Sharm El Sheikh: Buggy Safari & Bedouin Tea with Pickup

Summary

Sinai desert buggy ride with Bedouin tea and hotel pickup

You’ll swap city noise for Sinai’s wild calm—driving your own buggy across open sands with a local guide nearby if you need help. After some adrenaline (and maybe a few wrong turns), you’ll pause at a Bedouin tent for smoky Egyptian tea before heading back to Sharm El Sheikh with sandy shoes and a head full of new stories.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Desert buggy adventure and tea

• Hotel pickup
• Drive sand dune buggies
• Relax at Bedouin tent with tea
• Hotel drop off

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for the buggy safari in Sharm El Sheikh?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in this experience.

Do I need prior experience to drive the sand buggy?

No experience is needed—the buggies are easy for beginners.

How long does the buggy safari last?

The main desert ride lasts around 2 hours including stops.

Is there a stop at a Bedouin village during the tour?

Yes, you’ll stop at a Bedouin tent for Egyptian tea during the tour.

Are helmets provided for safety?

Yes, helmets are provided as part of your booking.

Is this tour suitable for couples or friends?

Yes, buggies are designed for side-by-side riding—great for pairs.

What should I wear on the Sharm El Sheikh buggy safari?

Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting sandy; closed shoes are best.

Are infants allowed on this buggy safari?

Infants can join but must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

What’s included

Your day includes air-conditioned hotel pickup and drop-off from anywhere in Sharm El Sheikh, use of sand buggies with helmets provided by your guide Kareem (or whoever’s leading that day), plus a stop at a Bedouin tent where you’ll be served traditional Egyptian tea before heading back across those Sinai dunes.

What’s the experience like?

“You drive like a camel!” That’s what our guide, Kareem, shouted over the roar of the engine as I tried to steer our buggy straight through the Sinai desert. He was grinning so wide I couldn’t help but laugh back—even though I probably did look ridiculous. My hands were covered in fine sand already, and there was this warm, dry wind that made everything smell a bit like dust and sun-baked earth. The whole thing started right after our hotel pickup in Sharm El Sheikh; we barely had time to feel nervous before Kareem handed us helmets and gave a quick safety chat (which honestly made me feel better about my total lack of experience).

The first few minutes behind the wheel were bumpy—literally. My partner kept yelling “left!” or “don’t hit that rock!” which only made me more determined not to stall out in front of everyone. But then something shifted. We picked up speed across these huge golden dunes, nothing but open space and that weird silence you only get in the desert when the engines cut off for a second. It’s hard to describe how big it feels out there—like you could just keep driving forever if you wanted. There were a couple other couples in our group, everyone laughing at their own mistakes or cheering each other on when someone finally got the hang of it.

After maybe an hour (I lost track), we stopped at this Bedouin tent tucked between two dunes. Kareem poured us small glasses of sweet Egyptian tea—he called it “shay”—and told stories about growing up nearby. The tea tasted smoky and herbal, way better than I expected after all that dust in my mouth. I remember watching the light shift over the sand while we sat cross-legged on woven rugs, trying to brush grit off my shoes without being too obvious about it. Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel so relaxed out there—maybe it was just relief from not flipping the buggy.

On the way back toward Sharm el Sheikh, I realized my cheeks hurt from grinning so much under my helmet. There’s something about sharing those little moments—a bad joke from Kareem, or hearing someone else stall out their engine—that sticks with you longer than any photo does. Even now, sometimes I catch myself thinking about that endless stretch of sand and how quiet it felt once the engines faded out.