Hurghada: Sea & Desert Horse Riding tour/w Swimming&Transfer

The unusual part comes quickly: you ride from the dry Hurghada desert to the edge of the Red Sea, then, in warm weather, you can take your horse into the water. Swimming with the horses is the eye-catching option, but the beach ride itself is the better choice if you want more time in the saddle.

I like the careful matching of horses to riding ability, and I like that guides such as Rebecca, Abdul, Saeed, and Adel stay close to beginners. The stable also has rescued and resident animals, including cats, dogs, horses, and even donkeys, which gives the visit a friendly farm feel. The main drawback is that swimming is seasonal and can reduce your riding time, while the beach setting may feel less wild than some people expect.

Key points to know before booking

• Horse swimming is seasonal: The normal swimming season ends on October 31 because of colder weather, though it may be possible later by prior agreement.
• Beginners are welcome: Horses are selected to match your ability, and guides stay nearby to help with control and confidence.
• The two-hour choice gives the best balance: It includes desert and beach riding, while the swimming option adds a memorable water session.
• Transfers cover Hurghada hotels: Pickup and return are available from Hurghada, with extra-cost transfers from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Safaga, and Soma Bay.
• The $17 starting price is strong value: It covers the ride, safety equipment, and hotel transfer when that option is selected, but food and drinks are not included.
• Bring practical riding clothes: Long trousers, breathable clothing, and a willingness to spend time around animals will make the outing more comfortable.

From Lucky Horses Stable to the Red Sea

The experience begins at Lucky Horses Stable, a short distance from Hurghada’s main hotel areas. You can book a transfer or make your own way there by taxi or Uber. If you arrive independently, GPS may leave you beside the road near the building called Harmony. Look to the left, behind the building, where the stables are located.

This matters because several horse yards are in the same area. Do not simply walk into the first stable you see. Show your ticket to the guide when you arrive and confirm that you are at Lucky Horses Stable.

If you book hotel pickup, wait at the main entrance or the hotel security gate, depending on the property. Some hotels do not let drivers enter. The guide or driver confirms your name and room number, so be ready about ten minutes early. A delay of up to fifteen minutes is possible because of traffic or hotel security checks.

The stable is not just a place to mount a horse and leave. You will meet cats, dogs, horses, and other animals before or after the ride. This is a pleasant extra for animal lovers, though it is worth taking seriously if you are nervous around animals. The team makes the setting friendly, but the animals are part of the experience rather than a hidden detail.

Choosing the right riding length

The advertised duration ranges from 90 minutes to three hours, with the core riding time commonly listed as two hours. Your exact start time depends on availability and the option you choose.

A shorter ride suits a first attempt, a family with limited patience, or anyone fitting the activity between other Hurghada plans. It gives you time to meet the horse, learn the basic controls, and ride through the desert and toward the beach without turning the outing into a full half-day commitment.

The two-hour ride is the strongest all-round choice. You have enough time to settle into the saddle, move through the desert, spend time beside the Red Sea, and take photographs without feeling rushed. Experienced riders can ask about a faster pace, but the guide controls the speed according to the group.

The three-hour option gives you more time outdoors and may make sense if riding is a main reason for booking. Still, a longer ride means more sun, dust, and saddle time. If you are new to horses, a shorter or two-hour outing is the sensible starting point.

Meeting your horse and guide

At the stable, staff match the horses to your riding ability. Calm horses such as Jojo, Flower, Fatima, Hero, and Mediha have been used for beginners and less confident riders, while stronger or more responsive horses may suit experienced riders. The exact horse is not guaranteed, and the stable makes the final choice based on your ability, size, and the group.

The first lesson is practical. You learn how to sit, steer, slow down, and follow the guide. Beginners are not simply sent off alone. Guides ride or walk close enough to help, and groups can be separated by ability. This is especially useful for families, couples, or mixed groups in which one person rides regularly and another has never been on a horse.

Several guides have received particularly warm praise for their patience and care. Rebecca is described as attentive to both horses and riders, with experience helping European riders. Abdul is known for calming first-time riders and helping them become comfortable with the horse. Saeed has guided beginners at a careful pace, while Adel and other stable staff help with mounting, instructions, and photographs.

Do not expect a formal riding school lesson. This is an outdoor ride, not a graded training session. You receive enough instruction to take part safely, but the amount of coaching depends on your group, the guide, and your experience.

Riding through desert sand

The first section leads into the desert around Hurghada. The setting is spare and open, with pale sand, dry ground, and the Red Sea region’s bright light. It is a good place to get used to the horse before reaching the water.

The desert section also gives the guide a chance to judge the group. Confident riders may be offered a faster pace where conditions and ability allow, while beginners stay at a calm walk. Do not assume that booking a ride automatically means galloping. Speed is a safety decision, not a promised feature.

Some riders find the desert the most relaxing part. There is less distraction, and the horse’s steady movement makes the outing feel peaceful. Others want more action and may prefer the beach section, where the open shoreline can make a faster pace feel more exciting.

You should wear long trousers. They help prevent rubbing and chafing, especially if you are not accustomed to a saddle. Breathable clothing is best, and you should expect your clothes to pick up some dust. Bring only what you can keep secure during the ride.

Along the beach and into the sea

The route continues toward the Red Sea beach, where the view changes from dry desert to open water. Riding beside the sea is the main attraction for many people, and it makes this activity different from a standard stable ride.

The beach section can be gentle and scenic, with time to walk along the shoreline. If the group includes experienced riders, the guide may allow a faster pace. Riders have described cantering on the beach, but this depends on your skill, the horse, the surface, and the guide’s decision.

If you want the most riding time, select the two-hour ride without swimming. One experienced rider specifically preferred the longer beach ride because swimming reduced the time spent riding. That is a useful distinction: swimming is the most unusual feature, but it is not automatically the best option for every rider.

What horse swimming is really like

The swimming choice lets you ride your horse into the sea during the warm season. It is a striking experience, particularly for a first-time rider or someone who wants photographs that are different from the usual beach holiday pictures.

To include swimming, choose the two-hour ride with swimming. The water session is not available from early November onward under the normal seasonal schedule, with October 31 listed as the final regular day. In colder periods, it may only happen after prior agreement and if the temperature and sea conditions are suitable.

That seasonal rule matters. Do not book based only on a photograph of a horse in the water. Ask ahead if your date is close to the end of October or during cooler weather.

Swimming also changes the balance of the excursion. You may spend less time riding on land, so choose it for the novelty rather than for the longest possible beach route. You will get wet, and you should plan your clothing accordingly. The supplied information does not list food, drinks, or changing facilities, so treat this as a riding activity with a water section, not a beach day.

Animal care and the stable atmosphere

The stable’s animal-friendly approach is one of its strongest features. Horses are described as well fed, sheltered from the sun, and selected according to rider ability. The environment also includes friendly dogs and cats, and some horses have reportedly been rescued from the Pyramids area or local villages.

That gives the visit more character than a quick ride at a large resort. You can spend time around the animals before or after the outing, and staff may explain the horses’ backgrounds. An owner-led visit around the stable has also been available, including introductions to rescued animals and a young donkey.

Still, animal lovers should be realistic. You will be close to several animals, and the stable openly warns that people who fear animals should think carefully before booking. The setting is warm and informal, not a quiet, animal-free meeting point.

For children, helmets and safety vests are provided. The activity has worked well for families with children, but the minimum age rules exclude babies under one year, and the experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Pregnant participants should consult a doctor before booking.

Photos, group size, and personal attention

Guides can use your phone to take photographs during the ride. This is useful for couples and solo riders who would otherwise have no easy way to capture the beach and horse scenes. Staff have been praised for making an effort to take good pictures rather than rushing through a single snapshot.

Some outings also offer photographs for purchase, and several riders considered the images good value. Confirm the arrangement when you arrive so you know what is included and what may cost extra.

Private and small-group options are available. A small group makes a real difference for beginners because the guide can pay closer attention to balance, steering, and pace. It also helps mixed groups. An experienced rider can enjoy a little more freedom while a novice receives extra support, as long as the guide can manage the group safely.

Language support includes English, Arabic, Estonian, German, and Italian. That broad choice is useful when discussing riding ability, comfort, and the swimming option.

Price, transfers, and practical value

At $17 per person, the price is unusually low for a horse ride that combines desert, beach, and possible hotel transfer. The value is best when you select the correct option, because the cheapest rate may not include every transfer or the swimming element.

Pickup and drop-off from Hurghada are included if you choose the transfer option. From Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Safaga, and Soma Bay, a transfer is available for an extra €10 per person. If you stay outside those areas, contact the stable before booking rather than assuming transport is included.

Food and drinks are not included. Plan to eat before or after the activity, especially if you choose a longer ride or an early start. Your exact pickup time is sent through WhatsApp, the booking app, or email, and it is wise to reconfirm one day before departure.

The booking terms are flexible: cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Hurghada schedule is still changing, but they do not remove the need to check the seasonal swimming rule.

Who will enjoy this ride most

I would recommend it to a first-time rider who wants careful guidance rather than a demanding lesson. The stable can match calm horses to beginners, and the guides are used to helping people who feel nervous at first.

It also suits couples, families, solo visitors, and mixed-ability groups. A confident rider can ask about a faster pace, while a beginner can remain with the guide. Solo riders benefit from the staff taking phone photographs.

Experienced riders should set fair expectations. You may get a good horse and a chance to canter, but speed is not guaranteed. If you want serious riding instruction or a long, uninterrupted gallop, this is probably not the right product.

The 220-pound, or 100-kilogram, maximum rider weight is firm and is given for the horses’ safety. The activity is also unsuitable for people with mobility impairments, babies under one year, and people over 95.

Should you book Lucky Horses Stable?

Book it if you want an affordable, friendly outing that combines horses, desert, and the Red Sea. Choose the regular two-hour ride if riding time matters most. Choose the swimming option in the warm season if the water experience and photographs are your main goals.

Ask about the sea temperature, group size, horse assignment, and photo arrangements before you set out. Wear long trousers, arrive early for pickup, and confirm the stable location if you are using a taxi.

I would skip it if you dislike being around dogs, cats, or horses, need full mobility assistance, or want a serious equestrian lesson. For everyone else, this is a good-value Hurghada activity with genuine personal attention, a memorable setting, and a clear choice between more riding and the novelty of taking a horse into the sea.

FAQ

Where does the horse riding tour begin?

The activity begins at Lucky Horses Stable in Hurghada. If you arrive by taxi or Uber, look for the Harmony building on the roadside, then look to the left and behind it for the stables. Show your ticket to the guide.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are available from Hurghada if you select the transfer option. Pickup from Makadi Bay, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, Safaga, and Soma Bay is available for an extra €10 per person.

How long does the activity last?

Available options range from 90 minutes to three hours. The two-hour ride is the listed choice for swimming with the horses.

Can beginners join?

Yes. The activity is suitable for complete beginners and experienced riders. Horses are selected according to your skill level, and guides provide instructions and assistance.

Is swimming with the horses available all year?

No. Regular swimming is not offered from early November because of colder weather and concern for the animals’ wellbeing. October 31 is listed as the last regular day, though swimming may be possible later by prior agreement if conditions allow.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable, breathable clothing. Long trousers are recommended to help prevent chafing during the ride.

Are helmets provided?

Yes. Helmets are provided, and children can use safety jackets.

Are photos included?

Guides can take photos using your phone during the trip. Additional photo arrangements may be available, and some photographs may be offered for purchase.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the activity.

What is the maximum rider weight?

The maximum rider weight is 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms, for the safety of the horses.