Sharm-el-Sheikh Quad Bike Desert Adventure: A Fun but Dusty Ride
add_circle Pros
- The scenery was absolutely stunning, with endless dunes of sand stretching out as far as the eye could see.
- Our guide was knowledgeable and made sure we stayed safe throughout the ride.
- The photographer who followed us took some amazing photos and videos that we'll treasure for years to come.
- The camel ride was a nice touch and added a bit of excitement to the day.
- The buggy was actually a lot of fun to drive, even if it was a bit too big for us.
remove_circle Cons
- The dust was a real problem, and we ended up with a face full of sand by the end of the ride.
- The photographer was a bit too pushy, and we felt like we were being herded around like sheep.
- The buggy was a bit too big for the three of us, and we had to squeeze in together.
- The camel ride was a bit of a rip-off, and we felt like we were being taken advantage of.
- The minibus ride to the quad bike base was a bit of a drag, and we spent a lot of time sitting around waiting.
Gallery
Editor's Summary
I gotta say, our first excursion in Sharm-el-Sheikh was a quad bike ride through the desert, but it was a bit of a mixed bag. We got a 4-seater buggy instead of a quad bike, which was a bit too big for the three of us, and it cost us $35 plus $5 for the camel ride. The dust was a real issue, but the scenery was beautiful. Overall, it was a fun experience, but not without its drawbacks.
Specifications
My first excursion in Sharm-el-Sheikh was a quad bike ride through the desert. We actually got a 4-seater buggy (which was a bit too big for the three of us), and it cost us $35 plus $5 for the camel ride.
We got picked up from the hotel after lunch, and the minibus was half full, so we spent about an hour driving to other hotels. It took us about 20 minutes to get to the quad bike base. Don't forget to bring your sunglasses and a scarf - they'll try to sell you these on the spot, but it's a rip-off.
After that, we were quickly assigned to our quad bikes/buggies and off we went.
This is the buggy we ended up with instead of a quad bikeWe were following our guide in a convoy, and it was super dusty, so wear clothes you don't mind getting sandy. We also had a photographer following us, taking pictures and videos all the time. Occasionally, we'd see other groups of people on quad bikes heading towards us, which would just make the dust worse. There were tons of quad bikes, all following each other in a line.
And this is still not all the quad bikes that were riding with us at the same timeSo, it's pretty clear that you can't go on this excursion alone - it's definitely worth booking a private tour. We rode for about 15 minutes and stopped at the foot of a mountain. We had 10 minutes to take some photos.
The views are just breathtaking if you've never been to a place like this before. Nothing but sand, mountains, and not a single tree in sight.
The sparse vegetation of the desertThe photographer was a bit too pushy, always asking us to look at him, pose, and smile. There are usually some Bedouin kids hanging around where tourists stop, trying to sell us beaded bracelets or asking for money or water. It's a pretty sad sight.
After that, our guide told us to get back on the quad bikes, and we stopped at a Bedouin settlement about 10 minutes later. They offered us Bedouin tea and let us ride camels for about 15 minutes. The Bedouin guy with a kid on his camel would ask for money and offer to take our picture. These kids have been taught from birth that tourists are their only source of income. It's really heartbreaking.
After the buggy ride, we switched to camelsNext, we headed back on ATVs. To be honest, the whole experience was a mixed bag. It was cool and all, but there's one major downside that made me think twice about doing this again. I felt like I was constantly being asked for something, even though I'd already paid. The photographer was always in our face, taking pictures and videos, but then he'd just stand there, not understanding when I said I wasn't interested in buying his photos. The kids would follow us, blocking our path and refusing to let us take a closer look around. And the camel driver would ask for my phone number so he could take a selfie with us. Maybe we just got unlucky, but I've heard great things about private tours. Maybe that's the way to go. Either way, it's definitely worth trying at least once, especially if you're new to Egypt.