Small-Group 4x4 Trip in the Sahara from Hurghada

Pickup from your Hurghada hotel is at 11:45am or earlier: you'll travel in air-conditioned comfort to an oasis, where the adventure begins as you board a 4x4.

Head out into this rugged stretch of the Sahara known as the Eastern Desert, and admire the sculpted Red Sea Mountains in the distance: you'll pause to take pictures and perhaps climb a dune.

Your next stop is a traditional Bedouin village, a great chance to discover the lifestyles of this original desert people. Enjoy a glass of sweet Bedouin tea, prepared from a mix of black tea and desert herbs, as you learn about Bedouin culture and the strict laws that govern life in this harsh landscape.

Now it's time for a ride around the village. If a camel seems a little high for you, you can choose to ride a horse: either way, you'll spend about 10 minutes on board, under the careful eye of a Bedouin guide.

Marvel as the locals whip up Bedouin flatbreads over an open fire. As you sample their cooking, learn about the traditional remedies prepared from desert herbs. Take a stroll around the village to the miniature zoo, which showcases the surprising amount of life that survives in the Sahara: the reptile house is a highlight.

However, more desert adventure awaits! Don your helmet, climb aboard a quad bike, and learn the basics from your friendly guide before you zoom across the sands around the village. Next, swap your quad bike for a dune buggy, and a 10-minute trip around the desert.

As the sun sets over the desert, enjoy a Bedouin barbecue dinner, complete with complimentary sodas and mineral water. Take in a traditional Middle Eastern folkloric show – perhaps a belly dancer, a whirling dervish, or Bedouin music – and admire the night skies through a digital telescope before you hop back into your 4x4 to return to base. You'll be back at your hotel around 8:45pm, or slightly later.