A trip for those that want to understand Egyptian culture, food and people.Travelling by horseback several days & exploring this mystical place on foot, tuktuk, harong, camel and boat!
White Desert Mini Break
Advanced Riders Only – 5 days, 4 nights – £1595 (based on 2 sharing)
Cairo – Bahariya – Black & White Desert
Cairo – Bahariya – Black & White Desert
Older than the Pyramids, as sublime as any temple, Egypt’s Western Desert is a vast sweep of elemental beauty. Imagine soaking in Bahariya’s soothing natural hot springs, the northernmost oasis in the country, before galloping on elegant Arabians across some of Egypt’s most breathtaking landscapes—from the surreal, chalk-white formations of the White Desert to the volcanic wonder of the Black Desert.
Trip Matchmaking: This itinerary is for…
- Adventurous riders seeking a unique and exclusive experience: we are the only supplier in Egypt offering Bahariya, and the Black and White Deserts as riding destinations!
- Those comfortable with longer hours in the saddle.
- Riders who value a closer connection with horses, staying at a villa and stable in one location.
- Fans of unique camping experiences under the stars.
- Nature lovers who are ready to unplug—this isn’t the place for guaranteed Wi-Fi or phone signal.
- Travelers looking to explore the next big riding destination, forecasted to surpass Fayoum in popularity.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival. Welcome to Egypt
Arrive into Cairo, where you’ll be personally welcomed by the Ride Egypt team. Settle into your hotel before gathering for a relaxed welcome dinner, a chance to connect with fellow riders and set intentions for the adventure ahead.
Overnight in Cairo.
Day 2. Pyramids to the Desert
An unforgettable morning riding through history. Saddle up beneath the Giza Pyramids, with the Sphinx as your silent witness. This is fast, exhilarating riding reserved strictly for confident, experienced riders.
After the ride, enjoy a guided walking tour of the Sphinx, followed by a rooftop lunch overlooking one of the most iconic landscapes on earth.
The afternoon is dedicated to culture at the spectacular Grand Egyptian Museum, before heading west as the scenery shifts dramatically.
Late-afternoon transfer into the desert to Bahariya Oasis. Overnight in the oasis.
Day 3. The Black Desert
Morning in the oasis is calm and spacious. Coffee in hand, you may wander to the stable before the day begins. After lunch, you ride into the dramatic volcanic landscape of the Black Desert.
Rolling charcoal hills and firm open ground create the perfect natural arena for forward, controlled gallops. Long, uninterrupted lines allow horses to move in full athletic expression — powerful yet composed.
Routes are carefully selected for flow and footing, ensuring speed is experienced with balance and confidence.
As the light softens, you return to the lodge where home-cooked food awaits and a fire glows beneath a sky heavy with stars.
Day 4. White Desert Dream
Today you ride into one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth — the White Desert National Park. White chalk formations rise from pale sand in sweeping sculpted shapes. The ground here feels designed for horses — open, firm, expansive.
Long, balanced gallops stretch across endless white plains. Space without fences. Freedom without chaos. Partnership at its strongest. A private tented lunch awaits in the heart of the desert, horses grazing nearby as you pause in complete stillness.
As golden light washes over the formations, your horses are returned to their stable — rested and cared for — while you continue to your remote desert camp. Tented accommodation awaits beneath a sky scattered with a million stars. No artificial light. No distant noise. Only open fires, home-cooked food, and complete desert silence.
Luxury here is privacy, space, and simplicity at its most refined.
For those who choose not to camp, you return to the lodge for an additional night ($150pp)
Day 5. Golden Light & Return
Sunrise over the White Desert is unforgettable. Breakfast is served in the open desert before we make our return to the Lodge, by 4×4 over the White Desert stopping to enjoy a spot of sandboarding before experiencing the Hot natural springs.
Once back at the lodge, time to shower and refresh before check out and sit down to a delicious lunch. By afternoon, you travel back to Cairo by road transfer.
You leave Bahariya having ridden one of the most remarkable natural arenas in the world — expertly hosted from beginning to end.
Programme concludes at 6pm.
Not ready to say goodbye?
~ 3 day extensions available ~
Luxor: Secret of the Southern Kingdoms
£750pp (based on 2 sharing)
Unhurried days blending riding and discovery in the heart of ancient Egypt. Sunrise rides pass temples such as Habu Temple, while afternoons are spent exploring the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings and drifting along the Nile by felucca. Riding and sightseeing flow naturally here, offering an intimate, authentic experience of Luxor – calm, powerful, and deeply connected.
Rider levels – more relaxed pace, medium level & above.
Dahab: Bucket List Destinations
£750pp (based on 2 sharing)
Relaxed days shaped by rhythm and hospitality. Ride through quiet canyons and along the sea, where the desert meets turquoise water, and slow the pace with snorkelling in the Red Sea and unhurried meals shared with Bedouin hosts. Days blend canyon and coastal riding with sea views, warm welcomes, and time simply to be – offering a gentle, deeply connected experience of Dahab.
Rider levels – more relaxed pace, medium level & above.
Contact us for more details!
Why This Trip Is Different!
Advanced riders only – fast, technical, and thrilling
Fully hosted by Ride Egypt
Exceptional Arabian horses
Iconic locations + hidden desert worlds
British-run standards blended with Egyptian soul
This isn’t a holiday. It’s a rite of passage.
Trip Highlights
White Desert camping · Black Desert · Agabat Valley – Crystal Mountain · Bedouin Villages · Bathing in the Hot springs of Bahariya · Riding in Cairo by the Pyramids · Grand Egyptian Museum – Mixed Accommodation, from Guest Houses to Sleeping Under the Stars
Cairo: Giza & Great Pyramids
A place that needs very little introduction — there’s no better way to begin an epic Egyptian adventure than with the 7th Wonder of the World, the Great Pyramids of Giza, along with the wide-open deserts surrounding them.
White Desert National Park
Upon first glance at the 300-sq-km expanse of the White Desert National Park, you’ll feel like Alice stepping through the looking glass. Just 20km northeast of Farafra, on the east side of the road, blinding-white chalk rock spires rise almost supernaturally from the ground, each resembling a frost-colored lollipop. Often described as an “outdoor museum of contemporary art,” walking through the White Desert feels akin to wandering through a surreal gallery. Recognized as a Natural Protectorate by the Egyptian government in 2002, this untouched wilderness immerses you in the raw beauty of nature.
Black Desert : Crystal Mountain : Agabat Valley
Visiting the Black Desert is like stepping onto another planet. Its postcard-perfect golden dunes are surrounded by hills covered in a fine layer of black volcanic powder, creating a striking and unforgettable contrast.
Nearby, Crystal Mountain stands as a natural wonder: a massive rock made entirely of glittering quartz. Climbing to its summit offers a breathtaking panoramic view!
Agabat Valley, with its stunning white and gold limestone boulders, decorates the otherwise flat desert landscape with an almost dreamlike quality.
Bahariya Oasis & Hot Springs
During the Middle Kingdom and Roman times, the Bahariya Oasis thrived as a center of agriculture, producing wine that was traded as far as Rome. Its strategic position along the Libya–Nile Valley caravan route helped it flourish through the ages.
Today, the oasis remains a verdant haven of palm trees, fresh fruits, and inviting hot springs. Recent archaeological discoveries, such as the famed Golden Mummies, have added to its allure. The hot springs, with waters over 40°C and a distinct sulfur scent, are believed by locals and visitors alike to have healing properties. They also provide a soothing, pleasurable way to relax amidst this lush desert escape.
Information
- Price & Duration: £1595 per person based on 2 sharing accommodation for 5 days / 4 nights.
- Single person supplement: £350 (limited availability).
- Optional camping night in White Desert: £100
- Private tent for camping supplement: £50
- Group Size: Maximum of 8.
- Arrival and departure airports: Cairo
- Rider levels: Advanced riders only
- Non-Rider Packages: On request
- Paces: Varied.
- Equipment/Tack: English.
- Optional extensions based on 2 nights and 3 days (including arrival airport transfers £750)
- Single supplements for extensions: £300
Our information page has more details on what is and isn’t included as well as useful general advice.
Accommodation
- Cairo: Neom Pyramids Valley Hotel
- White Desert: Camping
- Bahariya: Tzila
Other Riding Holidays at Ride Egypt
Fairytale Fayoum
Fayoum, a place of picturesque landscapes where you can ride for days uninterrupted, and offering authentic hospitality, food and accommodation.
Deluxe Edition
From Cairo to Luxor via the Black & White Desert (Luxury Edition!)
Bespoke Holidays
Fayoum, a place of picturesque landscapes where you can ride for days uninterrupted, and offering authentic hospitality, food and accommodation.
Secrets of the Southern Temples – Ride Egypt’s Must See
This trip has cherry picked the best experiences of Cairo, Bahariya; Black & White deserts, and our beloved Luxor.
Bucket List Destinations
This dual-destination holiday combines the breathtaking landscapes of the Black and White Desert with the charm of the coastal town of Dahab.