Deserts & Oases

Untamed Mystery
Kharga, Dakhla, Farafra, Bahariyya and Siwa: the Oases in Western Egypt appear to be islands not only in the almost endless sea of Saharan sand, but also in time. This is where fairy tales still come true: for example seeing the sunrise on the back of a camel or, more uplifting still, the spectacular views from high up on the sand dunes into the majestic expanse of desert. Noon in the quiet shade of palm groves, or perhaps even in the cool pool of one of the splendid  eco-lodges, waiting until from above a ripe date drops in one’s mouth; a late afternoon walk through Pharaonic temples or between mud brick houses in ageless villages; and the night at a campfire in front of a Bedouins’ tent, entwined by garlands of tales, above ones head nothing but the twinkling firmament.

Fayoum: Cairo’s front garden – a nature paradise with a great past
The oasis closest to the Nile valley lies only one hour’s drive south of Cairo and due to its fertility has always served the capital as a fruit and vegetable garden. Fayoum is definitely a worthwhile day trip even just to see the luscious vegetation and the rural idyll. The Fellahs working the fields, the women and children in front of the mud brick houses at the palm-edged canals appear just as graceful and timeless as their ancestors depicted on the wall-reliefs of the several thousand year old tombs. The 230 sq km Qaroun Lake and the adjacent Wadi El-Rayan nature reserves prove to be valuable protected areas, where in particular ornithologists’ hearts beat faster. In Wadi Al-Hitan, one can marvel at the gigantic skeletons of whales. In addition, awaiting the culture-minded, are a number of interesting historic monuments, above all the pyramids of Hawara and El Lahun.

Bahariyya: palm groves,spa waters and golden mummies
Known as the “Northern Oasis” this approximately 4000 sq km desert depression, set in black volcanic rock and reachable from Cairo within six to seven hours’ drive, has been well known since ancient times for its ore mines, its fertile  gardens and its healing waters. The site became world famous when an enormous necropolis dating back to Greco-Roman times, was discovered by chance towards the end of the 1990s. The tombs contained thousands and thousands of preciously decorated mummies – a sensational find, which gave the area the name of the “Valley of the Golden Mummies”.

Farafra: green island on the fringe of the White Desert
In  the smallest and most isolated oasis , the traveller can visit several sulphur springs and I Qasr EI-Farafra, its only settlement, a fortress ruin surrounded by palms. The biggest attraction, just 30 km north, is the “White Desert” – a landscape of surreal beauty, in which wind and weather have, over time, carved and chiseled a gigantic sculpture park out of the chalk-white limestone rock.

Dakhla: traditional loam architecture in front of spectacular rock backdrop
The Dakhla oasis already served the Romans as a granary and over vast stretches resembles until today a fairy tale idyll. One of the most beautiful of all the 14 settlements besides Balad – which means “village of loam” – is El Qasr (“the citadel”) with its narrow, shady lanes. The lush green of the many orchards, clover, rice and peanut fields is a charming contrast to the honey-coloured dunes and rock quarries glowing in pale-pink pastel. From the heyday of ancient times several temple and tomb sites bear witness.

Kharga: once a caravan station, today a prosperous provincial centre
The southernmost oasis of the Western Desert was once an important station on the Darb el-Arbain (the Forty Days Road) frequented by camel and slave traders between Northern and southern Africa. Today it is the administrative centre of the “New Valley” province and (besides extensive  palm groves and fields) boasts several independent settlements such as Qasr Kharga, Bulaq and Baris. Highlights among the ancient sanctuaries include the Early Christian necropolis Al-Bagawat and, from Persian times, the Hibis Temple.


 

Siwa: Egypt’s westernmost oasis lures with baths, lakes and legendary temples
A special place worth seeing is the Oasis of Siwa, 500 km west of the Nile, 300 km south of Marsa Matruh  and several  meters beneath sea level. 2700 years ago, while Rome was still a village and Homer had just completed the Iliad, Siwa already enjoyed great renown within the entire Mediterranean World as home  to the Oracle of Amun Re. World fame was gained in 331 AD when Alexander the Great chose to stay there. Even today something legendary and unreal adheres to this oasis. All the natural attractions, date and olive groves, the lakes surrounded by reeds, table mountains and sand dunes as well as the many gushing springs beckoning bathers to swim, add to its very own appeal. In addition there are two picturesque hilltop castles, several ancient sites and a very distinctive culture strongly influenced by Berber traditions.