- Duration3 Days / 2 Nights
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsPickup from your Cairo or Luxor hotel (early morning)
- PriceFrom $339 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private Kharga Oasis tour takes you deep into Egypt’s Western Desert, to the largest of the southern oases and some of the country’s least-visited monuments. Over three days, with your own driver and guide, you see the Temple of Hibis, the painted chapels of Al-Bagawat, Roman forts on the old caravan road and the New Valley Museum, and finish your days in a natural hot spring.
Kharga sat on the Darb al-Arbain, the Forty Days Road that brought caravans from Sudan, and the Persians, Romans and early Christians all left their mark. The sites are uncrowded and atmospheric, with mud-brick ruins standing alone in the sand and few other visitors, which makes this a rewarding trip for travellers who have already seen the Nile Valley.
The tour starts from Cairo or from Luxor. From Cairo the drive is long, around eight hours; from Luxor it is about four, which leaves more time in the oasis. You stay two nights in a simple, comfortable hotel or lodge in Kharga town, and the route can be extended to the Dakhla Oasis.
Highlights
- Temple of Hibis, the best-preserved Persian-era temple in Egypt
- Al-Bagawat, one of the oldest Christian cemeteries in the world, with painted chapels
- Qasr el-Ghueita and the mud-brick Roman forts of the desert road
- New Valley Museum and its finds from the oases
- An evening soak in a natural hot spring among the palms
- Private driver and guide, two nights’ hotel with breakfast and dinner
Itinerary
Day 1 – Drive to Kharga and the Temple of Hibis
Early pickup from your hotel in Cairo (about 8 hours) or Luxor (about 4 hours) and a long drive into the Western Desert. After lunch on arrival, visit the Temple of Hibis, dedicated to Amun and completed under the Persian king Darius I, with fine reliefs and a recently restored hall. Check in, dinner and overnight in Kharga.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 – Bagawat, Roman forts and hot springs
After breakfast, explore Al-Bagawat, a hillside of more than 260 mud-brick chapels from the 3rd to 7th centuries, some painted with scenes of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark and the Exodus. Visit the New Valley Museum, then drive south to Qasr el-Ghueita, a Roman fort around a Ptolemaic temple. End the day in a palm-fringed hot spring.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Return to Cairo or Luxor
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and, if time allows, a short stop at a desert fort or a walk in the old town, then begin the drive back. Lunch is taken on the way. You arrive at your hotel in Luxor in the afternoon, or in Cairo in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Good to know: Travel in the New Valley governorate may involve police checkpoints or an escort, which can change timings; carry your passport. Prices are quoted from Cairo; a Luxor start is shorter and can be quoted lower on request.
What’s Included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your Cairo or Luxor hotel
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for 3 days
- Private English-speaking guide
- 2 nights in a hotel or lodge in Kharga (twin or double room)
- 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners and bottled water
- Entrance fees: Temple of Hibis, Al-Bagawat, Qasr el-Ghueita, New Valley Museum
- Hot spring visit
Not included
- Drinks with meals
- Extra sites such as Dush or the Dakhla Oasis (on request)
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Personal expenses
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $1,065 |
| 2 travellers | $579 |
| 3–5 travellers | $439 |
| 6+ travellers | $339 |
Per person in USD, twin share, starting from Cairo. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Kharga Oasis from Cairo and Luxor?
Kharga is about 600 km from Cairo, roughly eight hours by road, and about 250 km from Luxor, roughly four hours. Starting from Luxor gives you more time in the oasis and a lower price, so it is a good choice if your trip already includes the Nile Valley.
Where will we stay?
You stay in a simple, clean hotel or eco-lodge in Kharga town, with private bathrooms, breakfast and dinner. Accommodation in the oases is modest compared with Cairo or Luxor, but comfortable. Solo travellers have their own room, which is reflected in the single price.
Can we add Dakhla Oasis?
Yes. Dakhla is about three hours west of Kharga and has the medieval mud-brick town of Al-Qasr, the painted tombs of Muzawwaqa and the temple of Deir al-Hagar. Adding one or two nights makes a fine loop. Ask us and we will tailor the route and price.
Is it safe to travel to Kharga?
Kharga is a quiet oasis town and receives foreign visitors throughout the year. Travel on the desert roads is checked by police, and in some periods an escort is required, which we arrange. We follow official guidance at all times and will tell you before travel if anything changes.
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.
