Egypt Oasis

Baharia Oasis :

Bahariya Oasis is easy to reach from Cairo (you will pass through much desert) ,Bahariya is in the middle of Egypt’s Western Desert , about 365 kilometres south-west of Cairo and it is the best starting point for the Black and White Desert . Set in a depression covering over 2000 sq. km. , Bahariya Oasis is surrounded by black hills made up of ferruginous quartzite and dolorite. The oasis is provided with water by many springs. The most famous of these, a thermal spring with medicinal and restorative properties, comes out in the Bedouin village of Bawiti. Wildlife is plentiful, especially birds such as wheatears ,  Bahariya Oasis might also appeal rock hounds . Golden Mummies were discovered - 'Valley of the Mummies' is the biggest of its kind . Estimates are the four-mile strip of desert holds 5,000 - 10,000 mummies. The mummies are covered with a thin layer of gold and wearing gypsum masks. Sumptuous gilded death masks depict lifelike faces of real people, rather than stereotypical images.They were found  in four tombs in the town of Bawiti in Bahariya Oasis .

White Desert :

The richness and variety of Egyptian landscape is endless. At least if you ever decide to visit the White Desert, that's the message you'll get. It is a vast stretch of land in the Western Desert that borders Bahariya Oasis to the north and Al-Farafra to the south.

The snow-white desert is actually made of chalk that has been exposed for years to what geologists call "differential weathering," the erosion of soft particles that results in eerie protrusions of hard rock. This explains the very beautiful forms that now fill the White Desert including shapes like domes, minarets, castles, towers and so forth.The destination has proved a great attraction to all travelers who camp in the few oases, watch the fauna and flora and enjoy the mild winter weather.Shallow water levels allow for modest vegetation and wildlife. One example is the Cairo University Oasis which comprises only one palm and a few green trees, used by academics and students to rest and eat.  The desert could be a great safari area.

The Black Desert :

is situated in the Egypt's Western Desert, at 50 kilometers from the Bahariya`s North. The other geographical coordinates are 150 kilometers from the Farafra`s South, 50 kilometers from the Agabat`s South-East, 60 kilometers from the Crystal Mountain's South-East and 100 kilometers from the White Desert's South-East. The Black Desert region has no inhabitants and the tourists who visit this desert usually come in organized tours that include the Farafra Oasis, the Bahariya Oasis, the Crystal Mountain and the White Desert. The contrast with the White Desert is huge since there the ground formations are white and in the Black Desert the ground is brown-orange. But the Black Desert is not as black as some people may expect. Tourists who were there said that this desert is totally atypical, making you feel like you are not on Earth but on the other planet. In the Black Desert the mountains has shapes of volcano and a big quantity of little black-colored stones. The ground has a brown-orange color and has black stones too. Black rocks with soft peek, that were blunt by the wind over the years, are all over the desert, and if you will climb one of this rocks you will have a beautiful view of the surroundings. In case that you plan a trip in the Black Desert, you can start with the Gebel el-Ingliz, a rock dune that has on its top a decrepit which used to be an outpost for the English army. The ruins from the former colonial times and huge cliffs with beige sand and black basalt are all over the place. Maybe a good advice for your trip is to use a minivan or a 4x4 car and to have some knowledge about the roads of the Black Desert.

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The Dakhla Oasis :

The Dakhla Oasis lies to the northwest of Kharga and is also about 310 km to the southeast of Farafra. This oasis consists of 14 settlements and has a population of about 70,000 people. Dakhla is the farthest oasis out of Cairo and is considered one of Egypt's most beautiful oases.

Dakhla sits in a depression surrounded by pink cliffs. There are about 30,000 acres of cultivated land. Most of its 70,000 or so residents are farmers who constantly fight the battle of the dunes that threaten their fields and orchards. The fields and gardens are filled mostly with mulberry trees, date palms, figs and other citrus fruits. Dakhla has retained most of its culture and charm even though it has increased in size by about double and government funding and technical training has revitalized the economy. Dakhla is the only place in Egypt where new water wheels which are driven by buffaloes are constructed. They are made of palm timber and clay jars and are called saqiyas. The oasis is connected to Kharga by a 120 mile (200 km) road that has buses running daily.

Research has found that the Oasis has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and that there was once a huge lake here. There are neolithic rock paintings that indicate that the lake was frequented by elephants, buffaloes and ostriches. As the lake dried up, the inhabitants migrated to the Nile valley and were probably some of its first settlers.

Dakhla Oasis is dominated on its northern horizon by a wall of rose-Colored rock. Fertile cultivated areas growing rice, peanuts and fruit are dotted between sand dunes along the roads from Farafra and Kharga in this area of outstanding natural beauty. The capital, Mut, named after the ancient goddess of the Theban Triad, houses the Museum of the Inheritance, a traditional house, with an intricate wooden combination lock. Rooms, with sculpted clay figures, are arranged to show different aspects of Dakhlan culture and family life. Al-Kasr, about 35 km. from Mut, was originally a Roman settlement which later became the medieval capital of Dakhla. The old town is a labyrinth of mud-walled alleys narrowly separating houses with elaborately- carved wooden lintels; there is also an Ayyubid mosque. Climb to the rooftop of the 10th century madrassa (school) for wonderful views of the surrounding area. Bir al-Gabel, a palm-fringed salt lake where you can camp and picnic, is on the road back to Mut.

Other day trips from Mut could include the 1st-century al-Muzawaka tombs and Deir al Hagar, a temple which was originally dedicated to the Theban Triad and later rebuilt by the Romans. After exploring the temple, bathe in the hot sulphur spring nearby. Visit Bashendi to see Roman tombs and a factory where carpets are still woven with scenes of Dakhlan life. At nearby Balaat village, a trading post with ancient Nubia, archeologists are still uncovering dozens of 6th dynasty mastabas.

El Kharga

Kharga used to be the last but one stop on The Forty Days Road, the infamous slave-trade route between North Africa and the tropical south. Today, it is the biggest New Valley oasis and its modern city houses 60,000 people, including 1,000 Nubians who moved here after the creation of lake Nasser. Outside the main center is the Temple of Hibis, built on the site of an 18th dynasty settlement of Saites, Persians and Ptolemies One of the few Persian monuments in Egypt, the 6th century BC temple is well-preserved with painted vultures and huge reliefs of Darius greeting Egyptian gods on the outer walls. Ten kilometers away, the Necropolis of al-Bagawat contains 263 mud-brick chapels with Coptic murals, including the Chapel of Peace with images of Adam and Eve and the Ark on its dome and the Chapel of the Exodus with frescoes of pharaonic troops pursuing the Jews led by Moses, out of Egypt. Pharaonic monuments include the al-Hhuwaytah Temple which dates from 522 BC and the Temple of Amenebis.

The thermal springs at Bulaq and Nasser villages to the south, are famous for water temperatures of up to 43 C and reputed to be suitable for the treatment of rheumatism and allergies. Camping facilities are available near both villages. Further south is Baris Oasis, the second largest settlement in Kharga. Houses designed in traditional Nubian style by Hassan Fathy remain uninhabited- local people refused to live in them because of their similarity to tombs and building stopped in the late 1960s. Ancient monuments include the Temple of Dush, dedicated to Isis and Serapis. Its name derives from Kush, the ancient Sudanese capital which traded with Egypt along the Nile. Archeologists are still unearthing the ancient city of Kysis and elaborate system of clay pipes and abandoned Christian church, suggest that Kysis was abandoned when its underground springs dried up but the exact date remains a mystery.

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Siwa Oasis

An oasis of surprises in a stunning desert landscape.

Siwa, once the most mysterious of all Egypt's oases, is also the most fascinating. It's history has not only been shaped by all major civilizations, but also by the contrast of the surrounding desert with the lush soil of the oasis setting.

The Siwan people have their own culture and customs and, as well as speaking Arabic, we speak own Berber (Amazigh) language. Women still wear traditional costumes and silver jewelers and Siwa remains one of the best places to buy traditional local handicrafts.

The modern town of Siwa is set among thick palm groves, walled gardens and olive orchards, with numerous freshwater springs and salt lakes. Siwa also clusters beneath the impressive remains of the ancient fortress town of Shali.

Come and experience the delights that Siwa has to offer. Climb through the ruins of the old city for magnificent views of the whole oasis. Walk, hire a bicycle or ride in a caretta (donkey cart) to outlying sights and bathing places. Take a dip in one of the many cool and refreshing springs. Taste traditional Siwan foods. Enjoy a truly unforgettable and unique cultural experience.