Hurghada: ATV Quad, Jeep and Buggy Safari with BBQ Dinner

Trade city noise for desert dust and sunset. This Hurghada outing packs a lot into one day: quad biking and dune buggies, a jeep ride, camel photos, a Bedouin camp, dinner, and live entertainment. I like the variety and the strong safety focus from guides such as Mohammed, Ramez, Azam, and Mo.

I also like the price, about $27 per person, since hotel transfers, dinner, water, a soft drink, helmets, and several activities are included. The main concern is that the buggy ride lasts only about 20 minutes, the camel ride is brief, and extra charges for goggles, scarves, and drinks can make the cheap headline price less cheap.

Key points at a glance

• Quad biking gets the most time: The ATV ride lasts about 30 minutes and includes a practice run before you set off.
• Three motorized activities in one day: You ride in a jeep, operate a quad bike, and take a buggy over desert tracks.
• The guides are a major strength: Mohammed, Mo, Ramez, Azam, Kareem, Meged, and Maya are praised for patience, humor, organization, and safety.
• The Bedouin stop adds cultural interest: You can taste Bedouin bread and herbal tea, and see a little of village life.
• Dinner comes with a show: Expect grilled food, salads, pasta, oriental music, Tanoura dancing, and fire performances.
• Animal welfare needs thought: Serious concerns were raised about the condition and handling of animals at the village stop.

A packed day beyond Hurghada’s hotels

This is a high-energy desert outing rather than a quiet cultural visit. You leave your hotel by air-conditioned jeep and head into the Sahara outside Hurghada, trading resort roads for open sand, rocky tracks, and views toward the desert hills near the Red Sea.

The program works well for you if you want several activities without paying separately for each one. It also suits families with older children, couples, and groups of friends who like a busy day. Children under four cannot join, and the trip is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or anyone over 200 pounds, or 91 kilograms.

The schedule includes a lot of movement. You will wait at certain points while equipment or groups are organized, and one person reported standing in the sun without shade for longer than expected. Bring patience along with your sunglasses.

The jeep ride into the Sahara

The first part of the outing is the drive from your hotel to the desert. The jeep is described as spacious and air-conditioned, which matters after a hot ride or when you are carrying dust on your clothes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for Hurghada properties.

The jeep is more than a transfer. It forms part of the desert safari, taking you across rougher ground and giving you a broad view of the area. You get a sense of how quickly Hurghada’s built-up resort zone gives way to a much emptier setting.

Pickup times are reported as prompt, and drivers stick to the agreed schedule. That is useful on a trip with several separate activities, since late transport could cut into your riding time. If you stay in Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Safaga, or Soma Bay, pickup costs an additional €10 per person.

Quad biking with a proper practice run

The ATV ride is the main motorized attraction. Before the group leaves, you get a test drive on the quad bike. That short practice session is important for first-time riders, since it lets you learn the throttle, brakes, and steering before riding across uneven desert ground.

The actual quad ride lasts about 30 minutes. That is long enough to feel like a real outing rather than a quick photo opportunity, and the quad section receives some of the strongest praise. You can expect dust, heat, noise, and a line of riders moving through the desert under guide supervision.

Safety is taken seriously. Helmets are included and mandatory, and guides stay with the group. Azam was praised for making sure nobody was left behind, while Ramez was described as helpful and informative. That kind of supervision makes a difference when a group includes both confident riders and people still learning.

You should wear clothes that can handle dust. A breathable shirt, closed shoes, sunglasses, and a scarf are sensible choices. The operator may offer protective goggles and scarves at an extra cost. One person had brought a scarf but was not allowed to use it, so ask about equipment rules before paying for anything.

A short but spirited buggy ride

After the quad bikes, you take a buggy across the dunes and desert tracks. The included ride lasts around 20 minutes. You operate the buggy yourself, with staff nearby and experienced drivers helping manage the activity.

The buggy section adds a different feel from the ATV. It is wider, louder, and more social, and it gives you a chance to ride with another person rather than balancing on a single quad. The tradeoff is duration. Several people felt the buggy ride could have been longer, especially because it is one of the headline activities.

At this price, the short ride is understandable, but you should set your expectations correctly. This is an introduction to buggy driving, not a full afternoon of dune driving. If the quad ride is your priority, you will probably feel satisfied. If you are booking mainly for the buggy, the time may feel tight.

Camels, sunset, and the Bedouin camp

The camel ride is brief and works best as a photo stop. You will ride through the sand for a short distance, with the desert and distant hills providing the backdrop. Sunset can be particularly attractive here, with the changing light falling across the mountains and Red Sea hills.

I would not book this trip mainly for camel riding. The ride is too short for that. Think of it as one small part of a larger day, useful for pictures and for trying a traditional form of desert transport.

The Bedouin camp gives the trip a cultural layer. You can taste Bedouin bread, drink hot herbal tea, and have dessert with local hosts. These touches are simple, but they offer more than a series of motorized rides. You get a small look at food preparation and hospitality in a desert setting.

There is also mention of a mini zoo and several animals at the village. This is the most serious concern in the whole program. One detailed account described distressed camels, very thin horses, a snake being handled roughly, and animals kept in poor conditions, including a baby crocodile in a small, dusty enclosure without swimming water.

That criticism should not be brushed aside. If animal welfare is important to you, ask the operator what animals are kept at the site and how they are treated. You can also decide in advance to skip animal interactions. The pleasant hospitality and capable guides do not cancel out concerns about the way animals may be used for entertainment.

BBQ dinner under the Bedouin tent

The evening meal is served after the active part of the safari. The food includes grilled chicken and other BBQ items, salads, pasta, and oriental-style dishes. Portions are described as generous, and the meal gives you a chance to sit down after the heat, dust, and motor noise.

The food is not presented as fine dining, and it should not be judged by that standard. It is a group dinner in a desert camp. Still, the meal appears to be a solid part of the value, especially since it is included in a $27 package with transport and several rides.

One soft drink and one bottle of water are included. Take the water seriously. The desert heat can catch you off guard, especially when you are wearing protective gear and riding for much of the afternoon. Additional drinks are available, but prices at the camp may be far above supermarket prices. One person paid 150 Egyptian pounds for sparkling water that cost about 15 pounds elsewhere.

You can bring a packed lunch according to the supplied guidance, though the BBQ dinner is the main included meal. Do not bring large luggage or bulky bags, since they are not allowed on the trip.

Tanoura, oriental music, and fire performances

Dinner comes with evening entertainment in the Bedouin tent. You can expect oriental music, a Tanoura dance, and fire performances. The show gives the day a clear finish and helps turn dinner into a shared evening event rather than a quick meal between activities.

The Tanoura performance is a traditional spinning dance, with the dancer turning repeatedly in a colorful costume. The fire show adds a more theatrical note. If you enjoy music and staged entertainment, this part is likely to be a highlight. If you prefer a quiet desert evening, the music and performance may feel more commercial than cultural.

The show is included, so you do not need to budget for a separate evening activity. That strengthens the overall value, particularly for families and groups looking for an easy night out after the safari.

Guides, safety, and how the day feels

The guide team is one of the clearest strengths. Mohammed is praised for energy, warmth, and keeping everyone involved. Mo, also identified as Mohannad, is described as kind and fluent in English. Ramez receives repeated praise for organization and helpful explanations, while Azam is remembered for patience and making sure the whole group stayed together.

Kareem, Meged, and Maya are also named positively. The languages offered are English, German, Russian, and Arabic, so you can request the language that best suits your group when booking.

The guides do more than point out the next activity. They help nervous riders, manage the order of the group, and keep an eye on safety. This matters because the day involves several transfers between vehicles, bikes, the village, dinner, and the show.

Still, the experience is not polished at every moment. You may sit in the sun while waiting, and the camp can feel busy when groups are changing activities. A hat, scarf, sunglasses, and breathable clothing will make those gaps easier.

Is $27 good value?

At $27 per person, the package is inexpensive for what it includes. You receive hotel transfers in the Hurghada area, a jeep safari, a 30-minute ATV ride, a 20-minute buggy ride, a camel ride, a Bedouin camp visit, tea, dinner, a soft drink, water, a helmet, and the evening show.

The strongest value comes from the variety. You are not paying for one short ride and a meal. You get a full program with several different settings and activities. The package is particularly good for a first visit to Hurghada, when you want to sample desert adventure without committing to an expensive private excursion.

The final cost can rise through optional purchases. Goggles, scarves, and bottled drinks may cost extra, and transport from the southern resort areas adds €10 per person. Bring your own sensible sun protection where permitted, and ask clearly about prices before accepting anything at the camp.

Who should book this safari?

I would recommend it to active families with older children, couples who want an easy day away from the pool, and groups that enjoy a packed schedule. It is also a good match for first-time quad riders because the test drive and guide supervision reduce some of the stress.

You should think twice if you dislike heat, dust, loud engines, or organized group activities. The trip is not designed for long, quiet time alone in the desert. It also does not suit pregnant people, anyone with back problems, children under four, or people over the stated 91-kilogram limit.

Animal welfare is the biggest personal decision. If the reported conditions at the village are unacceptable to you, contact FTS Travels before booking and ask whether the animal displays can be skipped. If no clear answer is available, choose a desert safari without a village animal stop.

Should you book the Hurghada ATV and BBQ safari?

Book it if you want maximum variety at a low price. The quad ride, reliable transfers, friendly guides, included dinner, and Tanoura and fire shows make this a lively day with strong practical value. The guides are repeatedly praised for keeping groups safe, organized, and in good spirits.

Do not book it expecting a long buggy expedition, an extended camel trek, or a fully authentic village visit. The buggy and camel sections are short, waiting in the heat is possible, extra purchases can be expensive, and the animal conditions deserve careful thought.

For most active visitors who accept those limits, this is a fun and affordable way to see the desert outside Hurghada. Just bring sun protection, budget for dust, check the add-on prices, and decide in advance how you feel about the animal stop. Cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, which gives you some room to reconsider after asking those questions.

FAQ

What is included in the Hurghada safari?

The package includes hotel pickup and drop-off in the Hurghada area, a jeep and dune safari, a 30-minute quad or ATV ride, a 20-minute buggy ride, a camel ride, a test drive, a helmet, one soft drink, one bottle of water, a Bedouin camp visit with tea, BBQ dinner, Tanoura dancing, and a fire show.

How long is the ATV ride?

The included quad or ATV ride lasts about 30 minutes. A test drive takes place before the main desert ride begins.

How long is the buggy ride?

The buggy ride lasts about 20 minutes. Some people may find this short, especially if buggy driving is their main reason for booking.

Is hotel pickup included from all Hurghada-area resorts?

Pickup and drop-off are included from hotels in Hurghada. Pickup from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Safaga, and Soma Bay is available for an additional €10 per person.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, comfortable breathable clothing, a scarf, and clothing suitable for the weather. You may also bring a packed lunch. Large bags and luggage are not allowed.

Who should not take this tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under four, pregnant women, people with back problems, or people over 200 pounds, or 91 kilograms.