Itineraries for Your Trip to Hurghada
1 Day in Hurghada for First Timers
I’ll say it: Hurghada is all about the beach and the Red Sea. When I first visited as a wet-behind-the-ears diver three decades ago, I may have been uninspired by its phalanx of beachfront hotels unfurling from its Old Town of El Dahar, but it didn’t matter. Now, just as back then, everyone’s eyes here are permanently fixed on the water, sands, and increasingly, the vast swathes of Egypt’s Eastern Desert to the east of town.
From sunning on beach loungers to scuba diving, snorkeling, island cruises, and desert adventures, there’s so much to enjoy here. And luckily, since all are on your doorstep, one day in Hurghada is enough to tuck many of them under your belt. Here’s how.
Hurghada is hot year-round, so whenever you visit, bring sunscreen and a light scarf for sun protection, especially on sailing and desert excursions.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a cruise that includes snorkeling over a Red Sea reef.
Start by embracing the Red Sea. If you’re a newbie or qualified scuba diver, join a dive boat trip that takes beginners and experts to vibrant coral gardens like Careless Reef. Or, if diving feels daunting, opt for a gentler snorkeling excursion. Alternatively, enjoy beach time, snorkeling, and dolphin-spotting combined into one full-day cruise to the Giftun Islands, which house white-sand bays like Orange Bay and Mahmya Island. These pieces of pure paradise boast turquoise lagoons, corals, restaurants, and water sports rentals, so you’ve got them all on a plate. Handily, most Giftun sailing trips include round-trip hotel transfers.
Once you’ve dipped your toes into the Red Sea—and if you still have the afternoon free—it’s time to widen your horizons a bit. Stay on dry land and book an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safari or other adventure to zip across the sandy plains and see desert mountains, ride a camel, and sip tea at a Bedouin village.
Hurghada’s Eastern Desert is extra-magical at night. Channel its mystical beauty on an evening 4WD or ATV tour culminating in a Bedouin-style dinner and shows, or a stargazing expedition that lets you observe the constellations through professional telescopes. For something more down to earth, hit Hurghada Old Town on a guided sightseeing and shopping tour to view its floodlit mosques, markets, and aquarium before scouting out souvenirs in its malls and arcades. Cap your evening with drinks and dinner at the beachfront or sparkling Hurghada Marina.
