Our Summer Trip to Hughada, Egypt
When you think of Egypt, you probably think of Pharos and tombs. But, there are also wonderful beach resorts along the coast of the Red Sea. Hughada has become a popular vacation destination, especially for tourists from Europe.
We got a last minute travel deal to go to the Red Sea for almost half price, so we were excited to book our beach vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Our travel package was booked through Tui, and included our flight, ground transportation, and hotel stay. It also included all meals and drinks (including alcohol beverages).
We stayed at the Tui Magic Life, Kalawy resort, about an hour and a half drive outside of Hughada. It was a lovely place to visit, like a little man-made oasis created right where the desert meets the ocean. There are many such resorts like this that you can visit along the coast of Egypt.
At the resort, there are many activities that you can take part in for free. This includes many fitness classes, poolside entertainment, nightly shows, a kids’ disco, and movies on the beach.
There are additional activities that you can purchase as well while you are at the resort. This includes snorkeling, horse and camel rides, quad bike rides, scuba diving and more.
We loved swimming in the hotel pools, as well as in the Red Sea. We were in a bay of the red see where we were at, so the water was very calm where we were swimming. However, if you got further away from the bay, there were bigger waves that you could see from the dock.
We had a beautiful room with an ocean view, and it was lovely to watch the sun rise and set over the ocean from our patio.
During our stay, we went to ride horses through the desert and along the ocean. It was River’s first time riding a horse, and she had a great time! The guide led her horse for her, to make sure that she was safe. We rode out as a group, and were able to spend two hours on horseback. It was a beautiful place to ride, and we enjoyed it quite a bit.
Another one of the activities that we did during our stay was snorkeling. We were able to rent equipment for a reasonable place by the beach. You can get a traditional snorkel mask, or they make a new kind that covers your whole face so that it is easier to breathe.
When you get out in the water, you can swim out to a coral reef where you can see all kinds of sea life. There is a rainbow of different fish. You may also be able to see sting rays, eels, turtles or dolphins, depending on the day. We enjoyed it so much that we spent most of the day snorkeling.
Just remember, any time you are out in the water for an extended period of time to reapply your sunscreen every two hours. I would also recommend getting a swim shirt, or full body swimsuit. When your back is out of the water while snorkeling, it is easy to get a sunburn on your back and legs.
In addition to the activities you can do at the resort, you can also take some day trips to different destinations throughout Egypt. You can fly to Cairo to visit the Cairo Museum and the Pyramids, or you can go to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. We opted for the valley of the kings since it was a bus trip instead of a plane ride, and I’m glad we did! We thoroughly loved our visit there!
Visiting the Temple of Karnak in Luxor, Egypt One of the feats of antiquity that is still standing today medium
Visiting the Valley of the Kings in Egypt The tombs of the Pharaohs from Ancient Egypt medium.com
Temple of Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt A monument to one of Egypt’s female Pharaoh's medium.com
Depending on the resort you are staying at, there may be different day trips available for you as well. You can check with your travel agency, or when you are booking online. Or, you can visit with the travel agency on-site at your hotel. Some of the day trips may book up though, so I would recommend booking in advance.
The resort we stayed at also had souvenir shops, so that we could buy some Egyptian gifts for everyone back home. There are many beautiful things in Egypt, such as figurines of all the gods, goddesses and Pharos. They also have beautiful clothing shops as well.
Our resort also had a spa, and I was able to get some spa treatments done on the trip. I got a new haircut. I also got a manicure, pedicure and a facial. I left the spa looking and feeling great after my visit there. They also had massages and other treatments available as well.
If you are ever going to visit Egypt, remember it is a desert, so it is hot there year round. When we were at the resort, it was between 30–36 degrees Celsius, and at the Valley of the Kings it was up to 40 degrees. So, it is important to remember to pack your luggage accordingly. Also, make sure to put on your sunscreen and drink plenty of water!
All in all, it was a very memorable trip for us, and we quite enjoyed it. We will definitely consider going back to Egypt again in the future! I highly recommend this if you are looking for either a beach vacation or a historical trip.