Please note that travel advisories have previously been issued for the Black and White Deserts. Please check your government's latest recommendations. Your local specialist will be happy to advise and potentially work with you on an alternative plan.
Highlights
- Snorkel above rainbow reefs teeming with fish at Ras Mohammed National Park
- Watch the sunrise from the summit of Mount Sinai
- Savor mint tea and a candlelit feast with your hosts at a Bedouin camp
- Camp amid giant rock mushrooms and quartz crystals in the White Desert
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Sharm el-Sheikh, Red Sea Dinner Cruise | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 2 | Snorkeling Trip to Ras Mohammed National Park | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 3 | Overnight Adventure at Mount Sinai | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 4 | Bedouin Desert Safari & Stargazing | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 5 | Fly to Cairo, Pyramids Excursion & Camel Ride | Cairo |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Bahariya Oasis, Camping in the White Desert | Bahariya |
| Day 7 | Drive to Cairo, Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh | Sharm el-Sheikh |
| Day 8 | Optional Day Trip to Dahab, Depart Sharm el-Sheikh |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sharm el-Sheikh, Red Sea Dinner Cruise
Welcome to Egypt! You'll touch down in the glitzy Red Sea beach resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. There, a private driver will be waiting in an air-conditioned vehicle to take you to your accommodation for the next two nights. Tucked at the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm el-Sheikh is known for its golden stretches of sand and colorful marine life. You'll have the chance to fit in some downtime on these legendary beaches this afternoon. Grab a cabana along the sea at your resort and soak up the sun before a dinner to remember.
Later this evening, your driver will pick you up and take you to the jetty, where you'll board a dinner cruise. Glide along the desert coast as the sun dips into the sea, and enjoy a gourmet meal of both Egyptian dishes and global favorites as traditional music plays in the background. At the end of the night, your driver will take you back to the hotel, where you can rest up for more Red Sea fun tomorrow.
Day 2: Snorkeling Trip to Ras Mohammed 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 important marine reserve. 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. You can expect to see thousands of different fish species as you explore its watery depths today.
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 to White Island, where the Gulf of Aqaba and the 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 and enjoy the views.
Day 3: Overnight Adventure at Mount Sinai
The morning and afternoon of day three are mostly free to swim and relax, but you're in for an incredible treat this evening! Around 8:00 pm, your guide will drive you three hours outside 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), this desert peak (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 after sunrise for a visit to St. Catherine's Monastery and a history lesson on this famous martyr. Also known as St. Catherine of Alexandria, she is an important Christian saint and was reputedly killed after claiming to be the wife of Jesus Christ. It's said that her body was taken to Mount Sinai by angels, hence why the monastery is named for her. The building itself is beautiful and decorated with colorful religious reliefs. You can catch up on some well-deserved sleep on the drive back to your hotel.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Bedouin Desert Safari & Stargazing
It wouldn't be a visit to Egypt without some time spent in the desert. After a free morning to catch up on some sleep or lounge at the beach, you'll go off the beaten path 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 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 5: Fly to Cairo, Pyramids Excursion & Camel Ride
This morning starts with a quick flight west from Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Drop your bags, then head out to see the one site that most visitors to Egypt have in mind—the Great Pyramids. Your adventurous private tour of the Giza Plateau will introduce you to the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure from the back of a camel, giving you a unique vantage point over the shifting sands and ancient wonders. The iconic Great Sphinx is also on the docket.
Afterward, fuel up with lunch at a local restaurant, where you might find favorites like koshary (a mix of pasta, lentils, and veggies), ful medammas (fava bean stew), and molokhia (jute stew). Then, you'll continue to Memphis, Egypt's ancient capital. Two of the most famous sites that you'll visit are the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the Sphinx of Memphis, carved from alabaster and meant to resemble Ramesses the Great. You'll also explore the necropolis of Saqqara and its stepped Pyramid of Djoser before heading back to Cairo.
Day 6: Transfer to Bahariya Oasis, Camping in the White Desert
The landscape shifts again today as you join your driver for the epic five-hour drive southwest to the Bahariya Oasis. Sprouting straight from the middle of the desert, the oasis and its dense palm forest will suddenly appear on the horizon as you approach. Upon arrival, drop your bags at your accommodation and hop in a Jeep for a private excursion through the White Desert National Park. You'll start in the Black Desert with its scorched-looking volcanic rock formations before continuing on to El Hez village and the Cold Spring and grabbing lunch.
See Crystal Mountain and its huge white quartz crystals, then drive through the Aqapat Valley to reach the White Desert. Unique limestone formations in the shape of giant mushrooms will begin to appear, and you'll have the chance to walk around these otherworldly boulders and mini-mountains of rock. Tonight, you'll be roughing it a bit at your desert campsite, but the experience will be well worth it. The sky will sprawl above you like an indigo quilt, revealing the Milky Way and millions of twinkling stars.
Day 7: Drive to Cairo, Fly to Sharm el-Sheikh
Today is a travel day, so prepare to sit back and enjoy the views. You'll be transported from your desert camp by Jeep until you're back at Bahariya Oasis, where you'll meet your driver and make the drive back to Cairo. You'll have plenty of time to reflect on your trip so far and watch as the desert sands pass out your window. Once you reach Cairo, you'll be taken to the airport for your flight back to Sharm el-Sheikh. Luckily, the flight only takes one hour, and you'll be spending the rest of today relaxing on the beach and swimming in the Red Sea.
Day 8: Optional Day Trip to Dahab, Depart Sharm el-Sheikh
It's your last day in Egypt, and if you have a late flight, you could spend the day on one final adventure. Head an hour north up the coast to Dahab, where a guided excursion will take you into the stunning depths of the Colored Canyon. Make a pit stop at a tiny oasis tucked between the canyon walls, then hop on a camel to reach the Blue Hole, one of Dahab's most famous diving locations. You'll have lunch back in Dahab City as well as the chance to relax by a swimming pool and time to do a bit of shopping for any last minute souvenirs.
When the time comes, your driver will be waiting to take you to the airport. Say goodbye to Egypt and the Red Sea as you take to the skies!
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