Quad Biking in Hurghada: Age, Licence and Safety
Who may drive a quad on the Hurghada safaris: each listing's age rule, licence or driving test, helmets, who should not ride, what to wear, and what the UK Foreign Office says about quad accidents.
On most Hurghada quad safaris you must be 16 to drive a quad yourself, and no listing compared here asks for a driving licence: you get a safety briefing, a helmet and a practice ride or a short driving test instead. The rules differ in the details, so read the one for your trip. The UK Foreign Office says there have been several serious quad bike accidents involving British nationals in Egypt’s resort areas and that safety standards vary considerably (read 8 November 2026).
We found no Egyptian rule on the age or licence for driving a tourist quad; what follows is each trip’s own rule.
Who may drive, listing by listing
| Trip | Who may drive | Not suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Quad Bike, ATV, Camel Ride and Optional BBQ (Wild Desert Safari) | 16 and over alone; children 6 to 15 may not drive | Children under 6, pregnant women |
| Quad Bike Desert Safari with Hotel Pickup (Sea Horse Sahl Hasheesh-Hurghada) | At least 16 | Children under 3, pregnant women, back, heart or mobility problems, wheelchair users |
| Quad Bike Tour of the Desert and Red Sea (Desert Fox Safari - Makadi Bay and Marsa Alam) | At least 16, after passing a short driving test | Children under 4, pregnant women, back or mobility problems |
| Quad Bike, Camel, Show, Dinner and Stargazing Trip (Quad Tour Safari - Makadi Bay & Hurghada) | At least 16, after passing a driving test | Children under 2, pregnant women, back or mobility problems |
| Desert Quad Bike Adventure With Hotel Transfers (Safari Sahara) | Under 17 may not drive alone and must be with an adult | Pregnant women, back or heart problems |
| Super Safari Adventure with ATV, Camel Ride and BBQ (Ava Travel Service) | Not stated; everyone takes a brief driving test | Pregnant women, back problems, wheelchair users, over 65s, babies under 1 |
| El Gouna Sunset Safari by Quad bike (ALEX SAFARI EL GOUNA) | Adults 18 to 60 only | Pregnant travellers, spinal injuries, poor heart health |
| Makadi Seaside and Desert: 2h Quad Bike Adventure (BTG Holidays) | Children 14 and under ride on an adult’s quad | Pregnant travellers |
From the listings’ good-to-know, suitability and age-band lines: GetYourGuide checked November 2026, Viator checked November 2026.
Children who are too young to drive can ride as passengers on some trips. Recent reviewers of Wild Desert Safari’s trip mention a 6-year-old and a 7-year-old riding with a parent; one, on 14 October 2026, says their 14-year-olds were allowed to drive with a guide, which Wild Desert Safari’s own rule does not provide for, so ask before you count on it.
The briefing, the test and the helmet
Every trip starts with instruction. Wild Desert Safari gives a 15-minute safety briefing and a 15-minute practice ride; Sea Horse Sahl Hasheesh-Hurghada a safety briefing and a short practice drive; Desert Fox Safari - Makadi Bay and Marsa Alam and Quad Tour Safari - Makadi Bay & Hurghada a briefing and a short driving test you must pass, with a disclaimer to sign. Reckless driving is not allowed on either of those two.
Helmets are included on all the GetYourGuide rides in the table. On Ava Travel Service's Super Safari they must be worn at all times on the ATV and the spider car, and throughout the ride from Desert Fox Safari - Makadi Bay and Marsa Alam. One three-star reviewer of Wild Desert Safari’s trip, on 14 October 2026, noted that helmets were compulsory for everyone except the guides.
Speed and the group
You ride in a line behind a guide. On Sea Horse Sahl Hasheesh-Hurghada's ride it is “a guided desert adventure, not a race”, and the two Makadi Bay rides use nearly the same words. Reviewers describe the pace both ways: on Wild Desert Safari’s trip, one family on 21 October 2026 asked to drop back because their 12-year-old passenger found it too fast, and a rider on 3 November reports reaching 75 km/h. Several reviewers of the Makadi Bay rides describe groups split into slow and fast riders.
What to wear and bring
- Shoes. Closed-toe shoes on Sea Horse Sahl Hasheesh-Hurghada's ride; one reviewer on Wild Desert Safari's warns that flip-flops fly off.
- Dust. A scarf and goggles, or a face covering; they are not in the price on most trips, and Wild Desert Safari sells them at checkout.
- Sun and cold. Sunglasses and sunscreen; a jacket in winter for Sea Horse Sahl Hasheesh-Hurghada's ride.
- Leave behind. Luggage, large bags and jewellery on the Makadi Bay rides and Sea Horse Sahl Hasheesh-Hurghada's; alcohol and drugs on most of them.
What the UK Foreign Office says
The UK Foreign Office’s travel advice for Egypt (read 8 November 2026) says there have been several serious quad bike accidents involving British nationals in resort areas, that safety standards vary considerably, and to always wear a crash helmet and take the same precautions as at home. It asks travellers to make sure their insurance, or the tour company, covers air or sea rescue. Its list of areas it advises against visiting, updated 27 October 2026, does not include Hurghada.
Check that your own travel insurance covers quad biking before you go. For what each safari includes once you are on the quad, see what a quad safari includes.
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