Day trips · Hurghada · Egypt
4 best day trips from Hurghada
Where to go when you want a day away from Hurghada, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: user:vberger, Public domain
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Hurghada is Luxor (About 4 hours each way by road). The closest option is El Gouna, about 25 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- El Gouna (25 km)
- Most popular
- Luxor
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luxor | 300 km | About 4 hours each way by road | Organised tour or private driver | Culture, First-timers, Families |
| Dendera | 220 km | About 3 hours each way by road | Organised tour or private driver | Culture, Quiet stays |
| El Quseir | 140 km | About 2 hours by road | Private driver or car | Culture, Quiet stays |
| El Gouna | 25 km | About 30 minutes by taxi | Taxi | Couples, Food lovers, Nightlife |
The day trips
300 km · About 4 hours each way by road
1.Luxor
A long day from Hurghada covers Karnak Temple and the West Bank highlights — the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon — usually with a Nile crossing by boat. Tours leave before dawn; an overnight stay makes the trip much less rushed.
- Getting there
- Organised tour or private driver
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers, Families
220 km · About 3 hours each way by road
2.Dendera
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera near Qena is one of Egypt's best-preserved temples, with brightly restored blue ceilings and rooftop chapels. It is sometimes combined with Luxor on longer tours.
- Getting there
- Organised tour or private driver
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
140 km · About 2 hours by road
3.El Quseir
An old Red Sea port town south of Safaga with an Ottoman-era fortress, coral-stone merchants' houses and a quiet waterfront, far less developed than Hurghada.
- Getting there
- Private driver or car
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
25 km · About 30 minutes by taxi
4.El Gouna
The lagoon town north of Hurghada makes an easy half-day or evening out, with Abu Tig Marina's restaurants and bars, downtown lanes and bridges, and kitesurf beaches.
- Getting there
- Taxi
- Best for
- Couples, Food lovers, Nightlife
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Shared microbuses run along the main roads between El Dahar, Sekalla and Village Road; they are very cheap but informal.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Hurghada?
Luxor. A long day from Hurghada covers Karnak Temple and the West Bank highlights — the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon — usually with a Nile crossing by boat.
+How long does it take to get from Hurghada to Luxor?
About 4 hours each way by road — Organised tour or private driver, about 300 km.
+How long does it take to get from Hurghada to Dendera?
About 3 hours each way by road — Organised tour or private driver, about 220 km.