Western Desert Safari

Western Desert Tour (From Cairo to Luxor)

5 days / 4 nights

Day 1 » Cairo to Bahariya (360 km) Leaving Cairo, we head west towards Bahariya Oasis. There’s time to freshen up before driving by 4WD into the area around the village of Bawiti and the surrounding desert. Jump into one of the many hot & cold springs. Climb the English Mountain at sunset for a beautiful panoramic view over the palm groves. From here it’s back over Gebel Dist, the pyramid-shaped mountain that watches over the oasis, to the hotel in Bahariya.

Day 2 » Bahariya to the White Desert (175 km) The morning will be spent exploring the Valley of the Golden Mummies, the temple of Alexander, Ain al-Muftillah and the tomb of Amunhotep Huy at Qaret al-Hilwa. We continue across the desert via the Black Desert and Crystal Mountain. This region occupies the entire western half of Egypt. The sub-deserts include two amazing geological wonders, the mesmerizing White Desert and the imaginatively named Black Desert. We will reach the White Desert around sunset. Take a nature walk through its lunar landscape while dinner is cooked by your Bedouin guides around a campfire. Sleep under the stars in the open air or in tents. Tents and sleeping bags are provided.

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Day 3 » White Desert to Dakhla via Farafra (300 km) Get up early to see the sun rising over the ever-changing dunes before driving the short distance to Farafra. Enjoy the tranquility of this small oasis with its hectares of palm groves. Swim in the freshwater lake of Abu Nus, which is also a birdwatcher’s paradise. Wander through the maze of alleyways in the medieval town of Qasr-al Farafra with your guide. Also, visit the small Badr Museum. Drive on south to Dakhla Oasis where you will visit the Amheida cemeteries, comprising the Roman tombs of Qaret al-Muzawaka and the sandstone temple of Deir al- Haggar. Another highlight is a walking tour of the medieval village of Qasr El Dakhla. Finally, we head further into the oasis for the night.

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Day 4 » Dakhla to Kharga (195 km) En route to Kharga, visit some medieval villages and fortresses, including Mut, Balat and Bashendi. Explore Pharaonic, Roman and Coptic sites at almost every turn in the road. Go off- road through the Abu Tartur desert plateau to the Roman Fortress at Qasr al Labakha, and then head west to Umm el-Dabadib, the most unexpected and startling of the sites near Kharga. This area, dominated by marching sand dunes, has retained its charming natural beauty and heritage. Here we will set up camp in the desert on the edge of our final oasis, Kharga.

Day 5 » Kharga to Luxor (285 km) After driving into Kharga, visit the mud brick mausoleums and underground galleries at the Christian cemetery of al-Bagawat, the temple of Amun at Hibis, and the temple of Nadura, strategically located on a hilltop with beautiful views of the area. En route to Luxor, our first stop will be the imposing Roman mud brick fortress of Qasr el-Ghueita with a temple dating back to the Pharaonic era within massive outer walls and surrounded by desert. Here we turn east and travel towards Luxor.