Camel Riding in Hurghada — The Complete Guide
Riding a camel in Egypt is a bucket-list experience that Hurghada makes very accessible — short beach rides for £10, longer desert routes for the more adventurous. Here is everything you need to know.
Camel Riding Options in Hurghada
Short beach ride (20–30 minutes, £10–£20): the most common option — a guided walk along the beach or nearby desert edge. Good for photos, good for children, gives you the experience without a major commitment. Medium desert ride (1–2 hours, £20–£35): takes you away from the hotel beach into the desert edge behind the city. More authentic experience of camel travel. Full desert camel safari (half-day or full-day, £40–£80): extended desert route with camel, often combined with a Bedouin visit. The most genuine traditional desert experience.
What Is It Like to Ride a Camel?
The first surprise: camels do not walk smoothly. Their gait creates a rocking side-to-side motion that can be uncomfortable for the first 15–20 minutes. Most riders adjust. The second surprise: the mount and dismount is dramatic — the camel folds its legs in a lurching sequence that can feel alarming before you are used to it. Hold the saddle handle and lean back on the way up, forward on the way down. The experience itself is deeply atmospheric — there is something very different about seeing the desert from the back of a camel rather than a quad bike.
Tips for Camel Riding
Long trousers are strongly recommended — the saddle against bare legs is uncomfortable. Bring water. Tell the guide your comfort level — they can slow the pace for nervous first-timers. Do not accept unsolicited camel rides on the beach from individuals approaching you — always book through a verified operator. Tipping the camel handler after the ride: £2–£5 is appropriate.
Where to Book
Hotel activities desk (most convenient), through desert safari operators who offer camel riding as part of or alongside their quad safari programmes, and the Ad Dahar old town area where camel operators are established. Avoid random beach approaches from individuals claiming to offer rides — quality and safety cannot be verified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is camel riding available in Hurghada?+
How much does camel riding cost in Hurghada?+
Love Hurghada? Own a Piece of It
Apartments from £15,000. Freehold, 0% interest payment plans, no stamp duty. Stop paying hotel prices every visit.
Visiting Hurghada more than once a year?
Buy your own apartment from £15,000 — cheaper than hotels and earns rental income when you are not there. 0% interest payment plans available.
Read the complete buying guide →