Hurghada

Hurghada began as a fishing village on an empty stretch of the Red Sea coast in the early twentieth century. It is now the busiest resort city in Egypt, running roughly 40 km from the old town of El Dahar in the north to the resorts of Sahl Hasheesh in the south — and it is our home base.

What keeps people coming back is what is offshore rather than on land. The reef system here is among the most accessible in the world: warm water year round, visibility that regularly passes 30 meters, and dive sites and snorkeling reefs within an hour of the marina. Giftun Island, Orange Bay, Mahmya and Paradise Island are all day trips from the city.

Behind Hurghada the Eastern Desert starts immediately, which is why quad safaris, Bedouin dinners and stargazing evenings are as much a part of a week here as the sea. And because the road and air links are good, Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are all realistic day trips.

What we run from Hurghada

Most of our 52 tours depart from here, along with the majority of our 40 airport transfer routes. Every trip inside Hurghada includes a private air-conditioned transfer from your hotel reception.

Practical notes

• The city is long. A hotel "in Hurghada" can be twenty minutes from the marina or fifty — check before you book.
• El Dahar is the oldest and most Egyptian part of the city; Sekalla is the centre and the nightlife; the Village Road south is where the big all-inclusive resorts sit.
• Peak season is October to April. July and August are very hot, which is when the indoor and underwater options earn their keep.