Egypt's Red Sea coast offers two distinct experiences: Hurghada — the perfect private add-on to a Nile cruise — and Sharm El Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula, home to some of the world's finest diving. All our Red Sea tours are fully private — your group only, with hotel pickup included.
The Red Sea is the world's northernmost tropical sea — and one of its most biodiverse. Over 1,200 species of fish, 200+ species of coral, with 10% of those species found nowhere else on earth. This is not a generic beach destination: it is one of the planet's premier marine ecosystems, accessible from world-class resort infrastructure and combining naturally with the monuments of the Nile Valley.
Hurghada sits on Egypt's mainland Red Sea coast, 3–4 hours south of Luxor — the natural conclusion to a Nile Valley tour. Family-friendly, competitively priced, and set around a beautiful bay with easy snorkelling access. Sharm El Sheikh occupies the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula — quieter, more upscale, and the gateway to Ras Mohammed National Park, the SS Thistlegorm wreck, and the Straits of Tiran.
At Egypt Tours by Locals, our Red Sea tours are designed as fully private extensions to the Nile circuit — no shared coaches, no fixed groups. Hurghada with a Nile cruise, or Sharm El Sheikh with a Cairo and Sinai cultural itinerary, guided by specialist local operators.
"The Red Sea is the perfect end to any Egypt itinerary. Three days in Hurghada after the Nile cruise — snorkelling at the Giftun Islands, a desert safari into the Eastern Desert, watching the sun set over the Red Sea after two weeks of ancient history — there is nothing like it. The sea is extraordinary."
Beach packages, diving excursions, snorkelling day trips, and desert safaris. All fully private — your group only. All can be combined with a Nile Valley itinerary into a complete Egypt experience.
Eight essential experiences for every Red Sea and Sinai visitor — with insider guidance on timing, site selection, and how to combine the best of Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, and the Sinai Peninsula.
Egypt's largest Red Sea resort — 40km of coastline, world-class hotels, easy snorkelling directly from the beach. Orange Bay (Giftun Islands) is often called the \"Maldives of Egypt\" for its turquoise water and white sand. 3–4 hours from Luxor — the natural add-on to any Nile cruise itinerary.
Egypt's first national marine park at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef, Jackfish Alley, and Anemone City — among the most celebrated dive sites in the world. Over 1,000 species of fish, 150 species of coral.
A British cargo ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, now lying 30m below the Red Sea surface — motorcycles, military vehicles, and ammunition still in the hold. Consistently ranked among the top 10 dive sites in the world. Accessed from Sharm El Sheikh on a day liveaboard trip.
Four reefs in the narrow strait between the Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia — Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon. Extraordinary biodiversity including hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and vast shoals of barracuda.
The most legendary dive site in Egypt — a vertical sinkhole dropping 130m, linked to the open sea by a 26m tunnel at 52m depth. Incredible snorkelling on the rim for non-advanced divers.
One of the most historically significant mountains in the world — 2,285m above sea level, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. The sunrise hike (2–3 hours) is extraordinary. St. Catherine's Monastery, founded in the 4th century CE, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Eastern Desert (from Hurghada) and Sinai Desert (from Sharm) offer quad biking, 4x4 safaris, camel rides, and Bedouin village dinners under the stars. A completely different Egypt experience combining sea and desert in a single day tour.
Dolphin Reef (Hurghada) offers snorkelling with wild dolphins in their natural environment. Orange Bay on the Giftun Islands — the \"Egyptian Maldives\" — is accessible by boat with extraordinary visibility and shallow coral gardens perfect for beginners and families.
Timing, logistics, and insider knowledge — including how to choose between Hurghada and Sharm, and how to combine the Red Sea with the Nile Valley.
Choose Hurghada if you want: value, variety, family-friendly beaches, and easy combination with a Nile cruise from Luxor (3–4 hour drive). Choose Sharm El Sheikh if you want: world's best diving, calmer upscale atmosphere, and access to Ras Mohammed National Park and the SS Thistlegorm wreck. For diving or snorkelling as the primary purpose, Sharm wins. For a relaxed beach add-on to the Nile circuit, Hurghada is the natural choice.
Diving: excellent year-round. Summer (July–September) offers the best underwater visibility and calmest seas — though it's hot on land. Beach and sightseeing: October–April for comfortable temperatures. December–February is peak season for combining the Nile Valley with the Red Sea coast.
Sharm El Sheikh has a special entry arrangement — travellers arriving directly by flight receive a free entry stamp valid for the Sinai tourist areas only. If you also plan to visit Cairo and Luxor, you need a standard Egyptian visa. All Egypt Tours by Locals Red Sea packages include clear visa guidance for your itinerary.
Hurghada is the most popular Red Sea destination to combine with a Nile cruise — just 3–4 hours by road from Luxor. A typical combination: 2 days Cairo + 4-night Nile cruise (Luxor to Aswan) + 3 days Hurghada. This covers ancient monuments, the Nile, and the Red Sea in a complete 9-day Egypt experience.
Hurghada is 200km from Luxor — a 3–4 hour private drive, making it ideal as a post-cruise add-on. Cairo to Hurghada is 1 hour by domestic flight. Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh is also 1 hour by flight; or 5–6 hours by road via the Suez Canal. We arrange all transfers and logistics as part of your complete Egypt private tour package.
Real reviews from real guests — verified on TripAdvisor and Google.
We added 3 days in Hurghada at the end of our Nile cruise and it was the perfect conclusion. Two weeks of ancient monuments, then 3 days in a completely different Egypt — snorkelling at Orange Bay (genuinely like the Maldives), a desert safari into the Eastern Desert at sunset, and incredibly comfortable beach resort time. The contrast with the Nile Valley made both experiences better. Highly recommend combining them.
We came specifically for the diving — Ras Mohammed and the Thistlegorm wreck. Both are absolutely extraordinary. The Thistlegorm in particular: swimming through a cargo hold with wartime motorcycles still upright on the deck after 80 years is one of the most surreal and beautiful experiences I've ever had underwater. Our dive guide from Egypt Tours by Locals was excellent. We will return for the Blue Hole in Dahab next year.
We did 14 days: 2 Cairo, 3 Nile cruise, 2 Aswan with Abu Simbel, 3 Hurghada, 2 Sharm. The variety of experiences in one trip was extraordinary. The Red Sea after all those ancient sites was revelatory — snorkelling in 28°C water with visibility like glass, surrounded by fish species I'd only seen in documentaries. Egypt Tours by Locals managed the entire logistics chain between all 5 destinations without a single hiccup.
Tell us whether you prefer Hurghada, Sharm, or a combined Nile + Red Sea itinerary — we'll design your private package within 24 hours.