Hurghada: Desert and Sea Horseback Riding Tour with Transfer

The best part of this Hurghada outing is the change of scenery: you start among desert sand and mountain views, then ride an Egyptian horse into the Red Sea. It is an unusual pairing, and the water section supplies the kind of holiday photo that is hard to stage anywhere else.

I like the careful matching of horses to riders and the patient instruction for first-timers. I also like the friendly stable atmosphere, with well-cared-for horses, foals, and staff who take their work seriously. The main consideration is that the sea portion can be short or occasionally restricted, and the advertised two hours may include pauses, photos, and the return ride.

Key points to know before you book

• Desert to sea in one ride: Follow the route from the stable across Hurghada’s dry desert scenery before entering the Red Sea with your horse.
• Good for beginners: An instructor explains how to steer and control the horse, and guides stay with the group throughout the ride.
• Riders are matched with suitable horses: Experienced riders may get chances to trot or canter, while nervous riders can take things slowly.
• Photos are part of the experience: Guides including Ahmed, Mohamed, Mostafa, and Zaglol have taken photos and videos for participants using a phone or camera.
• Transfers are included from Hurghada hotels: Pickup and drop-off come in an air-conditioned vehicle, with extra charges for several resort areas.
• The sea section is not guaranteed in every circumstance: Restrictions have occasionally prevented access to the beach, so keep your expectations flexible.

From your Hurghada hotel to the stable

Your day begins with pickup at your Hurghada hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. The driver takes you to the stable, then returns you after the ride. Punctuality has been a strong point, with several pickups arriving on time or even early.

The transfer is more than a simple taxi connection. Drivers such as Hamsa and Hanni have been praised for being friendly and helpful, and one driver even stopped to buy soft drinks for riders. That kindness is not something you should count on as part of the formal package, but it gives you an idea of the service style.

Communication before pickup is handled in Arabic and English. One organizer, Asmaa, has helped arrange late bookings and answer questions through WhatsApp, while Demiana has also handled guest communication. Keep your phone available on the day so you can receive pickup details.

The included pickup applies to hotels in Hurghada. If you are staying in Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, or Soma Bay, the additional fee is $15 per person. Safaga pickup costs an additional $20 per person. That matters when comparing the total price with another riding trip closer to your resort.

Meeting the horses and getting ready

At the stable, you meet the horses before setting off. The property has several horses and, at times, young foals. You may also encounter other animals around the stable, including dogs and a chameleon, though these are pleasant extras rather than promised parts of the tour.

The atmosphere is informal and welcoming. Tea or coffee is included, and water is listed in the package. Still, one rider specifically advised bringing your own water because bottled water was not always offered. In Hurghada’s heat, I would carry a bottle even if water is expected.

Before you mount, the instructor gives a safety briefing. You learn the basics of directing the horse and how to ride properly. A helmet is included, which is an important practical detail, especially if this is your first time in the saddle.

The staff take your riding ability into account. Beginners can be paired with calm, manageable horses and receive extra help, while experienced riders may be placed on horses suited to a faster pace. This approach makes the outing work for couples or families with mixed experience.

A seven-year-old child was reported to have ridden her own horse comfortably with help from the team. That is encouraging for families, but the supplied information does not state a minimum age, so ask before booking if you are bringing a young child.

Crossing the Hurghada desert

Once everyone is comfortable, you ride away from the stable into the desert. The scenery is spare and wide, with sand, open ground, mountain views, and the Red Sea visible in the distance. The appeal is not a long list of sights. It is the simple pleasure of moving through an Egyptian setting under your own control, with the sound of hooves replacing traffic.

Your guide stays with the group and helps set the pace. The ride can be adjusted for different abilities, so a confident rider may be allowed to trot or canter while a beginner continues at a walk. The group arrangement may split riders by ability for parts of the route, with separate guides keeping everyone comfortable.

If you already ride, tell the instructor clearly what you can do. Several experienced riders were allowed to go faster, but that does not mean every group will canter. The guide decides what is safe for the horses, the terrain, and the riders present.

First-timers should not feel embarrassed about being nervous. Instructors such as Saeed, Mustafa, Ahmed Elsayaad, and Mostafa have been singled out for calm explanations and patient support. A guide may walk beside you, stay close, or encourage you to try more as your confidence grows.

The desert ride is also the best part for enjoying the horses at work. You get a sense of their training and temperament before the water section. The horses have been described as calm, friendly, well behaved, and in good shape, while the stable staff are visibly attentive to their care.

Riding into the Red Sea

The route eventually reaches the coast. Here the outing changes from a desert horseback ride into a photo-friendly water experience. You can take the horse into the Red Sea, and some participants have been able to swim with their horses.

This is the tour’s defining moment. Riding through shallow sea water feels very different from riding over sand, and the contrast between the dry desert and bright coastal water makes the photographs especially memorable. Guides commonly help take pictures and videos, often using your own phone.

Be realistic about the format. The sea stop can function partly as a photo session, and one participant found it shorter than expected. The desert and sea sections may also be treated as separate parts rather than one continuous ride, so ask your guide at the start how the timing will be divided.

Access to the beach is not guaranteed under every condition. Restrictions have prevented at least one group from reaching the beach, although the stable owner offered a camel ride and a look at the other animals instead. This is a useful reminder that the water section is the highlight, but not the only reason to book.

Bring clothing that can handle getting wet. The supplied information does not specify changing facilities, lockers, or towels, so do not assume these are available. A swimsuit under light clothing is sensible if you hope to enter the water, and a small bag for wet items would be useful.

Guides who make a real difference

The guide is central to this experience. The ride is not simply a horse rental where you receive an animal and leave on your own. An instructor accompanies you, explains the basics, monitors the group, and helps manage different riding abilities.

Ahmed appears in several accounts, including Ahmed Elsayaad, who has been praised for teaching riding and horse care in a friendly way. Other named guides include Mohamed, Mostafa, Saeed, Ege, Demiana, Zaglol, and Mustafa. Names and assignments can change, but the pattern is clear: the guide’s patience matters most if you are nervous or inexperienced.

The guides also handle the memorable extras. They stop for photographs, record short videos, and sometimes offer drinks or tea. Some riders were surprised that photos were taken without a separate charge. I would still offer a tip for thoughtful guiding and photography, especially if the guide spends much of the ride helping you.

English and Arabic are the stated working languages. Communication has been good for basic instruction and coordination, though individual comfort with English can vary. Clear hand signals and simple directions help, particularly when riders have different experience levels.

How much riding do you really get?

The tour is sold as two hours of horseback riding in the desert and sea. That is a fair amount of activity for the $50 price, especially with hotel transport, a helmet, an instructor, drinks, and the unusual water section included.

Allow for the fact that the full outing includes mounting, safety instruction, horse selection, photographs, breaks, and the ride back to the stable. Some descriptions of the day report around one to one and a half hours actually in the saddle, while others describe the horses taking up most of the two-hour experience.

The exact balance depends on the group. Beginners need more time for instruction, experienced riders may spend more time moving at a faster pace, and the sea stop can take longer if the group is focused on photos. Ask at the stable how much time is planned for the desert, the sea, and photography.

At $50 per person, the package is strong value if the transfer is useful and the sea ride goes ahead. A separate taxi, horse ride, guide, and photo session could quickly cost more. The value is weaker if you are staying far outside Hurghada and add the resort transfer fee, or if you mainly want a long, serious riding lesson rather than a sightseeing experience.

Who will enjoy this most?

This is a good fit for first-time riders, couples, families, and mixed-ability groups. The team has experience calming nervous riders and pairing beginners with suitable horses. Couples also get plenty of chances for posed photographs, making the water section especially appealing for a special holiday outing.

It also suits experienced riders who want something different from a standard desert trek. You may be able to trot or canter, depending on your guide and group, but this is not presented as an advanced riding lesson or a full-day equestrian excursion.

Solo riders can also consider it. One solo participant felt safe and well supported, and the guide remained attentive. Still, group size and exact supervision are not specified, so ask how your booking will be organized if that detail matters to you.

You may want to skip it if you dislike getting wet, are looking for a long gallop, or need a guaranteed beach visit. The tour’s strength is variety and atmosphere, not technical riding or a carefully timed coastal swim.

Practical details that matter

Choose your departure time when booking. The flexible start helps you fit the ride around a beach day, evening plans, or another Hurghada excursion. Check availability because the available times can change.

Wear comfortable trousers or riding clothes, closed shoes, and sun protection. A helmet is supplied, but the information does not mention gloves, so bring your own if you normally ride with them. Take water, and use sunscreen even if the day starts cool.

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, two hours of horseback riding, a helmet, coffee or tea, and water. It does not include pickup from the listed resort areas unless you pay the extra charge.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That is useful when your Hurghada plans depend on weather, though the water section itself may still be affected by local restrictions.

Should you book the Hurghada desert and sea ride?

I would book this if you want a short, memorable activity with strong photo appeal and you are open to a relaxed pace. The combination of desert riding and entering the Red Sea is genuinely unusual, and the patient instructors make it approachable for beginners.

The strongest reasons to go are the horse care, the personal attention, the included transport, and the chance to ride in the water. The main warnings are the variable sea access, a possibly short beach stop, and the fact that the two-hour promise may include pauses and photography.

Before you leave the stable, confirm the day’s plan for the desert and sea sections. Bring water, wear clothes that can get wet, and tell your instructor honestly how much riding you have done. If you do that, this $50 experience offers a fine change from Hurghada’s usual boat trips and beach time.

FAQ

How long is the horseback riding tour?

The stated duration is two hours, covering horseback riding in the desert and sea. Some schedules may include time for safety instruction, photos, stops, and returning to the stable within that period.

What is included in the price?

The $50 price includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle, two hours of horseback riding, a helmet, coffee or tea, and water.

Is hotel transportation included?

Pickup and drop-off are included for Hurghada hotels. Pickup from Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, or Soma Bay costs an additional $15 per person, while Safaga pickup costs an additional $20 per person.

Can beginners join the ride?

Yes. An instructor explains how to ride and control the horse, and guides help beginners throughout the activity. Horses are matched to riders according to their ability.

Can experienced riders trot or canter?

Experienced riders may be allowed to trot or canter when the guide considers it suitable. The pace depends on the rider, horse, terrain, and group.

Do I get to ride the horse into the Red Sea?

The tour includes riding into the Red Sea, and some outings include swimming with the horses. Sea access can sometimes be restricted, so the water portion is not completely guaranteed.

Is a helmet provided?

Yes. A helmet is included in the tour price.

What languages do the instructors speak?

The stated instructor languages are Arabic and English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The booking option also allows you to reserve now and pay later.