Desert Safari and Quad Biking in Hurghada (2026): The Full Guide

Behind Hurghada's beach hotels, the desert opens up flat and empty toward the mountains, and it is the setting for the resort's cheapest, most popular thrill. A desert safari here means engines, dust and a sunset, usually finished with a camel ride, a Bedouin camp and a barbecue. It is not wilderness exploration. It is a fun few hours, and at these prices it is an easy yes.

Quad, ATV, buggy and spider car

The vehicles get used loosely in listings, so here is the plain version:

• Quad bike: a four-wheeler you ride astride like a motorbike. A quad tour of the desert and Red Sea starts from about 723 EGP (roughly 15 USD), rated 4.34 across more than 3,200 reviews. This is the volume seller, and most trips let you pick a morning, afternoon or sunset departure.
• ATV: in most Hurghada listings, effectively the same as a quad. A Makadi Bay ATV tour runs from about 846 EGP.
• Buggy and spider car: two-seater vehicles with a roll cage, better if you want to share with a child or a nervous partner, or drive rather than ride.

The best value is usually the stacked package. The "Super Safari" style trips combine a quad or ATV, a buggy, a Jeep ride, a camel ride and a barbecue dinner with entertainment, from around 1,300 EGP, turning a quick blast into a full evening.

What the trip is like

Most safaris run in the late afternoon so you ride into the sunset. You are collected from your hotel, driven to a desert camp on the edge of town, given a short briefing and a helmet, and set off in a convoy along a marked track. There is usually a test-drive to learn the controls first. After the ride, a Jeep often takes you deeper to a Bedouin village or camp, typically around 25 kilometres out, for tea, a camel ride, a look at desert life, and on the longer trips a barbecue dinner under the stars. Some evening safaris add a stargazing session with a guide and a telescope, pointing out constellations once the desert goes dark. The whole thing is around four to five hours door to door.

Be honest about the dust

Riding in a convoy means eating the dust of the quads in front. It is part of the experience, but it catches people out. A scarf, buff or bandana over your nose and mouth, plus sunglasses or the provided goggles, makes a huge difference. Closed shoes and clothes you do not mind getting filthy are essential. Do not wear anything you care about, and bring a light layer, because the desert cools quickly after sunset.

Safety, plainly

These trips are widely run and generally safe, but they are still motorised vehicles on sand. A few sensible rules:

• Listen to the briefing and the test-drive, and keep to the convoy and the guide's pace. Showing off on a quad is how people get hurt.
• Keep distance from the rider in front, both for dust and for stopping room.
• Children usually ride as a passenger with an adult or in a buggy, depending on the operator's age rules. Check before booking if you have kids.
• Skip it if you have back or neck problems, since the ride is bumpy.
• Confirm helmets are provided, which reputable operators always do.

When to go and what it costs

Late afternoon into sunset is the time, both for the light and to avoid the midday heat. Prices are low across the board: from about 723 EGP for a straightforward quad blast, around 846 EGP for a Makadi Bay ATV run, and near 1,300 EGP for the full quad, buggy, camel and barbecue evening. The stargazing dinner safaris sit around 2,000 to 2,250 EGP. Even the top package costs less than a single reef trip, which is why it is one of the most-booked things in Hurghada.

The verdict

A Hurghada desert safari is not deep desert adventure, and it does not pretend to be. It is a cheap, genuinely fun sunset out with engines, a camel, a Bedouin camp and dinner under the stars. Wrap up against the dust, book the Super Safari with the barbecue if you want a full evening, or the stargazing version if you want the quiet end of the desert, and treat it as the easy crowd-pleaser it is.