The White Desert of Egypt, Don’t Miss it!
To everyone's surprise just some 350 km from west of Giza is Bahariya Oasis which is an unexplored landmark of the beautiful country, Egypt. This is the starting point of the most famous Black and White Desert Safari , center of Egyptian Western Desert. The oasis is provided by water from many springs. There is a thermal spring in the Bedouin village of Baiwiti.
HOW TO REACH BAHARIYA OASIS
In Cairo there is Uber and it is very easy to reach Turgoman Square bus-station in Cairo. It is advisable to start the trip early in morning and reach the bus station by 7 AM to take the first bus to the Oasis. It takes around 5 hours to reach the oasis and the bus fare is only 35 LE.
I did some research and got contact of Ahmed Safari Camp
( https://www.facebook.com/Ahmedsafaricamp/) in the oasis and they are one of the very few travel agencies who take you to desert and bring you back to oasis on same day or next day depending on your demand. I would say to spend a night in this beautiful white desert which is one of the most thrilling experiences in my life and come back to Cairo next day. Even it is possible to spend 2-3 nights in desert as Ahmed will organize your stay in the desert. I opted for one night stay in the desert.
( https://www.facebook.com/Ahmedsafaricamp/) in the oasis and they are one of the very few travel agencies who take you to desert and bring you back to oasis on same day or next day depending on your demand. I would say to spend a night in this beautiful white desert which is one of the most thrilling experiences in my life and come back to Cairo next day. Even it is possible to spend 2-3 nights in desert as Ahmed will organize your stay in the desert. I opted for one night stay in the desert.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tour to White Desert
- Tour to Black desert
- Visit Cryistal mountain
- Tour El Baharyia oasis
- Private Guided Tour
- No Hidden Costs
- Hassle Free
What`s Included?
- All Required Entry Fees
- Expert Tour guide
- 1 night camping on full board basis
- All Taxes, Services & Snacks
- All Transfers with Private A/C Vehicles
- All Camping requirements Tents,Sleeping Bags,..etc
What`s Excluded?
- Personal Items
- Tipping
Carry Items
- Wet Tissues
- Liquid Soap
- 1 litre Mineral Water
- Hand Sanitizer
- Mouth Freshener
- Some chocolates
Food and Beverage:
Breakfast: juice, tea, coffee, jam, cheese, beans, eggs and bread.
Picnic lunch: Fresh vegetables, white cheese, tuna, sardines, chips & fruits.
Dinner: Rice or pasta, cooked vegetables, soup and chicken or beef) tea & coffee with all meals .1 mineral water
Let me start with my experience now...
Daddy enjoying:
Mommy relaxing :
Glad and excited to bring my parents along with me in this DESERT ADVENTURE.
Day 1:
Started the journey sharp at 7:30 AM and reach the Bahariya Oaisis by 12 PM. I carried 2 water bottles and some dry fruits since the journey is long. The bus will have two stops for toilet and food. It is also possible to contact any travel agent in Cairo and they will organize the entire trip for you and then there will be AC minibus that will pick you up from your hotel to bus stand to Bahariya and back. But I chose to take local transport as adventures always thrill me and traveling with local gave me the actual Egyptian vibe that I was looking for! As I reached the desert the guy from Ahmed Safari Camp was waiting for me and he took me to the oasis place.
I got freshened up and then I was offered lunch. I had felfela (famous Egyptian cuisine). The food was awesome and Egyptian music was also being played in the background. And somehow I already fell in love with sweet Arabic music. After lunch one can take rest for an hour and around 2 pm the actual desert safari will start.
I was traveling with my parents( yes they are sporting enough to travel with local). Apart from 3 of us there was a Japanese group and together we along with our friend/guide Badr Ahmed we started our safari trip. There were two land-cruisers and it was comfortable to travel in the desert.
Our first stop was CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN. To my surprise there are 3-4 small hills and it is made up pure white crystals. One can even pick a few from the site. This is one of the most beautiful place I have encountered till date. We took several pictures here !
Our first stop was CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN. To my surprise there are 3-4 small hills and it is made up pure white crystals. One can even pick a few from the site. This is one of the most beautiful place I have encountered till date. We took several pictures here !
Posing amidst white crystals :)
After this we continued with our Desert Safari. The landcruiser was going through the desert up and down the sand hills and slowly we can see white sands by our side. This was such a thrilling adventurous ride. There is no village nearby anymore and all you can see is white sand and mountains made up of white sand. There is no habitation in some Kilometres. Yes we are entering White Desert Safari Park ! :)
This is one of the most virgin desert in Egypt and from here starts the great SAHARA DESERT.
This is one of the most virgin desert in Egypt and from here starts the great SAHARA DESERT.
Yes White Desert is this much enchanting :)
We carried on through a couple of security check points and once we passed through the second one, we instantly entered the white terrain that looked as if a blanket of snow had landed on the ground.
Here we halted for night stay. All this time, our guides were preparing dinner and putting our camp together. Once the sun had set, it was nice to have a warm fire to sit beside until dinner was served at our Bedouin style camp while we were cherishing the whiteness of the desert in full moon night.
Once the tent is made, time was for some food. Badr prepared some really good Egyptian supper while bonfire was being prepared by his fellow mate.
We were fed a traditional Bedouin meal of red sauce and potato, BBQ Chicken with rice, pita and sweet tea.
Our guides were done with us, they sat by the fire drinking tea and smoking sheesha while we all sat around the table slowly chilling to the bone.
It was such a healthy conversation we had, singing chatting and sharing stories about different countries. We finished dinner and then entered into SLEEPING BAGS . You can sleep in tent or outside in open air.
Before sleep I walked a little bit with my German friend. Well there is no toilet so everything is under open air . :) Luckily we came across a wolf in desert and feed him some food.
Heavy blankets and sleeping bags kept us fairly warm until a nose, ear or hand popped out from underneath the covers, but to fall asleep under a clear desert sky while being entertained by shooting stars made it all worth while.
We all awoke cold and achy in the dark to witness the sun rise over the white stones. Beautiful. After that get freshened up and have breakfast ; breads, butter, eggs and fruits.
Next we head to Chicken and Mushroom Rock. This is our first stop in Day 2 morning
We carried on through a couple of security check points and once we passed through the second one, we instantly entered the white terrain that looked as if a blanket of snow had landed on the ground.
An arch in the Agabat Valley.
We stayed there till sunset. I am sharing some amazing pictures filled with golden memories.
Posing in front a beautiful white sand dune as sun is setting. These pure white and smooth shapes were scattered throughout the area. We were surprised to see that when we touched the rock, it was actually chalk. We climbed atop one of the formations and watched the sun go down.
Here we halted for night stay. All this time, our guides were preparing dinner and putting our camp together. Once the sun had set, it was nice to have a warm fire to sit beside until dinner was served at our Bedouin style camp while we were cherishing the whiteness of the desert in full moon night.
Once the tent is made, time was for some food. Badr prepared some really good Egyptian supper while bonfire was being prepared by his fellow mate.
We were fed a traditional Bedouin meal of red sauce and potato, BBQ Chicken with rice, pita and sweet tea.
1 AM friendship :) Indian-German memories.
Enjoying the moon!
It was such a healthy conversation we had, singing chatting and sharing stories about different countries. We finished dinner and then entered into SLEEPING BAGS . You can sleep in tent or outside in open air.
Before sleep I walked a little bit with my German friend. Well there is no toilet so everything is under open air . :) Luckily we came across a wolf in desert and feed him some food.
Heavy blankets and sleeping bags kept us fairly warm until a nose, ear or hand popped out from underneath the covers, but to fall asleep under a clear desert sky while being entertained by shooting stars made it all worth while.
Day 2 :
We all awoke cold and achy in the dark to witness the sun rise over the white stones. Beautiful. After that get freshened up and have breakfast ; breads, butter, eggs and fruits.
Next we head to Chicken and Mushroom Rock. This is our first stop in Day 2 morning
Got mesmerized my the shape of the natural white sand dunes in the shape of chicken and mushroom :)
Our next destination is BLACK DESERT.
Panoramic View of Black desert.
The rocks are as black as charcoal :)
Our next destination is BLACK DESERT.
Panoramic View of Black desert.
The rocks are as black as charcoal :)
Black passage :D
The rock formation is black which is strikingly beautiful and bang opposite to the beauty of the white desert.
We spent some time here clicking pictures which came really well.
Look at those pictures above and imagine it all being underwater.
Next we head to the Hot Spring which is our final destination.
We had our bath here. Hot water was coming naturally and the bath gave us a great relief from the stress we had during our trip.
There was not a chance that any of us were going into that. Eww! Instead, we had some tea with the gatekeeper and ate some fresh dates, while one of the drivers fixed his front tire.
Finally we reach the oasis and quickly head towards Cairo in an AC shuttle this time on way back as we all were tired. Once we reach the bus station we took an uber that took us back to our hotel in Cairo.
It says " Whatever happens in Desert stays in Desert". I have not forgotten my guide ,Badr Ahmed, my German friend Sussane with whom I explored dark night in desert, the Japanese group who invited me to their country; well Tokyo can be my next destination :D ( we still are in a whats app group ) and the beautiful desert, nature at it's best.
We spent some time here clicking pictures which came really well.
Look at those pictures above and imagine it all being underwater.
Next we head to the Hot Spring which is our final destination.
We had our bath here. Hot water was coming naturally and the bath gave us a great relief from the stress we had during our trip.
There was not a chance that any of us were going into that. Eww! Instead, we had some tea with the gatekeeper and ate some fresh dates, while one of the drivers fixed his front tire.
Finally we reach the oasis and quickly head towards Cairo in an AC shuttle this time on way back as we all were tired. Once we reach the bus station we took an uber that took us back to our hotel in Cairo.
It says " Whatever happens in Desert stays in Desert". I have not forgotten my guide ,Badr Ahmed, my German friend Sussane with whom I explored dark night in desert, the Japanese group who invited me to their country; well Tokyo can be my next destination :D ( we still are in a whats app group ) and the beautiful desert, nature at it's best.
"Sometimes travel and trips makes us more rich and enlightened; it gives more pleasure than any materialistic things in the world " - Leena
