Quad, camel and supper in the desert behind Hurghada

The story

Behind Hurghada the Eastern Desert runs back to the Red Sea Hills, a range that lies between 80 and 137 km inland and rises to 2,184 m (Wikipedia). The afternoon ride goes out into the first of that country.

It is Hurghada's most booked evening, and the best-reviewed versions share one thing: small groups that ride at a real pace rather than a slow single file. The weaker reviews describe crowded camps and a loud show. We choose accordingly.

Our judgement: Safaris vary more than their names suggest. We choose the small, well-run ones, and we tell you what the evening is really like.

What happens

1. Collection from your hotel in the afternoon and a briefing at the desert station.
2. Ride a quad or a buggy behind the leader into open desert as the heat drops.
3. A short camel ride and tea at a Bedouin camp.
4. Supper at the camp after dark, with time to look up at the sky before the drive back.

A proposed shape, not a fixed programme. The host sets the order on the day.

What it asks of you

Dust and vibration on the quad, and the balance to steer it. The camel ride is short. The evening can be cold in winter.

Minimum age

Set by the operator; children ride as passengers

Best season

October to April is kindest; summer rides start late

What we confirm before you go

Where it fits

• A Red Sea Coast Journey to RestWhere on the coast should you rest, when some companions are active and others are not?

More in desert & sand

• Sinai by quad, then supper with the BedouinThe South Sinai desert inland from Sharm El Sheikh
• Sunrise on Mount SinaiMount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery, South Sinai
• A telescope night in the Eastern DesertThe Eastern Desert inland from Hurghada
• A Sinai Trail daySt Catherine, South Sinai
• Saqqara by quad and dirt bikeThe desert edge at Saqqara, south of Giza
• The White Desert after darkWhite Desert National Park, Western Desert