear clothes you don't mind ruining, and bring a scarf for your face.

6. Desert evening with a BBQ dinner

If you'd rather make a night of it, the desert adventure and BBQ night at Sahl Hasheesh runs about 5 hours from $45. You ride a quad (16 and over), take a camel or horse, and meet the camp animals. Then dinner is grilled outdoors and served under the stars, with a belly dancer and a Tanoura (whirling) show.

Vegetarian meals are available if you ask when booking. Shisha and longer quad rides cost extra.

The big ones: Luxor or Cairo in a day

These are long days. We won't pretend otherwise. But if you've come all the way to Egypt and you'd regret going home without seeing a pharaoh's tomb, one of these is worth the early alarm.

7. Luxor day trip from Hurghada

The Luxor day trip from Hurghada is about 17 hours door to door, from $75. It's roughly four hours each way by road across the Eastern Desert, with a very early pickup.

In between, you see a lot. Karnak Temple first, then lunch by the Nile on the East Bank. Then you cross to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. An Egyptologist guide is with you all day, and your entry tickets, lunch and water are included.

Two extras aren't included: Tutankhamun's tomb (it needs its own ticket) and an optional 1-hour boat ride to Crocodile Island for $20.

8. Cairo and the Pyramids from Hurghada

The Cairo day trip from Hurghada is from $80 by shared air-conditioned coach. You stand in front of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, then visit the Grand Egyptian Museum and its Tutankhamun galleries. Lunch, your guide and entry tickets are included. Going inside a pyramid costs extra.

Let's be straight about the road: it's 5 to 6 hours each way. If you can spare two days, it's a much kinder way to see Cairo.

Luxor or Cairo?

If you can only do one, we'd usually say Luxor. The drive is shorter, and you see more in a single day. Pick Cairo if the Pyramids are the one thing on your list.

Hurghada town: the bits that don't cost much

Hurghada isn't only a strip of resorts. There's a real town with real people living in it, and a few hours there make the holiday feel like Egypt.

9. A half-day city tour

Our Hurghada city tour is 4 hours from $20. You visit Al Mina Mosque, the biggest in town, and the Coptic church of Saint Shenouda. Then you walk the old El Dahar quarter, the fruit and fish markets and the waterfront, and finish at the New Marina. There's time for shopping along the way, but nobody will push you to buy.

10. Get lost in El Dahar on your own

If you're confident, El Dahar is easy to explore without a guide. Go in the late afternoon when it's cooler and the shops are busy. Spices, cotton and cheap fresh juice are the things to look for. Haggling is normal, so start at about half the first price and smile.

11. An evening at the Marina

The Marina is where Hurghada goes out in the evening. It's a long promenade of restaurants, cafés and boats, and walking it costs nothing. Fresh fish by the water is the classic dinner.

12. Do nothing, properly

It counts. Many Hurghada hotels have a reef right off the beach, so you can snorkel for free before breakfast when the water is calm. Ask at reception whether yours does.

A few things we'd tell a friend

When to go. October to April is the sweet spot: warm days, cooler nights and comfortable sightseeing. June to August is very hot, so book Luxor and Cairo for cooler months if you can. In January and February the sea is fresh and evenings are cool enough for a jumper.

Plan your week around the wind. Boats sometimes stay in port when the sea is rough. Book your boat day early in the week, so there's room to move it. If we cancel for weather, we offer you another date or a full refund.

Cancellation rules differ. The Orange Bay trip, Luxor and Cairo can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before. Check each tour page for the rest. The semi-submarine, aquarium and city tour are non-refundable, so fix those dates first.

Where you're staying matters. Pickup is included across Hurghada. From Makadi Bay or El Gouna, some trips charge a little extra, and the Luxor pickup from El Gouna is around 4:00.

Tipping. Tips aren't included in our prices. A small tip for a guide or boat crew who looked after you is normal and appreciated, never compulsory.

Pace yourself. Don't stack Luxor the day after a boat trip. Give yourself a pool day in between. You're on holiday.

Questions people ask us

What is the best thing to do in Hurghada?

A snorkelling boat trip. The Red Sea reefs are the main reason to come, and a day on the water suits almost everyone.

Is Hurghada good for non-swimmers?

Yes. Try the semi-submarine or the aquarium, or wear a life jacket on a boat trip. The Hula Hula trip includes guided snorkelling, which helps if you're nervous.

Can you do Luxor in a day from Hurghada?

Yes, but it's a long day: about 17 hours, with roughly four hours of driving each way.

How much spending money do I need for excursions?

Plan on about $20 to $50 for most half-day and boat trips, and $75 to $80 for Luxor or Cairo, plus tips and any extra tickets.

Do your tours include shopping stops?

We don't make you stop at shops on our day trips. The city tour includes market time because that's part of seeing the town.

Ready to plan your days? See every Hurghada excursion in one place, or send us a message and we'll help you build your week.