Hurghada holidays

What used to be a tiny fishing village on the coast of the Red Sea is now a busy destination for hot holidays and year round sunshine. Tourists started flocking here in the 1980’s after it became known that Hurghada is home to some of the most beautiful reefs in the world.

Although the untouched reefs are now further out at sea compared to 30 years ago, they still provide plenty of opportunity for exploration either through scuba diving or snorkelling in the more shallow waters. If water isn’t your thing, Hurghada is surrounded by the edge of the Sahara Desert meaning you can be adventurous on land with dune buggies and camel rides!

Even though Hurghada is mainly a tourist destination, there are still glimpses of it’s past in the old town of El Dahar where you can shop until you drop at the town’s bazaars or watch traditional Egyptian entertainment in the evening.

There are 3 main sections to Hurghada, 4 if you count the beautiful coastline. There’s the Old Town of El Dahar where narrow streets lace their way through old buildings and bazaars sell an array of local ware. There are also traditional mosques in this area of Hurghada which gives visitors a sense of the real flavour of Egypt.

A more modern area of Hurghada is the centre of Sekala, where life is lived around the old harbour. Situated near the airport, Sekala is livelier than El Dahar and has plenty of restaurants and bars to entertain through to the evening.

If you’ve come to Hurghada to explore the outdoors, head out into the ocean where you can swim around the colourful, dolphin friendly reefs and discover old World War 2 wrecks. The Red Sea has some of the best dive sites in the world and a professional guide will be able to show you where to dive. For wildlife enthusiasts though, head further out to sea and find Shaab El Erg reef where wild dolphins roam the waters!

Now, if you’re on holiday in Hurghada with your family, Makadi Water World is a sure fire win to keep kids entertained. With fast slides and cooling waters it’s a perfect day out in the heat of the Egyptian sun. Or you could always just spend the day at Dream Beach where the sands are pristine and the sea is crystal clear.

Hurghada is proud of it’s local and traditional food and there’s no wonder why when it’s so delicious. Feast on shrimp curry, grilled chicken and plenty of fresh seafood at the variety of restaurants in the area. However if you are looking for something a little more familiar, there are plenty of places serving up pizza, pasta and other western foods, including an Irish pub!

For a light bite during the day, you can grab a quick meal from a fast food restaurant or stop at a street stall in El Dahar to sample some local delicacies.

In the evening, make use of the barbeques by the beach for some quality family time while watching the sun set and then if you’re in a party mood you can always head to Hurghada’s cocktail bars for a late night drink!

Ten year British passport required with a minimum of 6 months from the return travel date. Visa can be paid on arrival in sterling.