Hurghada Excursions: How to Choose

Search for Hurghada excursions and you will find dozens of options, which makes the first choice harder than it should be. The easiest way to decide is to ask three questions: how much of the day do you want to give up, how active do you want to be, and do you want to be on the water, under it or in the desert?

This guide sorts the trips we run into four groups, boat days, underwater trips, desert and land trips, and quiet or private options, and says what each group is best for. Everything below comes from our own trip pages. Programs can change with weather and sea conditions, and we confirm the final details with you on WhatsApp when you book.

Start with how much time you have

Hurghada excursions fall into three rough lengths. Full-day boat trips leave with a hotel pickup in the morning and bring you back in the late afternoon: Orange Bay Island, Hula Hula Island and Paradise Island run from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with pickup between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. Magawish Island and the Dolphin House boat trip take about 8 hours, and Ozirea Island about 7 to 8 hours including transfers.

Shorter options exist too. The Sindbad Submarine has departures at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and spends 45 to 50 minutes underwater, so it fits around a free morning. The Hurghada city tour runs from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and golf is a three-hour session. The desert safari is an evening program with pickup around 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, so plan it for a day when you have nothing else booked.

• Only one free day: a full-day boat trip gives the most variety
• Half a day: the Sindbad Submarine or a golf session
• Free evening: the city tour or the desert safari dinner and show

Boat excursions: the classic Hurghada day

If you are choosing a single trip, make it a boat day. Orange Bay Island (EUR 25 per person) and Hula Hula Island (EUR 27) combine guided snorkeling, beach time and an open buffet lunch. Dolphin House (EUR 25) adds reef stops and a chance to swim with dolphins, but dolphins move freely, so a sighting is never guaranteed. Paradise Island (EUR 50) adds a parasailing flight, and Eden Island (EUR 40) is another island option.

Magawish Island and Ozirea Island are calmer full-day trips with free time on the island. Ozirea includes access to the island pool. Ask us for their prices on WhatsApp, and note that a national park or environmental fee may apply locally on some trips.

• Easiest first choice: Orange Bay Island
• Want dolphins: the Dolphin House boat trip or the Dolphin Show
• Want a slower pace: Magawish Island or Ozirea Island
• Want an extra thrill: Paradise Island with parasailing

Underwater excursions: submarine and scuba diving

Not everyone wants to wear a mask. The Sindbad Submarine (EUR 22) descends to 22 metres in an air-conditioned cabin with individual viewing windows, with coral reefs, Red Sea fish and a diver fish-feeding show to watch.

If you do want to be in the water, our scuba diving trip (EUR 40) is beginner friendly. It includes two dives of 15 to 20 minutes each at 5 to 8 metres, full equipment, a briefing and a certified instructor for every two to three divers, plus snorkeling between dives and a buffet lunch on board. Tell us before you book if you have any health concerns, so we can advise you.

Desert and land excursions

The desert safari (EUR 30) is the main land excursion. It combines a 45-minute quad bike ride, a Spider Car buggy, a jeep ride to a Bedouin village, a camel ride and sunset in the mountains, followed by a Bedouin barbecue dinner and an evening show. It is a long program of about 8 to 10 hours, so keep the rest of the day light.

For something gentler, horse riding (EUR 25) runs along the beach or through the desert at sunrise (6:00 AM) or sunset (4:00 PM) and suits beginners to experienced riders. The Hurghada city tour (EUR 15) visits the marina, markets, a mosque and a church in the evening.

How to choose: a simple checklist

Match the excursion to your group rather than to a list of must-dos. A mix usually works best: one boat day, one active day and one easy day.

• Couples: Dolphin House or Magawish Island, then a sunset horse ride
• Friends: Paradise Island, desert safari and scuba diving
• Families: a boat day such as Orange Bay Island; ask about child policies first, as they differ by trip
• Beginners: choose trips with a guide and equipment included, and tell the crew you are new
• Rest days: leave a free day between long excursions for the pool
• Pickup areas: Hurghada city, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Makadi, Soma Bay and Safaga; an extra transfer fee can apply for some areas