Quad Safari Hurghada: What the Ride Is Like and Tips for First-Timers

The quad safari Hurghada visitors book most is a simple three-hour trip: you ride your own quad bike (also called an ATV) through the desert behind the town, stop at a Bedouin village for tea and a short camel ride, and ride back. It needs no experience, it fits easily into a beach holiday, and for many people it is the most fun morning or afternoon of the whole trip. Here is what the ride is really like, how to choose between morning and afternoon, group or private, and how to enjoy it as a first-time rider.

How a quad safari in Hurghada works

All our quad trips follow the same easy plan. The exact times are on each tour page.

- Hotel pickup in Hurghada. A driver collects you from your hotel and takes you to the desert base on the edge of town. - Safety briefing. At the base you get your helmet, and the guide shows you how the quad works and how to ride in a line behind the guide. - The ride out. You follow the guide along desert tracks, across open sand and between rocky hills. The whole trip is about 50 km of riding, there and back. - The Bedouin village. Halfway, you stop at a Bedouin village for Arabic tea, water, a short camel ride and time to look around and take photos.

• •The ride back to the base, and then the transfer back to your hotel.

Because the whole trip takes about three hours, you can easily do it on the same day as a pool or beach afternoon. You can see the full programme on the morning quad safari page.

What the ride feels like

A quad bike has four wide wheels, so it feels steady on the sand, and you sit on it like on a motorbike. Most of the route is on open desert tracks at a calm, steady speed. The guide rides in front, sets the pace for the group and stops from time to time so everyone can catch up and take photos.

Expect some bumps, sand in the air and a lot of sun. It is an active trip: you hold the handlebars for a long time and use your arms and legs to stay balanced on the rough parts. It is not a race, and nobody expects you to jump dunes. If you want a bit more speed, tell the guide at the start; if you want to ride slowly, that is completely fine too.

The desert itself is the best part. Once you leave the last buildings behind, the view opens up into wide sand plains and dark mountains, and it gets very quiet when the engines stop.

First time on a quad bike?

You don't need any experience: most people on our quad trips have never ridden one before. You start slowly on flat ground before the desert tracks, and the guide watches everyone at the beginning. A few simple tips help a lot:

- Listen to the briefing and ask if anything is unclear. There are no silly questions. - Keep a safe distance from the quad in front, so you are not riding in its dust and have time to brake. - Look ahead at the track, not down at your front wheels. - Slow down before turns and on downhill parts, and speed up gently.

• •If you feel tired or unsure, raise your hand or tell the guide at the next stop.

Children can join as passengers with an adult, while driving a quad yourself has a minimum age. Check the age rules on the tour page before you book. If you have back or neck problems or are pregnant, a quad may not be the right trip; tell us and we will suggest a calmer one. For more detail, read our quad biking safety guide.

Morning or afternoon?

The two shared trips go into the same desert for the same length of time. The difference is the time of day.

- The morning quad safari leaves early. The desert is cooler and quieter, and you are back at your hotel before lunch. It is the best choice from May to September, when the afternoons are very hot.

• •The quad safari after lunch leaves early in the afternoon. The light gets softer and better for photos later in the day, especially in winter when the sun sets early. It is a good choice from October to April and for anyone who likes a slow breakfast.

For a month-by-month view of the weather, see the best time to go to Hurghada. If you are still choosing between desert trips, our quad and buggy comparison puts all of them side by side.

Group or private?

The shared trips are the easiest choice and the best value: you ride with other travellers behind one guide, and the group keeps a pace that suits everyone.

The private morning quad safari is the same kind of trip with a guide just for your group, so the guide can adapt the pace and the route to you. It is a good choice for:

- couples and families who want their own pace and their own photo stops; - nervous first-timers who would like more time and attention at the start;

• •confident riders who would like a bit more of a challenge.

Read more in our guide to group vs private safari tours.

What to wear and bring

The helmet is provided. A scarf and sunglasses are not included, so bring your own:

- closed shoes, like trainers; - light clothes you don't mind getting dusty, ideally long trousers; - a scarf or buff to cover your mouth and nose from the dust; - sunglasses and sunscreen; - a warm layer in winter, when early mornings in the desert can be cool;

• •your phone in a zipped pocket, and valuables left at the hotel.

Our guide to what to wear in Hurghada has the full packing list for desert and boat trips.

Quad safari, buggy or super safari?

A quad safari is the simplest way to drive yourself through the desert. Two other trips are worth knowing about:

- A buggy has a steering wheel and two seats side by side, so it suits couples who would rather share one vehicle. See buggy tours in Hurghada.

• •The Super Safari is a longer trip that adds a jeep and a spider car to a shorter quad ride, with a camel ride, a Bedouin village, a show and a BBQ dinner. Choose it if you want the whole desert evening in one trip.

You can compare all our trips and their current prices on the price list.

How to book your quad safari

Pick the time of day that suits you and check the tour page for exactly what's included and the age rules. Then book online or send us your hotel name and date on WhatsApp. The booking box on this page shows the live price of each quad safari, and our team is happy to help you choose.