Frequently asked questions

The White Desert National Park is in Egypt's Western Desert, about 500 km south-west of Cairo, between the Bahariya and Farafra oases. Most trips start from Cairo (about 4.5 hours to Bahariya) or from Bawiti, the main village of Bahariya.

October to April is ideal: warm days and cool to cold nights. Summer (June to August) is very hot during the day, so we adjust timings to drive in the morning and evening. Winter nights can drop close to freezing, so we provide extra blankets.

Yes. The White Desert and Bahariya are popular, well-patrolled tourist areas. Our vehicles carry satellite communication, first-aid kits and extra water, and our guides know the area intimately. Bring your passport copy for routine checkpoints.

Absolutely — kids love the desert. Children up to 11 pay the child rate. Tell us their ages when booking so we can bring the right sleeping gear.

Most visitors do. Many nationalities, including UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian citizens, can usually buy a single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the airport, or apply in advance for an e-visa through the official Egyptian government portal, which saves time on arrival. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date. Rules and fees change from time to time, so check with the Egyptian embassy in your country before you travel, and avoid unofficial websites that add their own fees.

It depends on where you're going. October to April is the most comfortable time for Cairo and the Nile Valley; Luxor and Aswan are very hot from June to August, often above 40°C, though early starts make sightseeing possible. The Red Sea is warm enough for swimming and snorkelling all year, with the warmest water from about June to October. For desert trips, including the White Desert and Siwa, October to April is ideal. Christmas, New Year and Easter are the busiest periods, so book early.

Millions of people visit Egypt every year without problems. The main tourist areas — Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, the Red Sea resorts, Sinai's main tourist sites and the Western Desert oases — are well policed, with security checks at hotels, sites and on the roads. The most common annoyances are persistent touts and overcharging rather than crime. Check your government's travel advice before you go, take out travel insurance and keep a copy of your passport with you. On our trips a guide or driver is with you throughout, and we only travel on routes authorised for tourists.

Choose your tour and date, enter your details and pay a deposit online by card or mobile wallet through Paymob. The remaining balance is paid in cash on the day of the trip in EGP, USD or EUR.

Cancel up to 7 days before departure for a full refund of your deposit. Between 3 and 6 days, we refund 50% or move your date for free. If we cancel because of weather or park closures, you get a full refund.

Yes. Every tour can run privately for your group, and our stargazing night is always private. Contact us on WhatsApp for a quote — private prices per person drop as your group grows.

Yes, and many of our guests do. Our day trips and tours can be combined in almost any order — for example, Cairo and the pyramids with a night in the White Desert, a Nile cruise and a few days on the Red Sea. Tell us your dates, interests, pace and budget on WhatsApp and we'll send a day-by-day plan with private guides, transfers and hotels that suit you. Our 8-day and 12-day packages are a good starting point to adapt.

We camp wild in sheltered spots among the formations, with tents, thick mattresses, sleeping bags and blankets. A Bedouin rug and a windbreak surround the campfire. There are no toilets in the national park — your guide will explain the simple eco-friendly arrangements.

Freshly cooked meals: typically grilled chicken, rice, vegetables and salads for dinner; eggs, cheese, bread, jam and tea for breakfast. Vegetarian, vegan and most dietary needs are easy — just tell us when booking.

There is mobile signal in Bahariya and in parts of the White Desert, but it is patchy at camp. Our guides carry a satellite phone for emergencies.

Light, loose clothes in natural fabrics are the most comfortable. Egypt is a conservative country, so outside beach resorts both men and women are best in clothes that cover shoulders and knees. At mosques everyone removes their shoes and women cover their hair, so carry a light scarf; some mosques lend robes at the door. Churches and synagogues also expect covered shoulders and knees. Swimwear is fine on beaches, boats and at hotel pools, but not in town. Pack a warm layer for desert nights, early starts and air-conditioned cruise boats.

Tipping, or baksheesh, is part of everyday life in Egypt and an important part of many people's income. Small tips are expected for small services: toilet attendants, porters, boatmen and site guardians who open a door or point out a detail. Carry small Egyptian pound notes for this. For guides and drivers, a tip at the end of the tour is customary and should reflect how happy you were; on Nile cruises there is usually a shared tip for the crew. Tipping is never compulsory on our trips, and we're happy to suggest amounts before you travel.

Domestic flights are the quickest: Cairo to Aswan or Luxor takes about an hour. Overnight sleeper trains run between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan and are a comfortable, atmospheric alternative. Between Aswan and Luxor, a Nile cruise is the classic way to travel, and Luxor to Hurghada on the Red Sea is a drive of around four hours across the Eastern Desert. On our packages we arrange all of it — flights, trains, private transfers and airport pickups — so you never have to deal with tickets yourself.