Before you go
Is the White Desert safe? Permits and rules
Yes, the White Desert is a safe and popular trip when you go with a licensed operator. Government travel advice, such as the UK's, warns against most of Egypt's Western Desert but makes an exception for Bahariya, Farafra, the Black Desert and the White Desert, on condition that visitors have a permit arranged in advance and travel with an official guide. In practice your operator handles the permit from your passport details, and you pass a few police checkpoints on the road.
What governments say
What the travel advice says
The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to most of the desert west of the Nile Valley, but lists Bahariya, Farafra, Siwa, the White Desert and the Black Desert as exceptions. For the White and Black Deserts it adds that tourists must apply for permits in advance and use an official guide, and it notes limited phone reception and basic medical facilities. The road between Bahariya and Siwa is not part of the exception.
Check your own government's advice before you book, as it can change, and make sure your travel insurance covers the trip.
Paperwork
How the permit works
- 1Send your passport details. A few days before the trip we send the names, nationalities and passport numbers of everyone travelling to the authorities.
- 2Carry your passport. The original, not a copy, for the checkpoints on the road from Cairo and around Bahariya.
- 3Travel with the licensed team. The permit is tied to an official operator and guide. You cannot simply drive into the park yourself.
- 4The park fee. White Desert National Park charges an entry fee. On our trips it is arranged for you; ask us whether it is in your quote.
Checkpoints
Checkpoints and the drive
The road from Cairo to Bahariya, about four hours, is a good desert highway with several police checkpoints. They are routine: the officer checks passports or the permit list and waves the car on. Beyond Bahariya the 4x4s leave the asphalt for the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain and the park. Driving off-road is done only by local drivers who know the terrain, often in pairs of cars on remote routes.
Health
Medical help and staying well
There is a hospital in Bawiti, the town in Bahariya, but nothing in the open desert, and serious cases go back to Cairo. Bring any medicine you need, drink plenty of water, wear a hat in the day and stay warm at night. Tell us about any health condition before you book so the team can plan.
The real risks are ordinary ones: sun, cold, a twisted ankle on rocky ground. See what to pack and what the camp is like.
Who you go with
Choosing a safe operator
- 1Licensed and local. Ask who the driver and guide are and whether they hold the permit for the park.
- 2Asks for your passport early. An operator who never asks for passport details is not arranging a permit.
- 3Good vehicles. Well-kept 4x4s with spare tyres, water and, for remote camps, a second car.
- 4Clear plan. The route, the camp spot and the time back in Cairo, in writing.
Asked often
White Desert safety, answered
- Is the White Desert safe for tourists?
- Yes, with a licensed operator. It is one of the most visited desert trips in Egypt, and government travel advice such as the UK's makes an exception for it, provided you have a permit and an official guide.
- Do I need a permit for the White Desert?
- Yes. Your operator arranges it in advance from your passport details. You also need your passport with you for checkpoints on the road.
- Is there an entry fee for White Desert National Park?
- Yes, the park charges an entry fee. On our trips it is arranged for you; ask us whether it is included in your quote.
- Can I drive to the White Desert myself?
- Not into the park. Off-road travel needs a permit and an official guide, and the terrain needs an experienced local driver.
- Is it safe for solo women travellers?
- Yes, on an organised trip. Many solo women join shared trips or book a private one; tell us if you would like a group with other travellers.
