I am soon to make a five day desert safari from Luxor to Cairo
stopping at Kargha/Dakhla/Frafra/White Desert/Baharia ... the trip is
a 'private' one not part of a group - with just a local driver and
4WD. Two nights will be spent camping out the other three in local
hotels. Anyone with experience of the route and any trips ..???

Has this been OKed with the authorities?  On the relatively short
route north from Luxor to Dendera, one travels in convoy with an armed
escort.  Similarly, a fortnight ago I was on a tour of the Delta -
stopping at Alex and Tanta and visiting the sites around the area.  We
had an escort of several cars full of armed police, with stops only as
previously agreed. We even had an armed guard when we visited the
obelisk at Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo!

You should enjoy the White Desert.  It is a part of Egypt many don't
even know about, let alone visit.

I'm wondering who put this trip together for you?  Independent travel
for foreigners is not encouraged.  If fact, it is strongly
discouraged.  I have made a similar trip and it was also considered
"private."  The difference was that the other individual on the trip
was an Egyptian Undersecretary of the Interior and we had armed
security.  I really cannot imagine Egyptian authority allowing you to
bounce around on your own without a set itinerary and one which must
be tightly stuck to and accompanied by armed security.

Parts of the area you are entering are also military preserves and
entering one even by accident can lead to serious problems.

I wish you a good journey but you might want to think twice, then
think again.

Cheers
digsalot
retired Egyptologist

Many thanks for the Heads Up ... the trip has been planned by a
reputable Cairo Tour Operator ... so fingers XX'ed.