8 Day Private Western Desert Expedition: Cairo, Oases & Luxor
Duration
8 days
Max Group Size
12
Departure Type
Guaranteed
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
moderate
Operated In
English
Age Requirement
7 - 75 Ages
About this tour
Cross Egypt's great Western Desert from Cairo to Luxor on this 8 day private overland expedition combining the Giza Pyramids and Egyptian Museum with five days of oasis hopping and Sahara desert exploration, concluding among the monumental temples of ancient Thebes.
Begin with 2 nights in Cairo touring the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum with a private Egyptologist. On Days 3 to 6, travel into the Western Desert to explore Bahariya Oasis, traverse the volcanic Black Desert and Crystal Mountain by 4x4 Jeep, camp overnight beneath the stars in the White Desert National Park, soak in the warm springs of Farafra Oasis, and discover the medieval mudbrick town of Al Qasr in Dakhla Oasis.
On Day 7, cross via Kharga Oasis to the Nile Valley at Luxor (1 night at a 5-star hotel) and spend Day 8 touring Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut Temple before your evening departure transfer in Luxor.
Route
- 1CairoAfricaEgyptStart
- 2El GizaAfricaEgypt
- 3Bahariya OasisAfricaEgypt
- 4Black DesertAfricaEgyptBahariya Oasis
- 5White Desert National ParkAfricaEgyptQasr Farafra
- 6FarafraAfricaEgypt
- 7Dakhla OasisAfricaEgyptEl Qasr
- 8KhargaAfricaEgypt
- 9LuxorAfricaEgyptEnd
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
Airport Pickup: Meet your private representative at Cairo International Airport (or your Cairo pickup location at 08:30) and transfer in a climate-controlled vehicle to your hotel in Cairo.
Evening at Leisure: Relax after your flight and prepare for tomorrow's sightseeing (meals on own).
Overnight: 4-Star / 5-Star Hotel in Cairo | Meals Included: None
Morning Giza Plateau Visit: After breakfast, join your private Egyptologist guide to explore the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Valley Temple, and the Great Sphinx (3 hours; entrance tickets included).
Lunch & Afternoon Egyptian Museum: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to see royal pharaonic treasures and statuary (2.5 hours; entrance ticket included) before returning to your hotel (dinner on own).
Overnight: 4-Star / 5-Star Hotel in Cairo | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning Drive to Bahariya: Depart Cairo at 08:00 after breakfast for a 4-hour private drive across the desert highway to Bahariya Oasis and enjoy lunch at your oasis lodge.
Afternoon Oasis Tour: Explore the Valley of the Golden Mummies, the Tomb of Bannantiu, the salt lake, and the sunset viewpoint atop English Mountain before dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Oasis Eco-Lodge in Bahariya | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Off-Road Journey: Board your 4x4 land cruiser after breakfast to explore the dark basalt hills of the Black Desert, stop at El Haize Oasis for lunch, and admire the quartz ridge of Crystal Mountain and the valleys of Agabat.
Evening White Desert Camp: Drive among the wind-carved chalk formations of the White Desert National Park at sunset and enjoy a traditional Bedouin campfire dinner under the stars.
Overnight: Private Bedouin Tent Camp in the White Desert | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning in the White Desert: Watch sunrise illuminate the chalk monoliths and enjoy camp breakfast before driving south to Farafra Oasis.
Afternoon in Farafra: Check in to your oasis lodge for lunch, visit Badr's local art museum, stroll through traditional palm orchards, and relax in the warm mineral waters of Bir Sitta spring before dinner.
Overnight: Oasis Lodge in Farafra | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Transfer to Dakhla: After breakfast, travel 3 hours south along the desert road to Dakhla Oasis and check in to your lodge for lunch.
Afternoon Dakhla Sightseeing: Tour the 12th-century mudbrick labyrinth of Al Qasr village, the Roman sandstone Temple of Deir El Hagar, and the painted rock tombs of Muzawaka (entrance tickets included), followed by dinner.
Overnight: Eco-Lodge in Dakhla Oasis | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Full-Day Sahara-to-Nile Crossing: Depart after an early breakfast via Kharga Oasis—pausing at the early Christian Necropolis of Bagawat (entrance ticket included) and for an included restaurant lunch in Kharga Oasis—then ascend the desert plateau and descend into the lush Nile Valley at Luxor (approx. 6 hours driving total).
Evening Check-in: Check in to your 5-star Nile-view hotel in Luxor and enjoy a restful evening (dinner on own).
Overnight: 5-Star Hotel in Luxor | Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning Hotel Breakfast & West Bank Tour: Enjoy breakfast at your Luxor hotel (included with your Night 7 stay) and check out, then join your private Egyptologist guide to explore the Valley of the Kings (3 royal tombs), the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the Colossi of Memnon (3.5 hours; entrance tickets included).
Lunch & Afternoon Karnak Temple: Savor lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor, then tour the monumental Karnak Temple Complex and Great Hypostyle Hall (2 hours; entrance ticket included) before your transfer to Luxor International Airport, railway station, or your post-tour Luxor address by 17:30.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Trip includes
Included
2 nights at a 4-star/5-star hotel in Cairo (Nights 1–2, with morning breakfasts on Days 2–3)
3 nights at boutique oasis lodges in Bahariya, Farafra, and Dakhla (Nights 3, 5, 6, Full Board)
1 night private Bedouin tent camp in the White Desert with full camping equipment (Night 4, Full Board)
1 night at a 5-star hotel in Luxor (Night 7, with Day 8 morning breakfast)
Licensed private English-speaking Egyptologist guide in Cairo (Day 2) and Luxor (Day 8)
Experienced desert driver-guide and Bedouin safari team throughout the Western Desert (Days 3–7)
Guiding Method
Fully guided
English7 morning breakfasts (Days 2–8, following each of the 7 overnight stays), 7 lunches (Days 2–8, including Cairo, oasis, Kharga, and Luxor lunches), and 4 dinners in the desert oases and camp (Days 3–6)
Bottled mineral water, tea, and coffee during all desert safari days
All private air-conditioned highway transfers (Cairo–Bahariya and Dakhla–Kharga–Luxor), airport transfers, and 4x4 off-road Jeep safari in the Black and White Deserts
White Desert National Park permits and all entrance tickets to Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Bahariya/Dakhla/Kharga sites, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and Karnak Temple
Excluded
International and domestic flights are not included (this overland tour starts in Cairo and ends in Luxor).
Personal travel and medical insurance is not included.
Egypt entry visa fees
Dinners on Days 1, 2, 7, and 8; lunch on Day 1
Personal expenses and gratuities
Availability
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