Black & White Desert Safari: 2-Night Camp from Bahariya Oasis

Summary

Egypt desert safari with Bedouin guide camping, sand dunes, hot springs

You’ll ride out from Bahariya Oasis with a local Bedouin guide, explore Egypt’s Black & White Deserts by jeep, try sandboarding on wild dunes, eat fresh meals by campfire light, and sleep beneath unreal stars in desert camps. If you’re craving quiet adventure and moments that stick with you long after—this is it.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the Black Desert — honestly, it looked like someone had scattered burnt sugar over vanilla ice cream. We’d just left Bahariya Oasis in this rattly old 4x4 (which I kind of loved), and our Bedouin guide, Mahmoud, grinned at my wide-eyed stare. Lunch was simple but perfect — flatbread still warm, something herby I couldn’t name. The air tasted dusty and sweet somehow. I tried to pour tea like Mahmoud did but nearly scalded myself. He just laughed and handed me a cola instead.

The drive into Agabat Valley got quieter as we bumped along; you could hear nothing but tires crunching and someone humming softly in the back. At sunset, the rocks glowed gold-pink — I swear it didn’t look real. Camping that night felt both strange and peaceful. The mattress was thin but the sleeping bag was warm enough, and I lay awake listening to the wind flap at our tent. Next morning, after breakfast (eggs cooked over a tiny fire), we hit the sand dunes for sandboarding. I wiped out almost immediately — sand everywhere — but honestly? It was hilarious. Mahmoud showed us how to spot animal tracks in the sand; he found a tiny beetle and told us its name in Arabic (I forgot it instantly).

Later we stopped at a magic spring where the water was cold enough to make my teeth ache — so refreshing after all that sun. The old White Desert felt like walking through a dream: those chalky formations really do look like mushrooms or camels if you squint right. Dinner under all those stars tasted better than any restaurant meal back home; maybe it’s just being tired and happy or maybe it’s something about Egypt itself. Anyway, I still think about that sky sometimes when I can’t sleep.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Bahariya oasis and black desert tour

• Meet guide in Bahariya oasis
• Have lunch in oasis restaurant
• Visit black desert by jeep
• See hot springs and crystal mountains
• Camp overnight in Agabat valley
• Have dinner at camp

Day 2 — White desert exploration and camping

• Have breakfast at camp
• Visit sand dunes and play sandboarding
• Explore big valley and magic spring
• Have lunch
• Visit old and new white desert
• Camp overnight in white desert
• Have dinner at camp

Top questions

How long is the Black & White Desert safari?

The tour lasts 3 days and 2 nights starting from Bahariya Oasis.

Is pickup included for this Egypt desert safari?

Yes, pickup is included from Bahariya Oasis for this tour.

Are meals provided during the Black & White Desert tour?

Yes, lunch, dinner, and breakfast are included each day.

Is there an English-speaking guide?

Yes, your Bedouin guide speaks English.

Where do we sleep during the safari?

You’ll camp overnight in Agabat Valley and then in the White Desert camp.

Can children join this desert tour?

The minimum age is 1 year old; infants must sit on an adult’s lap.

What activities are included on this day trip from Bahariya?

You’ll visit hot springs, Crystal Mountain, sand dunes (with sandboarding), magic spring, and both old and new parts of the White Desert.

Are drinks included on this safari?

Soft drinks such as water, tea, coffee, and cola are provided throughout the trip.

What’s included

Your three days include private 4x4 transportation from Bahariya Oasis with an English-speaking Bedouin guide at your side; two nights camping with tents, mattresses and sleeping bags provided; all meals—breakfasts cooked over firelight plus lunches and dinners (and soft drinks); visits to the Black Desert, hot springs, Crystal Mountain, Agabat Valley for your first night’s campout; then dune adventures with sandboarding before moving onto both old and new sections of the White Desert for your final night beneath those wild stars.