Overview
Tour Description
Six days, two very different sides of Egypt. You spend your first full day with a private Egyptologist at the Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then head west by 4×4 into the Sahara: Bahariya Oasis, the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and a night camping among the white chalk towers of the White Desert.
It is a short trip that works well on its own or as an add-on before or after a Nile cruise. The desert part is active but not demanding, and our crew handles the driving, the camp and the cooking.
Highlights
- The Great Pyramids and the Sphinx with a private guide
- The full Tutankhamun collection at the Grand Egyptian Museum
- The Golden Mummies museum and the Tombs of the Nobles in Bahariya
- Sunset from the hilltop ruin known as the English House
- The Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and the Valley of Agabat by 4×4
- A night under the stars in the White Desert, with dinner cooked over the fire
Where you stay
Three nights in a 5-star hotel in Cairo, one night in a traditional oasis lodge in Bahariya, and one night in a fully equipped desert camp. Tents, mattresses, sleeping bags and blankets are provided. Camp facilities are simple, which is part of the experience.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
Our representative meets you at Cairo International Airport and takes you by private air-conditioned car to your 5-star hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Overnight: 5-star hotel, Cairo.
Day 2: Giza Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Your Egyptologist meets you at 9:00 AM for the Giza Plateau: the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, all around 4,500 years old. Lunch is at a good local restaurant.
In the afternoon you visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, a short drive from the pyramids. Its galleries show the complete Tutankhamun collection together, alongside thousands of other pieces from 5,000 years of history.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: 5-star hotel, Cairo.
Day 3: Drive to Bahariya Oasis
An early start: you check out at 6:00 AM and drive about four hours west to Bahariya Oasis in a modern air-conditioned vehicle. You visit the Golden Mummies museum, the painted Tombs of the Nobles, the Temple of Alexander the Great and the Temple of Ain el-Muftella. At sunset you climb to the ruin on the hill known as the English House for a view across the palm groves.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: oasis lodge, Bahariya.
Day 4: Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and the White Desert
After breakfast your 4×4 heads south through the Black Desert, where small volcanic hills are covered in dark stones. You stop at the El Haize spring, at Crystal Mountain, a ridge of quartz crystal, and in the Valley of Agabat with its tall rock walls. In the late afternoon you reach the White Desert and its wind-carved chalk formations. Your crew sets up camp and cooks dinner while you watch the sunset.
Good to know: from October to March, nights in the desert are cold, so pack warm layers.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: White Desert camp.
Day 5: Hot spring and back to Cairo
Wake up in the desert for breakfast, then stop at a hot spring and take a last walk among the white rocks before driving back to Cairo. In the evening you can add an optional Nile dinner cruise or the sound and light show at the pyramids.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Overnight: 5-star hotel, Cairo.
Day 6: Fly home
Breakfast and free time until check-out at 12:00 PM. Our representative then takes you to Cairo International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast.
Included and Excluded
- Meet and assist at Cairo airport
- 3 nights in a 5-star hotel in Cairo with breakfast
- 1 night in an oasis lodge in Bahariya, half board
- 1 night camping in the White Desert, full board
- Camping equipment: tents, sleeping bags and camel blankets
- Private air-conditioned vehicle from Cairo to Bahariya and back
- 4×4 vehicle and desert crew in Bahariya and the White Desert
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- All taxes and service charges
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa (we can arrange it on request)
- Optional Nile dinner cruise or sound and light show
- Drinks with meals
- Tips for guides, drivers and crew
- Personal expenses
Prices:
What will it cost you?
Prices per person change with the season and how many of you travel. Set yours and see the real number — no email needed.
Note:
All the accommodation in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan hotels and Nile cruises are 5* ultra deluxe accommodations
FAQs
Is camping in the White Desert safe and comfortable?
Yes. You travel with an experienced desert driver and crew who know the area well, and the camp is set up for you with tents, mattresses, sleeping bags and blankets. Facilities are basic, with no running water, so think of it as a one-night adventure rather than a hotel stay.
How long is the drive from Cairo to Bahariya Oasis?
About four hours each way on a paved highway, with a stop for coffee on the way. The desert sections beyond Bahariya are done by 4x4.
How much does the 6-day Cairo and desert tour cost?
From $8,500 per person sharing a double room from May to September, and $10,000 per person from October to April. Single travelers pay $10,000 in summer and $13,000 in winter.
Can I combine this with a Nile cruise?
Yes, and many guests do. The desert trip fits easily before or after a 3 or 4-night cruise between Luxor and Aswan. Ask us for a combined plan.
