Hurghada with Autistic Children

Travelling to Hurghada with autistic children can be an extremely rewarding trip for all of the family. With an incredible number of water parks and water-based activities it is a fantastic destination for autistic sensory seekers. Here’s a guide to help you navigate this beautiful Egyptian destination.

Getting To Hurghada

Hurghada is accessible via Hurghada International Airport (HRG). To ensure a smooth arrival, we booked a transfer with Egypt Travelist when we arranged our trip. This pre-booked transfer provided a comfortable and stress-free ride from the airport to our hotel.

Transport Options from Hurghada Airport:

• Taxi: is it easy enough to find a taxi at the airport, be mindful that the norm out there is for the locals to attempt to get as much money as possible for whatever service they provide and you’ll likely have some tough negotiating or arguing with a taxi to get a fair price
• Transfer: We pre-booked a transfer when we booked the trip. The transfer provider was Egypt Travelist and I contacted them before we flew to confirm they would bring a big vehicle for 5 of us and all of our bags. They came with a mini bus which was fantastic. You can also book transfers on GetYourGuide here.
• Indrive: The app that is best to use for booking car rides in Hurghada is Indrive. It is easy to use and you can use it to predict costs before you travel too. We used it once and met a lovely driver who added us on Whatsapp so we used him for every single journey in Hurghada after that.

Where to Stay

We stayed for two weeks at the Titanic Resort & Aquapark, located just south of the airport. This family-friendly hotel offers a variety of amenities, including a water park, spacious rooms, and attentive staff who are accommodating to specific needs.

We got sick around about a week into the trip and could never fully recover from the vomiting and diarrhoea. We think it was the food at the hotel as the hotels Facebook group had been filled with people talking about the food and how they got sick.

I want to say upfront, as far as all-inclusive stays go, Hurghada with autistic children is probably top of the list because of how many sensory needs can be met. My autistic sons are sensory seekers and they absolutely love water play. Hurghada is absolutely packed with waterpark hotels so our kids who love water are absolutely spoiled for choice on where to stay in Hurghada.

Family-Friendly Activities in Hurghada

Senzo Mall

Senzo Mall is a great place for shopping and entertainment. It offers a variety of shops, a food court, and a play area, making it a perfect spot for a family outing. The most important part for our autistic kids here is there is McDonalds! There is also a Pizza Hut if that happens to be a safe place for your autistic child to eat. There is a large supermarket called Spinneys inside Senzo Mall and this is also a great place to stock up on snacks and drinks for the kids. They have a lot of baby stuff too and we even found play dough and footballs to help with sensory regulation. There is also an ice-cream place called Cold Stone Creamery and the guy there does tricks with the ice-cream!

Sand City

Explore Sand City, an open-air museum with incredible sand sculptures. The large sculptures are impressive and provide an engaging and educational experience for children. Be very wary that they will rip you off for anything other than the entrance fee – what I mean is the man with the camel and the man with the shop, if you want anything from them then agree the prices upfront because they will take you for every penny you have if you don’t agree it before you take it.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it can be really hot and this is an outside exhibit with no aircon or anything to keep you or the children cool. Luke had a huge meltdown here, we had to rush around the sculptures in about 10 minutes and try to get back to the hotel as soon as we could. It was made worse when we were leaving and the shop guy demanded about £11 for two drinks and a bag of crisps he gave our kids on the way in.

Click here to watch a slideshow of the photos from our visit to Sand City and here to watch a video of our time there.

Makadi Water World

Visit Makadi Water World, a large water park with numerous slides and attractions. The park is designed to cater to all ages and offers sensory-friendly activities. Makadi is an area to the south of Hurghada and is really popular with tourists so it definitely won’t be hard to organise a trip to Makadi Water World and you can even organise it with a tour guide or online.

Hurghada Grand Aquarium

The Hurghada Grand Aquarium offers a chance to explore marine life in a structured and engaging way. The aquarium has various exhibits and a touch tank, providing an interactive experience. This is really close to the Titanic Resort & Aquapark if you happen to be staying there too.

Giftun Island

Take a boat trip to Giftun Island for a day of relaxation and exploration. The island offers beautiful beaches and clear waters, perfect for a peaceful family outing. There are so many tour agencies offering these trips – check the times and stuff that you will be out and consider a private tour if the long day on a boat will be too much for your autistic child.

Click here to check out a tour to Giftun Island with GetYourGuide.

Mini Egypt Park

Visit Mini Egypt Park, a miniature park featuring replicas of Egypt’s famous landmarks. This park offers an educational and fun experience, allowing children to learn about Egypt’s history in a hands-on way.

Jungle Aqua Park

Another excellent water park option is Jungle Aqua Park, featuring numerous pools and slides. The park is designed with families in mind and offers various activities to cater to different interests. This can also be booked online or with tour guides in the local Hurghada area.

Desert Safari

Experience a desert safari adventure with camel rides, quad biking, and Bedouin camp visits. This activity offers a mix of excitement and cultural immersion, suitable for children who enjoy outdoor adventures. Keep in mind that this can be a long day in hot weather and plan accordingly. You can easily book desert safaris here or with the tour guides that visit the hotels.

Dolphin House

Take a trip to Dolphin House, where families can swim with dolphins in their natural habitat. This experience offers a magical and memorable interaction with marine life. This is available to book with GetYourGuide and it seems to indicate that each child gets to swim with dolphins for 5 minutes only. You can also go to Dolphin House to watch a dolphin show.

Our Favourite Sensory-Friendly Experience in Hurghada

Sindbad Submarines

Take a unique underwater adventure with Sindbad Submarines. This experience allows families to explore marine life without getting wet, providing an exciting yet controlled environment for children. I think the submarine is a fantastic alternative to the normal glass bottom boats and snorkelling trips on offer, and it gives autistic children who may otherwise panic in open water the chance to see the underwater world in a way they can’t really experience in many other places.

Hurghada has 2 of around 16 submarines in the entire world that area used for the general public to go under water. You can click here to book this via GetYourGuide.

Click here to watch a slideshow of the photos I took during our submarine ride in Hurghada.

Getting Around Hurghada with Autistic Children

Hurghada is so easy to navigate with Indrive and other apps like Uber being available. There are always cars available to bring you anywhere you want to go. The hotels also seem to offer a service to find and book taxis. Drivers will often wait for you at the destination if you want them to. We met a lovely driver and got his Whatsapp number so we would just message him any time we were ready to go somewhere and he could come to get us.

Helpful video for transport in Hurghada: Using the Indrive app

Is Hurghada Autism-Friendly?

Hurghada offers a mixed experience in terms of autism-friendliness. The natural beauty, relaxed resort environment, and availability of private activities can make it a pleasant destination for families with individuals on the autism spectrum, especially if careful planning is done to ensure comfort and minimize sensory overload. However, the lack of specialized healthcare, education, and support services means that families should be well-prepared and self-sufficient during their visit. Choosing the right resort, timing visits to avoid crowds, and arranging private or customized activities can help make a stay in Hurghada more enjoyable for individuals with autism.

Things That Make Hurghada Stand Out

• Public transportation in Hurghada is limited and can be chaotic, which may not be ideal for individuals with autism. Most tourists rely on taxis, private transfers, or rented vehicles. Arranging private transportation can provide a more controlled and comfortable experience.
• Hurghada is a relatively spread-out town, and resorts often offer shuttles or private transportation to nearby attractions. This can help avoid the stress of navigating unfamiliar public transport systems.
• Many resorts in Hurghada offer private beaches, pools, and facilities that can provide a controlled and quieter environment. Choosing a resort that is less crowded or offers private areas can be beneficial for those who may be sensitive to noise and crowds.
• Activities like snorkelling, glass-bottom boat tours, and dolphin watching are popular in Hurghada. These can be sensory-rich experiences that are enjoyable for individuals who respond well to such stimuli. Private or small-group tours might be available for a more personalized experience.
• While these can be exciting, they might not be suitable for everyone due to the sensory intensity of the experience. However, some companies offer customized tours that can be tailored to individual needs.

Tips for a Smooth Experience

• Plan Ahead: Research each location and contact them to discuss any special accommodations your child might need. If you can plan to arrive after check-in time you should, or try to arrange an early check-in.
• Sensory Tools: Bring along sensory tools and comfort items that help manage sensory needs, such as noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and a sensory toolkit.
• Clear Communication: Ensure that everyone involved in the trip understands the needs and preferences of the neurodiverse individual. Clear communication can prevent misunderstandings and enhance the travel experience. Consider using PECS or an AAC. We have a free pack of travel PECS available for download. Consider using our Egypt PECS to add to your experience.
• Safety: Consider getting an autism card for your child, or even better – use our emergency passport for medical information and important contacts. Our absolute must have safety item for travelling with an autistic child is a TinyTags wristband or tag that can be tapped or scanned by a mobile phone – giving the person who tapped it all of the information they need to get your child back to you. TinyTags also feature a location alert to help you find your child.

Helpful videos about Hurghada:

• Snacks I got my baby at A-Mart
• A-Mart walkaround (the shop beside Titanic Resort & Aquapark)
• Snacks I got my baby at Spinneys Supermarket

Hurghada with autistic children offers a wealth of family-friendly activities that cater to the needs of children with autism. From underwater adventures to historical explorations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Plan your visit and create lasting memories in this beautiful Egyptian destination.