Ghost City RED SEA UNEXPECTED

The desert surrounding Hurghada is called the Eastern Desert and is the part of the Sahara Desert that lies east of the Nile River, between the river and the Red Sea. The eastern desert is relatively mountainous. The hills reach an altitude of over 1,900 m. The Red Sea Hills are an arid area that receives less than 200mm of rain every year. The hills of the Red Sea are a source of porphyry, which was mined as early as the fourth millennium BC. They are inhabited by the Beja people, who practice herding and live mainly near the dry river beds, wādī.

The eastern desert was an important mineral resource for the ancient Egyptians. Limestone, sandstone, granite, amethyst, copper, and gold were among the stones and metals mined from the desert, and the remains of thousands of quarries, camps and roads are scattered across the region’s mountains and wadis.

You will be taking on a journey to an unknown and hidden past in the city of Umm Al Huwaytat – now known as the Ghost City – behind Safaga, which is located south of Hurghada. The second you step into the city, you are completely engulfed by the place. The city’s history is wrapped up in mystery and tragedy. Umm Al Huwaytat was founded in 1898, a decade following the Orabi nationalist revolution that took place from 1879 to 1882 against the British colonialists in Egypt, the entire city was the creation of one Englishman.

Program

MAX 4 PERSONS

This program has a limited number of places due to the fact that the paths during the excursion to the Ghost City are very narrow and some rough.

The outline itinerary is as follows. Please note that the actual riding itinerary and route is subject to local conditions, the weather and the composition of the group. You should expect to do all of mentioned at some point during the week, but not necessarily in this order.

Arrive in Hurghada Airport where you are met and driven to your hotel. A welcoming cocktail and your holiday begins.
Free morning to relax around the pool , after lunch your car will collect you to travel to our facilities . You will be welcomed to a meeting with Guenda and her team and introduced to the horses. You will enjoy an introductory 2 hrs Sunset ride in the desert
A full day ride into the desert till a bedouin camp located in a breathtaking scenary where we will have a tipical bedouin lunch and a camel ride before going back into the saddle till the stable (approx 5 hrs riding)
Full day Trip on a Boat to the Natural DOLPHIN HOUSE, with stops for snorkeling, and if you are lucky enough to see or even swim with the dolphin. lunch on board (snorkeling equipment, lunch, soft drink, coffee and tea included)
Pick up from the hotel should be late morning. There you will find your horse ready to start the visit to a natural water spring in the heart of mountains, riding through valley sand canyons in the way to Ghost City. Reach the panorama  in a high mountain with full view of all the city.Ride inside the city. Visit the Ghost City its sightseeing and historical places such as, old mosque, houses, schools, shops, hospital, the British engineer house and phosphate mines. Back to the camp for a dinner under the stars.Moving back from the camp to hotel about 7pm.
Morning beach ride – possibility to swim with horses (weather permitting) back to the hotel for lunch in time for the last relaxing hours.
Departure day.

Ghost City Season 2023-2024

  • 29th October to 4th November 2023
  • 12th to 18th November 2023 (Only 2 Saddle Left)
  • 10th to 16th December 2023
  • 13th to 20th January 2024
  • 11th to 17th February 2024
  • 18th to 24th February 2024
  • 17th to 23rd March 2024
  • 6th to 12th April 2024

Additional Information

General Information

PRICE FROM

1346

Pratical Info

  • Riding level: Suitable for intermediate to experienced riders. You should be confident on a horse at all paces. The pace is varied to include walk, trot, canter and gallop
  • Weight: riders weight limit: 90 kg.
  • Age: minimum age is 16 years, only allowed if accompanied by an adult.
  • Group size: groups comprise a minimum of 4 riders and maximum of 8 riders.
  • Horses: Arab and Arabian Cross.
  • Saddles: comfortable English leather GP or trekking saddle.
  • Guides: professional and multilingual guides.
  • Passport: Required for all foreigners.
  • Visa: Payable at Hurghada on arrival $25. Cash only payment.
  • Vaccinations: Not required in the area where we ride (for other regions consult your physician).

PCR test is required with report in English with validity of 72 hours from the date of the result.

Additional Information

Recommended Travel Info

  • Valid international passport
  • Travel insurance
  • Pocket money (you can change EUR/£/USD in the airport)
  • A warm sweater and a jacket
  • Jodhpurs or jeans to ride with
  • Riding shoes or boots / riding shoes with mini-chaps or long chaps
  • Swimsuit, comfortable clothing & a scarf (a nice Arabic scarf can be bought on location)
  • Sun cream
  • Camera
  • Mosquito repellent

Accomodation

5 stars Hotel in all inclusive board (local alchool included) Located on the southern tip of Hurghada, Jaz Aquamarina Resort features its own private beach and a diving club. It has 20 swimming pools, 3 aqua parks and a number of restaurants and bars.
Jaz Aquamarine rooms include luxury bedding, and large floor to ceiling windows. They come equipped with a TV and minibar. Family rooms include a separate living area with sofas. Some rooms offer panoramic sea views or pool views.
Jaz Aquamarine has 7 restaurants, 5 of which are À la carte restaurants (Asian, Fish, Italian, Lebanese & Indian). In the evenings, live entertainment is provided in the theater.
Feel light and beautiful with the Mividaspa, which includes offers reviving and reinvigorating treatments, water therapies, massages, relaxation programs and beauty services at an extra charge.
Jaz Aquamarine diving centre is the ideal place from which to explore Hurghada’s coral reef. Beach volleyball, camel rides and deep sea fishing are also available for guests.

Money

The Egyptian pound is divided into 100 piastres. There are notes for 25 and 50 piastres and 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pounds as well as coins for 10 and 25 piastres. Credit cards are widely accepted at banks, hotels and upmarket restaurants, but check first. Many five-star hotels and banks in tourist resorts have automatic cash dispensing machines.
The local abbreviation for the currency is LE which stands for ‘livre égyptienne’ (French for ‘Egyptian pound’). Please note that if you have booked a trail, you will be travelling in some remote places and will not have regular access to cash machines or chances to pay by card. It is better to have a small amount of cash with you to make purchases of souvenirs, alcohol or anything else you might need, or to leave tips.
Although there is no obligation, tipping in Egypt is very much a way of life. Tips can be made in Sterling, Euros, US dollars and Egyptian pounds (LE). The following is to be used as a guide only:

  • Restaurants 8-10%
  • Cafes/Bars 10%
  • Taxis (negotiate the price first) 5-10%
  • Chambermaids 15-20 LE
  • Porters 10-20 LE

It is also considered customary to tip your riding guide at the end of your holiday and the amount is entirely at your discretion and is based on the level of service you feel that you received.

Clima

Hurghada has a subtropical-desert climate , with mild-warm winters and hot to very hot summers. Temperatures in the period December–January–February are warm, but in the evenings temperature may drop from an average 20 Celsius degrees to 10. November, March and April are comfortably warm. May and October are hot and the period from June to September is very hot. The average annual temperature of the sea is 24 °C (75 °F), ranging from 21 °C (70 °F) in February and March to 38 °C in August.
Despite the hot overall temperatures, you will find that it becomes much cooler at night time compared to in the day, especially when you are travelling in more remote areas or through the mountain regions. For this reason we do recommend that you take a few warmer items to keep you cosy at night time.

Travel Insurance

We require that you take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy, including health cover, before you start your trip. Please ensure that your insurance covers unexpected losses or expenses e.g. lost luggage, stolen cash and credit cards or cancelled/missed flights. You should check any exclusion and that your policy covers you for horse riding and all the activities you want to undertake – you may not be allowed to ride without adequate travel insurance so please do send us your insurance information before you depart.
Please note that some insurance policies specify that you must be wearing appropriate clothing and a riding helmet in order to be covered for horse riding activities. We strongly recommend that you wear a riding hat during the rides (and when handling the horses) but if you intend not to, please make sure that you are still insured and can claim for medical expenses in the event of an accident.
NB. We recommend that you book your insurance as soon as you book your holiday (or as soon after as possible!) and include cancellation cover, as you will need to claim on your insurance should you have to cancel your holiday due to illness, injury or other.
Trip Cancellation Insurance recommended: In order to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances interfering with your holiday, we strongly suggest that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Bagaglio

What should i wear?
To get the most out of your horse riding holiday, we recommend that you consider a small investment in purchasing the correct kit.

Riding Equipment and Footwear
Riding hats are available at our stables, for your own comfort we advise you to bring your own hat which has been fitted to your head should you have one. Footwear is also important, you should wear a closed shoe or boot preferably with a small heel. Please note trainers or wellies are not acceptable as they are flat soled and can slip through the stirrup.

Riding Kit
It can get very hot abroad, so to avoid feeling sweaty and sticky all the time, try to stick to natural fabrics, especially cotton. There are many fantastic new products on the market, including full cotton seamless underwear, which is a blessing for long trail rides. Don’t forget about fine cotton socks too.

Trousers
Of course, nothing beats the comfort and protection that proper cotton breeches or jodhpurs afford for riding, but if you don’t intend to ride much after your holiday, you can get by with cotton tracksuit bottoms or leggings.

Tops
Should be fairly fitted, and it is better to have at least half sleeves for protection to the shoulders against sunburn or low hanging branches on the trail riding holidays. Even in the summer, they are just as cool and for the ladies, are much more “supportive” and comfortable so you can concentrate on learning in your classes. If you come in winter, it’s good to bring tops you can wear in layers, T-shirts, sweatshirts and vests. Sometimes it is quite cold and suddenly it gets hot, so it’s good to be able to add or subtract quickly.

Other Items

  • Sunscreen, camera, sunglasses, binoculars, lip balm, plasters, insect cream / repellent (just in case) are all highly recommended.
  • Mosquito repellent is a must! Those besky little things can be quite persistent. A good 12 hour spray is advisable, and after-bite cream and antihistamine tablets work wonders should you get bitten.
  • Saddle sores are not uncommon and often surprise the most experienced of riders used to long hours in the saddle. We have the best tack, saddles, and seat covers that we can offer, however a little extra care due to the dry heat is very much advisable. Guenda suggests Lanacane Anti Chaffing Gel which is available in most chemists or online and is not at all expensive. Use every morning before you leave for riding to avoid tender spots, and it’s also very good for after to soothe.
  • Cold Sore Cream if you suffer in the sun, or tea tree oil is a great natural alternative.
  • Plasters: We carry a first aid kit on all safari trips, but it’s always advisable to have a packet yourself.

Contact us !

We are ready for your questions, ask what you need, do you want to do something special?

You can fill out the contact form or if you prefer you can connect by Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp.

    • Safari Area – Hurghada (Egypt)

    • (+2)01025037540

    • (+2)01004186623

    • info@equestriandream-egypt.com

    • www.equestriandream-egypt.com

    • Safari Area – Hurghada (Egypt)

    • (+2)01025037540

    • (+2)01004186623

    • info@equestriandream-egypt.com

    • www.equestriandream-egypt.com