Hurghada 1,001 Nights (Alf Leila Wa Leila)

Travelers almost always see the Hurghada Alf Leila Wa Leila Fantasia show from hotels in the Hurghada, El Gouna, and Makadi Bay resort areas: There’s no charge for tickets and you don’t need to prebook. The Alf Leila Wa Leila hotel is south of the town proper, past the airport, so booking a package that includes transfers makes a great deal of sense, especially as microbuses hardly run during the evening. A few tours include dinner at the hotel, although drinks are extra.

• The Alf Leila Wa Leila Fantasia show is a good choice for lovers of folklore and dance.
• Evening temperatures can drop sharply during late fall, winter, and early spring. Bring a layer.
• There is a second Alf Leila Wa Leila show in Sharm el Sheikh, across the Red Sea from Hurghada. Be sure to book the right one.
• Alf Leila Wa Leila is a large resort hotel with a wealth of facilities, including five restaurants and a range of cafés and bars.
• The hotel (and the show) is accessible for travelers who use wheelchairs, with ramps and adapted bathrooms.

The Alf Leila Wa Leila hotel is about 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of downtown Hurghada, on the Safaga Road. The only form of public transport is microbuses, which hardly run in the evenings: Even during the day, drivers may be unwilling to stop for travelers who don’t look local. Most travelers book packages with transfers direct from their hotel.

The Fantasia show at Alf Leila Wa Leila includes sound and light elements, so begins relatively late in the evening, after the sun is safely set. Most travelers will want to eat before the show or book a package that includes dinner.

Known variously as 1,001 Nights, One Thousand and One Nights, and the Arabian Nights, Alf Leila Wa Leila has a seminal role in Egyptian and Middle Eastern culture. Some of the stories associated with it, including Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, and Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, are known the world over. The Fantasia show at Alf Leila Wa Leila mixes these up with a little ancient Egyptian history and some Bedouin traditions.