Desert safari in Hurghada: quad biking, buggy and Bedouin dinner
From €25 per person, transfer included
Hurghada's desert safari takes place in the Eastern Desert, a few kilometres west of town, among rock, sand and mountains. Our partner Hurghada Habibi puts it all in one trip: quad, buggy, jeep, camel, time with the Bedouin, a show and dinner. It starts at €25 per person with hotel transfer, and finishes after dark.
Quad or buggy: which one?
A quad is ridden solo, handlebars in hand, sitting astride, so you feel every bump and need a bit of arm strength, while a buggy is a small two-seat off-roader with a steering wheel and seat belt: steadier, comfier, and you can swap drivers.
Which one? If you like riding and don't mind dust, the quad. If you'd rather enjoy the scenery, or you've never driven anything off-road, the buggy. Groups often mix both. Age and driving rules are set by the operator: we check them with you before the day.
How the safari goes
- Hotel pick-up, drive to the base on the edge of Hurghada.
- Helmet, briefing and a few minutes to get the hang of it.
- Off in a convoy on the desert tracks, one guide in front, one at the back.
- Jeep and camel, depending on the day's programme.
- Arrival at the Bedouin village: tea, a look around, the show.
- Dinner, then back to your hotel.
The first few minutes, everyone rides stiff as a board. Fifteen minutes in, you loosen up, open the throttle on the straights and ease off in soft sand. The convoy stops regularly to regroup and take a photo from the top of a ridge. Drink when it does: the desert dries you out, even late in the day.
Stay in the guide's tracks. That's where the best trails are anyway.
The Bedouin village and dinner
The safari stops at a Bedouin village where tea is served on arrival, followed by a look around, a show and dinner sitting low on rugs and cushions, the calm part of the trip and often the bit people talk about afterwards.
Bedouin tea is drunk hot and sweet, sometimes with desert herbs. In some villages you'll see bread baked on the spot. Always ask before photographing anyone. And once night falls, far from the town lights, look up. The desert sky is often the best surprise of the evening.
Sunset quad biking: the timings
The safari follows the sun: you head out in the afternoon to ride in golden light and reach the village at dusk, with sunset around 6.30pm in early October and around 5pm in December (local time).
In summer, the trip starts later to dodge the heat. Your exact pick-up time comes on WhatsApp the day before.
What to wear for quad biking in Hurghada
Closed shoes, a scarf or buff against the dust, sunglasses, clothes you don't mind getting grubby, and a hoodie for the ride back, because the desert cools fast after sunset.
- Trainers or other closed shoes
- Light trousers or long shorts
- A scarf, buff or shemagh for nose and mouth
- Sunglasses (glasses rather than contact lenses, because of the sand)
- A hoodie or jumper for the evening
- Phone in a zipped pocket
- A little cash to tip the guide
Best time of year
October to April is the desert at its best, warm in the afternoon and cool in the evening, while June to September still works, just later in the day.
Desert safari prices and booking
From €25 per person with Hurghada Habibi: transfer, entry, quad, buggy, jeep, camel, Bedouin village, show and dinner; partner price, confirmed on WhatsApp.
Want the desert without the engines? The partner's sunset horse ride (one hour in the desert, one by the sea) starts at €25 per person. Ask us on WhatsApp.