Buggy Ride Blues: A Sinai Desert Adventure That Fell Flat

I'm still trying to process the Sinai Desert Extreme Adventure tour debacle we experienced last July. My partner was stoked for the buggy ride, while I was dreading it. The brochures promised two hours of non-stop thrills, but what we got was a far cry from that.

After a short wait, we were taken to the site where we were strong-armed into buying sand masks for a buck each. It was a necessary measure, I suppose, but it would've been more convenient if it was included in the initial cost of the tour. Our guide helped us put them on and handed out helmets as well.

We were seated in the buggy and taken off first in the convoy behind our instructor. Luckily for us, the dust storm blocked our view of the rest of the group, so we got to enjoy the ride without the chaos. The first few minutes were pretty cool, with the vast expanse of the desert stretching out before us. However, as the minutes ticked by, it became clear that this was no extreme adventure. We were cruising at a snail's pace of 20-30 km/h, and the buggy felt like it was struggling to keep up. It was more like a leisurely drive than a heart-pumping experience.

We stopped after 20 minutes to take some snaps and have a break. Our guide offered to take some shots of us with the stunning backdrop, but only if we were willing to part with our cash. I mean, come on! It was already part of the tour, right? We also had a little girl selling souvenirs nearby, which was a nice touch, but it felt like another way to part us from our money.

Next, we headed to a Bedouin village for some tea and relaxation. The scene was straight out of a movie, with several tents set up and the 'Bedouins' lounging on cushions. We were even encouraged to take photos with the camel, which was looking a bit worse for wear. I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to get too close, especially when I saw the price tag on the souvenirs. We passed on the tea and headed back to the buggy for the final leg of our journey.

The rest of the experience was a major letdown. We spent over an hour sitting in the desert, waiting for the group to finish their ride. It was getting dark, and we were hungry, but we were stuck there. The monotony of the ride and the constant requests for money for everything from photos to souvenirs was exhausting. We finally made it back to the hotel around 7 pm, feeling drained and disappointed.

Looking back, I think we got what we paid for – a nice view of the desert, but not the thrill we were promised. If you're looking for a relaxing drive through the desert, this might be worth considering. However, if you're expecting a real adrenaline rush, you'll be sorely disappointed.