Red Sea Day Trips from Cairo

The Red Sea bathes the coasts of eastern Egypt and its beautiful beaches are located just over 100 kilometers from the city of Cairo. Between so much desert and heat, the refreshing baths in this sea become one of the best excursions to do from the Egyptian capital.

The beach area par excellence of the Red Sea is that of Ain Sokhna. Thanks to its clear waters, its well-kept beaches and facilities, this area just over 100 kilometers from Cairo is the ideal place to escape the heat and bustle of the city. In this post I will share with you the best options for an excursion from Cairo to the Red Sea beaches.

If you are looking for the cheapest option to spend a day on the beaches of the Red Sea you should know that these start from about 27 euros. The itinerary is simple. A starting point is established from Cairo, usually in some of the hotels in the city, and you will be picked up by a private vehicle that will take you to the city of Ain Sokhna, 120 kilometers from the capital.

Once at the destination you will have several hours to enjoy a nice swim, walks or the activity of your choice before returning to your hotel in Cairo. Bottled water is also included, much needed to combat the heat of Egypt. In total you will have about 6 hours to be on the beach plus another 2 or 3 hours for the round trip.

• Price: from 27 euros.
• Duration: Between 8 and 10 hours in total.
• What's included: Round trip transfer from Cairo, bottled water, and conditioned transportation.
• Means of transport: Conditioned private vehicle.
• Recommended if: You are looking for the cheapest option to enjoy a day at the beach from Cairo.

Maybe the previous option is a bit too short for you and you are looking for extra comfort. In that case you can add that part of comfort to your excursion by adding the possibility of having a hotel room for the whole day. The dynamics is the same, you are picked up in a conditioned vehicle and taken to Ain Sokhna. In the same city and near the beach you will be assigned a room in a hotel, usually 4 stars, so that you can use it throughout the day until the time of return.

Having a room where you can leave your belongings, take a shower or rest while you enjoy the beach is a considerable extra. This type of excursions also usually include lunch at the hotel. Logically the improvement is paid and in these cases the prices are usually around 100 or 120 euros per person. This is especially recommended if you go in the warmer months.

• Price: From 100 euros per person.
• Duration: About 12 hours between departure from Cairo to return.
• What's included: Pick up from a hotel or point in Cairo, and transfer back and forth in a private conditioned vehicle, hotel room for the whole day, lunch at the hotel.
• Means of transportation: Private vehicle, usually conditioned vans.
• Recommended if: You want to enjoy a longer day on the Red Sea beaches with all kinds of comforts.

If your budget is high and you prioritize comfort and luxury above all else, there is a premium option to satisfy all your aspirations. With this choice you combine the beach with a resort hotel with swimming pools, activities, buffets and much more. If you prioritize the beach the hotel has access to a private beach with hammocks and umbrellas, and if you prefer pool or spa you can also use the resort facilities.

In the case of the Spa, the price is usually paid separately. You can also have your own room if you wish. Lunch at the hotel buffet is included with the excursion. Of course, the pick up in Cairo and the transfer back and forth is included as in all excursions to the Red Sea beaches. As you can see with these excursions you will not miss anything to enjoy a quiet and luxurious day away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

• Price: From 190 euros. If you add the Spa and the room the rates go up to 250 euros. Children from 6 to 12 years old pay half price.
• Duration: Between 9 and 10 hours from departure from Cairo to return.
• What's included: Pick up and return transfer from Cairo, air-conditioned transportation, use of resort facilities in Ain Sokhna, hotel buffet lunch and Spa and room (the latter if chosen as an option).
• Means of transport: Private vehicle, usually conditioned vans.
• Recommended if: You want to live the most comfortable and luxurious experience possible on the shores of the Red Sea.

If you are not one of those who like to stay on the beach and need some movement and action, this excursion is perfect for you. You can take advantage of your visit to the Red Sea to get to know it with a jet ski ride. To the pick up and transfer to the beach of Ain Sokhna you can add, as an extra, this highly recommended experience.

If you hire it as an extra, you can choose between a ride of 15, 30 or 60 minutes and it is usually done after lunch, which is usually included in the excursions. Of course it includes an instructor who also acts as a guide so that your jet ski ride is completely safe. In this case I recommend you to choose the 1 hour ride, since with less time you will surely fall short for a very fun activity.

• Price: From 85 euros.
• Duration: Jet ski ride (Between 15 and 60 minutes) The total of the excursion is about 10 hours between the departure from Cairo to the return.
• What's included: Pick up from a hotel or point in Cairo, round trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, mineral water and lunch, jet ski ride with instructor. Optionally can be taken with hotel room for the day.
• Means of transport: Private vehicle, usually conditioned vans.
• Recommended if: You want an extra dose of adventure and a different way to see part of the Red Sea coast.

The disadvantage of the above excursions is that they are only one day and given the charm of the Red Sea beaches, it is possible that you will run out of time. In that case you can add a hotel night to your tour package and have more hours to enjoy the place. The operation is the same as the other excursions.

You are picked up at a point in Cairo and includes transportation to the same hotel on the beachfront. In addition to having your room during the day, and of course the night, these packages include dinner at the hotel. They are generally buffets that include typical meals of the area.

This option allows you to enjoy the virtues of the Red Sea in a more relaxed way and without time constraints so it is highly recommended, for example, if you are traveling with your family. I recommend this tour if you travel to Cairo for more than 5 days as it will have given you time to see the whole city and is a perfect way to put the finishing touch to your trip.

• Price: From 240 euros.
• Duration: This tour is a full day with overnight and return to Cairo and in the afternoon the next day.
• What's included: Pick up from a hotel or point in Cairo, round trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, room and night in a hotel in Ain Sokhna, buffet dinner at the same hotel.
• Means of transportation: Private vehicle, usually conditioned vans.
• Recommended if: You want to spend more time on the beach without stress and with the comfort of having a room and more time to enjoy.

The Red Sea is one of the best places to snorkel in the world. Thanks to its crystal clear waters and shallow reefs, it is one of the favorite destinations for divers.

Although the best areas are far from Cairo, from the Egyptian capital there are excursions to dive in some points of the coast of Ain Sokhna. These excursions have a guide specialized in diving who will accompany you to some of the most interesting spots where you can observe marine life. If you are a beginner do not worry, it is easy and the instructors will help you at all times.

Of course transportation to and from the dive site is included and as an option we can rent all the necessary equipment such as fins, goggles and snorkels. It is not necessary to use tanks or wetsuits since the diving is done in shallow areas. This is the most basic option although there is another type of more complete excursion that includes taking a boat from the marina to go to deeper areas and spend the day on the deck of the same boat.

Logically this is an option that allows you to see a more beautiful and complete underwater landscape more appreciated by more experienced divers.

• Price: From 95 euros.
• Duration: The full round trip from Cairo takes about 10 hours, the diving activity is around 2 hours .
• What's included: Pick up from a hotel or point in Cairo, round trip transportation in a conditioned vehicle, dive guide, option to rent equipment, if you hire the excursion with boat includes travel and equipment.
• Means of transport: Private vehicle, usually conditioned vans.
• Recommended yes: For diving enthusiasts.

Although the excursions to the Red Sea are very well organized and include all kinds of amenities there are always some details that can escape us and spoil the experience. So that this does not happen I leave you a series of tips:

• Always carry your passport and documentation with you as you may need it on the way. And if you book the excursion with room then it is mandatory.
• Hotels usually ask for a marriage contract to Egyptian citizens if you book the same room even if you are traveling with foreigners.
• Although it is a no-brainer, don't forget to bring sunscreen, umbrella and so on to protect yourself from the sun.
• Although the excursions usually include drinks, bring cash to buy some on the beach as not all places accept cards and you will surely have to buy water or extra drinks.
• If you like diving, bring goggles and snorkeling gear. The Red Sea is a paradise for divers, even in shallow waters
  even in shallow waters.