The word oasis is oftern a place where you can forget the cares of everyday life, relax, rest and renew yourself.
Egypt's oases are just that: unspoilt refuges from the modern world, pockets of civilizationin the dramatic setting of the desert. Surrounded by sand and sky, the oases have a sense of timelessness rare in the 20th century. Man and nature have co-existed here since the Stone Age, but the stars, the rock formations and the dunes defy the calculation of human calendars.
Egypt's
oases
are
still
the
most
varied
in
the
world,
each
with
a
distinguished
character
of
its
own.
Wherever
you
stay,
enjoy
the
tranquility
of
the
Bedouin
lifestyle,
the
date
groves
and
pigeon
towers.
For adventure and excitement, explore the majesty of the desert by camel or jeep safari, spend a night under the stars. Take a morning dip in the hot sulphur springs, the water and silt which have numerous curative properties.
Fayoum"The bud of the stem of the Nile"
The name Fayoum originates from the hieroglyphic word Bayoum, which meant "the Sea", a reference to the large Lake Qaoun
Only
two
hours
for
its
year-round
warm
climate,
numerous
water
wheels
(introduced
by
the
Ptolemies
in
the
3rd
century
BC)
and
lush
agricultural
land.
Opposite
the
local
marketplace
in
Fayoum
City
is
the
Hanging
Mosque,
built
above
five
arches,
and
nearby
is
the
15th
century
Mosque
of
Khunda
Asla-Bey
built
by
Sultan
Qaitbey
for
his
wife.
Fayoun
has
been
a
traditional
hunting
ground
since
pharaonic
times
when
Crocodiopolis,
centre
of
the
cult
of
Sobek,
was
the
capital
of
the
region.
There
are
many
Pharaonic
sites
in
the
area,
for
example:
the
red
granite
obelisk
of
Senusert
I
and
the
pyramid
of
Senusert
II
at
Al-Lahun,
the
pyramid
of
Amenemhat
III
at
Hawara,
and
the
remains
of
the
ancient
city
of
Karais,
where
you
can
camp
and
visit
the
site
musuem,
in
addition
to
safari
trips.
Located
365
km
south
west
of
Giza
and
200
km
from
Fafafra
Oasis.
The
Oases
are
famous
for
their
palm
trees,
olives,
apricots,
rice
and
corn.
Intertwined
trees
provide
attractive
scenery
with
contrast
to
massive
sand
dunes.
The
region
is
rich
in
wildlife
of
migrant
birds
and
deer.
Bawiti
is
the
capital
of
Baharia
Oases
that
occupies
a
hillside.
The
oases
are
famous
for
their
398
mineral
and
sulphur
springs.
The
most
famous
are
Bir
Hakima,
Bir
Halfa,
Bir
Al
Matar,
and
Bir
El
Ghaba.
The
old
Roman
springs
flow
through
cracked
stones.
Ein
El
Bishmo
springs
flow
through
both
hot
and
cold
water
flow
from
separate
sources
then
blend
in
a
rocky
creek,
in
addition
to
Al
Qasaa
wells.
Baharia
oases
archaeological
sites
date
back
to
Pharaonic
periods.
"zis
zis"
was
the
original
name
of
the
region.
Most
of
the
antiquities
belong
to
the
26th
dynasty
"Saite
period".
a
major
archaeologicol
site
El
Qasr
houses
Ein
El
Mifatala,
Qarat
Helwa
and
Al
Tibniya
area
that
includes
Alexander
the
great
temple.
El
Maron,
El
Dist
and
El
Maghrafa
antiquities
are
located
next
to
limestone
temple
in
El
Qasr
area.
El
Bawiti
houses,
the
largest
Ptolemaic
necropolis
dedicated
to
Ibis
bird.
Its
historic
tombs
are
located
in
the
complex
of
(Youssef
Selim,
El
Sheikh
Soby
and
Al
Farouj).
El
Heez
area
is
famous
for
its
ancient
churches,
palaces
and
Roman
tombs.
Binantiew
tomb
dates
back
to
26th
dynasty
and
represents
unique
pharaonic
paintings.
"Valey
of
the
Golden
Mummies"
has
been
recently
discovered
in
a
Roman
necropolis,
6
km
from
Bawiti.
Visitors
can
arrange
safari
trips
to
the
oases
while
enjoying
Bedouin
folklore
in
the
evenings.
Baharia
oases
are
connected
with
Siwa
and
Farafra
oases
through
a
motorway.
The
New
Valley
Oases
"The
desert-circle
spreads
like
the
round
ocean,
girdled
with
the
sky"
Southey
The four New Valley oases are situated along a dead, prehistoric branch of the Nile and depend on springs and wells tapping underground water.
Al
Kharga
Al
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.
Outside
the
main
centre
is
the
Temple
of
Hibis,
built
on
the
site
of
a
Saite,
Persian
and
Ptolemaic
settlement.
One
of
the
few
Persian
monuments
in
Egypt,
the
6th
century
B.C.
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
houses
263
mud
brick
tombs
with
coptic
murals,
including
the
remains
of
one
of
the
oldest
churches
in
Egypt:
the
Tomb
of
Peace
and
the
Tomb
of
the
Exodus.
Pharaonic
monuments
include
Al-Ghuwayta
Temple
which
dates
from
522
B.C.,
Nadoura
Citadel,
Qasr
El
Zayyan
that
dates
back
to
the
Ptolemaic
era,
and
the
Museum
of
Antiquities.
The
thermal
springs
of
Bulaq
and
Nasser
to
the
south,
are
famous
for
water
temperatures
up
to
43oC
and
reputed
to
be
suitable
for
the
treatment
of
rheumatism
and
allergies.
Camping
facilities
are
available.
Further
south
in
Baris
Oasis,
the
second
largest
settlement
in
Al
Kharga.
It
houses
Roman
Temple
of
Dush,
dedicated
to
Isis
and
Serapis.
Dominated on its northern horizon by a wall of rose-coloured rock. Fertile cultived areas are dotted between sand dunes along the roads from Farafra and Kharga in this area of outstanding natural beauty. The capital, Mut, houses the Museum of Heritage, a traditional house. Rooms, with sculpted clay figures, are arranged to show different aspects of Al Dakhla culture and family life.
Islamic Village of Al-Qasr, about 35km from Mut, houses ruins of an Ayubid mosque. The Pharaonic Balat tombs date from the 6th dynasty and Qalamon village dates back to the Turkish era. On the way back to Mut, located Bir Al Gabal, a palm-fringed salt lake where you can camp and picnic.
Other day-trips from Mut could include the 1st century Al-Mozawaka tombs and Deir Al-Hagar, a temple which was originally dedicated to the Theban Triad. 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 Al Dakhla life. Nearby lies the Islamic Balaat village, a trading post with ancient Nubia. The oasis abounds in springs and wells of which the most famous are those of Mut 3. Their temperature reaches 43oC and you can stay in equipped chalets. Ain Al-Qasr springs are located about 12 km in the mountain so that you can camp, enjoy one-day trip and Safari.
Farafra
Known
as
Ta-iht
or
the
Land
of
the
Cow
in
Pharaonic
times,
is
an
isolated
village,
of
which
the
oldest
part
lies
on
a
hillside,
next
to
peaceful
palm
groves;
a
short
ride
away,
there
are
hot
sulphur
springs
at
Bir
Setta
and
El-Mufid
Lake
where
you
can
swim.
The
oasis
houses
Qasr
Al-Farafra
and
Qasr
Abu
Minqar
which
are
ruins
of
Roman
buildings.
An
art
center
that
houses
a
museum
and
studio
exhibiting
paintings
and
ceramics
of
a
local
artist
is
situated
in
a
garden
full
of
sculptures
made
of
materials
available
in
the
desert.
Beautiful
hand-knitted
camel-hair
sweaters,
socks
and
scarves
are
also
local
products.
Day-trips
by
jeep
and
camel
trecks
from
here
to
the
white
Desert,
Bahariya,
Dakhla
and
Siwa
can
be
arranged.
The
White
Desert
A
trip
to
the
White
Desert
is
something
that
no
visitor
to
the
New
Valley
should
miss.
Travellers
coming
from
Bahariya
will
cross
through
the
Black
Desert,
passing
the
tiny
oasis
of
El
Heez
on
the
way.
Nearby,
there
are
some
Roman
ruins,
including
a
church
with
Coptic
graffiti.
Bahariya
and
Farafra
are
separeted
by
huge
golden
sand
dunes
which
make
a
stunning
photograph
during
the
journey.
Once
you
enter
the
White
Desert
through
Al-Sillim
passage,
you
meet
a
unique
landscape
of
surreal
wind-eroded
rock
formations
which
is
particularly
fascinating
at
sunrise
or
sunset.
Camel
and
jeep
trips,
including
a
hot
meal
and
fresh
bread,
made
in
the
sand
Bedouin
style,
can
be
arranged
from
Farafra.
Siwa
Siwa
is
one
of
the
most
fascinating
oases
on
the
edge
of
the
Great
Sand
Sea.
Its
rich
history
includes
that
visit
of
Alexander
the
Great
to
Amun
Prophecy
Temple
in
order
to
predict
the
phrophecy
of
Amun
in
331
BC.
Siwans
have
their
own
culture
and
customs,
and
they
speak
a
Berber
language,
Siwi,
rather
than
Arabic.
Many
women
still
wear
traditional
costumes
and
silver
jewellery
like
those
displayed
in
the
Traditional
Siwan
House
Museum
at
the
town
centre.
Siwa
remains
one
of
the
best
places
to
buy
jewellery,
rugs,
baskets,
traditional
robes
and
head-dresses,
decorated
with
antique
coins.
The
original
settlement,
Aghurmi,
was
superseded
by
Shali,
founded
in
1203.
Set
among
thick
palm
groves,
walled
gardens
and
olive
orchards,
with
numerous
fresh-water
springs
and
salt
lakes,
modern
Siwa
was
established
over
the
ruins
of
ancient
Shali.
Climb
through
the
ruins
of
the
old
city
for
the
magnificient
views
of
the
whole
oasis.
Wlak,
rent
a
bicycle
or
ride
in
a
caretta
(donkey
cart)
to
outlying
sights
and
places
where
you
can
relax.
These
include
26th
Dynasty
tombs
with
murals
and
inscriptions
at
Jebel
Al-Mawta
(The
Hill
of
the
Dead)
and
the
temple
of
Amun,
an
acropolis
temple
dating
from
around
550
BC.
Near
the
Oracle
is
the
ruined
temple
of
Amun
and
the
famous
Cleopatra
Bath,
a
deep
pool
of
bubbling
water
where
you
can
bathe.
Another
favourite
bathing
spot
is
Fatnis
Island,
on
the
salt
lake
of
Briket
Siwa,
surrounded
by
palm
trees
and
beautiful
scenery.
VISIT
OTHER
CITIES
(ALEXANDRIA
-
ASWAN
-
SHARM
EL
SHEIKH
-
FAYOUM
-
MERSA
MATRUH
-
LUXOR
-
MINYA
)
