Egypt
Hurghada is Egypt's Red Sea playground: a long strip of beach resorts on a coast where the desert runs straight into some of the clearest water in the Middle East.
Boats leave the marina each morning for the protected Giftun Islands and Orange Bay, for dolphin reefs and for dive sites that suit first-timers and certified divers alike, while semi-submarines and glass-bottom boats show the coral to anyone who would rather stay dry. Back on land, quad bikes and jeeps cross the desert to a Bedouin village for tea, camel rides and a barbecue under the stars, and the Grand Aquarium keeps a rainy-day or midday-heat plan in your pocket. Beyond the town itself lie the lagoons of El Gouna, the tidy resort town of Sahl Hasheesh and the old streets around the El Mina Mosque and the marina, and if you want a dose of ancient Egypt, a very long day trip reaches the temples of Luxor. This guide books the best of it and matches you to a hotel, from a serene Soma Bay retreat to a family beach resort, because here your choice of bay decides your holiday.
Giftun Island and Orange Bay Snorkeling Cruise
The classic Hurghada day out: a boat to the protected Giftun Islands, a sandy beach with shallow turquoise water, reef snorkeling and a buffet lunch on board. If you only book one sea trip, make it this one.
Desert Safari with Bedouin Village
Quad bikes or buggies across the stony desert behind Hurghada, a camel ride, tea in a Bedouin-style village and a barbecue dinner under the stars. It is the standard land adventure, and an easy way to balance all the sea days.
Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada
A very long but unforgettable day: Karnak, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, with an Egyptologist guide and lunch. It is the only realistic way to see ancient Egypt from Hurghada in one day.
Dolphin House Snorkeling Trip
A long boat day to a protected reef where wild spinner dolphins rest, with three snorkeling sessions and lunch on board. It is the best wildlife outing from Hurghada, but dolphins are never guaranteed.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The classic Hurghada day out: a boat to the protected Giftun Islands, a sandy beach with shallow turquoise water, reef snorkeling and a buffet lunch on board. If you only book one sea trip, make it this one.
A long boat day to a protected reef where wild spinner dolphins rest, with three snorkeling sessions and lunch on board. It is the best wildlife outing from Hurghada, but dolphins are never guaranteed.
A full-day boat trip with two dives, lunch and hotel transfer, designed so beginners can try scuba with an instructor. The Red Sea reefs off Hurghada are some of the easiest and most colourful places in the world to start.
A short trip to see the coral from below the waterline without getting wet. A semi-submarine has an air-conditioned lower deck with big windows, so it works for toddlers, grandparents and anyone nervous about snorkeling.
Quad bikes or buggies across the stony desert behind Hurghada, a camel ride, tea in a Bedouin-style village and a barbecue dinner under the stars. It is the standard land adventure, and an easy way to balance all the sea days.
A big indoor and outdoor marine centre on the Villages Road, with a 24-metre underwater tunnel, sharks, rays, a rainforest house and a mini zoo. The best rainy-day or midday-heat plan in Hurghada.
A planned resort town north of Hurghada built around islands and lagoons, with palm-lined boulevards, a marina and an easy-going cafe scene. A pleasant half-day or evening out from the main Hurghada strip.
A purpose-built resort bay south of Hurghada airport with a calm beach, a pedestrian-friendly Old Town and a submerged reef that snorkelers love. The refined, quieter side of the Hurghada coast.
A three-hour city tour covering the El Mina Mosque, the old town and markets, the Coptic church and the new marina. It is the way to see the real Hurghada behind the resort strip.
A very long but unforgettable day: Karnak, the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, with an Egyptologist guide and lunch. It is the only realistic way to see ancient Egypt from Hurghada in one day.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Soma Bay
The splurge pick: a 325-room beachfront resort on the Soma Bay peninsula with a huge pool landscape, a spa and thalasso centre and a calm, polished atmosphere. Best for couples and travellers who want quiet luxury away from the Hurghada strip.
Check rates →Sahl Hasheesh
An Arabian-palace resort with domes, courtyards, seven pools and a 600-metre private beach, in the quiet bay of Sahl Hasheesh. Strong for couples and families who want drama and a lot of space.
Check rates →El Dahar
A well-located beach resort in El Dahar, about two kilometres from the town centre and three from the New Marina. The practical pick for visitors who want the old town, the marina and the beach all within a short ride.
Check rates →Al Mamsha El Seyahi
A large, established beach resort on the Al Mamsha El Seyahi coast, popular with families and with a reputation for a lively holiday. A solid mid-range base on the main Hurghada strip.
Check rates →Village Road
A big all-inclusive family resort on Village Road, the busy resort corridor south of the centre. Good value for a lively beach holiday with plenty to do on site.
Check rates →How to plan your first trip to Hurghada: how many days you need, which boat trips and desert safaris to book ahead, how to get around and where the Luxor day trip fits.
Hurghada is a long coast, not a single place. How to choose between El Dahar, Al Mamsha El Seyahi, Village Road, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay, with our five hotel picks.
