Hurghada is fast becoming a popular destination for Brits looking for somewhere nice and sunny, with access to numerous activities and offering that exotic setting on a beach, while not breaking the bank. The one negative is the flight time, but once you get past that, you’ll have coral reefs and turquoise seas while going technically short-distance.
My first ever trip to Hurghada was actually while staying in Sharm El Sheikh, as it’s just the other side of the Red Sea, so it didn’t take long to head over and they both had beautiful hotels on the beach with ideal diving spots.
Below is my travel guide to Hurghada, from where to stay to what you should do while there.
Accommodation Options
Let’s start by covering where they are. Nothing is further in-land, they’re virtually all along the coastline, but the coastline is very expansive. Seriously, you don’t get told this before booking your hotel!
You have the Buzzha beach area in the North, the Safaga in the South, while the distance between them would take about 18 hours to walk (a 2 day trek realistically). You get the idea, you need to know what activities you want nearby before taking the plunge.
Central Hurghada
This area is the main point for those wanting access to bars, nightclubs, restaurants and a lively scene. A fair amount of younger travellers tend to go here, while the accommodation is actually very decently priced.
This is the area you’ll also see advertised quite commonly, with access to the resort strip and the main marina. If you’re looking to head out for drinks a few times on your stay then this might be the option for you, but if you’re after a family holiday or a more luxurious experience then this isn’t the area for you.
El Gouna
The hotels in this area tend to target couples with their marketing and for good reason, you can expect quite a lavish experience here, as well as a more relaxed pace to life. You’ll find very swanky hotels (which does come with a big price tag) and high quality restaurants compared to central Hurghada.
For couples looking for a romantic getaway, this is arguably the best spot, but for those on a tight budget or wanting to go out drinking then this won’t work.
Makadi Bay
If you’re a family looking for a kid friendly option then this is the main area. A lot of the hotels are all inclusive and have child-focused entertainment.
The resorts are pretty big and all have a few pools (including baby pools). These also tend to book well in the winter, but expect prices to go up during the summer school holidays, as that’s the peak for these family-friendly options.
This isn’t ideal if you’re wanting an adult only hotel or plan on drinking as you may regret it once the hangover kicks in and kids are running around screaming.
Sahl Hasheesh
Much like El Gouna, I see this as another area that works perfectly for couples, especially if they’re on a honeymoon and want to stay somewhere more luxurious. Plenty of the hotels offer a private dinner on the beach, something you see newly married couples booking.
This is arguably the most top-end on costs, while it’s also a bit more quiet than the other areas, so good if you want to escape the busy crowds.
Safaga
A large portion of people who visit the Red Sea Coast are looking to try scuba diving or snorkelling. If that’s your main focus for the trip then this is the best destination for you, with the coral reef on your doorstep and activities available very closeby.
This isn’t a main touristy area, so excluding the excursions during the day, the hotels tend to be a bit more quiet. You will also find a lot of windsurfers booking this resort so they don’t have far to travel in the morning to hit the waves.
The hotels are alright, I don’t want you to presume they’ll be as good as other areas, they tick all the necessary boxes, but don’t expect extreme luxury here.
Excursions
There are a number of Hurghada excursions that are worth checking out, such as a trip to Cairo. The capital is where you’ll see the Pyramids, Sphinx and the Egyptian museum, the biggest attractions to Egypt for tourism. The best part about this, is you can fit in a trip to those key locations while still getting to return to your beach holiday afterwards.
I also personally did the trip to Luxor to see the Valley of the Kings, a nice experience where you can learn about the history of the area, see tombs and here about the mummification process, which is absolutely brutal, but fascinating that it worked with preserving the body.
You can also do stargazing at night, which tends to involve dinner and some tea, an ideal activity to learn about how they navigated using the stars and the beliefs they had about them.
If you fancy venturing a bit further, you could check out Aswan and Abu Simbel, where you’ll find a stunning temple, as well giant statues that tend to be on the cover of travel guides for Egypt (well, the ones that don’t include the Pyramid or the Sphinx).
Activities
Below are some of the most popular activities you can try while in Hurghada, a ‘things to do in Hurghada’ list so you can plan out your holiday, especially if you plan on staying put on not venturing much further than your resort, which is always tempting when you’ve paid for all inclusive.
Snorkelling & Diving
I loved snorkelling here, but I have to be honest and say I hadn’t done my PADI qualification for diving as I was a bit nervous, awkward!
The coral reef looks beautiful, while you see so many different coloured fish. It felt like a glimpse into what the Great Barrier Reef must be like off Australia.
This activity can be booked directly through your hotel reps or through online tour sites, but if you don’t book it in advance or in your hotel, there are a number of diving centres dotted around.
Normally you can expect to be picked up and dropped off from your hotel, the same with virtually all activities on this list, with equipment provided as well as occasionally getting lunch and drinks (water) depending on how long the trip is and the timing.
The most popular diving spots are Abu Ramada, Careless Reef and Fanadir. Scuba diving really is a thing to do before you die, so finding the right coral reef to explore and seeing a sea turtle go past will live long in the memory.
Giftun Island Trip or Orange Bay
I’ve put these two together, as a lot of the boat trips take you to both within one experience, so you can tick them off together in a single day.
These tend to be largely booked by couples and families, allowing you to escape the all inclusive resort for some snorkelling and to walk across a more quiet sandy beach.
The excursions tend to take the full day, so they will provide food and water throughout, but I still would pack something from your breakfast buffet to keep you going in case you get peckish.
Dolphin Watching Tours
One important note, I’m talking about the boat tours where you see dolphins in the wild, not the disgusting aquarium type ones where you ‘swim with dolphins’ they’re revolting and you need to avoid them as they need to be shut down.
You will generally be provided with snorkelling gear on these dolphin watching tours, but I just want to make it clear that you aren’t guaranteed to see them. They take you to the spots they tend to see them, but some days they see plenty and other days you don’t see anything. We spotted a few, they were a good few metres away and only pop up for a few seconds, so you need to be eagle-eyed, but it was nice seeing them swim past and it brought a smile to my face.
Glass Bottom Boat Tours
These are good if you’re nervous about snorkelling but you want to see fish still. I personally prefer to jump in the water and see them up close, but this is ideal if you’re a family and want the kids to see them for the first time.
This is also a popular option for more elderly people who might not be as good at swimming anymore. On top of that, if you can’t swim then this is a brilliant way of seeing the coral reefs and sea life.
One other positive is that the trip is quite short. Many of the activities involve half or a full day out, but if you just want to pop out for the morning and get back to your all inclusive for lunch then this is a nice quick activity that can get squeezed into your daily plan.
Parasailing
I love this! It’s so much fun. I was initially very nervous, but once you lean back it actually feels like you’re sat on a sofa in the sky. They will drop you down, which wasn’t ideal as there was a few jellyfish below, but we were all fine.
This is a bit of an adrenaline rush, but is also suitable for all ages (well, within reason). I felt like a daredevil and then saw 14 year olds doing it after, so it can work well for families and couples.
Quad Biking
So many of the activities are focused around the sea, that you almost forget that most of the land isn’t on the coast and that there is a lot more to see.
I did enjoy the quads, albeit I accidentally went off the path at one point, which I got told off for, this is because there can be bumps along the road and they make you follow a strict path for your safety, as they know all the safest routes.
This activity will generally take 1-2 hours, with your transfer from the hotel. They do also sometimes come as a multi-activity booking, such as with a sunset view or with a cooked dinner or even a camel ride.
Jeep Safaris
The dunes are absolutely beautiful, while if you don’t trust yourself on a quad bike, then a skilled driver can take you in a 4×4. You need to be aware that if you’re in a couple, you will probably be combined with another couple or group, as they want to fit everyone in possible.
We had our jeep safari as part of a combination with the star gazing and a Bedouin dinner, which was really tasty. Just be warned, if you get car sick, it is quite bumpy!
