Egypt Red Sea aboard Grand Sea Explorer

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Location: Hurghada, Egypt, reached via Hurghada International Airport (HRG). Most connections route through Istanbul, Frankfurt, or Zurich.

Duration: 12 days / 11 nights, November 7-18, 2027.

Activity Type: A liveaboard dive trip combined with a land extension in Luxor. The diving covers seven nights aboard the Grand Sea Explorer on the North and Brothers itinerary, including the SS Thistlegorm wreck, Brothers Islands, and Ras Mohamed National Park, with up to four dives per day and nitrox included. The land portion covers three nights in Luxor with guided sightseeing at the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, and the temples of Abydos and Dendera. This trip is open to all certification levels. Dive guides will brief each site and match divers to conditions appropriate for their level. The trip is limited to 22 guests to ensure personal attention and a low diver-to-guide ratio.

Accommodation: Three nights at the Steigenberger Palace Hotel or similar in Luxor, one of the finest properties in Upper Egypt on the banks of the Nile. Seven nights aboard the Grand Sea Explorer, a purpose-built liveaboard with comfortable staterooms and suites, a dedicated dive deck, camera facilities, and full meal service.

Pricing:

• Land and Boat Package (double occupancy): $5,257 per person
• Boat Only Package (double occupancy): $3,914 per person
• Single supplement: contact us for availability

Day 1 - Monday, November 7 - Arrive Hurghada

Arrive at Hurghada International Airport. You are met and transferred to your hotel. This is your buffer day. Rest, adjust to the time zone, and get your first look at the Red Sea. Dinner on your own.

Accommodation: Hurghada Marriott Beach Hotel or similar.

Day 2 - Tuesday, November 8 - Hurghada to Luxor

Your group is met at the hotel and transferred to Luxor, approx. four hours by road. Check in to the Steigenberger Palace Hotel on the banks of the Nile.

This afternoon, explore the East Bank. The Temple of Luxor, with its Avenue of Sphinxes and colossal statue of Ramses II, leads into Karnak Temple, one of the largest religious complexes ever built. The carvings on its walls document the conquests and beliefs of Egypt's greatest Pharaohs.

This evening, an optional Sound and Light Show at Karnak brings the temple to life after dark.

Accommodation: Steigenberger Palace Hotel (D)

Day 3 - Wednesday, November 9 - West Bank and Valley of the Kings

Cross the Nile at sunrise to the West Bank. The Valley of the Kings holds 63 royal tombs carved into the bedrock of the desert. Many retain their original colors. You will enter several of them. The painted ceilings and walls were not made for tourists. They were made to last eternity, and they have.

Continue to Deir El Bahri, the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, considered one of the finest structures in all of Egypt. The afternoon is at your leisure or you can visit the Luxor Museum.

Accommodation: Steigenberger Palace Hotel (B, D)

Day 4 - Thursday, November 10 - Abydos and Dendera

Today takes you beyond the standard tourist route. Drive north from Luxor to visit two of Egypt's most significant and least crowded temples.

Abydos is one of Egypt's most sacred sites, dedicated to Osiris, god of the afterlife. Its hieroglyphics and wall reliefs are among the best preserved in the country. Dendera is dedicated to Hathor, goddess of love and music. Its astronomical ceiling, hidden chambers, and towering columns are extraordinary. Most visitors to Egypt never make it here.

Accommodation: Steigenberger Palace Hotel (B, D)

Day 5 - Friday, November 11 - Luxor to Hurghada, Board the Grand Sea Explorer

This morning, an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari over Luxor is available (for an extra charge). Float above the Valley of the Kings, the Nile, and the desert as the light comes up. It is one of those experiences that is difficult to describe accurately.

Transfer back to Hurghada by road. Board the Grand Sea Explorer by 17:00. Welcome briefing, cabin assignment, and your first look at the boat that will be your home for the next seven nights.

Accommodation: Grand Sea Explorer (B)

Day 6 through Day 11 - Saturday November 12 through Thursday November 17 - Diving the North and Brothers

Up to four dives per day. Nitrox included. The route covers the most celebrated sites in the northern Red Sea.

The SS Thistlegorm is one of the most famous wreck dives in the world. A British WWII supply ship sunk in 1941, she lies in 30 meters of water, her cargo holds still loaded with motorcycles, trucks, rail cars, and military equipment. Diving her is not like diving a wreck. It is like diving into a stopped moment in history.

The Brothers Islands are two remote offshore pinnacles rising from deep water. The walls here drop hundreds of feet and the current pulls hard. Oceanic whitetip sharks patrol the blue. Hammerheads move through in formation below you. The coral on the walls is dense and healthy.

Ras Mohamed National Park marks the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba collide. Shark Reef and Jolanda Reef are among the most photographed dive sites in the Red Sea. The fish life here is staggering in volume and variety.

Each evening the boat repositions overnight. Each morning you wake up somewhere new.

Accommodation: Grand Sea Explorer (B, L, D, Nitrox included)

Day 12 - Friday, November 18 - Disembark Hurghada, Fly Home

Disembark in Hurghada in the morning. Transfer to Hurghada International Airport for your flight home. Most international connections route through Cairo, Istanbul, Frankfurt, or Zurich.

• If your flight schedule requires an overnight in Hurghada, we can assist with accommodation on request.

• Round trip international airfare
• Egypt entry visa
• Paid in cash on arrival, $30 per person
• Port and government fees
• Paid in cash on boarding the liveaboard, $400 per person
• Crew gratuities
• Recommended $260 (or more) per person for the full week. Covering the dive guide and captain
• Meals not specified in the itinerary
• Lunch on Day 1 in Luxor and all lunches in Hurghada are on your own
• Alcoholic beverages
• Items of a personal nature including laundry, telephone calls, and internet services
• Diving or travel insurance
• DAN or equivalent diving insurance is mandatory for participating
• Equipment rental
• Passport fees and departure taxes
• Personal shopping and gratuities for drivers, guides, and transfer personnel
• Optional hot air balloon safari over Luxor
• Available on the morning of November 11, at an additional cost

1. Can I travel alone?

All prices are based on double occupancy. If you are traveling solo, a single supplement applies. If you would like to be paired with a roommate, we will do our best to match you with another solo traveler of the same gender. Mixed-gender pairing is only done when both parties specifically request and agree to it.

2. What dive certification do I need?

This trip is open to all certification levels. The dive sites include shallow reefs, deep walls, wrecks, and open water conditions with occasional current. Your dive guide will brief you on each site and ensure every diver is matched to conditions appropriate for their level.

3. How many dives are included?

Up to four dives per day for seven days. Nitrox is included for all dives.

4. How large is the group?

The charter is limited to a maximum of 24 guests, ensuring a close-knit group dynamic and a low diver-to-guide ratio.

5. Is equipment rental available?

Basic rental equipment is available onboard. If you have specific gear requirements, contact us in advance so we can confirm availability.

6. What is the boat like?

The Grand Sea Explorer is a purpose-built liveaboard vessel operated by Explorer Ventures, the exclusive North American operator for this vessel. It includes comfortable staterooms and suites, a dedicated dive deck, camera facilities, and full meal service. Nitrox fills are included.

7. How do I get to Hurghada?

There are no direct flights from the United States to Hurghada. Most connections route through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, or through Frankfurt or Zurich with Lufthansa or Swiss. We recommend arriving on November 7 to allow a full day of rest before the land portion begins.

8. Do I need a visa?

Yes. Egypt requires a visa on arrival, currently $30 per person, paid in cash at the airport. This is not included in the package price.

9. What additional cash do I need to bring?

Plan for the following cash expenses, paid directly and not collected by BlueBound: $400 per person in port and government fees paid on boarding the liveaboard. $260 per person in crew gratuities, covering the dive guide and captain, and $30 for the visa on arrival.

10. What is the weather and water temperature like in November?

November is one of the best months to dive the Red Sea. Air temperatures range from the low to mid 70s Fahrenheit. Water temperatures are typically 77 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Visibility regularly exceeds 100 feet.

11. Is diving insurance required?

Yes. DAN or equivalent diving insurance is mandatory for all participants.

12. What is the Luxor extension?

Three nights in Luxor at the Steigenberger Palace Hotel before boarding the liveaboard. The itinerary covers the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, and the temples of Abydos and Dendera, two sites well off the standard tourist route. An optional sunrise hot air balloon safari over Luxor is available on the morning of November 11 before the transfer to Hurghada.

13. What happens if my flight is delayed and I miss the boat?

The Grand Sea Explorer departs on schedule and cannot wait for late arrivals. We strongly recommend arriving in Hurghada no later than November 9 to allow buffer time and purchasing comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip interruption.