Quad biking from Sahl Hasheesh: close to the desert stations

A Sahl Hasheesh quad trip is one of the easier desert afternoons on the Red Sea coast. The resort sits south of Hurghada, and so do most of the safari stations: a garage-style safari station in Safari Land, a desert zone of numbered sectors on the Safaga road past the airport, is about 14–15 km from Sahl Hasheesh in a straight line. Sellers give 25–30 minutes by minibus, against 40–45 minutes from central Hurghada.

That has two consequences. You are often collected later than guests in northern Hurghada, and there is little reason to pay much extra for the pick-up. Below: how the trips run from here, what they cost, the local stable, and which listing to pick.

How far is Sahl Hasheesh from Hurghada and the desert?

Sahl Hasheesh is 30 km by road from Hurghada Marina and 25 km from the airport, about half an hour's drive. Makadi Bay is 18 km further south. For desert trips the useful number is the drive to the stations, not to the city:

The quad stations sit on the desert edge south-west of the airport, inland from Sahl Hasheesh. From the station the group rides, or is driven, to a Bedouin-style camp 15–35 km further inland. The mountains on the horizon are the Red Sea Mountains; Gebel Shayeb el-Banat, mainland Egypt's highest peak at 2,187 m, is about 40 km west in a straight line. No 1–3 hour quad ride reaches it. It is the backdrop, not the destination.

The resorts guide compares the drive from every resort, and the Makadi Bay page covers your neighbour to the south.

Sahl Hasheesh quad tours: what you can book

The listing most guests here book is the Sahl Hasheesh quad bike desert safari with hotel pick-up, from about $24 and rated 4.8 on 2,057 reviews. It is the Sahl Hasheesh quad listing that matches Sea Horse's own programme (check the provider name on the listing page). It has three options: a classic desert safari, a sunset version with camel ride, BBQ and stargazing, and a private guided "Blue Lagoon" tour. Pick-up is shared. The trip runs 2.5–5 hours depending on the option; the riding time is not stated, so ask.

Daytimefrom$24

GetYourGuide4 hSahl Hasheesh

Sahl Hasheesh: Quad Bike Desert Safari with Hotel Pickup

4.8 (2,057)

per personCheck dates

Daytimefrom$47

GetYourGuide5 hSahl Hasheesh

5-Hour Sahl Hasheesh Desert Safari ATV, Buggy, Horse & Camel

5.0 (6)

per personCheck dates

Daytimefrom$25

GetYourGuide2 hSahl Hasheesh

Sahl Hasheesh: Desert & Sea Horse Ride w/Optional Swimming

4.9 (214)

per personCheck dates

See everything on GetYourGuide →See everything on Headout →Prices checked on 20 October 2026

The Blue Lagoon is a coastal lagoon stop on the Makadi–Sahl Hasheesh side, not Dahab's Blue Lagoon in Sinai; the listing does not say exactly where. A similar sunrise version exists as the sunrise quad and Blue Lagoon with breakfast, from about $24, which suits summer when the morning is the cool slot.

For more in one trip there is the 5-hour Sahl Hasheesh desert safari with quad, buggy, horse and camel, from about $47. It is new, with six reviews, and includes 15-minute rest breaks, BBQ dinner, a show and stargazing. The listing does not name the operator.

Sahl Hasheesh guests can also take any of the big Hurghada listings, as long as they include pick-up from here. Several do. The 2-hour Makadi Bay ATV tour is the GetYourGuide listing whose route matches Makadi Excursions' own Makadi Bay quad, and Makadi Excursions includes Sahl Hasheesh pick-up in its €15 direct price on its own site. The quad tours guide compares the main listings.

Pick-up from Sahl Hasheesh: what it costs

Most quad prices are set for Hurghada hotels. From Sahl Hasheesh the supplement depends on the seller:

The Sahl Hasheesh quad listing includes hotel pick-up here. On any other listing, read the pick-up area before you book. Since you are among the closest guests to the stations, a supplement much above €10 is poor value: pick another listing.

Pick-up times are confirmed the day before by WhatsApp or e-mail. One agency's Sahl Hasheesh quad, in archived versions of its price list, let you choose your own pick-up time from 08:00.

A typical sunset quad from Sahl Hasheesh

One published example shows how little riding a long trip can hold: a 6-hour "Fun Safari" from Sahl Hasheesh, sold by a Dutch-language agency for €30, starts at 15:00 from the garage and includes 30 minutes on a quad and 15 in a buggy, then dinner and a show. Fine for an evening out; thin if you came to ride. One agency's 2-hour Sahl Hasheesh quad, in archived versions of its price list, gave 60 minutes of riding for €25. The prices page explains how to compare these.

Sea Horse: the Sahl Hasheesh stable

Sea Horse is a horse-riding stable in Sahl Hasheesh that also runs quads, camels and buggies. It is not a hotel, boat or dive centre. It offers guided rides on a Makadi Bay trail and on the Sahl Hasheesh beach, daily from 07:00. Its own booking page carries the same names as several GetYourGuide listings, including the Sahl Hasheesh desert and sea horse ride with optional swimming, from about $25 and rated 4.9 on 214 reviews.

Horse rides are the trips that actually reach the beach and the water, which the quad loops do not. At the stables that publish a season, swimming with horses is a summer activity — ask before you book. Heavier riders should ask the weight limit before paying: the two Hurghada-area stables that publish one set it at 90–100 kg. The horse riding guide covers what to wear and how to judge a stable, and our Sea Horse review looks at the company and its listings.

Evenings, safety and what to bring

For an evening in the desert from Sahl Hasheesh, the choice is between the big show camps (buffet, belly dance, tanoura — the Egyptian whirling-skirt dance) and the quiet BADU Camp in the Makadi Bay desert, which lists Sahl Hasheesh among its pick-up areas for its dinner. See the Bedouin village guide and the stargazing guide.

The practical rules are the same as from any resort:

• Quad drivers must be 16 on every listing that states an age; children ride as passengers where the seller allows it, or in a buggy beside an adult. The kids guide has the rules by vehicle.
• Wear long trousers and closed shoes; your legs can touch the hot engine. Bring a buff, sunglasses, water and small cash.
• The UK government reports serious quad accidents involving British nationals in resort areas and says "always wear a crash helmet" (FCDO safety advice). Check that your travel insurance covers quad biking.
• May to September, choose a sunrise or sunset slot; midday in the desert is very hot.

The practical guide covers the rest.

Sahl Hasheesh quad: questions