When you holiday in Hurghada you’ll find the attractions extend far beyond the glorious white-sand beaches and luxurious hotels.
Along 19 miles of coast, in eastern Egypt, the clear waters and beautiful coral reefs with exotic marine life are waiting to be explored so try snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing in a glass-bottomed boat or go beneath the waves in a yellow submarine! Look for rays, eels, turtles and even dolphins in the Red Sea.
The brisk offshore breezes also make the area popular for watersports so the region is perfect for kitesurfing, boardsailing and yachting – and there are plenty of activity centres, hire shops and tour operators to choose from.
A visit to Hurghada’s old town, El Dahar, gives a flavour of times past, with traditional restaurants and a large market where you can browse at clothes, linens and crafts as well as sampling delicious food.
Of course, the year-round sunshine is crucial to Hurghada’s popularity, with temperatures ranging from around 20C in the winter and up to 40C in the middle of summer, bringing up to 11 hours of sunshine on the longest days.
Children of all ages love the two waterparks where the entry fee includes food and drink all day – the Jungle Aqua Park has 35 slides and 32 pools, and Makadi Water World, to the south, is even larger.
Hurghada City is the second largest town on the Red Sea and there’s a great party atmosphere in clubs around the tourist centres, but visitors who prefer to wind down with a sunset stroll should head for chilled-out Abu Tigh Marina, at El Gouna, to find a choice of restaurants offering international cuisine.
Excursions are tempting to islands including Abu Minqar, Giftun and Shadwan, while for history and culture try the magnificent Mosque El Mina Masjid with its fascinating artefacts and decor, the desert fortresses and temples of Mons Porphyrites, where the Romans quarried striking purple rocks, and the centuries-old Coptic Monastery of St Anthony in the Red Sea Mountain
