Desert safari and quad biking
Quad bikes into the Eastern Desert, usually with a Bedouin camp, a camel and a sunset. Enormous fun or a dusty conveyor belt, depending entirely on the operator.
How long it really takes
Four to six hours, usually late afternoon into the evening. One of the few excursions here that does not eat a whole day.
The standard shape: transfer out of town, a safety briefing of variable seriousness, an hour or so on quad bikes in convoy, then a camp with tea, a short camel ride, a barbecue and often a show.
The quality range is enormous. A good operator runs small groups, gives you real instruction and takes you somewhere with a view. A poor one puts forty people nose to tail on a dust track so thick you cannot see the bike in front, which is both unpleasant and genuinely the main injury risk.
The Bedouin camp element is staged. Treating it as a barbecue under stars rather than a cultural encounter avoids disappointment; the setting, when the operator is decent, is beautiful regardless.
Is it worth it?
Yes, with the right operator and modest expectations. The desert immediately behind this coast is spectacular and most visitors never see it.
Skip it if
- You have a respiratory condition. The dust is not incidental — it is the defining feature
- You want an authentic cultural experience rather than an evening out
- You are unsteady on a bike; the terrain is easy but the convoy dust is disorientating
What it costs, and how
One of the cheapest excursions sold here, and one where the cheapest option is most likely to be a bad one. Paying a little more meaningfully reduces group size.
Watch out for
- Ask about group size before booking. It is the single variable that determines the day.
- Take a scarf or buff for your face and sunglasses you do not mind scratching. Contact lens wearers should consider glasses instead.
- Check whether your travel insurance covers quad biking. Many policies exclude it.
Runs from
Last reviewed 25 July 2026. We take no commission on any excursion — how we make money. Sold something that did not match the description? Tell the desk.