Travel writer Aditi Rane visited Egypt's Red Sea coast and discovered a resort where December temperatures sit around 25C, with scuba diving, desert safaris and ancient history all accessible via direct TUI flights from Cardiff Airport.
A Coastal Escape with Hidden Depths
At Mövenpick Resort El Quseir, on Egypt's Red Sea coast, Rane found herself caught between relaxation and adventure. She arrived expecting sunshine and rest, but instead found herself descending beneath the ocean in search of marine life, bouncing across ancient desert mountains in a four-wheel-drive jeep and discovering a town whose quiet streets conceal thousands of years of history.
Set along El Quadim Bay, around two hours south of Hurghada, Mövenpick Resort El Quseir is a Nubian-inspired retreat. Its diving centre, Extra Divers, offers introductory experiences for beginners, while the hotel's locally guided desert excursions take guests deep into the mountains.
Diving into the Red Sea
Before travelling, Rane had mentioned to a friend who is a qualified scuba diver that she was planning to try an introductory dive. Her friend was convinced she would die attempting to dive without formal training. Fortunately, the team at Extra Divers had other ideas, pairing her with a PADI-certified dive master who guided her throughout the experience.
During the dive, she spotted an octopus, a barracuda and a blue-spotted stingray. The resort makes a concerted effort to protect its house reef, with conservation work supported by a resident marine biologist and the diving team, including coral restoration, reef monitoring, beach clean-ups and educational initiatives.
Desert Safaris and Stargazing
The resort also arranges guided jeep safaris into the Eastern Desert, taking guests away from the coastline and into a landscape that feels almost otherworldly. Driven by men from local Bedouin tribes, the four-wheel-drive journey wound through rust-red mountains, with the driver explaining that the tribesmen used the stars to help find their bearings.
As the afternoon drew to a close, the group climbed a rocky hill to watch the sunset, with the mountains shifting through shades of burnt orange, copper and deep crimson. They continued to a sheltered spot where rugs had been laid out, roasted marshmallows over the fire and drank traditional Egyptian coffee flavoured with ginger. The guides explained that on a new moon, the Milky Way can become visible.
History and Culture in El Quseir
A guided visit into town revealed a history that was anything but uneventful. The Church of St Barbara, originally built in 1938 by the Italian community working in the town's phosphate industry, was followed by Quseir Fort, an Ottoman structure dating back to 1571, built under Sultan Selim II. Queen Hatshepsut is believed to have used this stretch of coastline as a departure point for expeditions to the Land of Punt, while the nearby Roman port of Myos Hormos connected Egypt with Arabia, India and the wider Indian Ocean trading network. Napoleon's forces briefly occupied the fort in 1799.
Back at the resort, a farm-to-table workshop allowed guests to make salads using produce grown on the hotel's own farm, Geb's Garden. The farm supplies the resort's kitchens with around 1,000 kilograms of fresh seasonal produce each month. Guests who have stayed at the resort five times are invited to plant an olive tree in their name, and the team kindly allowed Rane to plant her own tree despite this being her first stay.
Two people can stay at the Mövenpick Resort El Quseir for seven days this December for £778. November and December loyalty rates start at £114 per night for a Garden Room with a queen bed, rising to £410 per night for a sea-view Nubian Suite. Flights from Cardiff Airport to Hurghada this December cost from £156 with TUI.
