2-Day White Desert Tour from Cairo: Overnight Camping

Sleep in the White Desert, then photograph the sunrise across it

A 2-day White Desert tour from Cairo includes overnight camping in the dunes with all meals, a Toyota Land Cruiser, an English-speaking Bedouin guide, and hotel pickup. You drive through the black desert and Bedouin villages on day one, explore crystal mountains and sand formations, camp with dinner and Bedouin tea, then photograph sunrise and visit hot springs before returning to Cairo on day two.

The Experience

The tour starts with an early-morning pickup from Cairo and a drive to Bahariya oasis, where you stop for lunch in Al-Bawaiti city. From there, a 4x4 Toyota takes you into the black desert to visit Bedouin Village El Hez and a cool spring for a shower. The afternoon moves into the White Desert proper. You see Crystal Mountain, the Agabat Area (called the Wonders Area for its diamond-like sparkle), and try sand boarding across the dunes.

You camp overnight in the White Desert with a barbecue chicken dinner and Bedouin tea served by your guide. The second morning starts with sunrise photography over the Old White Desert, where mushroom-shaped rock formations and flower stone create a landscape unlike anywhere else. Breakfast follows, then a visit to the ice cream valley and hot springs before the drive back to Cairo.

The jeep, all meals, soft drinks, tents, mattresses and sleeping bags, and the English-speaking guide are included. Sand boarding is part of the itinerary, not an add-on.

What’s included

• A private car transfer from your Cairo hotel.
• a Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 for all desert driving.
• lunch in Al-Bawaiti city, barbecue chicken dinner, and breakfast.
• bottled water, tea, coffee and soft drinks throughout.
• overnight camping with tent, mattress and sleeping bag.
• sand boarding in the dunes.
• an English-speaking Bedouin guide.
• and access to the black desert, Bedouin villages, Crystal Mountain, the Wonders Area, and the White Desert formations.

Days and timesDaily · 07:00

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts2 pickup points to choose from.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by White desert camp Safari

Is this one for you?The 2-day format means you spend a full night in the desert and photograph sunrise there, which a 1-day tour cannot offer, but it also means you leave Cairo early and return in the afternoon of day two, so plan the rest of your Cairo time around those bookends.

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Top questions

What is the Black Desert and where do we see it on this tour?

The Black Desert is a stretch of dark volcanic rock and gravel that contrasts sharply with the white sand dunes. You drive through it on the first day after lunch in Al-Bawaiti, stopping at Bedouin Village El Hez and a cool spring before moving into the White Desert itself.

Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag and tent, or are they provided?

Tents, mattresses, and sleeping bags are included in the tour price. You sleep in a V.I.P. camping setup in the White Desert overnight.

What time does the tour leave Cairo, and when do we return?

The tour departs Cairo early in the morning on day one and returns to Cairo on day two after visiting the hot springs and ice cream valley. Exact pickup times are confirmed when you book.

Is the White Desert ticket included in the tour price?

The White Desert ticket is optional and added at checkout if you want it. All other costs (transport, meals, guide, camping gear) are included in the tour price.

What meals are provided, and are dietary restrictions accommodated?

Lunch on day one, barbecue chicken dinner, breakfast on day two, and soft drinks (water, tea, coffee, cola) throughout are included. Confirm any dietary needs when you book so the guide can arrange alternatives.

Can children or infants go on this tour?

Infants and small children can join. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller during the day, and specialized infant seats are available in the jeep. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during transfers.