Hurghada
the easy beach finish.
Warm sea all year, reefs close to shore and resorts for every taste. Hurghada is the most practical way to add beach days to a Nile trip.
What it is
really like.
Hurghada stretches for more than 40 km along the Red Sea coast. It began as a fishing village and grew into Egypt's largest resort town, with a lively centre, a marina, and quieter bays to the north and south. For travellers combining history and the beach, it has one big advantage: it is about four hours by road from Luxor.
The sea is the reason to come. Water temperatures stay above 20°C all year, and coral reefs lie a short boat ride offshore. Trips to the Giftun islands are the classic day out, with snorkelling stops and a white-sand beach. Divers have dozens of sites within easy reach.
The wider area includes El Gouna, a resort town of lagoons and canals to the north, and Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh and Soma Bay to the south. Each has a slightly different feel; we match the area to the kind of stay you want.
The best of
Hurghada.
The places we build days around. Not a list to tick off: most people choose three or four and leave time between them.
The Giftun islands
A protected island group with shallow reefs, ideal for first-time snorkellers.
Diving
Reefs and wrecks for every level, with PADI and SSI centres in most resort areas.
El Gouna
A car-free-feeling lagoon town with boutique hotels, restaurants and a small marina.
Family resorts
Large hotels with sandy beaches, slides and kids' clubs, especially around Makadi Bay.
A desert evening
A drive into the Eastern Desert for sunset, dinner and stargazing.
Doing nothing
After a week of temples, an empty afternoon by the water is often the best thing on the plan.
Hurghada,
answered.
How far is Hurghada from Luxor?
About 280 km, or roughly four hours by private car on a good road.
Is Hurghada good for families?
Yes. It has more family-friendly resorts than anywhere else in Egypt, with calm, shallow water in many bays.
Can we fly home from Hurghada?
Hurghada has an international airport, but from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana you will usually connect through Cairo.
Ways to fit Hurghada
into a trip.
Ancient Egypt, Open Water
Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, a Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, then three days on the Red Sea at Hurghada.
See this journey →
Family Egypt, Made Easy
Cairo, Luxor and the Red Sea with shorter sightseeing days, family rooms and a private car and guide throughout.
See this journey →
Nile Honeymoon, Red Sea Finish
Cairo, Aswan, a three-night Nile cruise and a dawn balloon flight over Luxor, then two nights in a quiet Red Sea hotel.
See this journey →Tell us how long
you have.
Send your dates and who is travelling. We will suggest how many nights Hurghada deserves and what fits around it.