Hurghada: Red Sea & Desert Horse Riding Tour with Swimming

The most unusual part of this Hurghada outing is simple to picture: you ride from the desert to the Red Sea, then, if you choose the swim option, enter the water with your horse. That is not a standard beach ride. It gives you a real change of setting, from dry sand and open desert to waves, sea air, and a horse paddling beside you.

I like the beginner-friendly instruction and the care given to nervous riders. Guides including Karim, Ameen, Keo, Sasa, Abdul, and Mohamed are repeatedly praised for steady help, good humor, and keeping riders comfortable. I also like the horse-and-sea combination, since the ride is more varied than a short circuit around a stable.

The main thing to consider is the physical effort. You stay on the horse for stations lasting about 40 to 60 minutes, and riding can be tiring if you have little experience. Hotel pickup is included from Hurghada, though some transfers may run up to 10 minutes late, and vehicle comfort has not impressed everyone.

Key points at a glance

• Swim with your horse: Select the swimming option for about an hour in the Red Sea.
• Two very different rides: Spend about an hour in the desert and another hour along the beach.
• Good support for beginners: Guides teach basic riding, help with trotting, and assist nervous riders.
• Horses are a major part of the appeal: The animals are described as calm, healthy, friendly, and well cared for.
• Useful inclusions: Hotel pickup in Hurghada, helmet, chaps, guide, tea or coffee, and water are provided.
• Strong value at $20: The price covers a substantial half-day-style activity, though the swim option and outlying hotel transfers need checking.

What the $20 experience really gives you

At $20 per person, this is unusually good value if you want an active outing rather than another few hours by the hotel pool. The standard experience includes roughly one hour of riding in the desert and one hour near the beach, with transfers, safety equipment, a guide, and drinks included.

The full outing takes about three hours, allowing time for pickup, the stable visit, getting matched with a horse, and returning to your hotel. If you choose the swimming option, the water portion can last around an hour, so check the exact package before paying. The supplied details describe the swim as an option rather than part of every booking.

The value comes from variety. Many riding trips offer one predictable route. Here, you get dry desert, Red Sea views, and possibly a genuine swim with the horse. That makes the fare especially attractive for couples, families, and anyone looking for one memorable activity in Hurghada.

The low price does not mean this is a private riding lesson. You are joining a guided excursion, and the pace and support will depend on the group. If you want advanced training, long periods of fast riding, or a quiet private ride, this may not be the right product.

Hotel pickup and the start at the stable

The day begins with pickup from your Hurghada hotel. The provider contacts you with the exact arrangements, and you should send your room number by email or WhatsApp if possible. Confirm the pickup time one day before the ride, since it depends on your hotel location.

Build in patience. A delay of up to 10 minutes is possible, and one experience specifically found the vehicle comfort and pickup timing less impressive than the ride itself. Pickup from Hurghada hotels is included, while hotels in El Gouna, Al Ahyaa, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, and Soma Bay require an extra charge of €10 per person.

At the stable, you meet the guide and your horse. The team gives a short safety briefing and explains the basic controls before you set off. Helmets and chaps are included, and the saddles are intended to keep you secure during the ride.

That first introduction matters if you are new to horses. Several guides, especially Karim, Ameen, Keo, and Sasa, are praised for staying close to beginners and helping people who feel nervous. One rider who had never properly ridden before said the staff helped build confidence quickly. Another nervous rider received someone’s steady assistance throughout the ride.

Still, do not treat the briefing as a substitute for riding ability. You need enough balance and physical strength to sit on a horse for long stretches. The stated weight limit is 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms, for the horses’ safety.

One hour across the Hurghada desert

The first riding section takes you into the desert. Expect broad, dry surroundings, open sand, and the spare plant life of the Red Sea region. It is a good setting for seeing the contrast between Hurghada’s resort strip and the quieter area beyond it.

The desert section also gives you time to get used to the horse. You learn how the animal responds to the reins and your body position, rather than being thrown straight into the water. Guides may help you move from a walk to a trot, depending on your confidence and the group.

That is an important distinction for beginners. The experience is not just a photo stop beside a horse. You are riding for a substantial period, and your legs, back, and balance will notice it. Wear flexible, breathable long trousers to reduce rubbing, and bring water even though the tour provides drinks.

The mood can vary with the group. Some riders are excited to trot, while others need a quiet pace. The available information suggests that the guides work with mixed abilities and give everyone a chance to enjoy the ride, but this is still a group activity rather than a tailored lesson.

The desert is also where the horses’ temperament becomes clear. The animals are often described as calm, well trained, and easy to handle. Riders have singled out individual horses such as Shakira and Boyka, though your assigned horse will depend on the stable and the day.

Riding beside the Red Sea

The beach section changes the experience completely. You feel the sea breeze, hear the water, and ride beside the Red Sea rather than across dry ground. The scenery provides the strongest visual payoff, especially when the horse and rider move toward the shallows.

You should not expect a long gallop along an empty beach. The time on the horse at each station is generally 40 to 60 minutes, and the pace depends on safety, riding ability, and the group. Some participants are taught to trot, while others remain at a slower pace.

The guides make this section accessible to mixed groups. Families with children have praised the support given to younger riders, including an eight-year-old and a seven-year-old. That does not remove the need for parental judgment, but it suggests the staff are attentive when children lose confidence.

The beach also creates the best photo opportunities. Guides are known to take photos and videos on your own phone at no extra charge, and some use professional cameras as well. Do not assume every package includes professionally edited images, but you can expect the staff to help capture the ride.

A practical warning: sand, sun, salt water, and horse movement are not kind to valuables. Keep phones secured when you are not taking pictures, and use a waterproof pouch if you select the swim option.

Swimming with the horse in the Red Sea

The swimming section is the reason many people book this outing. With the appropriate option selected, you enter the Red Sea with your horse for about an hour. This is not simply riding through ankle-deep water for a photograph. The descriptions indicate a proper swim stop, so bring swimwear.

The experience requires more physical confidence than the ordinary ride. In the water, your balance and grip feel different, and your clothes become heavy. Listen closely to the guide and follow instructions about when to enter, how to stay with the horse, and how to return to shore.

For many people, this becomes the emotional high point of the day. It offers a rare sense of connection with the animal, and the setting is hard to copy elsewhere. The combination of warm sea, open sky, and a horse moving through the water feels far removed from a normal stable lesson.

It is also the part I would examine most carefully before booking. Confirm that swimming is included in your selected option, since the standard inclusions separate horse swimming from the basic desert and beach rides. If you are uncomfortable in water or have trouble mounting and balancing, the ordinary ride may be the better choice.

The guides’ role matters here. Ameen, Karim, Keo, Sasa, and others are praised for reassurance and hands-on help. One rider who was worried about falling received continuous assistance, while another family changed their mind about entering the water after the guide helped a nervous child feel safe.

Horses, care, and the human side of the ride

The horse welfare question is important on any riding excursion. Here, the strongest positive detail is the repeated impression that the horses look healthy, calm, friendly, and cared for. Riders describe pleasant stables, well-trained animals, and horses that enjoy attention.

You will likely have time to greet and settle your horse before the ride. That small pause is valuable. It helps you learn the animal’s temperament and makes the activity feel more like a genuine stable visit than a quick tourist transaction.

The guides are a large part of the atmosphere. Karim is often praised for reassurance, humor, and affection for the horses. Ameen is described as friendly and professional, while Keo and Sasa receive praise for helping families and keeping the mood light. Mohamed, sometimes called Crazy, is remembered for making the trip fun while keeping it safe.

Names and staffing can change, so do not book on the promise of one particular guide. The useful point is that the team appears accustomed to first-time riders, families, and people who arrive nervous. Their ability to explain, steady, and encourage may matter more to you than the exact route.

After the ride, the experience includes tea or coffee and water. The wider description also mentions a freshly cooked meal and music after the ride. If food is important to your plans, confirm what is being served and whether it is included in your exact booking option.

Who should book this Hurghada activity?

This ride fits you best if you want a memorable half-day activity and have at least moderate physical ability. It works particularly well for:

• First-time riders who want close guidance
• Couples looking for something more unusual than a boat trip
• Families with children who can follow instructions
• Horse lovers interested in a desert and sea setting
• Confident riders who want the added excitement of swimming

You do not need advanced riding experience, but you should be ready for real time in the saddle. Long, flexible trousers are the sensible choice, and you should expect some soreness if you rarely ride.

This may not suit you if you dislike group activities, need a fully private itinerary, cannot sit comfortably on a horse, or do not want to enter the sea. The 220-pound weight limit is firm and exists for the horses’ safety.

The activity is offered in English, German, and Arabic. That gives you a useful communication choice, though you should request your preferred language when booking rather than assume it will be available at every departure.

Practical booking advice before you pay

There is one confusing detail worth clearing up. The supplied information says special offers run on Sundays and Fridays in one place, but says Tuesdays and Fridays elsewhere. Ask the provider which days currently have the reduced rate before choosing your date.

The reserve-now, pay-later policy can help if your Hurghada plans are still moving around. Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Keep the pickup details handy, confirm the time the day before, and allow a small buffer for the possible delay.

Your clothing should be comfortable and flexible. Long breathable trousers help prevent chafing, while swimwear is essential for the horse-swimming option. Bring sunscreen and protect your phone from water, but avoid carrying loose items on the horse.

At $20, the basic ride offers a lot: two riding environments, equipment, a guide, hotel transport within Hurghada, and refreshments. Add-on charges for distant resort areas and the exact cost of swimming can change the final value, so check those details before booking.

Should you book this horse ride?

I would book it if the idea of swimming with a horse genuinely appeals to you. That feature gives the outing its identity, and the desert-to-sea route offers much more variety than a short riding loop.

Choose the basic option if you mainly want a scenic ride and are unsure about the water. Choose the swim option if you are comfortable following instructions and want the most unusual part of the day. Either way, expect a physical activity, not a passive sightseeing tour.

The best reason to go is the combination of supportive guides, calm horses, and two very different settings. The main cautions are the group format, possible pickup delay, physical effort, and the need to confirm exactly what the swimming and special-offer packages include.

FAQ

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from hotels in Hurghada. Transfers from El Gouna, Al Ahyaa, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay, and Soma Bay cost an extra €10 per person.

How long does the tour last?

The activity takes approximately three hours, including about one hour riding in the desert and one hour riding near the beach. The swimming option adds a water session of around one hour.

Can beginners join?

Yes. The guides provide a safety briefing and basic riding instruction. The activity can still be tiring, and riding may be difficult if you have no experience or limited physical ability.

Is swimming with the horses included?

Swimming is included only if you select the swimming option. The water session takes place in the Red Sea and lasts around one hour.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothing, especially breathable, flexible long trousers to help prevent chafing. Bring swimwear if you select the horse-swimming option.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. Riders should not weigh more than 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms, for the horses’ safety.

What equipment is provided?

A helmet and chaps are included. The package also includes a guide, hotel transfers within Hurghada, coffee or tea, and water.

What languages are available?

The experience is offered in English, German, and Arabic. Confirm your preferred language when booking.