Hurghada excursions and day trips
Hurghada excursions split three ways. There's the sea, with the Giftun islands, wild dolphins and coral reefs a short boat ride away. There's the desert behind the town, by quad, buggy or on horseback. And there are the big culture days, Luxor or the pyramids, which start before dawn. Every trip on this page is run by Hurghada Habibi, our local partner, and booked on WhatsApp.
Each trip page gives you the timings, what's included, the "from" price and our own tips. Torn between two? Message us and we'll tell you which one fits your week.
Islands and the sea
Giftun Island, facing Hurghada, holds the three beaches people ask for most (Orange Bay, Paradise Island and Mahmya), each reached by boat on a day trip with snorkelling and lunch included.
Giftun Island compared
Which beach to pick.
Orange Bay
The famous one, reef stops on the way. From €25.
Paradise Island
The lagoon where you can stand for ages. From €25.
Mahmya Island
The calmest, most looked-after beach on Giftun. From €80.
Private speedboat
White Island, one island of your choice, dolphin areas. From €140 per boat (4 people).
Snorkelling
The best reefs, from the beach or by boat.
Eden Island, with sand, clear water and an all-you-can-eat meal on the island, from €65. The Seascope, a glass-sided semi-submersible boat for seeing the coral dry, from €15. A first scuba dive, two short dives between 3 and 9 m, from €35. Full details on the Hurghada Habibi price list.
Wild dolphins
Spinner and bottlenose dolphins live off Hurghada all year, and the day boat heads for the reefs where they rest, with snorkelling stops on the way.
Swim with wild dolphins
Sightings frequent, never guaranteed. From €25.
Turtles are a separate day, further south: Abu Dabbab bay near Marsa Alam, snorkelling over seagrass where sea turtles graze, 4am start, from €70 per person. Ask us on WhatsApp.
The desert: quad, buggy and horses
The desert starts right behind the town: the safari packs quad, buggy, jeep, camel, a Bedouin village and dinner with a show into one afternoon and evening, from €25 per person.
Prefer four legs to four wheels? The sunset horse ride does one hour in the desert and one along the sea, beginners welcome, from €25 per person. Ask us on WhatsApp.
Luxor and the pyramids in a day
Luxor is about 290 km away by road and the pyramids of Giza about 480 km, so both are full days that start before dawn, with Luxor the easier of the two.
Luxor day trip
€55 by coach, €60 by minivan, €160 with the hot air balloon.
Pyramids day trip
Price on request.
Only time for one? Pick Luxor for the temples and a shorter drive, the pyramids if Giza has been on your list since school.
Hurghada excursions with kids
The gentlest family day is Paradise Island, where the lagoon stays shallow a long way out, and the Seascope (from €15) shows children the reef without them getting wet.
Orange Bay works well too, because a float comes with the trip and small swimmers can watch fish from the surface. For quads and buggies, the operator sets the age limits: put the children's ages in your WhatsApp message and we'll check before you book.
Spa and hammam
The partner's spa session lasts two hours, hotel pick-up included: hammam, sauna, a body scrub and a massage of about 45 minutes, from €25 per person.
It slots in nicely after a boat day, when the salt is still in your hair. Ask us on WhatsApp.
Parasailing and jet skis
Parasailing runs off Hurghada's beaches, towed behind a boat for a few minutes above the water, alone or in pairs, and both parasailing and jet skis are priced on request.
For jet skis, go with an established beach base that gives you a life jacket and a briefing, and stay inside the area the instructor shows you. We can point you to one.
Yacht party
A yacht party is a boat day built for celebrating (music on deck, a swim far out, sunset over the Red Sea) that you book privately for your group, price on request.
Birthday, stag do, hen do, or just a big group of friends: send us the date, the headcount and the mood you're after, sunset drinks or an afternoon of dancing. We suggest the right boat and give you the price before you book. Banner, cake, matching outfits: put it in the message.
Private trips
Almost every trip also runs privately for your group alone: boat, speedboat, safari, Luxor or the pyramids in your own vehicle.
The private speedboat starts at €140 per boat for up to 4 people. Everything else is priced on request.
Hurghada excursion prices at a glance
| Trip | Typical timing | From |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Bay | 8am to 4pm, 2 hours on the island | €25 |
| Paradise Island | 8am to 4pm, 2 hours on the island | €25 |
| Mahmya Island | full day | €80 |
| Eden Island | full day | €65 |
| Wild dolphins | 8am to 4pm | €25 |
| Private speedboat | 4.5 hours | €140 per boat (4 people) |
| Seascope | about 45 min viewing + 20 min snorkelling | €15 |
| First scuba dive | full day, 2 dives | €35 |
| Abu Dabbab (turtles) | full day, 4am start | €70 |
| Desert safari, quad, buggy, dinner | afternoon and evening | €25 |
| Horse ride | 2 hours (1 in the desert, 1 by the sea) | €25 |
| Spa (hammam, sauna, scrub, massage) | 2 hours | €25 |
| Luxor | full day, 4am start | €55 (coach) · €60 (minivan) · €160 (balloon) |
| Pyramids of Giza and Cairo | full day | on request |
| Parasailing | a few minutes in the air | on request |
| Yacht party (private) | depends on the option | on request |
What's included, trip by trip, is on the Hurghada Habibi page.
How to book
One WhatsApp message does it: tap "Book on WhatsApp" on the trip page, add the date, the number of people and your hotel, and we confirm the price and the pick-up time.
Planning several trips in one week? List them in the same message. We'll suggest an order that avoids two 4am alarms in a row.