Wow Factor: Egypt’s Mahmya Beach & Nile Sunset Sail

From snorkeling in the Red Sea to sailing the Nile at sunset, every moment on our Egypt Expedition trip felt like stepping into a travel movie. Here’s the inside scoop on two magical experiences that took my trip to the next level.

Mahmya Beach: Is this real life?

The day at Mahmya Beach in Hurghada, a resort town on Egypt’s east coast, started with a boat ride across the Red Sea, where the water is so many shades of blue it looks fake. When I stepped onto the island, it was like a travel ad come to life: white sand, hammocks under palm trees, and clear shallows perfect for swimming. Most of the day was pure bliss—lounging, swimming, and hammocking like it was our full-time job.

On the ride back, things got even better: we snorkeled. The moment I ducked under the surface, it felt like entering another universe. Coral reefs stretched out in every direction, schools of neon fish darted past, and sea turtles glided by like the rulers of it all. I actually laughed into my snorkel because it was too perfect to be real. Every inch of the Red Sea felt alive, and it’s a memory I’ll remember forever.

Main character energy on the Nile

Then there was Aswan, where I traded the Red Sea for the Nile River. I climbed aboard a traditional felucca at sunset, no motor, no noise—just the wind filling the sail and the water lapping against the boat. The sky turned gold, then violet, and our Tour Director started drumming softly as the boat drifted.

I sat at the front of the boat, feet dangling just above the Nile, while the sun sank behind the desert hills. The whole group fell quiet, and for once, I wasn’t thinking about what came next. I was just there—halfway across the world, surrounded by new friends, living a moment that felt like it belonged in a movie trailer. Cue the music, because I’d never felt more like the star of my own story.