Hurghada- The Ideal Base for Tours and Excursions in Egypt

With an international airport just a few kilometres outside Hurghada City, Hurghada is a popular destination for tourists taking holidays to Egypt. Its position on the Red Sea also means it is in a convenient location for visiting other areas of Egypt, including Cairo, Luxor and Sinai. There are a number of tours and packages offered from Hurghada , including Jeep safaris into the nearby desert, boat trips to islands off the coast, and longer excursions to the Pyramids in Cairo, the Valley of the Kings in Luxor and the River Nile. If you're spending your holidays in Hurghada, it's likely you'll want to take the odd tour or excursion to experience the landscape, culture and rich history of Egypt. With mummies, tombs of Pharaohs, the Sphinx and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Egypt has some of the most exciting ancient sites in the world. Many visitors decide to base themselves in one of the luxury hotels on offer in Hurghada, such as the five star Grand Resort Hurghada, and then take a couple of trips to other places in Egypt.

Day Trips and Extended tours to Cairo- There are various one and two day trips to Cairo by air or coach, and extended trips by air to visit both Luxor and Cairo. If visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is on your bucket list, then you can certainly tick that off when you see the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The Pyramids of Giza are some of the most famous ancient man-made landmarks in history and you may have the chance to go inside one of them for a fee. Your Egyptologist guide will take you round the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus as well as the Sphinx; a sculpture with the head of a Pharoah on a lion's body. After this you can head to the Egyptian museum, which contains a large number of Egyptian artefacts, including treasures found in Tutankhamun's tomb during an excavation project. In Cairo's Khan el Khalili bazaar, test out your haggling skills and barter for a souvenir from your pyramid adventure.

Snorkelling in the Giftun Islands- One of the best day trips from Hurghada is a boat trip to the Big and Little Giftun Islands. When you land on the shores of these uninhabited islands you'll feel like you've arrived on your own private island with sandy beaches and clear water perfect for swimming and snorkelling. If you choose to do a cruise you'll be taken to a coral reef where you'll be provided with equipment to snorkel over the coral reefs and observe the multi-coloured fish. You'll visit the Giftun National Park, sail around the islands, relax on the beach and enjoy lunch before returning to Hurghada. This is the most leisurely of all the trips from Hurghada so let your cares fade away, top up your tan on the boat and relish in the warm waters of the Red Sea.

Jeep Safari- Take a 4x4 tour 35km into the desert where you'll be shown the culture and lives of the Bedouins. You'll be able to watch the women making bread and learn about their traditions before hoisting yourself up onto a camel and taking a ride in the desert. To top the day off, you'll feast on a tasty BBQ with the sun setting in the background and then experience a captivating traditional folklore show.

Quad Bikes in the Desert- For thrill-seeking adventurers out there, the quad biking experience from Hurghada is a fast-paced way to explore the desert and the dramatic scenery. Not to worry if you haven't ridden a quad bike before- the guides will show you how to ride them and you'll be able to take it for a spin as a test run. If you choose to ride at sunset you'll be riding along the planes at full speed with the sun setting over the mountain backdrop. You'll ride to a Bedouin village and learn all about the life and traditions of the Bedouins, before enjoying a BBQ dinner as the sun goes down. After the sun sets you'll enjoy an oriental folklore show before heading back to Hurghada.

Luxor- It is possible to take one or two day extended excursions to Luxor, where you can explore the Valley of the Kings, which is home to the tombs of the Pharaoh Kings. Famous tombs you may have heard of in your history class are the tombs of Ramses II and young pharaoh Tutankhamun. Gaze up at one of the best preserved temples in Luxor, the Hatshepsut Temple, dedicated to the queen who later declared herself king after her Pharaoh husband died. One of the first great women in history, Hatshepsut successfully remained in power for 22 years and Egypt's economy flourished under her rule. You will also have the opportunity to visit Egypt's most impressive temple, the Karnak Temple, which is the largest temple complex ever created by man. At the Karnak temple there is a regular sound and light show, narrating the stories of some of the great Pharaohs. Some of the tours include a horse and carriage ride around Luxor and a visit to the Luxor temple.

Sinbad Submarine Tour- Step on board this submarine to explore the underwater world waiting for you beneath the surface of the Red Sea . The Sinbad Submarine seats 44 people and descends to a depth of 22 metres so you can see the sea life and colourful fish that hang about the coral reefs. The two hour Submarine trip is a great way to see the marine life without having to scuba dive or get wet.