- Duration
- 2 days · 1 night
- Starts from
- Cairo
- Group size
- Up to 12 guests
- Difficulty
- Easy
Overview
Our classic journey from Cairo: the Bahariya oasis, the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and a night camping among the chalk sculptures of the White Desert.
This is the trip most people dream of when they think of the Egyptian desert. We pick you up from your hotel in Cairo or Giza early in the morning and drive west to the Bahariya oasis, where lunch is waiting in a palm-shaded garden.
In the afternoon you swap the road for a 4x4 and head into the Black Desert, climb a volcanic hill for the view, touch the quartz of Crystal Mountain and cross the golden dunes of Agabat valley. As the sun drops, the White Desert appears — huge chalk mushrooms, hawks and icebergs glowing pink and silver.
Your guide sets up camp in a sheltered spot, cooks dinner over the fire and brews Bedouin tea while the Milky Way rises overhead. In the morning, watch the sunrise paint the formations before driving back to Cairo.
Highlights
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza
- Volcanic hills of the Black Desert
- Quartz walls of Crystal Mountain
- Golden dunes of Agabat valley
- Sunset and sunrise among the chalk sculptures
- Campfire dinner and a night under the Milky Way
Itinerary
- 1
Day 1
Cairo → Bahariya → Black Desert → White Desert camp
Early pickup and a 4-hour drive to Bawiti, Bahariya's main village. Lunch in the oasis, then into the 4x4 for the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and Agabat valley. Arrive in the White Desert for sunset, set up camp, dinner around the fire and stargazing.
- 2
Day 2
Sunrise → Mushroom & Chicken → back to Cairo
Wake up for sunrise over the formations, breakfast at camp, then visit the famous Mushroom and Chicken rocks. Drive back to Bahariya, freshen up and transfer to your hotel in Cairo, arriving in the evening.
What's included
- Air-conditioned transfer Cairo – Bahariya – Cairo
- 4x4 Land Cruiser safari with an experienced driver
- English-speaking Bedouin guide
- White Desert National Park entry fees
- Lunch, dinner, breakfast and drinking water
- Tents, mattresses, sleeping bags and blankets
- Bedouin tea, coffee and campfire
- Free Wi-Fi in the transfer vehicle
Not included
- Tips for guide and driver
- Soft drinks and snacks outside meals
- Travel insurance
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
What to bring
- Warm layers and a hat — nights can drop below 5°C in winter
- Comfortable closed shoes
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Torch or headlamp
- Passport copy (required at checkpoints)
- Camera and power bank
Pickup & meeting point
Pickup from your hotel in Cairo or Giza at around 6:00. Exact time confirmed the day before.
Children up to 11 pay the child rate
Photos
Reviews
Magical night under the stars
Our guide picked the most beautiful camp spot among the formations. Dinner by the fire, tea, music and a sky full of stars — the highlight of our whole trip to Egypt.
Sophie · France
Kids loved every minute
We travelled with two children and the team was wonderful with them — sandboarding, extra blankets and patience with endless questions about the rocks.
Aisha · United Kingdom
