The holidays
The White Desert at Christmas and New Year
A night in the White Desert is one of the most memorable ways to spend Christmas or New Year's Eve in Egypt: a fire, dinner under the stars and the chalk glowing at dawn. It is also the busiest and coldest time of the season. The nights from 24 December to 1 January book up early, the camp can drop close to freezing after midnight, and the main camping areas are livelier than usual. Book weeks ahead, pack for real cold and ask for a quieter camp spot.
Demand
How busy it gets
Late December is peak season across Egypt, and the White Desert is no exception: Egyptian families, Cairo residents and visitors all head out for the holidays. The desert is big enough that a good team will find you a spot away from other groups, but drivers and the best camp sites go first. Coptic Christmas on 7 January is a public holiday too.
Weather
How cold the holiday nights are
Days are pleasant, around 20°C, but the camp can fall to around 0 to 5°C after midnight. Bring a warm jacket, hat, gloves and thermal layers to sleep in. See the packing list and the month-by-month guide.
Stars
The holiday sky
The Geminid meteor shower peaks around 13 to 14 December, the best of the year. In the 2026-27 season the new moon falls around 9 December and 7 January, so Christmas 2026 comes close to the full moon, when the chalk glows white under the moonlight but fewer stars show. By New Year's Eve the moon rises only around midnight, leaving the evening dark for stars. See stargazing in the White Desert.
Book early
Planning a holiday desert trip
- 1Book early. Weeks ahead for 24 to 26 and 30 December to 1 January.
- 2Consider a private trip. Your own car and a quieter camp, away from bigger groups.
- 3Add a night. A three-day trip with a lodge night in Bahariya is warmer and less rushed.
- 4Fit it around the Nile. Do the desert from Cairo before or after a Nile cruise, which is also at its busiest then.
Asked often
The holidays, answered
- Can you camp in the White Desert on New Year's Eve?
- Yes, it is one of the most popular nights of the year. Book weeks ahead and pack for near-freezing temperatures.
- Is the White Desert crowded at Christmas?
- Busier than usual, but the desert is big and a good team will find a camp away from other groups.
- How cold is the White Desert in late December?
- Around 20°C by day and close to freezing in camp after midnight.
- When should I book for the holidays?
- Several weeks in advance for the nights between 24 December and 1 January.
- Can I combine it with a Christmas Nile cruise?
- Yes, do the desert from Cairo before or after the cruise. Both book up early over the holidays.
