Best things to do in Hurghada

Most things to do in Hurghada happen on the Red Sea or in the desert behind the town: a boat day snorkeling around Giftun Island, a reef seen from a submarine, a camel ride at sunset and dinner under the stars. Hurghada is also a base for long days to Luxor by road and Cairo by plane. Here is what each involves and which of our tours does it.

On the sea

Snorkel around Giftun Island

Snorkeling means swimming at the surface with a mask, a breathing tube and fins, looking down at the reef. Our Giftun Island trip is a full day on a boat: two snorkeling stops with gear and an English-speaking instructor, free time on the island's beach and an open buffet lunch on board. Giftun is part of the Red Sea protectorates, which collect visit fees, according to Egypt's Environmental Affairs Agency (June 2026). The listing does not name the departure harbor. See the Giftun Island page.

Look for dolphins at Dolphin House

The Dolphin House trip is another full day at sea, on a shared boat with private transfers and guide. The boat stops at the Dolphin House reef, where wild dolphins are often seen, though sightings are not guaranteed, then serves lunch on board before a second snorkeling stop; gear is included. It is new on this site, and its program is confirmed with your quote.

See the reef from the Sindbad submarine

For non-swimmers, the Sindbad submarine goes down to 22 meters below sea level and has large panoramic windows. The trip takes about two hours, with hotel transfers, a tour leader and the submarine ticket included. The snorkeling or submarine guide compares the two ways to see the reef.

In the desert

Ride a camel into the sunset

On the desert safari by jeep, transfers into the desert are by 4x4 jeep; you ride a camel and watch the sunset. A quad bike ride around the Bedouin village is optional and costs extra. The listing does not state a hotel pickup, only the transfer back to your hotel, so settle it when you book.

Stay for dinner and the stars

The same evening goes on with a barbecue dinner with mineral water and soft drinks, an oriental entertainment show and stargazing. Bring a layer in winter: the average daily low in Hurghada is 11.2°C (52°F) in January.

In town

Visit the Hurghada Museum

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities runs a museum in Hurghada. It is not on our tours. The Ministry's ticketing portal gives the opening as 10 a.m., with last entry (the latest time it lets visitors in) at noon; the Ministry's monuments site lists it as open until 1 p.m.

A student ticket needs a valid student ID, and the student must be 24 or younger.

Long days from Hurghada

Walk through Karnak Temple

Our Luxor in a day from Hurghada is private, with an English-speaking Egyptologist, a guide trained in ancient Egyptian history. The road crosses the Eastern Desert to the Nile valley, and Karnak Temple is the first stop, 289.7 km from your hotel, about 3 h 43 min without traffic. The tour is new on this site, and its program is confirmed with your quote.

Go down into the Valley of the Kings

On the same day come the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, lunch at a local restaurant and the Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees are included; Tutankhamun's tomb ticket is optional and not included. The drive back is 277.5 km, about 3 h 33 min without traffic.

Stand at the pyramids of Giza

Cairo in a day by plane flies from Hurghada, and the flights are not included in the tour price. The hotel is 7.2 km from Hurghada airport, about 12 min without traffic; in Cairo, the pyramids of Giza are 41.5 km from the airport, about 46 min. Then come the Sphinx and the Valley Temple. Going inside the Great Pyramid is optional and not included.

See Tutankhamun's treasures at the Grand Egyptian Museum

After lunch, the same tour visits the Grand Egyptian Museum, whose standard admission includes the Tutankhamun Galleries, then Khan El Khalili bazaar, 20.6 km from the museum, about 23 min without traffic. The Cairo or Luxor from the Red Sea guide weighs the two long days.

When to go

In Hurghada the average daily high is 21.7°C (71°F) in January and 35.1°C (95°F) in August, according to World Meteorological Organization climate normals; these are averages, not forecasts. The Hurghada day trips compared guide sets the trips side by side, and every tour from the resort is on the Hurghada page.