Flight from Nice to Hurghada

A holiday in Hurghada is an ode to Oum Dounia, ‘the mother of the world’ as the Egyptians call their country. It is based on living in a gentle rhythm where nature and culture shine with equal brilliance. Culture requires a little effort: you need the courage to escape the thousand temptations of the city, from its lazy beaches to its amusement parks, and drive a few hours towards the Nile and its ancient treasures.

When it comes to nature, the quest is easier. All you have to do is cross the street or simply step out of your hotel room to reach the one of the most beautiful seas in the world, which the Greeks named Erythra Thalassa, the Red Sea for the scarlet reflections on its surface. With its crystal-clear waters, exceptional visibility (often more than 30 metres), 1,200 animal species that live there and its 200 different varieties of coral, it is a paradise for all those, whether experienced divers or simple snorkelling enthusiasts, who find the underwater world fascinating.

But Hurghada is also your gateway to a whole other ocean, of sand: the Arabian Desert. Discovering its lunar landscapes, canyons and Bedouin villages is a true adventure. This is an experience anyone can enjoy, whether with the family in the comfort of a 4x4, or as a couple, on the back of an Arabian thoroughbred or a camel, enjoying the thrill of galloping and the beauty of a sunset over the dunes.

• Take a stroll in the cool of the evening around Hurghada's New Marina, between the yachts on one side and the lively terraces of trendy bars and restaurants on the other. Continue your stroll to Sheraton Street, the city's main thoroughfare, which offers a mix of chic window shopping and picturesque souks, and head to the forecourt of the Al Mina Mosque to admire its two huge, illuminated minarets.
• Experience a colourful night at Alf Leïla We Leïla (which translates into English as "A Thousand and One Nights", which is no coincidence!), a vast open-air theatre that hosts the Fantasia Show several times a week, a magical show with an oriental atmosphere featuring belly dancers, whirling dervishes, equestrian acrobatics, musical fountains and comedy sketches inspired by Sinbad, Aladdin and even Isis and Osiris.
• Combine exploring the depths of the Red Sea with a 45-minute boat trip and a diving excursion around the Giftoun Islands. These two small islands are home to Egypt's first underwater nature reserve, created 40 years ago. Their coral reefs, lagoons, sandy bays and rocky coasts harbour almost all the species living in the Red Sea.
• Discover the underwater flora and fauna without getting wet at the Grand Aquarium in Hurghada. The 24 themed galleries and underwater tunnel allow you to discover more than a hundred species, including various sharks, rays, sea turtles and more. As a bonus, there is a shark feeding show, a tropical forest in a greenhouse, a fossil museum and a mini-zoo populated in part by animals rescued from animal trafficking.
• Enjoy an incredible experience reminiscent of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by visiting the silent world and its fish in... a submarine. You will descend to a depth of twenty metres and enjoy the spectacle of nature through large portholes. The fish are all the more eager to meet you as divers are there to ensure they come close to the submarine by offering them food.
• Relive the excitement of The Big Blue by getting up close to dolphins at Dolphin World, Hurghada's dolphinarium. In addition to shows featuring cetaceans and sea lions, the park offers children and adults the rare opportunity to join these playful mammals in their pools and swim with them.
• Visit an UCO, an unidentified cultural object: SandCity. What is it? An amusement park? An open-air museum? An outdoor art gallery? In truth, a little bit of everything! The place is home to a collection of more than forty monumental sculptures and bas-reliefs made entirely of... sand! The walk takes you past historical figures (Napoleon, Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar), gods (Poseidon, Zeus, Isis, Ganesh...), mythical creatures (Pegasus and the Sphinx) and comic book and cartoon heroes such as Bugs Bunny, Iron Man, Shrek and Nemo.
• Have fun at Egypt's largest water park: Jungle Aqua Park. Whizz down its thirty-five slides and laze around on a sun lounger by one of its fourteen swimming pools.
• Treat yourself to a trip into the desert to discover the life and landscapes of the Bedouins. An unforgettable excursion that you can choose to do by 4x4, quad bike, horse, camel or even hot air balloon.
• Treat yourself to a trip to Luxor (about three hours away) to discover the splendours of the land of the pharaohs: the temples of Karnak and Luxor or, on the other bank of the Nile, in the famous Valley of the Kings, the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramses II and Hatshepsut. Many tour operators in Hurghada have included these ancient treasures in their catalogues. Don’t miss out!