Hurghada: Horse Ride, BBQ Dinner, and Stargazing

Stars above the desert feel unfairly close. This Hurghada outing strings together an hour of horse riding through mountain-framed valleys, a proper BBQ dinner in an oasis, and then guided stargazing with a telescope. The big watch-out is that the desert jeep portion can feel intense and the full day tends to run long, so if you’re sensitive to speed or long transfers, plan accordingly.

I like that it’s built as a guided loop, not a random collection of stops. You get hotel pickup and drop-off, a welcome drink (Arabian tea or coffee), safety guidance before you ride, and a professional setup for night-sky viewing.

Why This Hurghada Desert Ride Feels Like a Full Experience

Most Hurghada excursions do one thing well. This one tries to do three well in the same evening: motion (horse and camel), food (BBQ), and wonder (stars).

The value here isn’t only the $41 price tag. It’s the way the day is paced. You’re not rushed from one photo spot to the next. You ride, you stop for breaks and pictures, you eat in the desert, then you get a real stargazing session with a telescope.

Also, the setting matters. The ride happens in valleys framed by mountains, so it doesn’t feel like you’re just crossing flat sand. You’ll spend time inside a desert “world” instead of just driving past it.

From Hurghada Pickup to Off-Road Jeep Start: What to Expect

You’ll start with collection from your hotel in Hurghada, then head to a meeting point. The day follows a loop, so you’ll be returned to your hotel at the end.

Once you’re grouped up, you drive in an adventure jeep for about 17 km off-roading until you reach an oasis inside the desert. Expect it to feel bumpy. The desert road can also feel fast. One review called out speeds around 100 km/h and sitting in the back without seatbelts on a more extreme jeep segment. You can’t treat that as guaranteed for every run, but it’s a useful heads-up: if you’re prone to motion sickness or strong discomfort with speed, this part can be the hardest.

Practical take: keep your phone secure, hold on where you’re meant to, and don’t assume the ride will be smooth like a city transfer.

The Oasis Arrival: Tea, Safety Rules, and Desert Calm

When you reach the oasis, the mood shifts quickly. Before anyone mounts up, you’ll get a welcome drink—Arabian tea or coffee—then your guide explains how the program will work and covers safety rules.

This matters more than it sounds. The horse ride style and speed depend on your skill and comfort level. If you’re new to horses, you’re not being thrown into the deep end. You’ll get the kind of briefing that helps you avoid panic, which is the real enemy of a good ride.

The whole area is also described as monitored by cameras and aligned with international health and safety standards. That doesn’t remove all risk (horses are still horses), but it does suggest a more structured operation than a free-for-all.

One Hour Horse Riding Into the Valleys: The Main Event

This is the part that sells the tour. You ride for about one hour between valleys inside the desert, with the sunset timing built into the experience.

You’re provided riding gear, and you’ll have a guide with you during the ride. For first-timers, the key is knowing you’ll get support, not just instructions at the start. Several people highlight how helpful the horse guides are when you’re still figuring out how to control your horse.

What you’ll actually feel:

• A steady, guided pace that lets you look around and enjoy the view.
• Moments where you can take photos, not just stare at your horse’s neck.
• The sense of being far from Hurghada once you hit the valleys.

Sun tip: desert sun hits harder than you expect. One person specifically said it was hotter than their resort. Bring what the tour asks for—sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat—and plan for glare even if the air feels cooler than you think.

Also, the ride is described as framed by mountains. That’s why sunset works so well here: the sky has depth, and the shadows change fast.

Camel Ride Stops and Photo Breaks: Small Moments That Help

The program includes a camel ride segment, and it’s not just a quick “sit and go.” There are stops to take photos and rest.

These pauses are more than convenience. They help you reset your body after the riding motion and keep the whole group comfortable. They also make the tour feel less like a nonstop activity parade, which is important on long days.

If you want the best photos, use your photo stops for:

• clearer angles on your horse or camel
• quick wide shots back toward the jeep route
• group shots before the light drops further

Dinner in the Desert Oasis: BBQ Menu and Energy for Night-Sky Time

After riding and the camel segment, you return to the oasis for dinner. The dinner is described as a BBQ meal with soft drinks, and the menu is specific enough to set expectations:

• Indian rice
• grilled chicken
• meat balls
• vegetables and salads
• fruits
• cola

That’s a solid spread for an excursion meal. It’s not pretending to be a Michelin restaurant, but it’s built to fill you up so you don’t fade before stargazing.

A balanced view: some people described dinner as basic, but most focus on it being delicious or more generous than expected. If you’re a picky eater, you might want to treat this as “BBQ-style comfort food,” not a flexible menu with lots of substitutions.

Stargazing With a Telescope: How the Night Part Works

Once dinner clears, the guide turns to the sky. You’ll learn about star groups, then enjoy star watching in the pure desert sky.

The big detail: you use a professional telescope. What you see depends on the calendar and what targets are available. In other words, the telescope experience isn’t locked to one object every night.

This is where the tour earns strong praise. People mention the star viewing as exceptional and even surreal when the sky is clear. The guides also add personality to the lesson, with one guide named Nasser (people also refer to him as Marshmallow) singled out for being funny during the star talk, and another guide named Adam highlighted for being amazing during the stars segment.

Practical expectations:

• You’ll likely be in a group setting rather than one-on-one with the telescope.
• You may get limited turns with the telescope, since groups need a rotation.
• If the night is hazy, stargazing quality can drop, like anywhere outdoors.

If you’re hoping for extended free use of the telescope or constant close-up views, set expectations for a guided, timed experience instead of full control.

The Return Off-Road Ride and Hotel Drop-Off

After stargazing, there’s one more adventure: off-roading back to the first meeting point, then a drive to return you to your hotel.

This return matters because it’s when the day’s adrenaline lands on you. Between the jeep rides, the horse motion, and the evening air shift, you’ll probably feel it in your legs and core.

If you want to stay comfortable:

• wear clothes you can sit in for the ride back
• use sunscreen care earlier in the day, since the sun can leave you feeling cooked even after you’re done

Price and Value: Is $41 a Fair Deal?

At $41 per person, this tour is good value if you care about the full “desert evening package,” not just one activity.

Here’s why the price holds up:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off are included (that alone saves you time and hassle).
• The tour bundles multiple parts: horse riding, camel ride stops, welcome drink, BBQ dinner with a named menu, and guided stargazing.
• You get riding gear and a safety briefing, which makes it easier to show up as a first-timer.
• The telescope isn’t a gimmick; it’s part of the planned stargazing.

Where the value can wobble: if you’re uncomfortable with speed and rough rides, the jeep portion becomes the trade-off. Also, if stargazing is your top priority and you dislike group rotations, you may want to mentally prepare for telescope viewing in turns.

Who This Hurts vs Who This Fits Perfectly

This is a strong match if you:

• want a classic Hurghada desert evening with horse + camel + BBQ + stars
• like guided experiences where someone handles the timing
• enjoy outdoor night activities when skies are clear
• are a first-time rider who wants support and gear

It’s not a match if you:

• are pregnant (listed as not suitable)
• use a wheelchair (listed as not suitable)
• are bringing babies under 1 year (not suitable)

The real personal “fit” question is speed comfort. If you’re worried about the jeep ride intensity, treat that segment like the risk variable. You can still enjoy the rest of the day, but you should go in informed.

Key Takeaways Before You Go

A one-hour horse ride is the centerpiece, timed for sunset views.

BBQ dinner is included with a specific menu: rice, chicken, meat balls, salads, fruits, cola.

Stargazing uses a professional telescope, and targets depend on the calendar.

Expect a longer day because you’re picked up from Hurghada and drive back after night-sky viewing.

Sun protection matters since desert heat can feel stronger than the resort.

Should You Book This Hurghada Horse Ride, BBQ, and Stargazing?

I think you should book this if you want one memorable evening that combines movement, comfort food, and night-sky wonder in a guided loop. The telescope stargazing with named guides (like Adam) plus the “ride first, watch the stars later” pacing is exactly the kind of experience that turns into a story.

Hold off if speed and bumpy rides stress you out. This isn’t a slow, spa-like desert trip. It’s an active desert outing with off-road driving that can feel extreme, then a real session under the stars.

If you’re comfortable with that trade-off, you’re likely to leave with the feeling that you did more than a single attraction. You did the desert in one evening, end to end.

FAQ

How long is the horse riding?

The horse riding portion is about one hour.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off in Hurghada are included.

What’s included in dinner?

Dinner includes Indian rice, grilled chicken, meat balls, vegetables, salads, fruits, and cola, along with soft drinks.

Is stargazing included, and do you use a telescope?

Yes. After dinner, you’ll do star watching with a professional telescope, and what you can see depends on the calendar.

What should I bring for the desert?

Bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Is this tour suitable for everyone?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, or babies under 1 year. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.