Hurghada Desert Safari: What to Expect and What to Bring
Everything worth knowing before a desert safari: what happens in order, what to wear, and whether it works with children.
The desert trip is the one people ask us about most before booking, usually because of the quads. Here is what actually happens, and what we wish every guest knew before getting into the car.
How the day runs
On the super safari pickup from your hotel is in the afternoon — the exact time depends on where you are staying and the season, and you are told the day before. After roughly 30–40 minutes on a desert road you reach the base.
From there the order is fixed: a short safety briefing, helmets, a practice lap on the quad, then off in a supervised convoy with one guide at the front and one at the back. After the quads you switch to a jeep, then the Bedouin village, then sunset, then dinner and the show, and the evening closes with a stargazing session.
Is a quad difficult?
No. The quads we use are fully automatic — no gears, no clutch. You accelerate with your thumb and brake with your hand, and that is the whole of it. The briefing takes five minutes, and most first-timers have it within the first two.
The minimum age to ride alone is 12 on the quad bike sunset tour; younger children ride behind a parent.
What to wear
This is where visitors most often get it wrong:
- Closed shoes — no sandals, no flip-flops. The sand is hot during the day and the quad needs a firm foot on the pedal.
- Light long clothing — it protects you from the sun and from flying sand far better than shorts do.
- A scarf or buff to cover your nose and mouth while riding. We provide them, but bringing your own is better.
- A light jacket for the evening — the tip most people ignore. The desert loses its heat astonishingly fast after sunset; it can drop 15°C in an hour.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen.
Does it work with families?
Yes, but pick the right version. If you have very young children or an older traveller in the group, we would point you at the Bedouin dinner and stargazing evening — the same camp, the same dinner, show and stars, with no vehicles to drive at all. The super safari itself works from age 6 as a passenger.
Three practical tips
- Avoid contact lenses if you can — sand and lenses do not get along.
- Keep your camera in a bag while riding. Fine dust gets everywhere.
- Drink water before the trip, not only during it. Dehydration in the desert starts before you feel thirsty.
Ready? Browse all safari trips, or message us with your group size and ages and we will recommend the right version.
