Desert Safari & Adventure in Hurghada

Start with one question: do you want to watch the desert or drive it?

On the Mountain Safari someone else does the driving. You ride in the safari vehicle off-road toward the mountains, stop for photos and short walks, visit a Bedouin-style village for tea and finish with a short camel ride. Quad bikes are not part of it unless a package says so. It works well for families, older travellers and anyone who just wants the scenery.

The Super Safari packs more in: the same off-road drive, then a quad bike ride on a set desert route after a safety briefing, the Bedouin village, a camel ride and sunset. Depending on the package, the evening continues with a traditional dinner and entertainment such as a Tanoura show. Age limits apply to the quad bike, so tell us children's ages when you book.

The horse rides are a different kind of trip. They start at a riding centre, not a desert camp, and the instructor sets the pace for your experience. Horse Riding is the all-round option through desert or coastal scenery; the Sunset Horse Ride is built around the evening light and photos.

Still undecided? Many guests do one desert trip and one sea trip. If you want a change of scene without the sand, the private El Gouna day trip is a relaxed alternative.

Sunset is the most popular time for a Hurghada desert trip because the heat drops and the granite mountains turn orange and red. Earlier departures suit families with small children and guests who want dinner at the hotel. There is very little shade in the desert, so most programs run as a half day or into the evening.

The desert behind Hurghada is hot for much of the year, and there is very little shade out there. That is why most safari programs here run as a half day or into the evening rather than through the middle of the day.

Sunset departures are the most popular for good reasons: the heat drops, the granite mountains turn orange and red, and the photos are far better than at noon. The Mountain Safari and Super Safari can both include sunset depending on the departure time, and the Super Safari can continue into dinner under the stars. The trade-off is that you come back after dark and the desert cools quickly, so bring a light jacket, especially in winter.

Earlier departures suit families with small children who go to bed early, and guests who do not want to miss dinner at the hotel. For horse riding, choose the standard Horse Riding trip if you want a daytime ride and the Sunset Horse Ride if the evening light is the point.

Exact pickup times depend on the program, the season and your hotel's location. We confirm them after booking.

The desert is dusty, sunny by day and surprisingly cool after sunset. Dress for all three.

• Closed shoes. Trainers are ideal. Flip-flops are a bad idea on quads, horses and rocky ground.
• Long, light trousers. They protect your legs on a camel or horse saddle and from sun and sand. For horse riding they are recommended.
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. There is little shade on the route.
• A scarf or buff. Useful against dust on the quad bike and in the safari vehicle.
• A light jacket. Evenings in the desert are cooler than in town, especially in winter.
• Water and a camera. Keep your phone in a zipped pocket or small bag.

Leave jewellery and valuables in the hotel safe. Contact lenses can be uncomfortable in dust, so glasses may be the easier choice on quad days.

On horse rides, long trousers and closed shoes matter even more: they stop the saddle rubbing and keep your feet secure in the stirrups.

Hurghada sits on a narrow coastal strip. Directly west rise the Red Sea Mountains, part of Egypt's Eastern Desert, which stretches inland toward the Nile Valley. These are not sand dunes like the Sahara in films; they are rugged granite and volcanic peaks cut by dry valleys (wadis).

The highest point of mainland Egypt is in these mountains: Gebel Shayib El Banat, 2,187 metres high, about 40 km from the coast between Hurghada and Safaga. On a clear evening the ranges you see from the safari route belong to the same mountain system.

The area is the home of the Maaza, described as Egypt's largest Bedouin tribe. Their knowledge of the routes is the basis of the Red Sea Mountain Trail, a long-distance hiking route that local Bedouin guides lead. The village you visit on our safaris is a Bedouin-style visitor area where you can drink tea and learn about traditional desert life; it is not a remote nomad camp.

Respect goes a long way: ask before photographing people, and do not leave anything behind in the desert.