Day 4: The White Desert

If the Black Desert is fierce and raw, the White Desert is a dreamscape. Here wind and time have sculpted the limestone into strange and beautiful forms — mushrooms, towers, and frozen waves of stone. Riding at speed between them is like threading through another world, your horse carrying you in bursts of canter and gallop across the glowing white ground.

We stop for lunch surrounded by these natural sculptures before riding on into the afternoon. As the sun sets, you may return to the comfort of the lodge, or choose something truly unforgettable: camping overnight beneath the stars.

Camping in the White Desert is an experience like no other. After the horses return home, the silence deepens. The limestone formations glow silver in the moonlight, their strange shapes casting long shadows across the sand. A fire is lit, dinner is served beneath a sky ablaze with stars, and the stillness of the desert feels almost sacred. You fall asleep on soft sand, wrapped in the magic of one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth.

The desert dawn brings new adventures, blending ancient knowledge with modern thrills.

Day 5: Desert Secrets

Morning greets you gently in the White Desert. Waking beneath a canvas of endless sky, the formations around you are bathed in soft golden light — a scene that feels almost unreal. After a simple camp breakfast, the day begins with exploration alongside Bedouin guides whose families have lived here for generations, sharing stories and hidden corners of their desert home.

Later, the tempo rises. 4×4 jeeps roar over the dunes, laughter follows as you sandboard down golden slopes, and finally there is the bliss of sinking into a natural hot spring, easing muscles after days of adrenaline-fuelled riding.

We return to the lodge for a refreshing shower and lunch before the onward drive back to Cairo. You leave with dust on your boots, warmth in your heart, and the memory of the desert’s wild gallops still echoing inside you.

Short domestic flight to Luxor. Overnight in Luxor.

Days 6 & 7: Luxor – Full Day Riding with Evening Entertainment

Welcome to Luxor and home of Ride Egypt! The next couple of days will give you the option of full days in the saddle or a combination of sight-seeing and riding.

In Luxor, you will have the chance to really get to know your Egyptian steed. Our horses are spirited and forward-going but they are also polite, sensitive and willing to please.

You will notice how they listen to you, receptive to voice and tone. Highly intelligent with expressive eyes and ears it is easy to bond with them and understand their ways. All possess endless enthusiasm for the journey and you will feel this as they carry you effortlessly for hours.

For saddle junkies, we offer a full saddle day, riding from 8-2pm. In the morning, we will head out into the fields where you will see farmers working the land as their forefathers did. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant while the horses dose in the shade. You’ll return to the stables via the Colossi of Memnon, two imposing statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, offering fantastic photo opportunities. Then go to your hotel to refresh. Then optional Luxor temple and Luxor museum.

For culture vultures, half day rides with historical site seeing are also an option. After breakfast, meet the team and horses for a tour of the stables and enjoy a 2-hour introductory ride that takes you through authentic Egypt, exploring local villages, farmlands, and the scenic Nile. Return to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, accompanied by an Egyptologist, followed by a tour of the Valley of the Kings, and end the day with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon at sunset.

We will reconvene in the evening for a sunset cruise on the Nile. Picture yourself sailing along the river as the sun sets, enjoying a delightful dinner onboard while heading toward Karnak Temple for a captivating light and sound show.

Dreaming of your own photoshoot in the stunning Sunset Mountains or the iconic Valley of the Kings in Luxor? Be sure to book your private session in advance! Learn more here.

Day 8: Luxor Optional Hot Air Balloon Flight or Morning Ride. After Lunch Departure.

We will rise with the morning call to prayer today as we head out for truly a magical experience – a sunrise balloon tour by horseback (approx. 3 hours). The sight as they all take flight is simply breath-taking. Glide through the Valley of the Kings and the farms of the West Bank watching the shadows fall away as the sun fills the sky with colour and light. This is a must-do activity when visiting Luxor.

Alternatively, guests will have the option to embark on a hot air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings (at extra charge).

We return to our hotel for a leisurely lunch and check out at 1 PM. After our farewell lunch, it is time to say goodbye unless you have booked one of our fabulous extensions.

Luxor Optional Extras: Hot air balloon flights and photoshoots. Learn more here: https://www.rideegypt.com/rides/holiday-extras/

OPTIONAL ASWAN EXTENSION

Day 8 – Journey South to Aswan & Felucca Dreams

After a week of riding beautiful Arabian horses through temples, valleys, and timeless villages, it’s time to gently part from our four-legged friends and continue the adventure south to Aswan

Arriving in Aswan, the landscape changes – the Nile widens, framed by golden granite boulders and lush islands. This has long been the gateway to Nubia, a land of warmth, colour, and living traditions.

That evening, step aboard a traditional felucca sailing boat. With its billowing white sail and timeless wooden frame, the felucca has glided across the Nile since Pharaonic times. As the sun sinks low, casting golden light across the river, you’ll drift into tranquillity, dining under the stars and sleeping to the gentle lap of water against the hull.

Overnight: Felucca, Aswan

Day 9 – Abu Simbel & Nubian Encounters

This morning begins with an extraordinary journey further south, across desert landscapes that lead to the mighty temples of Abu Simbel. Hewn from solid rock over 3,000 years ago, these colossal monuments to Pharaoh Ramses II and his beloved queen Nefertari are among Egypt’s greatest treasures. The sheer scale of the seated statues, their gaze fixed eternally across the sands, is humbling — and the story of their rescue and relocation during the building of the Aswan High Dam is a marvel of modern archaeology.

After the visit, we return to Aswan for a local lunch, savouring the flavours of Upper Egypt.

As the day cools, the Nile calls once more. This time, we sail to a Nubian village, a place alive with colour and tradition. Houses are painted in bright blues and ochres, children’s laughter fills the alleys, and warm smiles welcome you into homes that pulse with music, spices, and stories. The Nubians are Egypt’s oldest civilisation, guardians of a culture shaped by the river, and sharing an evening with them offers a connection far beyond sightseeing.

The night closes back on the felucca, rocked gently to sleep by the Nile’s timeless current.

Overnight: Felucca, Aswan

Day 10 – Aswan Treasures & Farewell Flight

Our final morning is devoted to exploring Aswan’s jewels. The sacred Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, rests gracefully on an island in the Nile — a temple so loved that it was rescued stone by stone from the rising waters. Its carvings glow with sunlight, whispering stories of devotion and magic.

You may also see the Unfinished Obelisk, lying silent in its granite quarry, offering a rare glimpse into ancient craftsmanship; or stroll along the riverside corniche, where feluccas drift and spice merchants call from the souk.

Aswan has a serenity all its own — golden light, palm-fringed banks, and the sense that time is suspended between desert and river. After soaking up these final impressions, we transfer for the evening flight (normally to Cairo, around 7:00 PM).

It’s a graceful farewell, closing your Egyptian journey with the memory of temples, traditions, and the eternal Nile.

✨ Highlights at a Glance

• Sail the Nile on a traditional felucca – dine and sleep under the stars as travellers have done for millennia.
• Stand in awe at Abu Simbel – colossal temples carved into rock by Ramses II and Nefertari.
• Enjoy authentic southern Egyptian flavours – lunch with local ingredients and family recipes.
• Meet the Nubians – experience vibrant painted villages, music, and warm hospitality.
• Discover Aswan’s treasures – from the sacred island temple of Philae to the ancient Unfinished Obelisk.
• Absorb the serene beauty of Aswan – golden light, wide Nile waters, and palm-fringed islands.

Non-riders Welcome!

At Ride Egypt, everyone is welcome — riders and non-riders alike. Egypt is the perfect destination to share with non-riding friends or partners, and we design bespoke programs so they can enjoy the journey just as much as those in the saddle. You’ll come together for meals, social evenings, and special moments, while your days can be filled with adventures tailored just for you.

From jeep safaris across the desert to guided history tours, from extra sightseeing to sailing the Nile at sunset, our non-rider programs are crafted to give maximum enjoyment and unforgettable memories. And because no two guests are the same, we also offer an in-house holiday matching service, making sure everyone — rider or not — has their perfect program.

For more information, drop us a line — we’d love to help plan your ideal Egyptian adventure.