A desert night with stars is the real deal. This Hurghada adventure strings together off-road driving and a guided stargazing session with a professional telescope, plus dinner in the middle of it all. I especially like how the program mixes fun, simple animal moments, and then turns serious for astronomy and horoscope talk. The main thing to consider is that nights can get cold fast, and the ride is bumpy, so you’ll want warm layers and solid shoes.

You start with hotel pickup, head 17 km into the desert, and arrive at an oasis-style setup for tea, Arabian coffee, and dates. After the sunset from a high hill (with a short horse ride), you settle into dinner, then end by lying back under the sky while the guide points out constellations and seasonal targets through the telescope. A big plus here is that guides are often very animated and multi-language, including names like Nassir (also called Marshmallow), Arabi, Medhat, Ahmed, and Mohamed Salah, who can explain both the science and the sky stories. If you go on a cloudy night, you may not see as many stars as you hoped, but the telescope moment and the explanations usually still make it worthwhile.

Key Highlights You Should Care About

• 17 km off-road drive that turns the desert trip into the main event, not just a transfer
• Camel ride (about 5 minutes) plus a short horse ride (about 5 minutes), both built into the flow
• Farm tour with animal feeding, including the kind of close-up, hands-on moments you don’t get at beach tours
• Sunset from a high hill with a welcome drink, so the sky and sand dunes get their moment
• Stargazing with a professional telescope, timed after dinner and led by a live guide who explains what you’re seeing
• Upcoming astronomy date: a special astronomer event is planned for September 6–8, 2025, with a total lunar eclipse

The Big Picture: What This Adventure Is Really For

This isn’t just a stargazing outing with a snack. It’s a full evening circuit that starts like an off-road safari, pauses for farm and animal time, then shifts into a proper night-sky lesson. You get a lot for the money because it bundles transport, rides, dinner, and telescope viewing into one ticket.

For me, the sweet spot is the mix: you’re not sitting in silence waiting for darkness. You’ll be moving through the desert, meeting animals at the farm stop, watching the light change over the dunes, then finally slowing down under the stars with a guide working the sky like a classroom with a campfire vibe.

Getting There: Hotel Pickup and the Off-Road Ride (17 km)

You’ll start with pickup from your hotel, then meet the guide and head out into the desert. The driving portion includes 17 kilometers of off-roading, which is the part that turns the experience from a scenic drive into actual adventure.

Two practical notes. First, expect a bumpy ride. People have described it as rollercoaster-style, so hold on and keep your phone secure. Second, despite the tour name, you may ride in larger off-road vehicles (often Land Cruisers) that can be a bit awkward to climb into and out of, so wear clothes that let you move easily.

If you’re the kind of traveler who gets restless when tours feel too long and slow, this first chunk helps. You’re already doing something the whole time.

The Oasis Welcome: Tea, Coffee, Dates, and Farm Life

When you arrive, you’ll get a welcome with tea and Arabian coffee, plus dates. It’s a simple start, but it sets the tone: you’re not just passing through the desert; you’re being hosted in a camp-like setting.

Then comes the farm tour, where you can see green plants and farm animals. One of the best parts for families and curious adults is the hands-on option to feed animals and get close enough to feel how much this place depends on the oasis conditions. Some evenings also include added village-style moments like watching traditional bread being made, though that can vary by what’s happening on the day.

This stop matters because it breaks up the evening. Before you’re cold and stargazing, you’re busy and engaged in a way that feels more local than typical “desert photo stop only” trips.

Short Rides That Still Feel Like an Event: Camel and Horse Time

After the farm and before sunset, you’ll do a camel ride for about 5 minutes. It’s short, but it’s usually enough to say you did it, take a few photos, and move on without losing the evening schedule.

Then you’ll add a short horse ride for about 5 minutes, typically connected with the sunset viewing from a high hill. The timing is built so you’re not rushing between activities, and you don’t end up spending your whole evening on just one thing.

A reality check: these rides are brief by design. So if you’re dreaming of a long, slow trail ride, you might want a longer-riding option if offered by the operator. But for most people, the value here is that the rides are packed into a broader experience that includes dinner and the telescope session.

Sunset on a High Hill: The Desert Turns Color Fast

Next, you’ll head to a high hill viewpoint for the sunset. You’ll also have a drink here, and the goal is clear: watch the dunes and sky shift together instead of seeing sunset as a quick stop-and-go photo moment.

This is one of those parts where timing matters. Even in relatively warm seasons, the desert changes quickly once the sun drops. Bring your camera, but also pause and just look—this is the moment when the rest of the evening starts to feel magical.

One more practical point: plan for cold. Multiple guides and riders have noted that it can get chilly in the evening. Long trousers and a warm layer make a big difference, especially if you’re going to lie back during the stargazing.

Dinner Under the Stars: What You Eat and Why It Works

Dinner is served after sunset and before stargazing. The meal includes grilled chicken, meatballs, rice, salads, vegetables, and cola. It’s not a fancy tasting menu, but it’s hearty and built for an outdoor setting.

What I like about this dinner setup is the pacing. Eating before stargazing keeps you comfortable when the temperature drops and you’ll be lying still. Also, having dinner as part of the night routine means you’re not scrambling to find food after the drive.

If you’re picky about warm food, aim to get your plate sooner rather than later. A couple of travelers have noted the food can be less warm than expected depending on timing, so don’t wait around.

Stargazing With a Telescope: Constellations, Planets, and Horoscope Talk

After dinner, you’ll transition into stargazing in two steps. First, there’s about 15 minutes lying on your back to take in the sky view by yourself. Then you’ll use a professional telescope to look at available targets depending on the season.

This is where the guide really matters. Many guides described in the experience—like Nassir/Marshmallow and Arabi—don’t just point. They explain star groups and offer horoscope-style talk, and they answer questions. People have specifically mentioned seeing things like the moon up close and planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus, with Saturn often being the standout through the telescope.

Two things to keep expectations realistic. If the sky is cloudy, you won’t magically get clear stars. And even on a clear night, telescope viewing depends on what’s above the horizon at that time of year. But the guide narration usually helps you connect the dots fast—where the zodiac signs sit, how to read the sky pattern, and why certain bright objects show up when they do.

Tip: wear layers that let you stay warm while stationary. Stargazing is not a “walk around and chat” moment. You’re lying back and letting the sky do its job.

What Guides Do Differently: Names to Look Out For

One thing that keeps coming up is the energy of the people leading the night. Guides such as Nassir (Marshmallow) and Arabi are often praised for being funny, interactive, and able to explain astronomy and horoscope ideas in a way that sticks. Others like Medhat, Ahmed, Mohamed Salah, Alexander, Mahmoud, and Marcel are also mentioned as friendly and organized.

The practical takeaway for you: choose this experience expecting a live show, not a silent stargazing lecture. If you like asking questions, you’ll likely get a better night from the guide who actively invites interaction.

Weather, Comfort, and Safety: Your Night-Sky Checklist

This kind of tour is fun because it mixes motion and stillness. That also means you need the right basics.

Bring:

• Comfortable shoes (bumpy desert ground is not the time for flimsy sandals)
• Water
• A camera (sunset and telescope moments are photo-friendly)
• Warm layers for after sunset (long trousers and a jumper help a lot)

Also, note the tour isn’t for everyone. It’s marked as not suitable for pregnant women and not suitable for people with back problems. It’s also listed as not suitable for people with animal allergies.

Safety-wise, the experience is described as fully monitored by cameras and compliant with international health and safety standards. Still, treat the off-road ride seriously: hold on, sit steady, and keep your expectations aligned with a bumpy desert drive.

Value Math: Why $48 Can Feel Like a Bargain

At about $48 per person, you’re paying for more than a telescope ticket. Your package includes:

• hotel pickup and drop-off
• 17 km off-road desert driving
• welcome drinks (tea, Arabian coffee, dates)
• farm tour and animal feeding
• camel and horse rides
• sunset viewing drink
• dinner (grilled chicken, meatballs, rice, salads, vegetables, cola)
• stargazing with a professional telescope plus live guide explanations

In other words, you’re buying an evening that would cost a lot more if you booked each piece separately: transport, guided dinner in the desert, rides, and a guided astronomy session. If you want one evening that genuinely changes your rhythm from beach-and-buffet mode, this is a strong value.

Should You Book It? My Straight Answer

Yes, if you want a well-paced desert night with real activities, not just a quick “look at stars” stop. The mix of off-roading, farm animal time, sunset viewpoint, dinner, and telescope stargazing makes it feel like you used your time well.

You might skip it (or pick a different style of tour) if:

• you need a smooth, low-movement experience (off-roading is bumpy)
• you’re very sensitive to cold and don’t plan to dress for it
• you’re not able to handle rides or stationary lying down

If you’re in Hurghada and you care about the night sky, keep an eye on timing too. And if you can travel in late 2025, the planned September 6–8, 2025 astronomer event with a total lunar eclipse is the kind of rare bonus that turns a normal star night into something special.

FAQ

How much is the tour?

The price is listed as $48 per person.

Do I get hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off. If your hotel is outside Hurghada, an extra charge is added.

How long is the off-road drive?

The off-road portion is 17 kilometers.

How long are the camel and horse rides?

The camel ride is about 5 minutes, and the horse ride is also about 5 minutes.

What’s included in the dinner?

Dinner includes grilled chicken, meatballs, rice, salads, vegetables, and cola.

Does the tour include stargazing with a telescope?

Yes. You’ll do stargazing with a professional telescope, and your guide explains stars, star groups, and horoscope-related info.

What happens during the stargazing portion?

You’ll spend about 15 minutes lying on your back to look at the sky, then use the telescope to view targets available for that season.

Are there additional fees?

A national park fee of 1 euro per person is listed. There’s also a note about 5 euro hotels located in Safaga, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hashish, and El Gouna.

What languages are offered?

The tour is listed in German, French, English, Russian, Arabic, and Spanish.

Is this tour suitable for everyone?

No. It’s marked not suitable for pregnant women and people with back problems, and it’s also marked not suitable for people with animal allergies.

Is there an upcoming special astronomy event?

Yes. A special astronomer event is planned for September 6–8, 2025, including a total lunar eclipse.