The White Desert is in the Western Desert, a long way from Cairo's pyramids. Chalk rocks shaped by wind stand on the sand like sculptures. It is a place for people who like open land and are happy with simple camping.
How the two days run
On day one you are collected from your hotel around 07:00 and driven to Bahariya Oasis, about four to five hours. After lunch you change to a 4x4 with a local desert driver and head out. You pass the Black Desert, where dark volcanic stones cover the hills, and Crystal Mountain, a ridge of quartz crystals.
In the late afternoon you reach the White Desert and watch the formations change color at sunset. The camp is set up there. Dinner is cooked over a fire, and you sleep in tents.
On day two you wake early for sunrise among the formations. Breakfast is served at the camp. Then you drive back to Bahariya by 4x4, continue to Cairo and arrive in the late afternoon.
The camp, plainly
- Tents, mattresses, sleeping bags and blankets are provided
- The camp is simple, with shared basic facilities
- Nights are cold, and there is no mobile signal in many places
- The stars are very bright when there is no moon
If you want a hotel room, this is not the right trip.
How to request it
This trip is by request only. You send us your dates and group size. We check the desert driver and camp, and confirm with the final price. No payment is taken before you receive that confirmation.
Who it suits
It suits adventurous travelers who are comfortable with a long drive, a rough track and a basic camp. It is less suited to anyone with back problems, since the 4x4 sections are bumpy, or to travelers who need a bathroom they can rely on.
It is best in the cooler months. Summer days can be extremely hot, and we may advise another date.
Pack light in a soft bag. Space in the 4x4 is limited, and the camp has no place to keep luggage tidy. Bring wet wipes, a warm hat and any medicine you need.
Respect the desert: take your rubbish with you, and do not break off pieces of the chalk formations.
Because the trip is by request, there is time to talk through your dates, any dietary needs and your comfort with camping before anything is confirmed.
Plan with us
The White Desert from Cairo: what to expect
What a private two-day White Desert trip from Cairo is really like: the drive, the 4x4, simple camping, meals and how to request it.