October to April. Days are 21–31 °C and nights drop to 5–15 °C. November and March are the sweet spot: warm afternoons, nights cold enough for a fire, and fewer groups than December.
I’ve slept out here more than a thousand nights. The desert doesn’t change much, but the light, the wind and the cold do — and they decide whether your night among the chalk feels magical or just long.
Month by month
What about summer?
From May to September afternoons pass 35 °C. We still run the trip, but we leave Cairo at 05:00, rest through midday in Bahariya, and reach camp for sunset. We pause deep-desert routes in July and August.
The coldest nights give you the clearest sky. Bring a hat, not a better camera.
For stargazing, check the moon
Plan around the new moon. Within four days either side, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye from camp. A full moon lights the chalk white — beautiful, but a different trip.
Questions people ask
Days are pleasant (around 22 °C) but nights can reach 4 °C. We give you thick sleeping bags and extra blankets — most people love it.