- Duration10 Days / 9 Nights
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsMeet and assist at Cairo International Airport
- PriceFrom $1,450 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This Siwa Oasis and White Desert tour is for travellers who have seen the Pyramids in photographs a hundred times and now want to see the Egypt that few visitors reach. After two days in Cairo and Giza, you travel west along the Mediterranean coast to El Alamein, then turn inland to Siwa, an oasis of palm groves, mud-brick ruins and turquoise salt lakes close to the Libyan border, with its own Berber language and traditions.
From Siwa, a 4×4 journey across the open desert brings you to Bahariya Oasis and into the Black and White Deserts, where wind has carved the chalk into mushrooms, cones and towers that look almost unreal at sunrise. You spend a night camping among them, with a Bedouin dinner cooked over the fire, tea around the embers and a sky full of stars.
This is a genuine adventure, with long drives on some days and simple but comfortable lodges in the oases. The direct Siwa to Bahariya desert route needs security permits that are issued close to the date and are occasionally refused; if that happens we route you back via the coast and Cairo, and we will explain any change in advance.
Highlights
- Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum with a private Egyptologist
- El Alamein war cemeteries and museum on the Mediterranean coast
- Three nights in Siwa: the Oracle Temple, Shali fortress and floating in the salt lakes
- Great Sand Sea 4×4 excursion with sandboarding and a hot spring at sunset
- Overland crossing from Siwa to Bahariya, permits permitting
- A night camping under the stars among the White Desert’s chalk formations
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Cairo
Our representative meets you at Cairo International Airport, helps with visa and arrival formalities and escorts you to your private vehicle for the transfer to your 4★ hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest. In the evening your guide calls to brief you on the trip ahead, including what to pack for the desert, where nights can be surprisingly cold in winter and very warm in late spring.
Meals: None
Day 2 – Pyramids, Sphinx & Grand Egyptian Museum
Spend the morning on the Giza Plateau with your Egyptologist, visiting the Great Pyramid, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, the panoramic viewpoint and the Sphinx. After lunch, explore the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the complete Tutankhamun collection is on display together with thousands of objects that trace Egypt’s story from prehistory to the Roman period. Return to your hotel for an early night before tomorrow’s journey west.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Cairo to El Alamein & Marsa Matruh
Drive north-west towards the Mediterranean coast. At El Alamein, visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery, the German and Italian memorials and the War Museum, which tells the story of the decisive 1942 desert battles. Continue along the coast to Marsa Matruh, known for its clear blue water and white sand bays. Depending on time and the season, stop at Cleopatra’s Bath, a natural rock pool on the shore. Overnight in Marsa Matruh.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Marsa Matruh to Siwa Oasis
Head south through the Western Desert, around four hours, to Siwa Oasis. After checking in to your eco-lodge, built in the traditional kershef style of salt and mud, explore the Mountain of the Dead with its painted Ptolemaic tombs. As the light softens, climb the crumbling Shali fortress, the old mud-brick town at the heart of Siwa, then watch sunset over the palm groves and lake from Fatnas Island.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Oracle Temple & the Great Sand Sea
In the morning, visit the Temple of the Oracle of Amun at Aghurmi, which Alexander the Great consulted in 331 BC, and the ruins of the nearby Temple of Umm Ubayda. Stop for a swim at Cleopatra’s Spring, a natural stone pool fed by warm water. After lunch, a 4×4 takes you into the dunes of the Great Sand Sea for sandboarding, a dip at a desert hot spring and tea as the sun sets.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Salt Lakes & Siwan Life
Today is slower. Visit the salt lakes south of town, where the water is so salty you float effortlessly, and the brilliant white salt pans are a striking contrast against the blue. Walk through the date and olive groves, learn about traditional irrigation from local farmers, and browse Siwan crafts, embroidered textiles and silver jewellery. The afternoon is free to relax at the lodge or cycle around the oasis.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 – Desert Crossing to Bahariya Oasis
An early start for the overland crossing to Bahariya by 4×4, a long day of around ten hours across one of the emptiest landscapes in Egypt, with stops for lunch and photographs. This route depends on security permits; if they are not granted, you return to Cairo via the coast and continue to Bahariya the following morning, with the itinerary adjusted to keep the White Desert camp. Overnight at a simple lodge in Bawiti.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Black Desert, Crystal Mountain & White Desert Camp
Drive south from Bahariya into the Black Desert, where volcanic stone scattered over the hills gives them a dark, dusty look. Stop at Crystal Mountain, a ridge of quartz, and the Agabat valley with its sweeping views. Enter the White Desert National Park in the afternoon to explore the famous chalk formations as the sun sets. Your team sets up camp, cooks a Bedouin dinner and lights a fire for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – Return to Cairo
Wake early to watch sunrise turn the chalk pink and gold, and keep an eye out for the tracks of desert foxes around camp. After breakfast, drive back to Cairo, around five hours. Check in to your hotel and freshen up. If you still have energy, your guide can take you to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar in the evening for a final stroll and a mint tea at one of its historic coffee houses.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 – Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and any free time before your departure. Our representative collects you with your private car and transfers you to Cairo International Airport, assisting with luggage and check-in. If you have an evening flight and would like one more visit, we can arrange a half day at Saqqara or the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, where the royal mummies are displayed, at an extra cost.
Meals: Breakfast
Good to know: The Siwa–Bahariya desert crossing needs security permits issued close to the date; if refused, the route returns via the coast and the White Desert camp is kept.
What’s Included
Included
- Meet and assist at Cairo airport on arrival and departure
- 3 nights in a 4★ Cairo hotel with breakfast
- 1 night in a hotel in Marsa Matruh with breakfast
- 3 nights in a Siwa eco-lodge with breakfast and dinner
- 1 night in a Bahariya lodge with meals as listed
- 1 night camping in the White Desert with tents, mattresses, bedding and all meals
- Private Egyptologist guide in Cairo and a local guide in Siwa and the desert
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for road transfers and 4×4 vehicles in the desert
- Desert permits and national park fees
- Entry fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
- Bottled water throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips for guides, drivers and camp staff
- Drinks other than water and tea
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional extras and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $3,420 |
| 2 travellers | $1,870 |
| 3–5 travellers | $1,550 |
| 6+ travellers | $1,450 |
Per person in USD. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book. Prices can be higher over Christmas, New Year and Easter; we confirm the exact price in writing before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How comfortable is the accommodation outside Cairo?
Siwa and Bahariya do not have international-style 4★ hotels. Instead we use the best available eco-lodges and guesthouses, with private bathrooms, clean rooms and a lot of character. The desert camp is basic but well equipped, with tents or open-air sleeping areas, thick mattresses, blankets and a simple toilet tent. Most guests find the camping night is the highlight of the trip.
Is the Siwa to Bahariya desert route always possible?
No. The direct desert track needs security permits, which are issued close to the travel date and are sometimes refused without explanation. If that happens, we drive you back along the coast to Cairo and continue to Bahariya by road. You still see everything in the itinerary, though one day becomes a long road day, and we will always tell you as soon as we know.
What is the weather like in the desert?
Days are warm to hot for most of the year, but desert nights in December, January and February can drop close to freezing. Bring a warm layer, a hat and a good sleeping layer for camp. The most comfortable months are October, November, March and April. We do not recommend this trip in high summer, when temperatures in Siwa can exceed 40°C.
Is this tour suitable for children or older travellers?
It suits active travellers of most ages who are comfortable with long drives and simple comforts. Older children usually love the dunes and the camp. The bumpy 4×4 sections can be tiring, so it may not suit anyone with back problems. Speak to us about your group and we can adjust the pace or shorten long driving days.
Can we swim in Siwa?
Yes. Cleopatra’s Spring and several other springs around the oasis are popular for a swim, and the salt lakes are excellent for floating. Siwa is a conservative community, so swim in a modest swimsuit at public springs, cover up with a T-shirt and shorts if locals are present, and dress modestly when walking through town.
You May Also Like
Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
