Western desert egypt

The Western Desert in Egypt is an area of ​​desert that lies west of the Nile River, to the Libyan border, and south of the Mediterranean Sea to the border with Sudan.  It is named in contrast to the Eastern Desert, which extends from east of the Nile River to the Red Sea. The Western Sahara is mostly a rocky desert, although there is a sandy desert area in it, known as the Great Sand Sea.

great sand sea

 the great sand sea  It is located in the west near the Libyan border. The desert covers an area of ​​262,800 square miles (680,650 square kilometers), which is two-thirds of the country. Its highest elevation is 3,300 feet (1,000 m) on the Gulf Kabir plateau to the far southwest of the country, on the Egyptian-Sudanese-Libyan border. The Western Sahara is arid and uninhabited except for a series of oases that extend in an arc from Siwa Oasis, in the northwest, to the Kharga oases in the south. Western Sahara has been the scene of conflicts in modern times, especially during World War, 

Libya referred to the entire Saharan coast west of the Nile to the Atlas Mountains to the Ancient Greeks. The term Libya was only used in Roman times to refer to Cyrenaica and the region between it and Egypt, which was divided into the provinces of Libya Superior and Libya Inferior. The territory to the south of these provinces was dubbed the Libyan Desert. When Cyrenaica and the region to the west were established as the Italian colony of Libya in 1911, this became a misnomer, and the phrase “Western Desert” to represent the area within Egypt became more prevalent.

The Western Desert in 1940, according to Playfair, was 390 kilometres wide (240 miles) and 240 kilometres long (from the Nile to the Libyan border).

  standing on average around 500 feet [150 metres] above sea level, desolate, rubble- and boulder-strewn, dark brown in colour, occasionally speckled with brush, and, at first look, flat,” writes one writer. He also claims that little of the area conforms to “the romantic view… the Hollywood scenery of wind-formed dunes with occasional oases fringed with palm”  (although such areas do exist in the Sand Sea where dunes are sculpted into fantastic shapes); the area also contains a series of oases formed where the land dips sufficiently to meet the aquifer. These range from Siwa, near the Libyan border, in the north, through Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla, and Kharga in the south.

Beyond the Bahariya oasis, the Black Desert, a region of black volcanic hills and dolerite deposits, extends to the south. Beyond here, to the north of Farafra, is the White Desert, which is known for its wind-sculpted chalk rock formations. The plateau rises to the south of Kharga, leading to the Gilf Kebir, a highland region straddling the Egypt-Sudan border and home to prehistoric sites such as the Cave of the Kings.

Plants in the White Desert Egypt

There are a lot of big chalk rocks in the White Desert. Low-level wind erosion is responsible for the formation of these magnificent rocks. Mushroom Rock, which resembles a big mushroom, is one of the most well-known rocks in the White Deserts.

The White Deserts are a protected nature reserve, yet visitors from all over the world come to see the beautiful chalk rocks, which they frequently destroy.Rare vegetation, Acacia trees, and calcified trees can be found in the White Deserts. It also contains a lot of hot springs. Many animals on the verge of extinction can be found in the White Deserts. Egyptian gazelles, white gazelles, and rams are among these creatures. The white fox is one of the few animals in the White Deserts that isn’t on the verge of extinction. Many live things call the White Deserts home, as well as many dead ones. Rare caverns, graveyards, mummies, and carved inscriptions can be found in the White Deserts. Sahara el Beyda was the ancient name for the White Deserts. The sand in deserts is normally yellow, but it is white in

the White Deserts, which is how the location received its name.

 
 
white desert safari

Why is the White Desert important

The White Desert, a dramatic shimmering chalk landscape in western Egypt, is rightfully regarded as one of the country’s incredible natural wonders.
The remote location, roughly 500 kilometres from Cairo, provides an unrivalled and inspiring natural retreat away from the city’s noise and pollution.
Between the Nile Delta Valley and the Libyan border, the White Desert covers 3010 square kilometres west of the Farafra Oasis. Arriving there is like stepping into another planet, one where tranquillity reigns supreme and contact with nature is unaffected by the trappings of modern life.

“You are completely disconnected from everything that shatters the peace of our lives today when you are in the desert,” Wael Fawzi, an Egyptian university graduate who just visited the desert, remarked. “The beauty that emerges in front of your eyes is so rich that you rarely think of anything else.”
In contrast to the emptiness and devastation of yellow-sand deserts, the White Desert offers a bizarre environment.

The desert was once a seafloor millions of years ago. When the ocean receded and a plateau collapsed, layers of sedimentary rock were revealed. The White Desert’s particular traits and attractiveness are due to several stone formations that have withstood the passage of time.
Limestone statues can be found in any section of the desert, dotting the chalk-white terrain. The 3-4.5 metre tall mushroom-shaped structures. Wind and sand sculpted the White Desert’s beautiful features — domes, minarets, castles, rabbits, and turtles — over thousands of years.

“These are natural sculptures that greet people everywhere they go in the desert, demonstrating that nature’s work is always more perfect than man’s,” said Ahmed Salama, a conservation official with Egypt’s Ministry of the Environment. “We want to preserve the desert for future generations.”
The Egyptian government declared the White Desert a Natural Protectorate in 2002, prohibiting human activity in or near the desert.
A vacation to the White Desert is much more than the chalk-white landscape, bizarre rock forms, and vibrantly coloured bluffs. It also refers to the unforgettable experiences that visitors can have in the desert.

Near the desert, there are roughly 20 hotels to accommodate all interests and budgets.
However, many travellers prefer to camp in the desert. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that immerses them in nature in a completely safe environment with pleasant weather virtually all year.
Visitors can employ nomadic people and local Bedouins to cook, set up tents, and sell drinks to make a living.
The White Desert looks best around sunrise or sunset, particularly in the light of a full moon, when the area takes on an eerie Arctic appearance.
“Sleeping under the desert’s starlit sky is an unforgettable experience. As the sun sets into the dark, one can see the changing faces of the rocks, which take on new shapes and colours.,” Fawzi said

The White Desert is home to a number of natural hot springs, including salt-water springs that provide therapeutic swimming. The Roman civilisation left old tombs, engravings, and caves in the area.
Tour firms offer affordable tours to the White Desert from Cairo and other major Egyptian cities. Safari tours, food, drink, and camping accommodations are all included in the desert package.

Fawzi, a Cairo resident, paid $250 for three days and two nights in the desert, describing the experience as “unforgettable.”
“It’s not every day that you get to see a place like this,” he remarked. “Adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike seek out trips like this.”

According to Salama, the White Desert attracts about 70,000 foreign tourists each year, in addition to the more than 200,000 locals.
Visitors are frequently escorted by guides who are knowledgeable with the desert, such as Hany Mohmad. Hany, who is in his mid-thirties, said he has been taking tourists through the desert since he was a boy.
“I’ve never met someone who came here and didn’t want to go back,” he remarked. “This is one of Egypt’s most important safari destinations, and those who enjoy safaris, adventure, and nature would regret not visiting.”

white desert tour from cairo

Where is White Desert in Egypt

 

The White Desert is 45 kilometres north of the Farafra Oasis, in the New Valley Governorate, about 500 kilometres north of Cairo. In 2002, it was designated as a nature preserve. The White Desert got its name from the white tint that covers the majority of its surface. It contains a big chalk rock and a total size of 3010 square kilometres. Many of the formations in the desert were formed as a result of the area’s occasional sandstorms.

Top 10 facts about the White Desert

1- The White Desert is one of Egypt’s and the world’s most magnificent landscapes, and it is unlike anything else on the planet.

2- Vehicles with four-wheel drive are required to visit the White Desert and the reserve.

3- As the sun sets, the Bedouins prepare a traditional feast for the guests. The fennec fox, sometimes known as the desert fox, is attracted to the aroma of the food and occasionally feeds on guests’ leftovers.

4- The region is characterized by its beauty at night, especially when its stars illuminate the sky, which makes it one of the best locations to observe the beauty of the Milky Way.

5- The White Desert embraces some unusual rock formations

6- (The Chicken and the Mushroom) The best place in the desert is called the rock formation.

7- The scattered fossils on the white desert land are a clear indication of the climate change in that region throughout history.

8- Many rocks have names based on their sculptural form, the most well-known of which are the camel, horse, and falcon rocks, as well as the sand known as African rocks, which assumes the shape of the continent of Africa as if it were a beautifully written map.

9- The White Desert used to be densely populated. The inscriptions and carvings on the walls of the “Al-Abyad” cave bear witness to a civilization that flourished in this region 10,000 years ago. These inscriptions are animal themes that reflect Nubian rock art traditions. The cave’s walls were covered with drawings of two human hands.

10- Another famous landmark in the reserve is the Crystal Mountain, which is a mountain made up of rocks containing more than 125 different types of crystal, gathered by nature in a massive mountain mass, and legend has it that it was formed when a huge meteorite collided with the earth in that region millions of years ago, causing the melting of the mountain’s rocks, turning them into rare and unique pieces of pr.

white desert from luxor

Can I visit the White Desert in Egypt

A trip to the White Desert can be one night and one day or two nights and three days. Typically, these begin and conclude in Cairo. The 2N/3D option is more luxurious, as it includes an overnight stay at a hotel in Bahariya Oasis. Travelers on the 2N/3D excursion depart Cairo at 11 a.m. and arrive in Bahariya around 3 p.m. They spend a relaxing evening in Bahariya, watching the sunset over Lake Marun, eating a local meal, and sleeping at a hotel. They leave after breakfast the next morning for the White Desert, passing through the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain, and Agabat along the way. They spend the second night in the White Desert sleeping under the stars before returning to Cairo in the evening the next day. I’m supplyinga day-by-day breakdown of the 1N/2D trip, which is shorter and more frenetic.

Egypt's Western Desert

WHAT IS WHITE DESERT IN EGYPT

The Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the Valley of the Kings, and the Egyptian Museum are just a few of Egypt’s must-see sights. These archaeological sites disclose an unequalled ancient past that has had a significant impact on the world we live in today.

While most visitors come to Egypt for its historical riches, the country’s natural attractions are equally enthralling. An overnight trip of Egypt’s White Desert shows a landscape shrouded in mystery and intrigue, where nature’s delicate geologic formations equal some of the country’s most impressive man-made structures.

THE DISEASE OF THE WHITE

The White Desert is around 175 kilometres southwest of Bahariya Oasis. It is the crown jewel of Egypt’s Western Desert, as well as one of North Africa’s most distinctive natural environments. It is a huge and barren landscape of natural beauty, characterised by dazzling chalk spires that resemble icebergs in a sea of sand.

Ethereal rock formations arise almost supernaturally from the earth in the White Desert. They take on both familiar and new shapes, moulded by desert winds over millennia, just like clouds.

THE BLACK DESERT IN EGYPT

black and white desert egypt tours

What is the unique main feature of the White Desert

Many travel providers in Egypt offer White Desert trips, which can be purchased online or in Cairo. In general, these tours include comfortable transfers to and from Cairo, a 4WD for the desert, all meals (expect delicious local cuisine), beverages (water, tea/coffee, juices), an overnight hotel in Bahariya, camping in the White Desert, all camping equipment, and incredible tours to the above-mentioned locations. The schedule includes visits to Bahariya’s palm groves and dunes, camel farms, the Crystal Mountain, the Black Desert’s ash-topped hills, and the white, ghostly White Desert.
Imagine waking up to this in the middle of your white desert adventure,

white desert safari

How far is the desert from Cairo

Cairo is approximately about 4-5 hours distant from the White Desert. You have the option of hiring a driver or using a local bus. Typically, you will be picked up from your hotel in the morning, spend the night in an oasis (which isn’t as romantic as it sounds), and travel early the next morning for the desert. We only planned to stay one night, but we met other tourists who were on longer trips.

The White Desert is 45 kilometres north of the Farafra Oasis, in the New Valley Governorate, about 500 kilometres north of Cairo. In 2002, it was designated as a nature preserve. The White Desert got its name from the white tint that covers the majority of its surface. It contains a big chalk rock and a total size of 3010 square kilometres. Many of the formations in the desert were formed as a result of the area’s occasional sandstorms.

white desert egypt camping

The cherry on top of the White Desert activities is, of course, “Camping” Spending the night in a hotel with a million stars is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that no one should pass up. Just you, your sleeping bag, and the stars, those small glittering lights, billions of them above you, will bring a satisfied smile to your face. The sound of quiet will hit your soul like a tonne of bricks, making you feel energised and alive. The sun will wake you up to the most beautiful scene as it travels gently and beautifully across the sky. Your heart will melt when you see the large white area reflecting the colours of orange and red. In addition, you will, of course, be treated to a Bedouin meal.

white desert overnight tour

DJARA CAVE IS IN THE DESERT IN EGYPT

Djara Cave in the Western Desert Egypt’s

djara Cave is one of the most beautiful caves in the world, located in the Egyptian Western Desert near the Farafra Oasis in the New Valley Governorate. The cave was discovered in 1873 by a German explorer (Gerha Red Rolfes), and it is known for its geologically significant stalagmites and stalactites.We go over the 9 most essential facts about Al-Jara Cave in the Western Desert of the New Valley as a group.

1- In 1990, an excellent group of specialists in this field from Cologne, Berlin, and Cairo undertook the first archaeological survey based on scientific grounds for the cave paintings.

2- From the beginning of 1999 to the end of 2002, drawings and decorations were thoroughly investigated as part of a larger scientific endeavour.

3- The cave has magical dimensions that arose naturally as a result of water, where the pure and dry desert climate over millions of years, and it contrasts with all of the region’s caves in its formations and the shape of its wonderful sediments, with the heights of the sedimentary formations reaching three or four feet, according to Rolfes’ description.

4- The cave’s descending and ascending sedimentary forms resemble frozen waterfalls, and they are the consequence of millions of cubic metres of ground water seeping through the desert sand millions of years ago to produce this earthly tunnel, which was subsequently deposited and condensed by the tremendous heat.

6- The cave’s entrance, which is in the form of a small opening at the surface level of the limestone plateau where it is located, gives the impression that the visitor is descending into a small limestone basin that leads to a small, narrow corridor that forms a landing pad filled with sand that is blown into the cave by the wind.

7- One of the stones growing in the cave floor in the shape of stalagmites, which are beautified by the famous paintings or scribbles that disintegrate year after year, can be seen at the cave’s entrance. The cave’s main courtyard, which stretches from its ceiling to its floor, is a level space of 30 square metres with a height of five to six metres.

8- Despite the cave’s location in a limestone area, geological analyses have revealed that the stalagmites and stalactites’ sediments are entirely made of sandstone, which may provide scientific insight into the area’s geological history.

9- A light must be used to see the sedimentary formations when visiting a neighbor’s cave.

djara cave tour

DJARA CAVE TOUR | DJARA CAVE EGYPT

djara Cave is a popular tourist destination since it is one of the most significant stops on any tour for explorers and adventurers. Egyptians visit on a daily basis because they value such well-preserved natural areas.

The djara Cave, also known as (Djara Cave), is a fascinating cave that dates back to roughly 55 million years and is located near the Caravan Trail between Farafra Oasis and Assiut. There are glistening rocks in there. Water melted the limestone to form the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. Artifacts and rock art discovered in the cave clearly demonstrate human presence during prehistoric epochs, most likely around the late Neolithic period.. It was discovered by a German explorer and rediscovered by another German explorer near the end of the twentieth century. djara Cave is one of Egypt’s most breathtaking caves. It is over 30 metres wide and 8 metres high, and it contains diverse animal forms etched into the rocks. Excavators claim that the area that is today a desert was formerly inhabited.
The engravings are Neolithic in origin, dating back to around 10,200 BC in regions of the Middle East.
The cave’s icicle-shaped rock formations

DJARA CAVE TOUR

How much does it cost to go to the White Desert in Egypt

* white desert egypt tours price​ for to person 300$ from cairo to cairo

* white desert egypt tours price for three person 400$ from cairo to cairo

* white desert egypt tours price for four person 500$ from cairo to cairo

Transfers from Cairo to/from Bahariya are included in the above-mentioned rate. During the safari, all transfers will be made in Bahariya. Jeeps are used for all of your tours and excursions. Facilities for camping include: Transfers are made in 4WD Toyota Land Cruisers. Tents come in single and double dome shapes, with mattresses and pillows. During the safari, bring 3 bottles of water and 1 soft drink. Special vegetarian meals are available upon request (and should be requested prior to arrival). The camp staff is in charge of all food preparation and cooking. Expert desert safari guides are available. Entrance fees to tourist attractions or nature reserves are included. All taxes and permissions are included. The above fare does not include: – International flights; Egypt entry visa. Tips. Please confirm by providing us copies of your passports so that we can arrange for permissions. Payment: To begin, the full payment must be paid at the time of pick-up.

more people contact us

egypt sahara desert tours

Black and White Desert Egypt tours

Egypt’s Black and White Deserts are two of the country’s most magnificent hidden beauties. The nice part is that they are only a few hours away from Cairns.

Arriving at the Black Desert is like stepping into a different planet. From postcard perfect golden dunes surrounding us, we arrived in a landscape full of black powder-covered hills. It is one of the strangest desert landscapes on earth and a place that leaves your mouth open.

The Black Desert of Egypt dunes were at some point regular sand dunes. But millions of years ago they were covered by the remnants of volcanic eruptions that happened in this region.

Most of the hills are easy to climb and perfect to get a panoramic view of this vast surreal landscape. However, our guide took us to the “English Mountain”, the highest point in the Black Desert and  the most popular spot for tourists to go up and marvel the view.

White Desert Overnight tour from cairo

day 1

On the first day, your tour guide and driver will pick you up from your Cairo hotel at 7:00 a.m. and drive you 350 kilometres east to Bahariya Oasis. This tour will take approximately 4 hours. You will board your 4×4 Jeep and drive to the Valley of El Haize, where lunch will be served.

Day one will be spent exploring the White Desert National Park, Egypt’s most well-known desert destination. Any desert in the world cannot compare to the number of strange and gorgeous wind-carved rock formations fashioned like huge mushrooms or stones. Arrive in the White Desert before sunset, and our Bedouin guides will set up meals and desert camping for you.

day 2

Before heading to Bahariya Oasis, you’ll have breakfast in the desert. Before heading to the quartz crystals at Crystal Mountain and the rocky formations in the Valley of Agabat, stop at the Black Mountain. go take a shower and get some rest Then return to Cairo via car.

MORE DETAILS

white desert tour from cairo

white desert home

offering a wide range of daily tours covering all known attractions in Egypt , since 2000