Hurghada: Red Sea & Desert Horse Riding Tour with Swimming

A horse entering the Red Sea with you on its back is the memorable part here. The tour combines a desert ride with a beach ride, then adds an optional swim with the horse for about an hour. It is an unusual way to see Hurghada beyond hotel pools and boat trips.

I like the patient instruction from guides such as Karim, Ameen, Keo, and Sasa, especially for first-time riders. I also like the care shown toward the horses, which are repeatedly described as calm, healthy, and well handled. The main consideration is that riding for several hours is physical, and transfer timing can be less exact than the rest of the experience.

The tour offers:

• A desert ride: Ride across Hurghada’s dry, open surroundings for about one hour.
• A Red Sea beach ride: Follow the shore and enter the water with your horse.
• An optional horse swim: Choose the swim option for roughly one hour in the sea.
• Beginner support: Guides explain basic riding, help with mounting and control, and may stay beside nervous riders.
• Useful equipment: Helmets, saddles, chaps, hotel transfers, tea, coffee, and water are included.
• Strong value: At $20 per person, this is an inexpensive half-day-style outing, though pickup from some resort areas costs extra.

The Red Sea Swim Is the Main Event

The unusual promise here is simple: you ride a horse into the Red Sea and, if you choose the right option, swim with it. This is not just a quick photo stop at the water’s edge. The swim option lasts around an hour, making it the part to prioritize when comparing booking choices.

The horse swim changes the mood of the outing. On land, you are learning control, posture, and pace. In the water, the ride becomes slower and more relaxed, with the sea and the animal doing most of the work. It is a rare chance to spend time with a horse in a completely different setting.

You should bring swimwear if you select this option. A towel is also sensible, although the listed inclusions do not specifically promise one. If you book only the standard ride, you still get the desert and beach portions, but you miss the most distinctive feature.

From Hurghada Hotel to Stable

The day begins with pickup from your Hurghada hotel. The provider contacts you with the exact arrangement, and you should send your room number by email or WhatsApp if possible. Pickup time depends on your hotel, so confirm it the day before. A delay of up to 10 minutes is possible.

Transport is included from hotels in Hurghada. If you are staying in El Gouna, Al Ahyaa, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Safaga, or Soma Bay, pickup and drop-off can be arranged for an additional €10 per person. That extra charge matters when judging the total price, especially for couples or families.

The vehicle is one practical weak point. One person specifically found the pickup timing and vehicle comfort less impressive than the ride itself. I would not let that stop you from booking, but I would keep a little flexibility around the start of your day.

At the stable, you meet the guide and your horse. The team gives you an introductory safety briefing and explains the basic controls. Helmets, saddles, and chaps are provided. The emphasis is on getting riders comfortable before leaving, rather than sending everyone out at once.

Meeting the Horses and Learning the Basics

The horses are a major part of the experience, not just transport. Names such as Shakira and Boyka appear in the feedback, and several guides are praised by name, including Karim, Ameen, Keo, Sasa, Abdul, Yusef, and Mohamed. The staff often take photos and short videos with your own phone, which is useful if you want memories without buying a separate photo package.

Beginners receive the most help. Guides explain how to sit, hold the reins, and manage the horse. Some nervous riders were given constant support, with a guide holding the horse’s lead for much of the ride. That can make a real difference if you have never ridden before or feel uneasy about height and movement.

The support does not mean this is effortless. Horseback riding uses your legs, back, and balance, and you remain in the saddle at each station for roughly 40 to 60 minutes. The total riding time is about two hours, or closer to three hours if you choose the swim option and count the full activity.

Some riders are taught to trot, and more confident groups may get a chance to canter or run. Your exact pace depends on the group and the guides. If you are a complete beginner, do not expect a fast ride from the start. The safety briefing and gradual practice are there for a reason.

Wear flexible, breathable long trousers. They help prevent rubbing and chafing. Loose beach clothes are less useful in the saddle, and shorts may become uncomfortable during a long ride.

One Hour Through Hurghada’s Desert

The first major riding section heads into the desert. The setting is spare and wide open, with dry ground, sand, and views that feel very different from the resort strip. The attraction is not a long list of sights. It is the change of pace and the simple pleasure of moving through a quiet, open setting on horseback.

You get a closer look at the region’s natural plants and animals than you would from a tour vehicle. Do not expect a wildlife safari, but the desert ride gives you a sense of Hurghada’s surroundings beyond the sea. The open space also gives the guides room to teach riding without the tight limits of a stable yard.

I like this section because it gives the outing some shape. You are not simply led to the shoreline for a quick photo. You first learn to manage the horse on land, then move toward the coast with more confidence.

The desert can also expose the physical side of the tour. Sun, heat, and saddle time can wear you down, especially if you are not used to riding. Water is included, and you should drink it. Coffee and tea are also provided, but they are no substitute for hydration.

Along the Beach and Into the Sea

The second riding section follows the Red Sea beach. You hear the waves, feel the sea air, and get a much softer setting after the dry desert. The contrast is the strength of the itinerary: pale sand and open desert first, then water and coast.

The beach ride is more than a view from the saddle. The horses enter the shallows, allowing you to experience the sea at a slower pace. This is a good point for photos, and guides may take pictures with your phone as they help position riders and horses.

The standard ride includes about one hour in the desert and one hour at the beach. The activity information also says you will be on the horse at each station for between 40 and 60 minutes, so the exact sequence and riding time may vary slightly.

For families, the beach portion can be the easiest place to relax. Several accounts describe guides helping children and nervous adults, including one case where a guide rode back on a donkey with a young child. Still, children must be able to manage a physical activity and follow instructions. The data does not provide a minimum age, so ask the provider before booking for younger children.

What the Horse Swim Is Really Like

The optional swim is the feature that separates this outing from a standard beach ride. You and the horse enter the Red Sea for around an hour. The activity is refreshing, but it also requires trust. You need to be comfortable with water, the horse’s movement, and the changing feel of the saddle and reins.

The guides remain important here. Their job is to keep the group together, watch the horses, and help riders who are unsure. The strongest praise goes to the staff’s calm and friendly manner, especially when riders begin nervous. Karim, Ameen, Keo, and Sasa are frequently singled out for reassurance, humor, and practical help.

Choose the swim option when booking. Do not assume you can add it on the day. The basic package lists the desert and beach rides, while swimming with horses is included only when that option is selected.

I would also avoid treating the swim as a passive photo session. You still need balance and attention. Listen to the guide, keep your movements steady, and let the horse set a comfortable pace.

Horses, Handling, and Safety

The most encouraging pattern is the attention given to the horses. The animals are described as healthy, calm, well trained, and friendly. One account notes that they are ridden in the morning and evening and kept in pleasant stables. That does not replace seeing the conditions yourself, but it gives useful context for the operation.

Helmets are included, as are saddles and chaps. The safety briefing covers the basics before you ride out. Guides help with mounting, riding position, and control, and some stay close to nervous riders.

There is a firm weight limit of 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms, for the horses’ safety. This is not a minor booking detail. If you are near the limit, contact the provider before paying so there is no awkward surprise at the stable.

You should also be honest about your fitness and riding experience. The activity is suitable for beginners in terms of instruction, but it remains physical. A person who nearly fainted during the outing was looked after and offered an alternative ride on a donkey. That shows a helpful response from the staff, but it also underlines the need to consider heat, exertion, and your own health.

Food, Drinks, Photos, and the End of the Day

After the ride, you return to the stable and relax with refreshments. Coffee, tea, and water are included. The experience information also describes a freshly cooked meal with music after the ride, so this is more than a simple saddle-and-transfer outing.

The exact meal is not specified, so do not book it expecting a particular menu. Think of it as a chance to sit down, cool off, and spend a little more time at the stable after the activity.

Photo help is another small advantage. Guides often take pictures and videos using your own phone, and some accounts describe professional cameras as well. This gives you a practical way to record the desert, beach, and swimming sections without having to manage your phone while riding.

The return transfer takes you back to your Hurghada hotel. As with the morning pickup, the exact timing depends on location and traffic, so avoid scheduling a tight connection afterward.

Is $20 Good Value?

At $20 per person, the standard outing offers strong value. You receive hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada, a guide, about one hour of desert riding, about one hour at the beach, a helmet, chaps, water, and hot drinks. That is a lot of activity for the price.

The value becomes even better if you specifically want something active and unusual rather than a passive sightseeing trip. The horse swim option adds the main special feature, though the supplied information does not state a separate price for that option. Check the final booking total carefully.

The price is less simple for people staying outside Hurghada. The €10 per person transfer supplement from El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Safaga, Soma Bay, and some other areas is still reasonable, but it changes the headline cost.

Special offers are advertised on Tuesdays and Fridays in the main activity information, while another description refers to Sundays and Fridays. Since those days conflict, confirm the current offer before choosing your date. The tour operates daily.

You can reserve and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Those terms are helpful if your beach holiday plans are still shifting.

Who Should Book This Horse Ride?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time riders who want patient instruction and close help.
• Couples looking for a memorable activity beyond the usual Hurghada excursions.
• Families with children who can follow instructions and manage a physical ride.
• Confident riders who want a chance to trot or canter, depending on the group.
• Anyone drawn to the horse swim and willing to choose that option in advance.

I would think twice if you dislike animals, struggle with long periods in the saddle, or want a quiet, fully air-conditioned day. The tour is friendly and accessible to beginners, but it is not a gentle sightseeing bus ride.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if the idea of riding from desert to beach and into the Red Sea genuinely appeals to you. The horse swim is the reason to choose this experience over a basic stable ride, and the guides receive especially strong praise for helping nervous riders feel secure.

Before booking, confirm your pickup time, resort transfer fee, weight limit, and the current special-offer day. Wear long flexible trousers, bring swimwear for the water option, and leave room in your schedule in case transport runs slightly late.

For $20 in Hurghada, this is a memorable, active outing with unusually good value. Just remember that the best moments require some effort from you, both in the saddle and in the water.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Hurghada. An extra €10 per person applies for pickup from El Gouna, Al Ahyaa, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, Safaga, and Soma Bay.

How long is the horse riding?

The listed activity includes about one hour of riding in the desert and one hour at the beach. You are on the horse for roughly 40 to 60 minutes at each station.

Is swimming with the horses included?

Swimming with the horses is included only if you select the swimming option when booking. The swim lasts around one hour.

Do I need riding experience?

No. Beginners are accepted, and the guides provide an introduction to basic riding and safety. Riding is still physical and may be difficult if you are not used to it.

What is the maximum rider weight?

For the horses’ safety, riders should not weigh more than 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable, breathable clothing with flexible long trousers. Long trousers help reduce chafing while riding. Bring swimwear if you choose the horse swim.

Are helmets provided?

Yes. Helmets, saddles, and chaps are included.

What languages are spoken?

The available languages are English, German, and Arabic.

Does the tour operate every day?

Yes. The tour operates daily. Special offers are listed for Tuesdays and Fridays in the main activity information, although another description mentions Sundays and Fridays, so confirm the current offer before booking.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.