Sharm El-Sheikh: Desert Buggy Safari Adventure

The best part of this Sharm El-Sheikh outing is the chance to trade hotel pools for a dusty, open-air ride through South Sinai. You get a real taste of the desert without signing up for a full-day expedition, then pause at a Bedouin tent for tea and mountain views.

I like the simple logistics: hotel pickup is included, and the air-conditioned transfer takes about 20 minutes to the buggy area. I also like the family setup, with double buggies and larger family buggies available. The main drawback is that this is a short ride, and the dust, heat, and occasional waiting around may not suit everyone.

Key points at a glance

• One-hour buggy ride: Spend your main activity time driving across the South Sinai desert rather than sitting on a bus.
• Good for families: Seatbelts, double buggies, and family buggies make this easier to arrange with children.
• Bedouin tea stop: Break up the ride with a cup of Egyptian tea at a traditional-style desert tent.
• Sunset option: Depending on your departure time, you may watch the sun drop behind the mountains.
• Simple $29 value: The price includes transport, a guide, the buggy, and tea, with only a small mandatory service charge noted separately.
• Prepare for dust: Comfortable shoes, water, and clothes you do not mind getting sandy will make the outing better.

From your hotel to the South Sinai desert

Your trip begins with pickup outside your hotel in Sharm El-Sheikh. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters here. Even a short ride in the desert heat can feel long without cooling, especially if you have children with you.

The drive to the buggy area takes about 20 minutes, although the exact pickup time depends on your hotel location. Allow for a delay of up to 10 minutes, and confirm the final time one day before the trip. Pickup is outside the hotel, not necessarily at the lobby door, so keep an eye out and remain easy to reach.

This transfer is one reason the excursion works well as a half-day holiday activity. You do not need to arrange a taxi or find a remote desert meeting point. FTS Travels handles the ride out and the return to your hotel.

The excursion is listed at $29 per person, a fair price for a short organized outing that includes transport, a guide, the buggy, and Bedouin tea. You should also know that one dollar, euro, or pound is collected from each person for intelligence services. That mandatory charge is separate from the advertised price, so include it in your budget.

Getting your buggy and learning the controls

At the desert site, you receive a short instruction session before driving. This is not a long driving course, but it gives you time to understand the controls and the basic safety rules before setting off.

You can choose a single buggy or share a double buggy with another person. For families of more than three people, a family buggy is available. This arrangement is useful because it lets you keep younger children with an adult rather than splitting everyone into separate vehicles.

The buggies have seatbelts and are built for rough desert ground. That makes the activity more manageable for families than a loose ride on an ordinary quad bike, although you still need to follow the guide’s instructions and judge your own comfort level.

There is no age guidance supplied for this activity, so do not assume that every child can drive independently. The family-friendly setup means children can ride along, but the responsible adult should confirm the arrangement before departure.

One hour of sandy desert driving

The main ride lasts about one hour. You follow a guide through the South Sinai desert, with arid mountains and broad sandy views around you. This is less about reaching a famous monument and more about the feel of open space, wind, dust, and engine noise.

The ride has an easy-to-understand appeal. You are not simply watching the desert through a vehicle window. You get to steer, handle the uneven ground, and feel the air change as you move away from the resort area.

How fast you go depends on the guide, the group, and the conditions. Some people found they wanted a little more speed, while others enjoyed the safety-first approach. One useful detail is that the final section may give you more room to open up and enjoy the buggy, provided the guide considers it safe.

That balance matters. The excursion is designed as a guided group experience, not as a private racing session. If you book mainly for high speed, keep your expectations in check. If you want a controlled off-road ride with mountain scenery, the pace should suit you better.

The desert is dusty. That is part of the fun, but it is also the chief practical nuisance. Bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and avoid your best clothes. A scarf or face covering can help with blowing dust, though the listed essentials only require comfortable footwear.

A Bedouin tent and Egyptian tea

During the ride, you stop at a Bedouin tent for Egyptian tea. This pause gives you a chance to sit, cool down, and take in the desert setting without the engine noise.

The tea stop is a modest cultural touch, not a full cultural program. You should not expect a long presentation or an extensive meal from the details provided. Still, it adds a useful human moment to an activity that could otherwise be only driving and dust.

The pause also helps families. Children can have a break from the buggy, and adults can catch their breath before the return ride. Drinks beyond the included Bedouin tea are not included, so bring money if you want anything extra.

One account also describes camel rides along with tea. Camel riding is not included in the official list of what comes with the tour, so confirm this directly if it is important to you. Do not book this outing assuming that a camel ride is guaranteed.

Mountain views and the chance of sunset

The scenery is the real reward between the driving sections. South Sinai has a stark beauty: dry mountain slopes, wide desert space, and very little visual clutter. You get a different view of the region from the one offered by Sharm’s beaches and resort streets.

A sunset stop may be included depending on your departure time. When the timing works, the mountains give the evening light something solid to frame, and the end of the ride becomes more than a simple motor activity.

Sunset is not guaranteed on every departure, so check your pickup time if this is your main reason for booking. The schedule depends on the day and the start time. A daytime ride can still be enjoyable, but it will have a different feel from the cooler, softer light of an evening trip.

If you are taking photos, protect your phone and camera from dust. The desert air and moving vehicles are not kind to delicate equipment. The tour may also offer photography services at an extra cost. You can decline additional photos if you do not want them, and the experience does not require buying them.

Why families often find this a workable choice

The family appeal comes from the way the ride can be arranged, not from a special children’s program. You can share a double buggy with two people, or ask about the larger family buggy when your group has more than three members.

Seatbelts add a useful layer of reassurance. The vehicles are made for desert terrain, and the guide stays with the group. That does not remove the normal risks of off-road driving, but it gives you a clear structure and someone to follow.

Families should think about dust, heat, and patience. One family with children aged four and eight enjoyed the activity, but young children may tire during the ride or dislike the noise and sandy air. Pack water, dress lightly, and avoid scheduling this if your children are already worn out from a full day of sightseeing.

Couples can enjoy it too. A double buggy lets you share the driving and the scenery, while the sunset stop gives the outing a quieter finish. Solo visitors can choose a single buggy, though the social side of a group ride will be part of the experience.

Guides, pace, and the group experience

A professional guide accompanies the ride and leads you through the desert. The guide’s role is practical: explain the buggy, set the route, manage the pace, and keep the group together.

The feedback about the staff is especially strong. The team is described as friendly, fun, and safety-minded, with one visitor giving special thanks to Mr Elsharqawey and Square Safari. The listed languages are English, Italian, and Arabic, which helps if you need instructions in one of those languages.

The guide may let the group move faster in suitable sections, but you should expect a supervised outing rather than free driving. That is good for families and first-time drivers. It can feel limiting if you arrive wanting a long, fast session with no pauses.

Photography may be offered along the way and can cost extra. The useful point is that you should decide in advance if you want souvenir photos. The photographers are not part of the basic price, so treat them as an optional add-on.

What the $29 price really covers

At $29 per person, this is one of the easier desert activities to fit into a Sharm holiday budget. The cost covers hotel pickup and drop-off, the professional guide, the safari buggy, and Bedouin tea.

You are paying for convenience as much as for the ride. Organizing your own transport to a desert site would add time and cost, while the included transfer keeps the plan simple. The one-hour buggy session is not a full-day adventure, so the price feels strongest when you want a compact activity rather than a major day trip.

Extra drinks are not included, and any add-ons cost more. The cultural Egypt scarf is available only if you select that add-on. The mandatory one-unit charge in dollars, euros, or pounds also needs to be added to your calculation.

The booking terms are useful for uncertain holiday plans. You can reserve and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. That gives you room to watch the weather or adjust your schedule.

What to wear and bring

Comfortable shoes are the stated requirement. Choose footwear that will stay secure while you operate or ride in the buggy, and avoid open shoes if you dislike sand under your feet.

Bring plenty of water. The tea stop does not replace regular drinking water, and the combination of sun, dust, and physical activity can leave you thirsty. Drinks are not included.

Wear clothing that can handle dust. The buggies stir up sand, and your clothes may need a wash afterward. Sunglasses can be useful, though they are not listed as a required item. If you bring a camera or phone, keep it protected during the ride.

A scarf can also be handy, especially if you sit behind another buggy or encounter wind. If you select the cultural Egypt scarf add-on, it may serve as both a souvenir and a practical cover, but it is not part of the standard price.

Who should book this safari?

I would choose this outing if you want a short, active desert experience without giving up an entire day. It works well between other Sharm plans, especially for families, couples, and first-time off-road drivers.

It is also a good match if you care about scenery and sunset as much as speed. The tea stop and mountain views give the ride a little more shape than a simple vehicle rental.

I would think twice if you dislike dust, heat, noisy engines, or guided group activities. The one-hour ride may also feel brief if you are an experienced off-road driver hoping for a long technical route. In that case, check the exact program before paying.

Should you book the Sharm buggy safari?

Book it if you want an affordable taste of the desert with transport already arranged. The strongest reasons are the friendly guiding, family-friendly buggy choices, mountain scenery, and the chance to pair a fun ride with Bedouin tea and sunset light.

Skip it if you want a quiet cultural visit, a long desert expedition, or a guaranteed camel ride. For most holidaymakers, though, the $29 price makes this a sensible way to add a little speed and dust to a Sharm El-Sheikh stay. Bring water, expect sand, and confirm your pickup time the day before.

FAQ

How long is the buggy ride?

The off-road buggy portion lasts about one hour. The full outing takes longer because it includes hotel pickup, the transfer to the desert site, instructions, the tea stop, and the return journey.

What is included in the price?

The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, the safari buggy, and Bedouin tea. Drinks and other extras are not included.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $29 per person. An additional one dollar, euro, or pound is collected from each person for intelligence services.

Can two people share one buggy?

Yes. A double buggy is available for two people. A family buggy is available for families with more than three people.

Is the buggy suitable for children?

The buggies have seatbelts and are designed for desert terrain, making them suitable for children riding with adults. No specific minimum age is provided, so confirm the arrangement when booking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel are included in an air-conditioned vehicle. Pickup takes place outside the hotel.

Can I see the sunset?

You may see the sunset over the mountains if your departure time allows it. Sunset viewing depends on the timing of your trip and is not guaranteed for every departure.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and plenty of water. You should also wear clothing suitable for dust. The tour includes Bedouin tea, but other drinks are not included.