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Hurghada

Red Sea snorkeling + 5-star beach resorts.

Best: Year-round (warmest sea March–November) Quote within 2 hours
In brief

Hurghada is a destination on Egypt's Nile cruise and tour routes, home to Giftun Island & the house reefs and PADI courses & wrecks. The best time to visit is Year-round (warmest sea March–November).

What to see

Hurghada highlights

What is on the cruise or in the package, and what is worth adding.

Giftun Island & the house reefs The reef

Giftun Island & the house reefs

Boat trips to Giftun for turtles and coral, or simply walk in off the resort jetty. Snorkelling is the main event, no certificate needed.

Day trip In beach packages
Diving

PADI courses & wrecks

Open Water in three days from most resorts; the Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas wrecks for those already certified.

3 days Optional
El Gouna Resort town

El Gouna

Lagoons, a marina, restaurants and no hassle — the polished, car-free alternative 25 minutes north of Hurghada.

Stay Upgrade
Sahl Hasheesh & Makadi Bay Quiet bays

Sahl Hasheesh & Makadi Bay

Big five-star resorts on their own beaches, 20 minutes south of the airport. Best value all-inclusive in the area.

Stay In beach packages
Marsa Alam Far south

Marsa Alam

Three hours further south: fewer people, dugongs and dolphins, and the best reefs in Egypt. Its own airport.

Stay Alternative
Bedouin dinner & quad bikes Desert

Bedouin dinner & quad bikes

Sunset in the Eastern Desert, a Bedouin village and stars — the one excursion worth leaving the beach for.

Evening Optional
Planning

How Hurghada fits into your trip

Best time Year-round (warmest sea March–November)
Climate

Sunny year-round. Mild winters (18–25°C), hot summers (28–36°C). Sea temp 22–28°C all year — snorkeling without a wetsuit is comfortable.

Packages

Egypt packages that include Hurghada

Hotels, flights, transfers and the cruise, planned as one trip and quoted in writing.

Inquiry, not checkout

How booking through us works

There's no shopping cart because a Nile cruise shouldn't be bought like a pair of shoes. A specialist handles it end to end.

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Send your inquiry

Dates, route, style, budget — or just "help". Use the finder above, the form below or WhatsApp.

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Get tailored options

A specialist replies with ships that fit, live availability, exact inclusions and a written price.

You decide
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Refine & hold your cabin

Swap ships, add Cairo or Abu Simbel, ask anything. We hold your cabin free while you decide.

Secure
4

Confirm with a deposit

Deposit by card link or bank transfer, balance before sailing. Vouchers and a WhatsApp line for the trip.

We never take payment on this website. Every booking is confirmed by a named specialist in writing first — so you know exactly which ship, cabin and dates you are paying for.
Plan your trip

When to sail & what to know before you go

Temperature drives both comfort and price — and a few small things (tipping, tickets, what to pack) make the difference between a good cruise and a great one.

Ideal weather 20–30 °C Warm, quieter, lower prices 40 °C+ — early temples, pool afternoons, lowest prices

Hover or tap a month for temperatures and crowd levels.

Light, covering clothes for temples

Linen or cotton that covers shoulders and knees — you'll be walking in full sun at Karnak and Edfu. A scarf doubles as sun cover and mosque-visit modesty.

Walking shoes with grip

Tomb floors in the Valley of the Kings are ramps and steps. Sandals for the deck, closed shoes for the sites.

A light jacket, even in March

Deck evenings and air-conditioned lounges are cooler than you expect. November–February nights drop to 8–12 °C.

Swimwear, hat, SPF 50, sunglasses

The pool is the afternoon plan. Sunscreen on board costs three times the price at home.

Small torch & power bank

Tomb interiors are dim and phones die fast in the heat. Plug type C/F (European two-pin), 220 V.

One smart-casual outfit

For the Galabeya night and the captain's dinner — or buy a galabeya at the Esna market for $10 like everyone else.

Anything specific — dietary needs, a birthday on board, an early flight? Put it in your inquiry and the specialist builds it into the quote.
Tipping: budget $8–10 per person per day

Roughly $3–5 for the crew (pooled envelope at the end of the cruise), $5 for your Egyptologist and $2 for drivers. We put this in writing so nothing feels awkward.

Cash in Egyptian pounds and small US dollars

ATMs in Luxor and Aswan work fine; on board only cash is accepted for tips. $1 and $5 notes are gold for bathroom attendants and carriage drivers.

What's not included on the ship

Drinks (packages from $35/day), laundry, spa, and optional excursions like Abu Simbel or the balloon. The bar takes cards on most deluxe and luxury ships.

Premium tickets worth paying for

Tutankhamun's tomb (~$20), Seti I (~$60) and Nefertari (~$60) are extra at the sites. Nefertari is the best-preserved tomb in Egypt — say yes.

Anything specific — dietary needs, a birthday on board, an early flight? Put it in your inquiry and the specialist builds it into the quote.
Visa on arrival for most nationalities

EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia and many more: $30 sticker at the airport bank counter, or an e-visa online in advance. Passport valid 6+ months.

Fly into Luxor or Aswan, not just Cairo

Both have daily flights from Cairo (1 h) and some direct European charters. We match your arrival day to a departure day so you don't lose a night.

Boarding from 12:00, disembark after breakfast

First excursion is the same afternoon; last day ends around 08:00–09:00. Book flights after 12:00 on disembarkation day.

Travel insurance

Not included and strongly advised. Egypt's private hospitals in Luxor and Aswan are good; the ship's doctor is on call 24 h.

Anything specific — dietary needs, a birthday on board, an early flight? Put it in your inquiry and the specialist builds it into the quote.
Ships sail mostly at night and early afternoon

You're at a temple in the morning, on deck for lunch as the banks slide past, and docked by evening. Ships often moor side by side — you may walk through another ship to reach the shore.

Excursion groups of 8–20 with an Egyptologist

Grouped by language. Private guide upgrades are available on every ship for about $40–60 per day.

Evenings: Galabeya night, belly dance, Nubian show

Optional, fun and slightly cheesy. The sun deck under the stars is the alternative.

Food: buffets on deluxe, menus on luxury

Vegetarian, gluten-free and halal handled easily; tell us about allergies when you book and the kitchen is briefed in writing.

Anything specific — dietary needs, a birthday on board, an early flight? Put it in your inquiry and the specialist builds it into the quote.
Kids from about 5 love it

No age limit on motor ships. Connecting or triple cabins on request — we only quote ships that have them free on your dates. Children 2–11 usually pay 50%.

Solo travellers: ask us to hunt the waived supplement

Single supplements run 50–75% of the double rate, but several ships halve or waive it in low season.

Honeymoons: go luxury or dahabiya

Under-80-guest ships and private sail boats are the quiet ones. Tell us — cabins get a welcome upgrade where we can.

Mobility

Lifts on most deluxe and luxury ships; temples involve uneven ground and steps. Tell us and we'll pick a ship with a lift and lower-deck cabins.

Anything specific — dietary needs, a birthday on board, an early flight? Put it in your inquiry and the specialist builds it into the quote.
Before you ask

Hurghada questions

How do I get from the Nile cruise to the beach?

A private car from Luxor to Hurghada takes four hours (from $90 per car). From Aswan it is longer — we route Aswan → Luxor → Hurghada or fly via Cairo. All our beach packages include the transfer.

Hurghada, El Gouna or Marsa Alam?

Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh for value and choice; El Gouna for a stylish town with restaurants; Marsa Alam for the best reefs and nature, at the cost of a longer transfer.

Can I fly home from Hurghada?

Yes — direct flights to most European cities. It is the point of ending at the sea: no return to Cairo.

Is the Red Sea good in winter?

Yes. Air 22–26 °C, water 22–24 °C — cooler than summer but perfectly swimmable, and the reefs are clearer. Bring a shorty wetsuit for snorkelling in January.

Get your options

Plan Hurghada into your Nile trip

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