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Did you know you can go camping in Egypt’s White Desert? As soon as I found this out I made sure to include this in my own trip to Egypt. I am here to tell you about my positive experience camping in Egypt’s White Desert to hopefully persuade you to include this in your Egypt itinerary.

I used Western Desert Tours to go camping in the White Desert in Egypt. I had a great experience with them and recommend using them for your camping tour in Egypt.

I did the 2-day, 1-night camping tour called “Crystal Mountain.” It was absolutely incredible and I 100% recommend it for anyone looking for something unique and adventurous with limited time. However, I wish I had more time for a 2-night or 3-night tour and would recommend extending more than just 1 night if you have the time.

Check out my complete guide to camping in the White Desert In Egypt.

Cairo to Bahariya Oasis

After arriving back at Cairo International Airport from a few days in Luxor, I was eager to get to my accommodation and go straight to bed. My flight was delayed and time was dwindling on the amount of hours I would be able to sleep, as we were getting picked up at 7 a.m. the next morning to go camping in Egypt’s White Desert. FINALLY, our luggage arrived at the carousel and my boyfriend and I gazed at each other with tired eyes, but we both knew we were sharing the same feeling of excitement. We hoisted the backpacks onto our backs and immediately power walked to the exit to find the Uber I just requested. The cool air of the December evening felt nice as we walked to the pick-up location.

After about a thirty-minute drive to our accommodation, Madina Hostel, in downtown Cairo, we checked in, got into our room, and started getting ready to climb into the bed that was calling my name. We each reluctantly showered as we knew we needed to before heading off to camp the next day. Once we finished getting ready, I pulled the covers down, got into bed, my eyes closed, and I was immediately asleep. 

We were awoken by the sound of our alarm at 6:30 a.m. I was feeling groggy but I knew I didn’t have much time and needed to get moving. I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. This routine helps wake me up. Luckily, as we were only here for a night, our bags were mostly packed. We quickly finished getting ready and moved to the lobby of our accommodation where we were greeted with to-go breakfasts. Then, we headed outside and waited for our driver to pick us up. Sure enough, he was there right at 7 a.m. We had a 5-hour drive to the Bahariya Oasis to start our camping adventure.

As I was sitting in the car, I had time to process the camping tour we were about to go on. A smile formed on my face as I was so excited. When I was booking my trip to Egypt, there were countless itinerary examples of the same structured trips, all including amazing things. But, when I came across this less common activity I immediately started doing research and knew I needed to include it. Egypt has countless incredible things to see and it is hard to fit them all in if you have limited time. However, I cannot express enough how happy I am that I included this adventurous activity in my Egypt trip.

The drive was long, but our itinerary has been busy so far so when we do get the chance to sleep it comes easily. I slept as Liam listened to an audiobook, dozing off at times. We stopped at a wooden structured building in what looked like the middle of nowhere. It was a quick break to use the bathroom, get snacks, and stretch our legs. Having just woken up, I was a little confused but got out of the car. I used the bathroom (I have traveled enough to not be surprised by any form of a bathroom, I just make sure to carry toilet paper and hand sanitizer with me). We sat down in the sun and relaxed. A few minutes later, a young couple from Canada came in as well, also on their way to camp. We talked with them for a little bit until we all wanted to continue with the journey. We said goodbye and headed back into our cars to drive a little more.

Bahariya Oasis

After five hours, we got to the Bahariya Oasis to greet our driver and guide. There was a nice bathroom with a shower as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area with plants surrounding it. After cleaning up a bit after the long drive, we sat down in the seating area and we both knew this was the start of our soon-to-be unforgettable adventure. Soon enough, we were given a huge platter of food with kofta, hummus, bread, fruit, and veggies. It was delicious and we could barely finish it all. 

Next, our driver and guide brought us to the 4×4 that was already loaded up with our camping gear and food for the duration of our trip. We hopped in, eager to see and learn about this spectacular area. 

On the drive, our guide gave us his background, telling us about his life living in the Bahariya Oasis and getting to know the desert very well. He also provided commentary about the history of the desert and what we would expect to see during our camping trip.

HOT SPRING

Our first stop was the Bahariya’s hot and cold springs in a Bedouin Village. We were given the opportunity to take a dip in these pools but were also told we would be making the same stop on the way back from our camping trip. Therefore, we opted to not take a dip in the pools right then as we decided we would enjoy them more after our time camping. We still stayed for a while, drinking tea.

BLACK DESERT

Next, we experienced the Black Desert, which has volcano-shaped mounds spaced around the area. These mounds are black on top, resulting from volcanic origin. We got out of the 4×4 and started walking up one of these steep mounds. Once we got to the top, we had a 360-degree view of the Black Desert. This view was so unique and we spent time soaking it in before we descended back down the hill to continue to the next stop.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Our third stop of the day was at Crystal Mountain, which is a ridge containing sparkling quartz crystals. Once again, we got out of the 4×4 and admired these small crystals. I scooped some up in my hands and admired each one as they sparkled.

SANDBOARDING

Then, we were asked if we wanted to go sandboarding. And of course, the answer was YES! On the way to the sandboarding location, we put the 4×4 to use and the driver started swerving us around, giving us an off-road adventure. This gave us a little adrenaline rush and laughter before we arrived at the sandboarding location. The guide pulled out a snowboard-looking object and told us to sit down and he would give us a push down the hill. Liam went first and we were all laughing as he descended the hill, trying to keep his balance. He made it to the bottom and then the hardest part was making it back up the hill while sinking in the sand. Once at the top, he was out of breath. I went next and was a little more wobbly than Liam but was laughing the whole time. Also out of breath once I got back to the top, I was determined to try again. We each went a couple more times before we got our fill and were too tired to walk up the hill anymore. This was such a fun experience!

Agabat Valley

We then went to explore the Agabat Valley, known for its rock-sugar loaves. The area is vast and there is a calming feeling with it. We walked around, exploring the beautiful hill formations, representing solid rock with desert sand.

White Desert National Park

Next, we arrived at our final spot, the White Desert National Park. This is where my jaw could not drop anymore. The vast area, with white structures scattered everywhere, was unbelievable. We drove through it, as my eyes never left the car window until shortly after we arrived at our campsite and we could explore more on foot. The formations are incredible and many have shapes you can make out, such as the famous rabbit-looking rock.

The campfire was started when we made it back to our campsite and the driver and guide were preparing our dinner. The chicken was getting cooked over the fire, and rice and veggies were getting cooked on a camping stove. Once the food was ready, it was beautifully prepared and we ate it in the main, large tent. The food was amazing, and I was very full after trying to eat it all.

After dinner, we sat by the fire. I felt the calmness again. Staring into the vast desert, watching the sun slowly disappear, and creating a stunning sunset truly made me feel at peace. From the hustle and bustle of the large city of Cairo to the many people roaming through the historical sites in Luxor that we have encountered so far, this was such a unique, peaceful setting. We took this time sitting by the fire to learn more about our guide, drinking tea. He told us stories from his life growing up in this area and it was interesting to learn about him. When a natural moment of silence hit, it was dead quiet. This peacefulness I felt continued through the evening before it was time to go to bed. Our tent was set up for us, with camel blankets to get us through the cold December evening. We fell asleep in the silence of the desert.

The next morning, we had an alarm set early so we could watch the sunrise and it was so worth it. We washed up with shower wipes, brushed our teeth, and headed into the main tent for breakfast. It was an incredible fruit bowl with bananas, apples, mango, and pomegranate, topped with honey. After we were full, we had plenty of time to explore more, making our way to the famous rabbit-looking rock formation. During this, the guide and driver packed up and met us where we were. 

Bahariya Oasis TO CAIRO

Once done exploring, we got back into the 4×4 to head back the way we came. We stopped again at the Bahayria Hot Springs, where this time we did go into the springs. It felt great after a night of camping. Next, we headed to a destination to get food, along with many other campers ending their journey. After lunch, we went back to the location where we got into the 4×4 to switch out drivers and make the five-hour journey back to Cairo, where I slept and reminisced on this incredible experience we had. We requested to get dropped off at the Cairo International Airport (CAI) to catch a flight that evening to continue our Egypt trip in Dahab.

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Camping in Egypt’s White Desert was truly one of my favorite activities on my trip to Egypt! Make sure to check out the full Egypt page here for other itineraries and information to prepare for your trip to Egypt.

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