Hurghada Days Out: Sea, Desert and Temples

Hurghada is built for easy holidays: warm sea for most of the year, reefs a short boat ride from the marina and the desert just behind the town. It is also the closest resort to Luxor, which makes it a good base if you want history as well as sun.

On the water

Start with Giftun Island – two snorkel stops and the white sand of Orange Bay make it the classic first boat day. Later in the week, head out to the reef where wild dolphins often rest, or hire a private boat so your group can choose the reefs and the pace.

Under the water and into the desert

Calm, warm and shallow reefs make Hurghada one of the easiest places to try scuba for the first time with an instructor. On another afternoon, swap the sea for sand: a quad ride into the Eastern Desert mountains with tea and bread in a Bedouin village – the kind of desert afternoon we know best.

Luxor and Cairo from the coast

Luxor is around four hours away by road: leave before dawn, see the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak, and be back for a late dinner – or stay a night and add a sunrise balloon flight. For the pyramids, fly to Cairo in the morning and our team in Giza will look after you until the evening flight back.

Evenings in town

Stroll the Marina at sunset, wander through the market streets of El Dahar, the old part of town, and order whatever the fishermen brought in that day. El Gouna, with its lagoons and canals, is a short drive north.