Visiting Egypt's White Desert is an extraordinary experience that offers travelers a surreal landscape, an escape from the typical tourist route, and a unique chance to connect with nature's most striking formations. As an avid traveler and writer, I’ve explored this otherworldly region and gathered essential Egypt White Desert tips to ensure your visit is not only memorable but also seamless.
Known for its vast white limestone formations and ethereal sand dunes, the White Desert, or White Desert of Egypt, is a must-see for anyone seeking adventure in this iconic North African country.
The desert, located in the Western Desert of Egypt, is part of the larger Siwa Oasis region, a place that has remained relatively untouched by mass tourism. Whether you're an avid photographer capturing dramatic landscapes or an explorer trekking through the dunes, the White Desert provides a perfect setting for both. To make the most of your trip, it’s crucial to plan carefully, as the region’s remote location and harsh environment can pose challenges.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from essential packing tips and the best times to visit to travel logistics and local customs. These insights will ensure that you explore the White Desert safely and responsibly, leaving with memories of an unforgettable Egyptian adventure.
How to visit the White Desert: introduction
The White Desert is a protected National Park that covers an area of about 300 km² in what was an inland sea thousands of years ago . If you pay attention to the soil it is not difficult to find marine fossils , such as small shells, attached to the rock.
Its most fascinating feature, and the one that gives it its name, is its white colour . Beneath the layers of golden sand from the nearby deserts lies a heart of white chalk that gives it this extraordinary appearance. If you stand on a surface of this rock and kick your heel, you will get the impression that there is an immense hollow under your feet (it's just an impression, you can breathe easy).
The entire desert is dotted with enormous and fragile chalk rocks that, over the years and thanks to the force of wind erosion, have been transformed into authentic natural sculptures . We have sphinxes, roosters, rabbits... and extensive fields of mushrooms.
Oh! And before you travel, remember to take out your travel insurance ! Here we tell you which is the best travel insurance for Egypt.
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But the surprises don't end here, you can also enjoy sand dunes (ideal for sandboarding ), mountains made of quartz crystals , oases and natural hot springs , and ultimately landscapes from another planet that you would never think existed.
The desert's last gift appears as the last rays of sunlight fade away. Its remote and isolated location, hundreds of miles from any inhabited city, means that light pollution is non-existent, making the White Desert a perfect starlight destination .
For us, the excursion to the White Desert is one of the best things to do in Egypt without a doubt. More info .
Where is the White Desert of Egypt and how to get there
The White Desert is located in the so-called Western Desert of Egypt , which occupies almost the entire interior of the country, from the Nile to the border with Libya. From Cairo it is about 370 km by road in a southwesterly direction, by car with an experienced driver it takes about 4 hours .
The Black Desert , characterized by mountains covered with black volcanic rock, is located about 100 km before reaching the Black Desert from Cairo. The visit is therefore usually made on the way there or on the way back from the capital.
Today it is an area controlled by the army and since 2015 it can only be reached by private transport . There are local buses that go to some of the towns near the desert, with the Bahariya Oasis being the epicenter of tourism , but according to what tourists told us, we are not allowed to use them.
And if you're wondering, there is NO phone signal in the White Desert . Grab something in the populated centers, like Bahariya, but once you get into the desert, forget about having internet. Here's what SIM card to buy in Egypt .
Must-know: Attack on Mexican tourists in 2015
Although it was never a completely safe area, given its proximity to the Libyan border and the predilection of terrorists for hiding in the desert, until 2015 the excursion to the White Desert was offered by many tour operators in Egypt.
But that year, a group of Mexican tourists was attacked by mistake . The four jeeps stopped for lunch in an apparently restricted area, and without warning were bombed by an Egyptian army helicopter . According to later reports, they were mistaken for Islamic terrorists, who often take advantage of the vast unguarded expanses of the desert to hide.
The tragedy claimed the lives of 12 people (Mexicans and Egyptians) and since then tourism in this area has been much more restricted and controlled. We encourage you to look for information about the current security situation in the area before visiting.
How to visit the White Desert of Egypt
As we mentioned earlier, it is not possible to visit the White Desert of Egypt on your own, but you have to do it with a local guide from the area. Normally the short tour of 2 days and 1 night includes the following:
- Early pick up in Cairo and transfer by car to Bahariya
- Half-Day Jeep Tour of the White Desert and the Black Desert
- Night in a tent
- Continuation of the Jeep tour in the morning
- Return to Cairo by car
We decided to stay overnight in Bahariya and we believe that it is the best option. Therefore, the complete tour of 3 days and 2 nights would be as follows:
- Pick up from Cairo in the afternoon and transfer by car to Bahariya
- Overnight in a typical hotel in the Bahariya oasis and dinner
- Full day tour of the White Desert and the Black Desert
- Night in a tent
- Continuation of the Jeep tour in the morning
- Return to Cairo by car
→ If you are interested in any of these options, we recommend booking your multi-day excursion to the White Desert online in advance.
How much does the White Desert tour cost?
We just spoke to Reda and he told us that the current rate (all inclusive: transport from/to Cairo, desert tour, park fee, meals and night in the desert) is €300 for 2 people.
If you want to stay an extra night in Bahariya, as we did to have better time, we recommend you book your own accommodation (it will be a bit cheaper on Booking ). We stayed at the Aliyah Eco Lodge and we loved it.
There are some cheaper options and others more expensive, but we do strongly recommend that you clarify from the beginning that EVERYTHING is included so that there are no surprises later: some friends tried to charge for the return trip to Cairo at the end of the tour 0_o.
As there are not too many tourists, these tours are usually private , so you will have a guide/driver dedicated to you. The reference prices are for this type of tour. If when you book with the guide he tells you that you will share the tour with other people, the price should be lower.
The fee to visit the White Desert National Park in Egypt is 5 USD per person , and camping costs 10 LE per person (the “office” to pay these fees is a jeep that is usually located next to the chicken stone). In our case, as you can see, it was included in the price of the tour. We recommend keeping an eye on the official prices in case they increase in the future.
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1 Day Tour of the White Desert
Only have one day to spare? It's a bit of a stretch, but there are ways to do the trip in just one day. We definitely recommend spending the night in the desert, but if that's impossible for you, check out this option .
Best time to visit the White Desert of Egypt
Although we were told that it receives tourists all year round, it is advisable to avoid the hottest months between March and October, when you can get a cold under the sun.
The ideal time to go is between December and January , when the temperature during the day is bearable and you can make the most of your visits. It gets cooler at night, but you'll need some nice blankets to snuggle up in for that.
What to carry in your backpack
You can't forget sunscreen , a hat or cap to protect yourself from the sun, and sunglasses . Bring light clothing for the day and something warm for the night. Also a swimsuit and towel in case you feel like going into one of the thermal pools. And of course some comfortable shoes . It's a good idea to bring a powerbank to recharge your mobile phone, although we took advantage of the stops to eat to plug in. And a headlamp or a flashlight to light up at night.
If you have to go to the "bathroom" it's likely that the toilet paper has run out, so a small packet of tissues never hurts.
The guides continually offer bottles of water , so that will not be a problem.
Things to Do and Places to See in the White Desert of Egypt
The places and areas you visit on an excursion to the White Desert of Egypt depend greatly on the guide you hire. He is the one who knows these places in detail and will take you to different areas according to his experience (light, people, distance...).
Of all the places we visited, these are the ones that blew us away:
- Crystal Mountain , so named because it is composed of quartz minerals that can be seen with the naked eye.
- Agabat Valley , from a height before crossing a gigantic descent, probably the best panoramic view of the tour.
- Sand dunes , where you can throw yourself down on a board (previously coated with candle wax).
- Cave , to take a very artistic photo 😉
- The mushrooms , which are nothing more than chalk rocks sculpted into whimsical shapes by the wind. There are several areas, but one is especially spectacular, with the chicken rock as its main attraction.
- Cone field , a huge esplanade full of small mounds of rock that look like tents.
- Black Desert , joined to the White Desert, is another desert of black rocks formed by the explosion of volcanoes millions of years ago. The visit is not as spectacular, although you can climb a mountain to have a 360 view of the surroundings. The path is steep, but step by step it can be done in about 20 minutes.
- Hot Springs - This area is known for its natural hot springs, which are piped into rudimentary public baths where you can share a bath with locals. If you fancy this plan, don't forget your swimsuit!
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And of course, watch the sunset from a panoramic point. Find a rock to climb (the guide will surely recommend one), and experience one of the best sunsets of your life. And of course, watch the sunrise the next day.
Keep your eyes peeled because with a little luck you might spot a friendly desert fox , especially when it's already dark and they start to wander around the camping area looking for leftover food.
What is overnight camping like?
If you have visited the Sahara Desert in Morocco , you will have in mind the typical camps of colorful tents, with bathrooms, beds and almost all the comforts. In the White Desert, this is not the case. Since no permanent or semi-permanent set-up is allowed, the camps have to be made and dismantled every day.
What does this mean? That you sleep in a tent with a few thick blankets in winter. That the bathroom is behind the nearest rock and that silence is the most common sound after the sun sets.
Before going to sleep, dinner is served in a larger tent or an improvised picnic by the fire. And after the meal, you will surely enjoy traditional Bedouin songs (forget about the Macarena…) while drinking tea. In our case, Reda's companion was a music teacher and an expert at playing a traditional flute. The songs lasted several minutes without a moment of silence, for which he would hold his breath in his cheeks and release it as if it were a bagpipe. He was crazy!
On one of your nightly visits to the bathroom, if there is a full moon , you will find yourself surrounded by huge white rocks in an endless desert, in what is a landscape from another planet.
Guide to the White Desert of Egypt
We talked to several guides that we found on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms and in the end we went with Reda . The price he offered us was honest from the start (no exaggerated price to haggle later), and the experience was amazing!
The car that picked us up at the Cairo airport was top of the range, very comfortable and the driver was a crack. And then the Jeep excursions with Reda were amazing, the places he showed us, his charisma, the place where we camped, the food... everything was perfect! Reda has been traveling this desert all his life (literally) and knows places you wouldn't even think existed. The only drawback for someone is that he doesn't speak Spanish (but I'm sure he'll learn it in no time, hehe).
Here is their Instagram contact , remember to tell them that you are coming on our behalf, we are excited 😉 If they are not available you can check out this other tour.
In short, visiting the White Desert of Egypt is one of the best things to see and do in Egypt and we cannot stop thanking our dear Claudia and Jairo for encouraging us to visit it… Yes, the tour is expensive, but it is money that we would gladly spend again!
Have you been there? Do you have to go and still have questions? We are here to help.
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