Sunny Egypt is a perfect getaway spot during long, dark winter months in Northern Europe. It should come as no surprise that tightly packed charter flights touch down multiple times per day on both Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada runways. The latter is a bit windier and colder, but still a popular choice among history lovers due to its proximity to famous Luxor temples.
Spending the whole week in all-inclusive mode is an option for some holiday makers, but does get boring at some point. That’s when people start looking around for an alternative thing to do. Luckily, the list of cool day trips from Hurghada is long and exciting, almost anyone can find something they will enjoy. Good news is, you don’t need to pay the cosmic price that your tour operator is trying to force on you! Many local companies offer pretty much the same thing for much less buck. Here is your ultimate list of Hurghada excursion prices for 2019!
Luxor
Hands down, the most popular excursion from Hurghada due to it’s uniqueness and good location of the resort town. Total trip time is approx. 4,5 hours, depending on the location of your hotel. Usually the pick up is around 4 AM and you can expect to be back around 10.30 PM. This is a long day in the bus and not an easy trip, especially with children. However, this excursion is a highlight for many visitors as there is no other way to see such ancient temples and tombs like in Luxor. This is a must-do trip!
What is included in the price? Karnak Temple Complex, Sphinx alley, boat trip to the other side of the Nile, Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon. Lunch is also included int he price. Tour price: from 30$
Cairo and pyramids
Second most popular day trip from Hurghada is the excursion to famous Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza (read about my visit back in 2008). The trip is not an easy one! You will begin your journey as early as 2 AM and spend around 7 hours in the bus before you reach your first destination for the day – famous Egyptian Museum. If you are interested in history and eager to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence – this is a trip for you! Although there are faster ways to reach Cairo from Hurghada, tourist bus is definitely the cheapest. During this trip you will have a guided tour in Egyptian museum, go for a boat ride on the NIle (optional), have lunch and finally visit the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Expect to be back in your hotel around 10.30PM. Tour price: from 30$
Desert Safaris
Nothing beats a good desert safari and Egypt is a good destination to try one on a budget. You can choose between a short 3 hour quad bike safari and a full day jeep safari including dinner, belly dance and shisha. These safaris are a good way to visit the desert and see how Bedouins have lived for thousands years. In both options you will get to ride a quad, make some great photos and even pose on a camel or horse for free! As usual, the transfer will pick you up from the hotel and the best rates start from as low as 15$ for 3-hour safari and from 20$ for full day trip.
Boat trips with snorkeling
The Red Sea is the reason why many people choose to visit Egypt. If diving or snorkeling is your thing, a proper boat trip to the reef is a must. Unlike Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada doesn’t have much to offer when it comes to hotel beach reef. You would actually need to sail a bit away from the shore to see the colorful fish, sting rays and sharks. Luckily, boat trips are ridiculously cheap around here – the simplest ones start from as low as 15$ (Paradise Island) and include the transfer and lunch on board, snorkeling equipment rent and banana ride.
If you’d like diving, you will have to pay a little extra. The day tours including two dives start from 20$. You don’t require PADI certificate, as an instructor will be diving with you. Last but not least – if you love dolphins, you can take a dolphin reef trip (from 20$) to see these amazing animals in their wild habitat.
Other fun trips
Hurghada has lot’s of entertainment options. After enjoying the mentioned above “must do’s”, you may consider few more, less popular choices. One of them is El Gouna cruise (from 26$) – a scenic cruise to the famous Egyptian Venice – town built on water. This is a full day trip and includes snorkeling stops along the way and tasty lunch. Kids will love Jungle Aquapark (from 35$) – huge water park with 35 slides (21 of them are for adults). This is a great way to spend a day for families who would like to take a break from the beach.
For marine life lovers Hurghada has a huge Aquarium (from 30$). You can easily spend the day at this amazing place, enjoy the marine animals without getting under water, visit the zoo and education center. Last but not least, a visit to Dolphinarium (from 25$) may be a good way to spend the day if you don’t enjoy long boat rides but love these animals. The trip starts in the afternoon, you will enjoy a 1,5 hour dolphin and seal show. For additional fee you may also swim with the dolphins.
How to choose the best tour
Choosing the right tour for you may not be easy, considering the variety of options. If this is your first time in Hurghada or Egypt, I would recommend taking it easy and picking 2-3 trips. You should enjoy your holiday instead of rushing through all the attractions. Remember that the Red Sea is an attraction of its own. You may get lucky and spot colorful fish right outside your hotel, so pick a snorkel and enjoy a lazy day at the beach. Prices in Egypt are very affordable and I would rather come back next time to see more from the list.
Have you been to Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh? Which tours did you go on?
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