Hurghada: Horse Ride, BBQ Dinner, and Stargazing

The best part of this Hurghada outing comes when your horse carries you through quiet desert valleys toward the sunset. Mountains frame the route, the air turns cooler after dark, and the combination of horseback riding, dinner, and astronomy gives you much more variety than a simple desert transfer.

I like the careful start, with a welcome drink, safety briefing, and riding gear. I also like the way the evening builds from horseback riding at sunset to a BBQ and telescope viewing under a clear sky. The main caution is the jeep transfer: it can be rough and very fast, so this is not the gentle desert outing for everyone.

Key points

• One hour on horseback: Ride through valleys and up toward a sunset viewpoint, with stops for rest and photos.
• A real off-road approach: The group travels about 17 kilometers by jeep from the meeting point to the desert oasis.
• Dinner under open skies: Expect Indian rice, grilled chicken, meatballs, vegetables, salads, fruit, and cola.
• Telescope time after dark: A guide explains star groups and points out available targets, including the moon or planets when conditions allow.
• Good support for beginners: Guides fit your gear and adjust the riding pace to your comfort and skill.
• A lively, not private, outing: The stargazing may involve a large group, with two telescopes shared among participants.

From Hurghada to a Desert Oasis by Jeep

Your evening begins with hotel pickup in Hurghada. The exact collection time depends on where you stay, so keep your phone available for messages. The organizers have used WhatsApp to communicate pickup details, and the transfer has generally been punctual.

From the meeting point, the group heads roughly 17 kilometers into the desert by jeep. This is part of the fun for some people, but it is also the section you should think about most carefully. The ride can be bumpy, energetic, and surprisingly fast. One account describes speeds above 100 kilometers per hour and rear seating without seatbelts, so ask about seating and safety if that concerns you.

The drive may also include a stop to collect other participants. Allow plenty of time for the full outing. One recent schedule ran from about 1:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., including pickup, the desert program, and the return to Hurghada. Your exact timing can vary with hotel location and the group.

The rough ride does have a payoff. The desert becomes more remote as you leave the resort area, and arriving at an oasis inside the open desert gives the evening a stronger sense of place than a short horseback circuit beside a hotel.

Welcome Tea and a Clear Safety Briefing

At the oasis, you receive Arabian tea or coffee before the riding begins. This small pause matters. You have time to look around, meet the guides, and settle in before climbing onto a horse.

The guide explains the program and goes over the safety rules. Riding gear is provided, and the staff helps first-time riders learn how to control the horse. Several people with no previous riding experience found the instruction reassuring, with guides staying close and offering help throughout the route.

You should still be honest about your ability. The speed and riding style depend on the skill and comfort of the group. This is not a race, and the guide can keep the pace controlled. If you want a faster ride, that depends on the conditions and the group rather than being guaranteed.

The horses are an important part of the experience. The available feedback describes them as calm, happy, and well cared for, which will matter to anyone who is careful about animal welfare. You can also expect photo stops, so you are not spending the whole hour trying to hold a camera while managing a horse.

One Hour Through Valleys and Toward Sunset

The horseback ride takes you between desert valleys framed by mountains. This is the strongest visual part of the outing. The terrain gives you more to see than a flat open plain, and the changing light makes the hills look different as the sun drops.

The group stops to rest and take photos. A ride to a hilltop or higher viewpoint is part of the usual experience, giving you a broad view as the sun sets. The route back is shorter, allowing the evening to move naturally from daylight to dinner.

You do not need to be an experienced rider, but you do need to be comfortable sitting on a horse for about an hour. The desert sun can feel stronger than it does at your resort, even when the air temperature seems manageable. Wear sunscreen, bring sunglasses and a hat, and choose clothing suited to the weather. Long trousers may be more comfortable than shorts, though the tour information does not require a particular dress code.

The ride is also exposed. There is little shade once you are out among the valleys, and there is no promise of a private ride. Your experience depends partly on the size and ability of the group.

BBQ Dinner at the Oasis

After the ride, you return to the oasis for dinner. The meal includes Indian rice, grilled chicken, meatballs, vegetables, salads, fruit, and cola. Soft drinks are included, while alcohol is not allowed.

The food is designed as a filling group meal rather than a polished restaurant dinner. Several people found it tasty and satisfying, while one person described it as basic. That is a fair way to approach it. The value is in eating outdoors after the ride, not in expecting a fine-dining menu.

A useful point for families and couples is that dinner gives you a proper break after the desert ride. You can sit down, cool off, and enjoy the oasis before the astronomy talk. If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied information does not explain what substitutions are available, so ask before booking.

Be cautious with extra drinks or food sold separately. One person reported becoming ill after buying a smoothie that was not cold enough. That does not establish a general problem with the included dinner, but it is a good reason to stick with sealed or clearly chilled drinks if you have a sensitive stomach.

Stargazing With a Guide and Two Telescopes

After dinner, the guide explains star groups and points out objects visible in the night sky. The desert location helps because there is less resort lighting, and on a clear night the stars can be striking. This is the quietest and most unusual part of the evening.

The group uses professional telescopes to view targets available according to the calendar. That may include the moon, a planet, or a particular star. You should not expect every object to be available on every date, and clouds or haze can affect what you see.

The astronomy talk adds more value than simply looking upward. Guides such as Adam and Nasser, also known as Marshmallow, have been singled out for making the explanations entertaining and easy to follow. The delivery can be lively, with humor mixed into the information.

Keep your expectations realistic about telescope access. At busy times, there may be more than 45 people and only two telescopes, one set toward the moon and another toward a specific star or other target. You will need to wait your turn, and the viewing is brief rather than an open session where you control the telescope yourself.

That limitation is the main weakness of the final activity. The sky itself is free and often impressive, but the telescope portion can feel crowded. If you want a serious astronomy session with long individual viewing time, this is not the right format. If you want a fun introduction to the night sky after dinner, it works well.

What the $41 Price Really Covers

At $41 per person, the tour offers strong value if you want several activities in one evening. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada, the jeep transfer, a guide, riding gear, one hour of horseback riding, tea or coffee, dinner, soft drinks, and stargazing.

A separate horse ride, desert transfer, meal, and astronomy session could easily cost more when booked individually. The benefit here is convenience: you move through the evening with one organizer instead of arranging several short excursions.

The value depends on what you want from each part. Horse riding is the clear centerpiece. The sunset adds atmosphere, dinner is practical and filling, and the telescope session provides a memorable finish. The jeep ride adds excitement but may also be the part you like least if you dislike speed, bumps, or crowded transport.

A rating of 4.8 from 203 ratings reflects strong overall satisfaction, but the lower-scoring experiences point to the trade-offs. The dinner is not elaborate, the stargazing can involve a queue, and the outing takes longer than the headline activities suggest once transfers are included.

Who Will Enjoy This Evening Most

I would recommend this to couples looking for a different final night in Hurghada, families with older children, and first-time riders who want patient support. It also suits anyone who likes variety. In one evening, you get desert scenery, animals, sunset, food, off-road driving, and astronomy.

It is especially good for people who want an experience rather than a sightseeing checklist. There are no major historic sights here. The pleasure comes from being away from the resort, seeing the desert change color, and sitting under a dark sky.

You should think twice if you are pregnant, use a wheelchair, or are bringing a baby under one year old, since the activity is not suitable for those participants. You should also reconsider it if you are very nervous around horses or uncomfortable with fast off-road driving.

The tour uses English, French, German, Russian, Arabic, and Spanish. That makes it easier to follow the safety talk and astronomy explanation, though your exact guide and group language may vary.

Wear weather-appropriate clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat. Do not bring alcohol or drugs. The site is monitored by cameras and is described as following international health and safety standards, but normal desert-trip caution still applies.

Should You Book the Horse Ride and Stargazing Tour?

Book it if you want a full evening with plenty of variety and you are comfortable with a lively jeep transfer. The sunset horseback ride is the strongest reason to go, especially for beginners who want staff support and a scenic route rather than an intense riding lesson.

The dinner and stargazing make the $41 price feel fair, even if neither is highly formal. Just know that the telescope viewing may be shared with a large group, and the ride back can be tiring after a long day.

I would skip it if your priority is a calm, private horse ride, a slow off-road drive, or detailed one-on-one astronomy. For everyone else, this is a well-priced way to trade the hotel pool for a few hours of desert silence, mountain views, and a sky full of stars.

You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the tour take place?

The experience takes place in the Red Sea Governorate near Hurghada, at an oasis inside the desert.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and return transportation to hotels in Hurghada are included. The collection time depends on your hotel location.

How far is the desert meeting point?

The group travels about 17 kilometers by jeep from the meeting point to the oasis.

How long is the horseback ride?

The horseback portion lasts about one hour. The route runs through desert valleys and includes stops for rest and photographs.

Do I need previous horse-riding experience?

No specific experience is required. Guides explain how to control the horse, provide riding gear, and offer support. The speed depends on your ability and comfort.

What food is served at dinner?

Dinner includes Indian rice, grilled chicken, meatballs, vegetables, salads, fruit, and cola. Soft drinks are included.

Is the stargazing done with a telescope?

Yes. The guide explains star groups and uses professional telescopes to view targets available in the sky on that date.

Can I see the moon or planets?

You may see the moon, planets, or other available targets, depending on the calendar and sky conditions.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered in English, French, German, Russian, Arabic, and Spanish.

Who should not join this experience?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, or babies under one year old. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.