Egypt - Solar Eclipse in the Sahara

A short and fascinating tour to see the solar eclipse, in Egypt’s stunning Western Desert.

Starting from Cairo, we venture into the White Desert traversing desolate terrain until we reach our camp for the night, under the clear Saharan stars. After exploring the White Desert, we continue to the Black Desert to witness the solar eclipse, positioned at a site that allows you to see 100% coverage of this spectacular event.

We continue south, towards the oasis of Dakhla and El Qasr, the 1000-year-old mud-brick fort, still inhabited today, with its narrow streets and ancient architecture. Exploring this remote part of the country, far removed from the cities and the Nile Valley, shows a side of Egypt few get to see – deeply traditional and in touch with a culture that has endured for centuries.

Finally, we return to Cairo, driving through the desert for the last time, before ending an outstanding excursion to see some of the great wonders of nature and space.

A total solar eclipse is a special event anywhere, but witnessing it in the austere beauty of the Sahara Desert is an unmatchable experience…..

Highlights

  • See the Solar Eclipse with 100% coverage
  • Camp under the stars in the vast Saharan Desert
  • Visit the Dakhla Oasis and El Qasr
  • Roam the White Desert National park and its limestone and chalk structures carved by wind and sand

Day 1 - Cairo

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Overnight Tolip Gardenia Hotel or similar

Cairo

One of the world’s great cities, Cairo is a seething mass of humanity, with over 20 million people living in high population density, and for some it can be rather a shock to the senses. Founded originally by the Romans, the city has been through various stages in its history, from the first Islamic capital of Egypt in the 8th century (known as Fustat) to the Ottoman and Mamluk reigns of later years. It’s not a pretty city, it has to be said – there are few green spaces, and for the most part buildings are functional rather than beautiful, but Cairo’s allure comes from its hustle and bustle, the way in which daily life is display among the street vendors and the shisha cafes, and the sheer vibrancy of its people.

That said, Cairo also has some incredible sites. The pyramids are of course the best known, and as well as the famous Pyramids of Giza there are many others dotted about the city’s environs. But perhaps the most alluring part of the city is the area known as ‘Islamic Cairo’, the old medieval metropolis, full of imposing mosques and busy market streets, overlooked by the 12th century citadel.

Day 2 - Cairo - The White Desert

Leave Cairo early this morning and drive into the desert heading for the oasis of Bahariya. Stop for lunch on the way, and switch vehicles to our 4x4s. Continue into the White Desert home to a surreal landscape of golden dunes and impressive rock formations. Later, arrive at our wild camp. Overnight camping. (BLD)

White Desert National Park

The White Desert is an enormous protected area of the Egyptian Sahara home to huge white chalk formations, carved by the wind and sand into bizarre shapes resembling mushrooms, towers or even animals. About 500km south-west of Cairo, the White Desert was once under an ancient sea, about 80 million years ago, and once sea levels fell and organisms died on the seabed, they formed into thick layers of chalk and limestone. The White Desert is also covered in golden sand, which makes the remarkable white rock formations stand out even more. The national park is home to natural springs and small areas of vegetation.

Day 3 - The White Desert – The Black Desert - Eclipse

After breakfast this morning, we continue exploring the White Desert, before taking a short break for lunch. We will then continue to the Black Desert where we set up to witness the solar eclipse at the perfect spot to get 100% coverage. Later, we’ll return to the White Desert for the evening. Overnight camping. (BLD)


Day 4 - Dakhla Oasis

This morning we leave the White Desert and head to the oasis of Dakhla following dramatic mountain passes and breathtaking views of the magnificent Saharan Desert. Here we will visit the lakes in the Oasis to cool off and relax. Overnight Desert Lodge Hotel or similar. (BLD)


Day 5 - Dakhla Oasis - El Qasr

Today is dedicated to uncovering the rich history of Dakhla Oasis and its surroundings like El Qasr, the 1000-year-old mud-brick fort with its medieval mud-brick alleys. After spending the day walking the narrow streets of El Qasr, we return to our hotel for the final night in the Oasis. Overnight Desert Lodge Hotel or similar. (BLD)

Dakhla

The oasis of Dakhla is essentially a huge green island in the middle of the Sahara, and stretches roughly 80km east-west along the base of the limestone plateau. The oasis depends on underground water and sits on the Nubian Aquifer with its water reaching the surface through natural spring and wells. Archaeological evidence suggests that the oasis goes back hundreds of thousands of years, with research suggests inhabitation from the stone age, around 600,000 years ago.

El Qasr

El Qasr was built over an earlier settlement known as Kysis, which flourished during the Roman Period, and there is archaeological evidence of occupation here going back even further. Much of what you can see here dates between the 12th and 19th centuries, although many of the buildings have been reconstructed since their original construction. El Qasr is made mainly from mud bricks, the only resource in the region, and was the easiest way of building all of the structures before modern times. El Qasr was essentially a fortified town, with its tightly packed houses and narrow streets making it difficult for invaders to conquer. Some of the mud brick buildings are 3 or 4 stories tall, particularly impressive considering the materials used when construction began.

Day 6 - Cairo

Today we begin the journey back to Cairo through the desert, taking in the fantastic scenery along the way for the last time on this tour. Overnight Tolip Gardenia Hotel or similar. (BL)


Day 7 - Cairo

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)


What's included?

  • Airport transfers

    We include arrival and departure transfers on the first and last days of the tour regardless of whether you book flights yourself, or we book them for you. If you’re booking them yourself, then please let us know the details so that we can arrange the transfers. Please note though that if you arrive earlier than Day 1 of the tour, and leave after the final day, we may need to make an additional charge for an airport transfer.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation as listed in the dossier. The nature of the destinations that we operate may sometimes mean that we need to change hotels, but we’ll always endeavour to keep the same standards. Please be aware that as we operate in many countries where tourism is in its infancy, hotel standards may not be the same as you’re used to elsewhere.

    Please note that while we prefer to use centrally located hotels where possible, this is not always practical and in some locations they may not be the best option in terms of standards or reliability.

  • Guides

    You will be accompanied by English speaking guides

  • Meals

    As listed within the itinerary / dossier (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner). These will vary from trip to trip – in some areas it makes sense to include all meals while in others there is a good choice of restaurants and we feel people might like to ‘do their own thing’ now and again. Please note that when meals are included, sometimes these will be in hotels, as often these are the most appropriate option, and will sometimes be set menus. Local restaurants are often lacking in variety, as well as the capacity to cater for groups. Drinks are not included and are at your own expense.

  • Entrance fees

    Entrance fees are listed for those sites that we mention within the itinerary. If there are any other sites that you’d like to see, these would be at your own expense.

What's not included?

  • Visas

    We don’t arrange visas for our travellers, but if an invitation letter is necessary then we will arrange this for you. If you need any advice with visas then just give us a call, or alternatively a visa agency such as Travcour (www.travcour.com) can assist.

  • Airport taxes

    If there are any departure taxes to pay that are not included within the cost of your ticket, you’ll need to pay these yourself.

  • International

    Many of our travellers arrive from different destinations and so we don’t include international flights in the cost of our tours. If, however, you would like us to book flights for you, then just give us a call and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.

  • Travel insurance

    If you need any assistance with this, then let us know – although we can’t arrange it ourselves, we can point you in the direction of a reputable provider that can assist.

Visas

Most travellers will require a visa to visit Egypt, which can be obtained in advance or upon arrival. The e-visa web address is https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/.

Health and vaccinations

We are not medically qualified and so we recommend that you speak to your doctor or nearest health professional for advice concerning recommended vaccinations. However, there are no compulsory vaccinations needed to enter either country. For more advice on vaccinations you can also visit https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.

Insurance

It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum you need medical and health cover which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip.

Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.

Money

The local currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound. If you want to bring money to exchange while here, US dollars in smaller notes would be best, although the banks will also exchange major foreign currencies such as sterling and euros.

Culture

The official language is Arabic, but you will find English is also spoken in many areas. Many Egyptians are bilingual or even trilingual, and in places like Cairo and the major tourist centres it is possible to get by with virtually no Arabic knowledge at all.

The majority of the population (95%) consider themselves to be Egyptians. Other ethnic groups include the Berbers of Siwa oasis, in the far west, the Bedouin of the Sinai Desert, and the Nubians of southern Egypt. Approximately 90% of the population is Muslim, while 10% of Egyptians are Coptic Christians.

Local conditions

When travelling to some of the destinations we offer you need to bear in mind that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and thank you for your patience.

In Egypt, the tourism industry is very well established and in places like Luxor it forms the mainstay of the economy. It’s important to be prepared for this – many people are put off by the amount of hassle they can get from street vendors, taxi drivers and so on, but usually a polite ‘no, thanks’ will be sufficient. The Egyptian tourist industry has suffered enormously in recent years, with problems becoming particularly acute due to Covid, and you will find that economic desperation means some people may be insistent, and a nuisance. The best tactic usually is to be firm that you do not want their services, and to walk away. Approaching this with a sense of humour – even if this is tested at times – is the best method.

Travel advice

The FCO does not advise against travel to any parts of Egypt that we visit on this tour.

This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governments.

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Date(s)
Price (PP) Exc. Flights
Single Supplement
Trip Status
Date -
31 July 2027
Price (PP) -
£2,499
Single Supplement -
£385
Trip Status -
Available
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