The Best Excursions in Hurghada – Islands, Reefs & Desert

Yes. Citizens of the EU, the UK and most European countries need a tourist visa. You either apply online in advance (e-visa) or get one on arrival at Hurghada airport. The fee is around 25–30 US dollars and it changed in spring 2026 – so check the current amount and conditions on Egypt’s official visa portal shortly before you fly. Your passport must be valid for at least six more months.

Yes, but it is a long day. Giza is about 450 km away: 5–6 hours each way by coach with a departure around 2 a.m., or roughly an hour in the air by plane. The coach version starts at €55 in our comparison; flying costs several times that. If the pyramids are the real reason for your trip to Egypt, it is more honest to plan Cairo as its own destination rather than a day trip from the beach.

Usually not. Orange Bay, Giftun and Mahmya lie inside Giftun Islands National Park, and the fee of roughly €5–10 per person is collected in cash at the pier. Many guests only find out on the day. Bring cash, and ask when booking exactly what the price covers.

No, and nobody can promise it. A wild pod stays around the Sha’ab El Erg reef ("Dolphin House") and most morning trips do find them – but there are days when they are not there. An operator who guarantees a sighting is misleading you. One more thing: "Dolphin World" is a show with captive animals, not an encounter with a wild pod.

April, May, October and early November are the nicest mix: around 28–30 °C, warm sea, moderate wind. From December to March it is 20–24 °C by day and the water sits at 21–23 °C – swimmable, but chilly without a wetsuit, and that is when wind most often cancels a boat trip. In return, underwater visibility is at its best in winter. June to August reaches close to 40 °C; the wind then is what the kitesurfers come for.

No. Drink bottled water – it is sold everywhere and costs next to nothing. In the large hotels ice and salads are generally made with treated water, but caution here is cheaper than a ruined holiday. Most people brush their teeth with tap water without trouble; if you would rather not, use the bottle for that too.

In high season the popular morning slots go one to three days ahead. Otherwise booking the evening before is usually fine. Since almost everything cancels free up to 24 hours beforehand, booking early costs you nothing – it just holds your place on the day you want.