Hurghada - Introduction

Hurghada claims the prize of being the first commercial dive base in the Red Sea, dating back to the 1960s. Once an isolated and modest fishing village, it's now a thriving tourist resort devoted entirely to diving and snorkelling enthusiasts. With more than 40km (25 miles) of hotels along the beach, Hurghada can satisfy the needs of every visitor, and provide accommodation to match, from the simplest guest house to the finest five-star hotel. The resort is now home to more than 60,000 people and hundreds of hotels. It's also the gateway to Egypt's southern dive sites, including Safaga, Quseir and Marsa Alam.

Who Goes There
Hurghada attracts scuba-divers from all around the world as well as package holidaymakers, mainly from Europe. There are many hotels that cater for families, as well as other more popular resorts for young people. Egyptians, Saudis and other Arabs have long since joined the stream of Europeans coming here throughout most of the year.

Where in the World
Hurghada is located along the western margin of the northern Red Sea, in Egypt, 530km (330 miles) south of Cairo and 290km (180 miles) east of Luxor.

Stretching for about 40km (25 miles) along the seashore, the resort doesn't reach far into the surrounding desert. Hurghada is, in reality, three main centres and numerous self-contained tourist villages now merging into one resort. To the north lies the old town, Ad-Dahar, which has more than half of the total local population, and the cheapest hotels and restaurants. A couple of kilometres south is the Port of Sigala. New Hurghada is another few kilometres further south.

When to go
Hurghada is warm and dry year-round, with the best times to visit being between February to June and September to November. During the summer months the temperature can soar to an uncomfortable 40°C (104°F), however for divers this does provide bath warm waters in which to enjoy the marine life.

Beach
Long stretches of natural sand beaches and a year-round dry and temperate climate make this area an ideal destination for sun seekers and watersports enthusiasts. Hurghada's waters are clear and calm for most of the year and are popular for watersports, in particular for scuba-diving and snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing and deep-sea fishing.

Beyond the Beach
Most of Hurghada's dive sites are offshore and involve a boat ride of at least half an hour. The diving centres provide daily guided boat services as well as extended live-aboard trips. Weather conditions, especially the northerly winds, are a key factor on the daily choice of diving spots.

Family Fun
The luxury holiday villages provide all kind of activities for families. It is also possible to arrange day trips to the nearby islands, for snorkelling and fish barbecues. For those who prefer to stay dry but still want to discover the impressive underwater life in the Red Sea, Sinbad submarine is a unique experience: the yellow submarine transports up to 44 passengers and dives down to 22m (72ft) underwater.

There are also numerous trips or safaris on offer to explore the Red Sea Mountains by camel, jeep or quads.

Retail Therapy
One of the old town highlights is a visit to the souk, where it's possible to browse in canvas-covered alleys past countless clothing shops, fragrant spice stalls and craft stands. The list of typical products includes handicrafts, plants, rugs and carpets, jewellery, shishas (water pipes), brassware and copperware, leather goods and glass objects. When shopping in the souk, be aware that it is a tradition to haggle with the shopkeeper about the price, along with accepting a cup of the mint tea that all shops offer to their customers.

A Night on the Town
The main town area, Ad-Dahar, a few kilometres away from the resort hotels strip, has preserved all the traditions of a small fishing village, and apart from some restaurants, there's not much to offer as far as nightlife is concerned. However, Hurghada is known as a party destination and nearly every hotel has its own disco. Some of the most popular ones are Calypso (www.calypsohurghada.com) and Papas Beach club (www.papasbar.com). There are also many other bars and cafes along the main road.

Eating Out
Every hotel offers a vast array of international and local food. In the main town area there are a couple of local restaurants with roof terraces where they serve fresh fish and local specialities. Restaurants and cafes are also found along the main road. The best place to experience the local flavours is in the downtown area of El Dahar, where there are many small restaurants and street vendors selling authentic Egyptian Fare. Those looking for international cuisine can head to one of the many chain restaurants such as the Hard Rock Café (www.hardrock.com).

Getting Around
Outside hotel compounds the main means of transport are microbuses, local taxis and tourist taxis (which charge double the normal fare). Buses and minibuses connect most major cities and towns.

Exploring Further Afield
Apart from many popular diving and snorkelling spots, like Giftun Island, there are not many places of interest within easy reach of Hurghada. However, travel agencies and tour operators around town organise day trips to Luxor, to visit the famous Karnak Temple, and to closer archaeological sites like the Coptic Christian Monasteries of Saint Anthony and Saint Paul and Mons Claudianus and Porphyritis, the sites of two old roman settlements. Four-wheel drive excursions to the desert are also popular.

Splashing Out
El Gouna (www.elgouna.com), an artificially-created and privately-owned luxury hotel town is only 25km (16 miles) north of Hurghada. Its beauty comes not only from its charming design and tranquil atmosphere, but also from the fact that the town consists of several islands separated by channels and connected by bridges. Besides 14 hotels and two marinas, there are also private villas and apartments. With 3km (2 miles) of beachfront, tranquil lagoons and lush gardens, this self-sufficient resort offers extensive facilities to cater for any need: restaurants and bars, swimming pools, health clubs, kids clubs, diving, kite surfing, spas and golf courses.

Flying In
Hurghada Airport (HRG)

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