Please note that there have previously been travel advisories issued for the Black and White Deserts. Please check the latest recommendations of your government. Your local specialist will be happy to advise, and potentially work with you on an alternative plan.
Highlights
- See the Great Pyramids and explore the Giza Plateau by camel
- Camp under the stars amid the volcanic landscapes of the Black Desert
- Hunt for souvenirs in the glittering beehive of Cairo's Khan el-Khalili bazaar
- Dive into the Red Sea to snorkel around teeming coral reefs
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Cairo, Free Time to Explore | Cairo |
| Day 2 | Pyramids Excursion & Camel Ride, Tour the Egyptian Museum & Coptic Cairo | Cairo |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Bahariya Oasis, Black Desert Excursion & Camping | Bahariya |
| Day 4 | White Desert Jeep Excursion | Bahariya |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Cairo, Walking Tour of Islamic Cairo & Khan el-Khalili Bazaar | Cairo |
| Day 6 | Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh, Overnight Adventure at Mount Sinai | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 7 | Bedouin Desert Safari & Stargazing | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 8 | Snorkeling Excursion in Ras Mohamed National Park | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 9 | Fly to Cairo, Walking Food Tour, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo, Free Time to Explore
Day 2: Pyramids Excursion & Camel Ride, Tour the Egyptian Museum & Coptic Cairo
Most visitors have one thing on their mind for a trip to Egypt—the Great Pyramids. Grab breakfast and meet your guide, then set off for an adventurous look at the Giza Plateau, including the pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus. You'll experience their imposing presence from the back of a camel, giving you a unique vantage point from which to explore these ancient wonders. The iconic Great Sphinx, watching over the pyramids, is also on the docket.
You'll be able to put everything you saw earlier in greater context this afternoon at the Egyptian Museum. Over 5,000 years of art and relics are housed here, including over 100,000 artifacts and both the mummy of King Tut and his spectacular treasure, buried with him over 3,000 years ago. End the day back in the heart of the city, known as Coptic Cairo, to learn about its history as a stronghold of early Christianity. The Hanging Church and Holy Cave, where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were said to have stayed, are highlights of this excursion.
Day 3: Transfer to Bahariya Oasis, Black Desert Excursion & Camping
Grab breakfast and meet your private driver outside your accommodation—today you're headed deeper into the desert! After a four-hour drive, you'll reach the Bahariya Oasis, where a dense palm forest sprouts straight out of the middle of the windswept sands. Upon arrival, you'll hop in a Jeep for your private excursion to nearby sites in the Black Desert.
Wander through date palm forests and along the edge of a salt lake. You'll also explore towering sand dunes and Pyramid Mountain, also known as Gebel Dist, before seeing English Mountain, which was once an area occupied by British Forces during World War I. End the day by driving through the Black Desert's distinctive scorched volcanic rock formations, then settle here for the night in a traditional tent. The sky will sprawl above you like an indigo quilt, revealing the Milky Way and millions of twinkling stars.
Day 4: White Desert Jeep Excursion
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Grab breakfast at your camp in the middle of the desert this morning before you resume your private excursion through the White Desert National Park. Kick off your time in these lunar landscapes by visiting El-Marssos Mountain and then driving to El-Hez village and the Cold Spring. You'll then enjoy a delicious lunch to help fuel your adventures this afternoon.
See Crystal Mountain and its huge white quartz crystals and drive through the Aqapat Valley. Spot unique limestone formations in the shape of giant mushrooms, and stop to walk around these otherworldly boulders and mini-mountains of rock. As evening falls, you'll settle back into your desert camp for one last night under the stars. Tomorrow, you're headed back to Cairo for more adventures.
Day 5: Transfer to Cairo, Walking Tour of Islamic Cairo & Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Begin the morning with breakfast before you take off on a four-hour transfer back to Cairo. Drop your bags off at your accommodation, then hit the ground running as you meet your private guide and head for one of Cairo's most famous streets—El-Moez.
Formally known as El Moez Le Din Allah, El-Moez Street is a concentrated collection of medieval Islamic architecture with monuments like the Bab el-Fetouh and Bab el-Nasr, two ancient gates to the city. You'll continue unraveling Cairo's past with your guide, heading north to El-Darb el-Asfar, the ancient Islamic Quarter, before sifting through an explosion of color at the Khan el-Khalili bazaar—the perfect place to grab a souvenir.
Day 6: Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh, Overnight Adventure at Mount Sinai
Today, you'll switch settings again as you catch a short flight to Sharm el-Sheikh. Your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport in the morning, and you'll arrive in this laid-back resort town on the Red Sea by early afternoon. Another representative will be waiting upon arrival to whisk you off to your hotel, where you can drop your bags off and make a quick beeline for the beach. Spend the afternoon relaxing and taking a nap, because you're in for an incredible treat this evening.
Around 8:00 pm, your guide will drive you three hours out of the city to St. Catherine's Monastery. Take a brief nap before getting your heart pumping on the trek up Mount Sinai. Sitting at 7,497 feet (2,285 m), Mount Sinai (also known as Mount Moses) is a location of great importance to the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish faiths. The hike begins at 2:00 am, and you'll reach the summit just before the sun rises over the desert. Head back down the mountain at 7:00 am for a visit to the monastery itself and a history lesson on this famous martyr. You can catch up on some well-deserved sleep on the drive back to your hotel.
Day 7: Bedouin Desert Safari & Stargazing
After a free morning spent at the beach, you'll go off the beaten path again this afternoon at a Bedouin camp. A guide will transport you from the shimmering coast to Sharm el-Sheikh's desert interior, where you'll ride from the edge of the sand into the dunes on a trusty camel, who will safely guide you through the arid landscape. Your ride is capped at just 20 minutes to experience this classic Bedouin transportation without getting saddle-sore.
Arrive at the Bedouin camp just in time for sunset. Your hosts will be awaiting your arrival with herbal tea, smiles, and traditional bread—which you'll soon have the opportunity to learn how to make. A delicious, candlelit dinner feast will be laid out beneath the stars as you're treated to a fire-dancing show and a favorite local treat, shisha. But the fun doesn't end there. Get a closer look at those twinkling stars and galaxies through a telescope with your guide, who will point out constellations and more. Finish off the day with a speedy and comfortable transport back to your hotel.
Day 8: Snorkeling Excursion in Ras Mohamed National Park
The Red Sea is teeming with a rainbow of marine life and diverse reef systems. You'll dive right into this kaleidoscopic world today on a group tour of White Island and the Ras Mohammed National Park. Spend the day on a boat, exploring the nooks and crannies of this reserve that's tucked at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. As Egypt's first national park, this area protects mangrove forests, wadis (dry channels), sand dunes, and most importantly, the largest African coral reef system, the Red Sea Reef.
After snorkeling at several locations throughout the park, including the beautiful Yolanda Reef, a barbecue lunch will be served back on the boat before continuing on to White Island, where the Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez collide. Walk along the powdered-sugar sands and snorkel above thriving reef systems, schools of fish, and even sea turtles. As you sail back to Sharm el-Sheik, grab a spot on the sundeck for beautiful views.
Day 9: Fly to Cairo, Walking Food Tour, Depart
It's almost time to say goodbye to Egypt, but first, you'll hop on a quick flight from Sharm el-Sheikh back to Cairo. Savor your last glimpses of the "City of a Thousand Minarets" through both traditional food and architecture on a four-hour walking food tour. Following a foodie guide, you'll sample some of the city's best snacks, drinks, and sweets at four different stops throughout the city as you learn more about its local customs and culture.
After the tour, your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!
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