Overnight in the desert - Bahariya Oasis

As you can see you will have no problem finding people to "help" you.
That said the white desert is really worth staying overnight in. You can travel from cairo by local transport and arrange travel in Bahariya without problem.
Make sure you write out your plans and be very specific whether it includes water what meals etc. Even the route is negotiatable as there is a highway and off road route through the area.
Egypt has avery developed transport system compared to many other African nations.
Chris

The more simple is to take the public bus from Turgoman bus station in dowtown Cairo, to Bahariya. The trip takes several hours and you'll be able to enjoy Coranic singing all the way as bus drivers seem to enjoy making their passengers deaf.

You should book your trip in the desert by phone from Cairo. I booked with Badri, whose name and phone I found in the Lonely Planet, and he was a very respectable Beduin with good experience, who has several other Beduins working for him. If you book with him, he'll send someone to take you as soon as you step out of the bus and he'll put you back in the bus to Cairo later on. Everything was perfect, except that the white desert has become more and more touristy so wherever you camp, you can be sure to see other firelights in the night.

Everything said...shop arround and do not acept the initial price. Try to bargain it down by comparing their prices with the rest (or making it up). I paid 50 US dollars, for a trip that was supposely 85.