White Desert and Bahariya Oasis: Private 2-Day 4x4 Trip with Desert Camp
Two days, private vehicle and 4x4, a night in a desert camp, meals as listed, by request.
At a glance
- Length
- 2 days · 1 nights
- Departs
- Daily
The short answer
A private two-day trip from Cairo hotels to Bahariya Oasis and the White Desert, with a 4x4 through the Black Desert and Crystal Mountain and a night in a simple desert camp. Lunch and dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2 are included. It is by request.
- New
- Private
Snapshot
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 days
- Destinations
- Cairo · Bahariya Oasis · Black Desert · Crystal Mountain · White Desert
- Includes
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel · An air-conditioned vehicle and driver between Cairo and Bahariya · A 4x4 with a local desert driver-guide · One night in a simple camp, with a tent, mattress, sleeping bag and blankets · Lunch and dinner on day 1, and breakfast on day 2
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April is the most comfortable. Winter nights are cold, so bring warm layers. Summer is very hot and not recommended.
- Licensed Egyptian tour operator
- Offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
02Overview
A first look
The White Desert is a long way from Cairo, so this trip takes two days. On day 1 you drive to Bahariya Oasis, have lunch, and change to a 4x4 with a local desert driver. You cross the Black Desert and visit Crystal Mountain, and reach the chalk formations in time for sunset. The night is in a simple camp, then you see the formations again at sunrise before driving back. Camping is basic and the route can change with weather or permits, so this trip is by request. We confirm the camp and 4x4 before any payment is taken.
Background
The facts
The White Desert lies in Egypt's Western Desert, beyond Bahariya Oasis. Bahariya is about 4 to 5 hours from Cairo by road.
Named in this entry
Western Desert·desert camp
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want a night in the desert and are comfortable with simple camping.
Maybe not, if
- Not suited to anyone who needs showers, a hotel bed or a fixed route, or who cannot manage rough tracks.
What lingers
- 01A drive from Cairo to Bahariya Oasis, then a switch to a 4x4
- 02The dark hills of the Black Desert and the quartz at Crystal Mountain
- 03White Desert chalk formations at sunset and again at dawn
- 04An evening meal round the campfire and a night in a basic desert camp
- 05A local desert driver-guide for the 4x4 sections
- 06Lunch and dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- A night among the White Desert formations
- Private vehicle and a local desert driver-guide
- Lunch, dinner and breakfast are included as listed
Things to Consider
- Camping is basic, with no showers
- The route can change with weather or permits
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel
- An air-conditioned vehicle and driver between Cairo and Bahariya
- A 4x4 with a local desert driver-guide
- One night in a simple camp, with a tent, mattress, sleeping bag and blankets
- Lunch and dinner on day 1, and breakfast on day 2
- Fees for entering the White Desert protected area
- Water to drink during the trip
Not included
- Tips for your guides and drivers
- Soft drinks
- Anything you buy for yourself
- A hotel room in Bahariya, as the night is in tents
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Pack warm layers even in the milder months
- 02
Keep your passport with you for the checkpoints
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children are welcome and count towards your party size. The trip involves long drives, rough 4x4 tracks and a night in a simple camp, so it suits older children who are happy outdoors. Please tell us their ages when you send your request.
These fares are a guide, as prices and departure move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Where does this trip begin and end?
At your hotel in Cairo or Giza. Your driver collects you at 07:00 on day 1 and brings you back to the same hotel on day 2, arriving in the late afternoon.02How do I book?
This trip is by request. You send us your dates and party size, and our team confirms the camp, the 4x4 and the final fare before any payment is taken.03What are the camp conditions?
Expect a basic camp. You sleep in a tent, on a mattress, with a sleeping bag and blankets provided. Showers are not available and the toilet is a simple arrangement. Winter nights are cold, so pack warm layers.04What meals does the fare cover?
Lunch and dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2 are included. Soft drinks are not, so bring some cash for them.05Do I need to carry my passport?
Yes. Passports are checked at desert checkpoints, so keep yours with you. The route can also change with the weather or permits, and your driver-guide will explain any change.06What if I need to cancel?
You are refunded in full when you cancel three or more days before the trip. Between three days and 24 hours, half is refunded. After that, or if you miss your pick-up, no refund is given.
If plans change
Plans change? We make it easy.
- More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit towards a future holiday with us, or take a refund.
- Between 72 and 24 hours beforehand: hold on to the whole amount as credit, or have part of it refunded.
- Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't turn up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
- Should we ever have to cancel, because of the weather or anything else beyond our control, you won't lose a penny.
Credit stays valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can go towards any tour, cruise or stay with us.See the complete terms for cancelling and refunds
Continue reading
From the archives
Product ID: EXC-CAI-626456
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