Starwatching, Camel Ride and Romantic Dinner in Hurghada Safari

The best part of this Hurghada evening comes after sunset, when the desert grows quiet and the stars take over. You ride a camel, climb a small mountain for sunset, then sit by fire and candlelight with dinner before looking through large telescopes.

I like the simple mix of activities: camel riding and sunset give the afternoon some action, while the meal and stargazing slow things down. I also like the clear $40 price, which covers transport, dinner, drinks, guides, and telescope use.

The main drawback is the 4×4 ride. The drive can feel rough, and one practical warning is worth taking seriously: if you get carsick, consider bringing travel medicine. Remote hotel pickups and the national park ticket also cost extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Desert stargazing after dark: The tour heads away from Hurghada to a Red Sea desert valley with little artificial light.
• Camel ride and sunset climb: You ride a camel, then walk up a small mountain for the evening view.
• Dinner by fire and candles: The barbecue buffet includes chicken, beef, rice, salad, tomatoes, cheese, dessert, tea, soft drinks, and water.
• Telescope included: Guides use telescopes as part of the stargazing explanation.
• Five to six hours door to door: Pickup begins around 2:00 pm, with the evening built around sunset.
• Extra charges are limited but real: Some resort pickups cost $5 or $10 per person, and a $2 national park ticket is paid in cash on site.

Leaving Hurghada for the Red Sea desert

Your afternoon starts with pickup from your Hurghada hotel at about 2:00 pm. Transport is described as an air-conditioned van and a 4×4 jeep, so you should expect a road transfer followed by a more rugged desert ride.

That change in vehicle matters. The 4×4 is practical for reaching the desert valley, but it is not luxury transport. The road can be bumpy, and the ride may be uncomfortable if you are prone to motion sickness. Sit where you usually feel best in a vehicle, carry water, and bring any medicine you normally use for a rough drive.

The full outing lasts about five to six hours. That makes this a substantial half-day activity rather than a quick sunset stop. You leave in the afternoon, spend the main part of the evening outside, and return after dinner and stargazing.

The group can reach up to 40 people. That is large enough to affect the mood, especially during telescope viewing and dinner. If you want a quiet private desert evening, this may not be the right format. If you enjoy a social outing and want several activities bundled together, the size keeps the price low.

A camel ride before the sun drops

On arrival, you begin with a camel ride. The supplied details do not state how long the ride lasts, so I would treat it as one part of the program rather than the main camel-trekking event.

A camel ride gives you a traditional desert experience without requiring a full day in the saddle. You should wear comfortable trousers or other clothing that allows easy movement, and shoes suitable for sand and a short walk. The tour is open to most people, but anyone with mobility concerns should ask the provider before booking because the activity includes mounting a camel and climbing a small mountain.

The ride also helps set the pace for the evening. You are not simply driven to a dinner camp, fed, and sent home. The tour gives you a few different ways to experience the desert, starting with a slow animal ride before the light changes.

A small mountain and a wide sunset view

After the camel ride, you climb a small mountain to watch the sunset. This is one of the more appealing details of the program because the view is earned with a short walk rather than seen only through a vehicle window.

The description does not give the height, distance, or walking time. Do not assume a serious hike, but do expect uneven ground and a little exertion. Bring shoes with a firm sole, and remember that the desert can cool quickly once the sun goes down.

Sunset also marks the change between the active and relaxed parts of the tour. The camel ride and climb happen while there is still daylight. Then the focus shifts to food, fire, candles, and the night sky.

If photography matters to you, this is the time to prepare your camera or phone. The sunset is likely to be your clearest chance for bright, natural color. After dark, the desert setting is better suited to watching stars than taking ordinary travel photos.

Barbecue dinner under firelight

Dinner is served as a barbecue buffet while the sun sets or just after it has gone down. The menu includes grilled chicken, beef, rice, green salad, tomatoes, cheese, and desserts. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, and bottled water are also included.

That is a useful amount of food for a six-hour excursion. You are not paying separately for a restaurant meal at the end of the evening, and the buffet format lets you choose from several basic dishes. The food is straightforward rather than fancy, which suits a camp-style desert setting.

The fire and candles are an important part of the atmosphere. This is presented as a camping-style meal, not a formal romantic restaurant. Couples can enjoy the setting, but families and friends should fit it just as well.

You should keep your expectations practical. The supplied details do not promise a private table, waiter service, or a special menu for dietary needs. If you have food restrictions, ask before departure. The listed dishes include meat, dairy, rice, salad, and dessert, but no special dietary arrangements are confirmed.

The dinner is also where the value of the tour becomes easier to judge. A separate camel ride, desert transfer, meal, and evening stargazing activity could quickly cost more if booked one by one. At $40 per person, the package is priced as an accessible group outing, not a luxury dinner experience.

Using telescopes beneath the desert sky

The stargazing is the tour’s most distinctive feature. Guides explain the night sky with the help of large telescopes, giving you more than a quick look upward from the dinner area.

The desert location helps because there is less city light than in Hurghada. The experience description presents this Red Sea valley as a strong place for stargazing, and the schedule allows you to watch the stars after the sunset and meal rather than squeezing astronomy into a few minutes.

You should keep the weather in mind. The tour promises telescope use and explanations, but no outdoor stargazing activity can control cloud, haze, or visibility. The provided information does not give a backup plan for poor conditions.

The program is aimed at all ages, and that makes sense. Children can enjoy the novelty of a camel ride and telescope, while adults get a calm evening away from resort lights. Couples may like the candles and open sky, but the group size means the mood will be shared rather than private.

The stargazing segment is also a good reason to bring a light layer. No temperature guidance is given, but an afternoon desert trip that continues into the night can feel different after sunset. A small flashlight may be useful, although the camp includes fire and candles.

What the $40 price really covers

At $40 per person, the price is strong for a five to six-hour program that includes transport from a Hurghada hotel, a camel ride, dinner, drinks, a guide, telescope use, and listed fees and taxes.

The price is especially useful for families and friends who want one booking to cover the main costs. You do not need to budget separately for the barbecue meal, bottled water, tea, soft drinks, or telescope activity.

Still, the headline price is not the final price for every pickup point. Hotels in Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi, or El Gouna pay an additional $5 per person. Hotels in Soma Bay or Safaga pay an additional $10 per person. There is also a $2 cash national park ticket paid on site.

Those charges are small, but you should include them when comparing options. The $40 rate applies most cleanly to standard Hurghada pickup. If you are staying farther south or north, the total cost rises.

The operator describes the price as one of the lowest in Hurghada and says there are no hidden costs. The listed extras are clear, so the sensible approach is to check your hotel zone and carry the required cash for the park ticket.

Who will enjoy this desert evening most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want variety. It combines transport, a camel ride, a sunset viewpoint, dinner, and telescope stargazing in one evening. You do not need to organize separate bookings or work out desert transport yourself.

It suits families because the activities change often enough to keep the evening moving. It also suits couples who want a simple outdoor dinner with firelight and stars, as long as you are comfortable sharing the setting with a group of up to 40 people.

Friends can make good use of the format too. The camel ride and sunset provide photo opportunities, and the dinner gives you time to sit together before the astronomy session.

I would be more cautious if you dislike rough vehicle rides, need a fully accessible route, or want a polished private dinner. The activity says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed accessibility information. The small mountain climb and camel ride deserve special attention if walking or mounting an animal is difficult for you.

Practical advice for a smoother evening

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can handle sand, a short climb, and time outdoors. Keep your phone or camera charged, but do not expect every part of the evening to be easy to photograph once darkness arrives.

Carry a light layer for after sunset. Bottled water is included, so you do not need to buy drinks during the activity, though it is still sensible to start the afternoon hydrated.

If you get carsick, prepare before the 4×4 ride. One useful tip is to take a travel pill if that is normally safe and appropriate for you. The rough drive is the clearest practical concern attached to this experience.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, so check your plans before the cutoff.

Should you book this Hurghada safari?

Book it if you want an affordable, full evening outside the resort with several distinct parts: camel riding, sunset, a filling barbecue, and telescope stargazing. The $40 package covers enough to make it good value, especially for a first desert outing or a family holiday.

Think twice if your priority is comfort, privacy, or a quiet luxury dinner. The 4×4 transfer may be bumpy, the group may reach 40 people, and extra pickup fees apply outside standard Hurghada hotels.

For most people, the strongest reason to choose it is the combination. You get a sunset experience before dark and an astronomy experience after it, with dinner in between. That gives the evening a natural rhythm and more substance than a basic desert transfer followed by a meal.

FAQ

How long does the Hurghada safari last?

The experience lasts approximately five to six hours. Pickup begins at about 2:00 pm.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes 4×4 transport to and from the hotel, fees and taxes, dinner, tea or coffee, soft drinks, bottled water, a professional guide, and telescope use.

What food is served at dinner?

The barbecue buffet includes green salad, tomatoes, cheese, rice, grilled chicken, beef, and desserts.

Are hotel pickups outside Hurghada included?

Pickups from Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi, and El Gouna cost an additional $5 per person. Pickups from Soma Bay and Safaga cost an additional $10 per person.

Is there any extra payment on the evening?

You must pay a $2 per person national park ticket in cash on site. The remote hotel pickup fees also apply where relevant.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.