Egypt Travel Maps - City Guide

Egypt Travel Maps - City Guide

Here you will find some maps that might be useful for you.

Egypt Map

Cairo Map

Cairo Down Town

Cairo Central

Cairo Islamic

Aswan City

Valley of the Kings

Luxor City

Fayoum

Alexandria

Bahareya

Sinai

Giza Pyramids

Sakkara 

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The Egyptian Oasis - Egypt City Guide

The Egyptian Oasis - Egypt City Guide

Here is a list of the most famous Egyptian oasis:

• Fayoum Oasis

• Kharga Oasis - Al Wadi Al Gadid

• Farafra Oasis - Western Desert

• The Dakhla Oasis

• The Bahariya Oasis

• Siwa Oasis Protectorate

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Fayoum Oasis - The Egyptian Oasis - City Guide

Fayoum Oasis - The Egyptian Oasis - City Guide

Monuments and ancient sites in the Fayoum Oasis:

Although the Fayoum hosts many monuments, including a number of unique pyramids, that were established starting from the reign of the Pharos and ending with the period of the Ottomans, a great number of tourists miss it and do not have the chance to visit it.

This is related to many reasons. The first reason is that Egypt is full of numerous interesting monuments and sights that are spread all over the country. Therefore, it is hard for any tourist, especially in their first or second trip to finish the list of the major monuments to be able to go to the Fayoum afterwards. The second reason is the lack of luxury and entertainment facilities in the Fayoum. However, a one or two days trip to this wonderful oasis would be worth it as the Fayoum has its own unique magic.

This region is extremely rich in many archaeological sites, such as the old City of El-Fayoum (Crocodopolis). It is in a natural depression in the desert, linked to the River Nile by a branch called “Bahr Yousuf”, whose name was probably derived from the ancient Egyptian Word “Baym”, which means sea or lake. It contains a lake that was known by the Ancient Egyptians as “Mr-Wr”, which means “the great sea”, and in Greek it became “Moris”. Today, in Arabic, it is called “Qaroun Lake”.

The word Baym was most probably the origin of the word El-Fayoum. In Ancient Egypt it was called “shedt” and it was a great city during the Middle Kingdom. 

This region is extremely rich in many archaeological sites, such as the old City of El-Fayoum (Crocodopolis). It is in a natural depression in the desert, linked to the River Nile by a branch called “Bahr Yousuf”, whose name was probably derived from the ancient Egyptian Word “Baym”, which means sea or lake. It contains a lake that was known by the Ancient Egyptians as “Mr-Wr”, which means “the great sea”, and in Greek it became “Moris”. Today, in Arabic, it is called “Qaroun Lake”.

The word Baym was most probably the origin of the word El-Fayoum. In Ancient Egypt it was called “shedt” and it was a great city during the Middle Kingdom. 

Today the Oasis, with its lakes and sanctuaries, pristine desert areas (which includes fossil remains of world importance such as Wadi El-rayan and the valley of the whales and various cultural sites, plus the rural quietude, forms an amazing and unique site of adventure, and beautiful scenery. 

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Addresses of all airlines in Egypt - Egypt Transportation

Addresses of all airlines in Egypt

Here is a List of all Addresses of all Airlines Operating in Egypt

Airlines Address

AEROFLOT Bustan Center, Downtown, Cairo, Tel.: 3900429 - 3937409 

Fax: 3900407, Airport Tel.: 2914602

AIR ALGERIE 13, Kasr El Nil St., Downtown, Cairo, Tel.: 5740688 - 5750688 

Fax: 5740686, Airport Tel.: 2910409

AIR CANADA C/O IMPERIAL TRAVEL, 26, Mahmoud Bassiouny St., Downtown

Cairo, Tel.: 5784634 - 5784658, Fax: 5749129

AIR CHINA 18, Youssef El Guindy St. , Downtown, Cairo 

Tel.: 3908209, Fax: 3908069

AIR FRANCE 2, Talaat Harb Sq., Downtown, Cairo, Tel.: 3943938 - 5758899 

Fax: 5771744, Airport: Tel.: 4175306 / 7, Fax: 4190814

AIR INDIA 1, Talaat Harb St., Cairo, Tel.: 3922592 - 3934873 / 5 

Fax: 3927467

AIR LIBYA 37, Kasr El Nil St. , Cairo, Tel.: 3924595 / 683, Fax: 3959755 

Airport: Tel.: 4154774

AIR MALTA Nile Hilton Hotel, Tel.: 3945643 - 5756022 / 3, Fax: 5782692 

C/O EMECO TRAVEL, 2, Talaat Harb St. , Cairo, Tel.: 5785901 / 2

Fax: 5744184

AIR PORTUGAL C/O EMECO TRAVEL, 2, Talaat Harb St. , Cairo, Tel.: 5785901 / 2, Fax: 5744184

AIR SINAI Nile Hilton Hotel, Tel.: 5760750 - 5772949, Fax: 5760948

AIR UKRAINE 9, Degla St. , Mohandessin, Tel.: 7481201 - 7616580, Fax: 7616583

ALITALIA Nile Hilton Hotel, Tel.: 5785823 / 4 / 5 / 6, Fax: 5786924, Airport: 4188168

AMERICAN AIRLINES C/O EMECO TRAVEL, 2, Talaat Harb St. , Cairo, Tel.: 5785901 / 2, Fax: 5744184

AMERICA WEST AIRLINES C/O TRAVCO TRAVEL, 44, Mohamed Mazhar St. , Zamalek, Cairo, Tel.: 7372940 - 7372960, Fax: 7372464

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES 4 D, El Gezirah St , Zamalek, Cairo, Tel.: 7352777 / 3884 / 3648 / 4116, Fax: 7382815, Airport: Tel.: 4176419

BRAZILIAN AIRLINES (VARIG) C/O MASS TRAVEL, 97, El Montazah St. , 11351 Heliopolis , Cairo, Fax: 6357299 

Tel.: 2404958 - 2418636 - 6320933 - 6335230 - 6336713 - 6356993 - 6373802 - 6373871 - 6373872 - 6389167

BULGARIAN AIRLINES (BALKAN) 17, Kasr El Nil St. , Cairo, Tel.: 3931152 / 1211, Fax: 3939119

CATHAY PACIFIC Lebanon Sq., Mohandessin, Giza, Tel.: 3029627 - 3029628 

Fax: 3029627

CYPRUS AIRWAYS C/O Apollo Travel, 10, Talaat Harb St. , Evergreen Bldg. Cairo 

Tel.: 5797300 - 5797400 - 5797500 - 0105393636 / 4646, Fax: 5753750

CZECH AIRLINES 9, Talaat Harb St. , Cairo, Tel.: 3930395 - 3930416 - 3917006 

Fax: 3920463

SANDINAVIAN AIRLINES (SAS) 2, Champolion St., Cairo, Tel.: 5753718 / 889 / 955 

Fax: 5750574

SAUDI AIRLINES 10, Talaat Harb St., Cairo, Tel.: 5741200 - 5931049 - 5747575 / 6 / 7 / 8, Fax: 5745627 - 5742804

SCORPIO AVIATION 10, Aswan Square, Mohandissen, Giza, Tel.: 3032931 - 2660820 - 2655337, Fax: 3461287 

Sharm El Sheikh: Tel.: 012 3236386, Hurghada: Tel.: (065) 442948 - 010 1445847 

Luxor: Tel.: (095) 382025 - 012 2161327, Aswan: Tel.: (097) 303808 - 012 3220104

SINGAPORE AIRLINES Nile Hilton Hotel, Tel.: 5750276 (3 Lines) - 5788777, Fax: 5747084 

Airport: Tel.: 2915144 - 6900789 - 2915144, Fax: 2677578

SUDAN AIRWAYS 1, Bustan St., Downtown, Cairo, Tel.: 5759790 - 5787398 - 5787299 - 5787145, Fax: 5759946 

Airport: Tel.: 4150049 - 4184181

SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES (SWISS) Beuhler Passage, Kasr El Nil St., Cairo, Tel.: 3961733 / 36, Fax: 3961734 

E-Mail: swissairlines-egypt@mail.swiss.com, Reservation: 3961739, E-Mail: reservation.egypt@mail.swiss.com 

Airport: Tel.: 2910283/9, Fax: 2910281

SYRIAN AIR 25, Taalat Harb ST., CAIRO, Tel.: 39282824 / 5, Fax: 3910805 

Airport: Tel.: 4172624

THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL C/O BON VOYAGE, 16, Adly St., Cairo, Tel.: 3907032 / 9349 - 3955944, Fax: 3911104

TUNIS AIR 14, Talaat Harb St., Cairo, Tel.: 5753420 / 476 / 971 

Fax: 5740677, Airport: Tel.: 2680188

TURKISH AIRLINES Nile Hilton Hotel, Tel.: 5749009, Fax: 5749600, Airport: Tel.: 4171979 

C/O IMPERIAL TRAVEL, 26, Mahmoud Bassiouny St., Cairo, Tel.: 5784534 / 4658, Fax: 5749129

UGANDA AIRLINES 1, Abdel Hamid Badawi St., Heliopolis, Cairo, Tel.: 6353779 - 6356535, Fax: 6358110

US AIRWAYS C/O TRAVCO TRAVEL, 44, Mohamed Mazhar St., Zamalek, Cairo, Tel.: 7372940 - 7372960, Fax: 7372464

UZBEKISTAN AIRWAYS C/O MASS TRAVEL, 97, El Montazah St., 11351 Heliopolis, Cairo 

Tel.: 2404958 - 2418636 - 6320933 - 6335230 - 6336713 - 6356993 - 6373802 - 6373871 - 6373872 - 6389167 

Fax: 6357299 - 5769529, 18, Mahmoud Bassiouny St., Cairo, Tel: 5751514 - 5769544 - 5784804

YEMEN AIRWAYS 10, Talaat Harb St., Cairo, Tel.: 5740711 - 5772467, Fax: 5772473 

Zamalek Club, Mohandiseen, Giza, TEL.: 3446965 - 3461441/ 6799, FAX: 3034552

YUGOSLAV AIRLINES (JAT) Nile Hilton Hotel, Tel.: 5742166 - 5742054, Fax: 5742185

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Egyptian Ferries Schedule - Egypt Transportation - City Guide

Egyptian Ferries Schedule 

Egypt Local Ferries

Hurgada Sharm El-Sheikh Ferry Service

Timetable:

DAY DEP. TIME ROUTE

SUNDAY 08.00 HURGHADA/SHARM

SUNDAY 18:00 SHARM/HURGHADA

TUESDAY 08.00 HURGHADA/SHARM

TUESDAY 18.00 SHARM/HURGHADA

THURSDAY 08.00 HURGHADA/SHARM

THURSDAY 18:00 SHARM/HURGHADA

The trip takes around 2.30 hours each way

N.B : Children rates applied from 3 till 12 years old.

Free ticket for Children under 3 years old (Without seat)

How to get to ports

Hurghada Maritime Port

Location: Downtown, Saqala Area, El Mina Street

Sharm El Sheikh Maritime Port

Location: End of El Salam Street, Cairo highway, near old market

Nuweiba to Aqaba (Jordan)

To go from the city of Nuweiba to Aqaba in Jordon you will need to take a ferry whether a slow ferry or a high-speed one:

Hi-speed ferry (Cat ferry)

The journey by the fast ferry to Aqaba lasts for one hour.

Daily schedule:

From Aqaba to Nuweiba: daily (except Saturday) at 12.00h. 

From Nuweiba to Aqaba: daily (except Saturday) at 15.30h.

New Aqaba Fast ferry :

Run by Meenagate, Marine, who are the solo agent of AB Maritime, on the Tourist Line between Nuweiba and Aqaba.

The new boat called Babel, a high speed catamaran latest arrival and added vessel to Arab Bridge Maritime company fleet, build late 2010!

In case we have big volume of passengers, they release the Princess boat, for our clients. 

For that the timetable can change a bit. Also in case of bad weather and rough sea conditions, changes can occur.

Time Table

At this moment our time table is as following:

Nuweiba – Aqaba: departure 6:00 am. Clients needs to be at the port at 5:00 am (egypt time)

Aqaba-Nuweiba : Departure 7.30 pm Clients needs to be at the port at 6.30 pm (jordan time)

Sailing time typically lasts 1.5 hours.

Please check with the ferry company a day before departure, to know what the exact timetable would be, and at what time they need to be at the harbor.

Please note :

If They sail with the Babel, the departure port is at the Royal Yacht Club in Aqaba. 

If They sail with the Princess, the departure port is the Passenger Terminal just south of Aqaba. In Nuweiba, their our clients go through customs at our own Pyramid Hall. This will be used for our clients exclusively, meaning the whole procedure goes very smooth and fast.

Booking

It is necessary to book in advance. One needs to send them at least 24 hours in advance, the copy of his/her passport by e-mail or fax. they will confirm by e-mail.

Payment can be done cash at the harbor at the day of traveling. 

to Contact the newbia aqb ferry company:

Telephone: +962 (0)3 201 3100 / 201 3137 / 202 2801

Fax: +962 (0)3 201 9461

Mobile: +962 (0)79 5901 1481

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Aqaba Slow Ferry

The journey by the slow ferry to Aqaba takes 3 hours.

Daily schedule:

From Aqaba to Nuweiba: daily at 24.00h. 

From Nuweiba to Aqaba: daily at 14.00h.

For Reservation Turbo Cat Tel. (2)-(02) 574-5836 / 5755

Some travel tips

- You can get the ferry tickets outside the port entrance, don't forget to have you passport with you. Onboard you will be asked to hand over your passport and you will be getting it back when you arrive to Aqaba.

-Make sure you turn up at least two hours before the boat leaves the port, there is a ferry that leaves everyday, it should take 3-5 hours to arrive to the Aqaba port in Jordon.

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International ferries operate to and out of Egypt main ports

such as Alex, Suez & Port Said :

Ferry boat that leaves Alexandria  goes to the following distention:

To Limassol

To Herakliion and Athens

To Heraklion and Genoa

Please note that these ferries at the moment Carrie cargo and no passengers

Ferry boat that leaves Port Said goes to the following destination:

Rhodes Athens

Please note that these ferries at the moment carry only cargo and no passengers.

Ferry boat that leave Suez goes to the following destination:

To Jeddah

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Kharga Oasis - Al Wadi Al Gadid

Kharga Oasis - Al Wadi Al Gadid

The Kharga Oasis must be one of the most beautiful places in the world, especially at sunset; everything you see at this "green island in the middle of a yellow ocean of sand", is natural! Whether you are sleeping under the stars, or just relaxing between the high palm-trees, you will find a feeling of integration with the environment. The first time I saw the El-Kharga Oasis, a bright light came to my eyes and I could not overcome the emotion, even I wondered "what better place to go than El-Kharga Oasis?"

The Kharga Oasis, the capital of the governorate of the new valley, or Al Wadi Al Gadeed, in Egypt, hosted inhabitants since prehistoric times and it is still the most populated oasis of Egypt until today.

Location of Kharga oasis

Al Kharga is located 232 kilometers to the South of Asyut, 550 kilometers to the South of Cairo. The oasis is located to the west of the Nile valley. Al Menya, Asyut, Sohag, Qena, occupies the Eastern border of the governorate, while the governorate of Matruh occupies its Northern borders, and the Egypt international borders with Libya is located on the Western edge of the governorate of Al Wadi Al Gadeed.

The Kharga oasis, in the Arabic language, which means the "outside" is a wide depression that extends over an area of 220 kilometers from north to south and comprises the whole Southern Egypt except for the part that is beside the red sea. The new valley governorate is one of the most important geographical locations in Egypt as it is considered to be one third of the whole area of the country.

The oasis of Kharga is considered to be a major administrative center and the seat of the governorate of the New valley or Al Wadi Al Gadeed.

The history of the Kharga Oasis:

The Kharga Oasis was an important transit point for the desert caravans since the period of the 12th dynasty (1786 BC – 1665 BC). This was a transition period in the Egyptian history when the Hyksos had control over Northern Egypt and the Pharos ruled over Southern Egypt and the Nubia.

The Kharga Oasis was always considered the Southern and Western Gate of Egypt. It connected Egypt to Southern Africa through the forty days road.

In August 2010, the Egyptian-American archaeological mission discovered the ruins of the most ancient residential area discovered in Sothern Egypt until now and it goes back to the second intermediate period. These ruins that the mission has found reflect that Al Kharga was a major administrative and services body at that point in history.

The mission has found the ruins of some huge buildings, passageways, and a large bread bakery. These ruins go back to the Middle Kingdom (2134-1569 BC) and the scholars believe that this civilization went on until the new Kingdom (1569-1081

During the third and Forth century AD, a lot of Egyptian Christians resorted to the Kharga Oasis and the surrounding area to escape from the unjust Romans who persecuted the Copts of Egypt because of their Christian beliefs and religion. The Copts lived in peace in the Kharga Oasis and left remarkable monuments like the cemetery of Bagawat.

Kharga oasis today

Although the Kharga Oasis occupies around one third of the whole lands of Egypt, it contains the least population density in the whole nation with around 20,000 inhabitants nowadays and a population density of 4 persons in each square kilometer. The reason behind this is the vast areas of the deserts surrounding the Kharga Oasis, the Eastern and Western Deserts of Egypt.

Tourism is not considered a major activity for the people living in Kharga. Most of the people of the Kharga work in normal jobs like the inhabitants of Cairo, Alexandria, and the other cities of Egypt. Al Wadi Al Gadeed also hosts one of the largest phosphates mime in the world in the area of Abu Tartour.

The Kharga Oasis is connected to the Nile valley with a set of roads. The first one goes from Asyut to the Kharga, the second goes from Farafra, to Dakhla, to Kharga. There is also a direct flight from Cairo to the Wadi Al Gadeed Airport in the Kharga Oasis.

The monuments and ancient sites of  Kharga oasis

The temple of Hibis

The temple of Hibis is located approximately one kilometer to the north of the city of Al Kharga. This temple is considered of significant importance as it represents different stages of the Egyptian history. The Pharonic, Persian, Ptolemaic, and Roman eras are well reflected in this ancient beautiful temple.

The temple of Hibis was originally constructed during the reign of the 26th dynasty, which was the last native dynasty to rule Egypt before the Persian conquest in 525 BC. The period of this dynasty is also called the Saite Period after the city of Sais, where its pharaohs had their capital.

The temple was built for the worship of the holy triad (Amun- Mut- Khonsu). The construction work started under the rule of Iris and then Ahmos II. However, most of the construction works were completed during the Persian or the Hyksos occupation of Egypt specifically during the reign of Darius I (522 BC).

The temple Of Hibis was enlarged during the period of Nectanebo I (380 -362 BC) and Nectanebo II (360 -343 BC). Ptolemy II (285 -246 BC) has also added the two outmost portals.

The temple starts from the East with the sacred lake and the ports. Then there is the Roman gate that dates back to the Roman emperor, Galba, who built this gate in 69 AD. Afterwards, there is the rams' passageway that leads to the major gate of the temple. Afterwards, there is the Sanctum of the temple with its remarkable unique inscriptions.

The cemetery of Bagawat

The Cemetery of Bagawat is located three kilometers to the North of the city of Al Kharga behind the Temple of Hibis. This cemetery got its name from its style of architecture as most of the tombs there were constructed in the form of domes, or "Qubwat" in Arabic which transformed afterwards into Bagawat. This cemetery hosts one of the most important and most ancient Christian churches in the whole world.

The cemetery dates back to period ranging from the second to the seventh century AD when the Christians escaping from Northern Egypt resorted to the Kharga Oasis. It contains 236 tombs constructed as small domed chapels with a central church in the middle which is considered one of the most ancient Coptic Churches of Egypt.

The cemetery occupies a surface area of 10,000 squares and the most important tombs of the cemetery is the tomb of Exodus which represents the Israelis going out of Egypt and the Pharos forcing them out of the country. There is also the tomb of "peace' that contains reliefs of Jacob, the Virgin Mary, Saint Paul, and Saint Takla. Other tombs display many colorful Coptic inscriptions and writings that demonstrate the Coptic life during this period.

The temple of Ghweita

The Temple of Ghweita or Qaser Ghweita, or the "fortress of deep springs" is located 25 kilometers to South of the city of Kharga. This temple together with the Temple of Hibis is the only temples built in Egypt during the Persian or Hyksos occupation.

The construction work of this temple started in the reign of Darius I over the top of a hill that was originally the ruins of a Pharonic settlement that goes back to the Middle Kingdom.

The temple was built for the worship of the holy triad (Amun- Mut- Khonsu), the same as the temple of Hibis. It was also enlarged during the Ptolemaic era between the 3rd and 1st century BC.

The Temple now includes a hall with 8 huge columns, a hypostyle hall, and a sanctuary.

The temple of Qasr Al Zayyan

The Temple Of Qaser Al Zayyan is located 5 kilometers to the South of Temple of Ghweita. Thanks to the Egyptian government, there is an asphalt road that links the two temples together now.

This temple was constructed during the Ptolemaic reign and enlarged during the period of the Roman emperor Pius in the 2nd century AD. 

The temple of Qaser Al Zayyan was dedicated to the cult of Amun Ra of Hibis. It contains a sanctuary made out of white limestone blocks and many mud brick side chambers all around it.

The temple of Dush  in the Oasis of Paris

This area corresponds to the Ptolemaic and Roman settlement of Kysis and it is located near the oasis of Paris and 120 kilometers South of Al Kharga. There are two Roman fortress and two temples. This site had significant importance in the old world as it granted the control of several Caravan routs in the Roman and Ptolemaic times. 

The major monument in this site is a temple that was made out of limestone blocks during the rule of Domitian (81 – 96 AD) and enlarged by many of his successors and it was dedicated to the worship of Isis.

The dug works in the site of Dush has been going on since 1976 by the French institution of oriental archeology. They unearthed a lot of interesting findings that include many golden items. There are also a lot of many interesting monuments in this ancient site.

The dug works in the site of Dush has been going on since 1976 by the French institution of oriental archeology. They unearthed a lot of interesting findings that include many golden items. There are also a lot of many interesting monuments in this ancient site.

The museum of Antiquities of Al Kharga

The museum of Al Kharga hosts a lot of the items that were found all over the archeological sites of the governorate. This includes a statue of Horus, some Pharonic reliefs, and a collection of Coptic pottery. The museum is open daily from 9 till 3 and it is located in the city of Al Kharga. 

The Oasis of El-Kharga was a prosperous place during ancient times and was linked with the Nile Valley by many routes. The Greek historian Herodotus mentioned that the great Persian King, Campuses, sent a huge army (about 50,000 men) from Thebes in order to destroy the Oracle Temple of Amon-Zeus at Siwah. The huge army reached the El-Kharga Oasis, was provided with food and water, and then they continued their march towards Siwah, but the campaign vanished and no one can tell what really happened, even today! Some historians suggest that the Persian army was lost in the desert and were sunk in the Great Sea Of Sand, which extends along the borders between Egypt and Libya. 

Nowadays El-Kharga is famed for the large number of palm-trees, pigeon-houses, farms, fields, monuments, wells, artisans, traditional handcrafts, and honey-coloured hills, which can be found here. There is also another attraction - riding camels, which is considered by many tourists and visitors, an adventure in itself. On the rocks of some sites some graffiti, left by tourists to commemorate their visit to that beautiful Oasis. Pure springs and natural wells completely unpolluted by chlorine or other chemicals are scattered in several locations in the Oasis. The local people seem to be "at your service"; they are very kind and give visitors the feeling that they are very welcomed. The life there is simple, but extremely satisfying!

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Farafra Oasis - Western Desert

Farafra Oasis - Western Desert

Al Farafra is a small oasis located in the western desert of Egypt. It is considered to be the most isolated oasis of the governorate of Al Wadi Al Gadid in Southern Egypt. Maybe this is why the people who live in Farafra are still famous until today for practicing their old traditions and customs.

The Farafra has gained the attention of tourists during the last few years because of its unique magic and because the oasis can be the start point for many interesting tours in the Western desert of Egypt like to the white desert, the black desert the Crystal Mountains.

Location of Farafra Oasis

The Farafra Oasis is located in the western desert of Egypt inside the borders of the governorate of Al Wadi Al Gadid, the largest governorate in Egypt in terms of space.

The Farafra is 170 kilometers away from the Bahaerya Oasis and 627 kilometers away from Cairo, 370 kilometers to the South West of Marsa Matroh and the Mediterranean Sea

The history of Farafra

Historians believed that the oasis of Farafra went through three phases in prehistoric times when the oasis was exposed to a set of heavy rains. This was a proof that Farafra hosted inhabitants since the prehistoric era when these rains attracted many Egyptians to go and live in the Farafra

Some other historians believe that the Farafra was the connection point between the Libyan Desert and the Egyptian desert. With many trading routs between the Western Desert and the Nile Valley, Farafra was one of the most important transit points for the caravans

The Farafra Oasis had a role as well in the Pharos time as this small oasis was mentioned in many ancient Egyptian texts especially in the reign of the 10th dynasty in the 21st BC. The Farafra was called "Ana Akhet", or the land of the cow as a symbol of fertility in reference to the ancient god Hathour and it was best described as the city of conquest or invasion because of its remoteness.

In the new kingdom, there were some evident that Ramsis II used to import stones from the Farafra Oasis to be used in constructing his many temples in Luxor precisely. However, no mining locations have ever been discovered in the Farafra.

During the Roman era, the oasis, including Al Dakhla, Al Kharga, Al Bahareya, and Al Farafra were the lands of grains as many grains were cultivated in the lands of the oasis. The Romans left some monuments in the Farafra like the Qaser Al Farafra, or the Farafra Palace and Qaser Abu Monqar and some other rock cut tombs. There are also the ruins of a Roman Temple.

In the Coptic time, Egyptian Copts used to escape the aggressiveness and assaults of the Romans and go to the Farafra and the other oasis as well. The Copts left some ruins in Farafra that proof they had a sort of civilization there.

After the Arab conquest of Egypt, the trade of dates and olives between the Farafra oasis and the Nile Valley flourished tremendously. Camel caravans used to carry the goods and products of the Farafra to the district of Dirot on the Nile valley. The caravans used to go back to the Farafra full of cloth, tea, and all the products of the Nile Valley.

The family of Mohamed Ali gave some attention to the oasis and the Farafra among them. This was why Khedive Ismail sent the German scientist, Gerhard Rudolf, to see if the Farafra really hosted a river that contained no water. Rudolf tried to pass through the western desert to reach Farafra but he was never able to do so. However, he spent three months, with his caravan, in the Egyptian desert and oasis. Rudolf published an interesting study concerning his stay in the deserts of Egypt and this publication worked as a reference for any one who wanted to explore the Western Desert

Just before the end of the 19th century, a Senusi worship site, a Muslim political-religious system that was established in Libya and the Sudan region and it was founded in Mecca in 1837, was built in the Farafra. This made many Senusis emigrated from the Libyan desert to the Farafra. The Senusis remained in the Farafra until the beginning of the 20th century. Even today, many original inhabitants who belong to the Farafra Oasis have the name Senusi and have some Senusi origins.

The Farafra oasis today

Today Farafra has a population of more than 20 thousand people. However, most of them originate from the Nile Valley and they came to Farafra to work as farmers. There is also an important agriculture project in Farafra covering more than 10 thousand Hectares near a well called Bir Qarawein.

Until recently, all the routes going from to the Farafra Oasis, or from Al Bahareya or Al Dakhla, were not paved and travelers used to suffer a lot to reach this unique oasis. 

However, nowadays there is a good network of roads that connects Farafra with other oasis of the Western Desert and with the Nile Valley as well.

The capital and the most important town in the Farafra Oasis is the city of Qaser Farafra. This is the most ancient part in the Farafra Oasis and in the 19th century, Qaser Farafra was the only inhibited city in the Western Desert with a population of only 200 people.

Many tourists choose Farafra today as it started being famous worldwide for its quietness and warm weather. People from the United States and from Europe come to the Oasis to escape the cold weather in their homeland. They also visit the Farafra to enjoy the wonders of the Western Desert.

Water wells in Farafra

Due to its geographical location and geological formation, the Farafra Oasis enjoys having a number of natural water wells. There are more than 100 wells spread all over the lands of the Farafra. Most of these wells are used in aggregation of the cultivated land in the oasis.

Some of the wells in Farafra have become favorite touristic destination. 

Bir Sitta, (well number 6 in Arabic), Bir Sab'a (well number 7), and Bir Ithnian wa ishrin (well number#22) are the most important wells in the Farafra Oasis. Because of their warm temperature and the slight percentage of Sulfurous in their water, these wells very favorable for swimming and relaxation.

There is also a huge lake and a well with the name of Abu Nus located 15 kilometers to the north of the Farafra oasis. This area has also become a major touristic attraction as well.

The white desert

The white desert is the most popular and interesting area in the Western Desert. The white desert became a protected area since 2002. It occupies a surface area of around three thousand kilometers.

On the road that goes between Farafra and Baharya, one can see the first bizarre rock formation in the white desert. Some rocks look like animals, mushrooms, and some rocks have totally strange shapes.

As the saying goes" nature is the art o god". The white desert is clear evidence on this ability of the god to form his universe. Maybe this is why the "finger of god" is located in the white desert. The finger of god or "Al Qubar", the Chisel, is a 20 meters high rock formations that can be seen from far away even from the paved road and the locals like to call it the finger of god as it looks like a huge finger rising from the sand.

No one would ever believe that this white desert was covered with a sea in ancient times and the white chalk that formed all these rocks was deposited from this sea. If one takes a closer look on the rocks of the white desert, he can notice that there are seashells in the halls of the rocks.

To the northeast of the white desert, there is an area called Aqabat, or "obstacles" in English. Of course this name had a reason and this area is full of obstructions that face anyone who wants to pass through. In the middle of this area, lies the mountain of Twin peaks which is an important landmark for travelers.

In the west section of the white desert, which is much less visited than the East section because of the poor conditions of the roads leading to it, there is the ancient site of Wadi Al Ubayid, or the white valley.

The black desert and the crystal mountain

The black desert mainly consists of mountains formed primarily out of numerous volcano small black stones and rocks. However, these rocks lay on an orange brown background. As many people would say" The black desert is not as black in comparison to the white color of the white desert"

Most of the tourists who go to the white and black deserts usually would like to visit the famous crystal mountain. In a contradiction to its name, the rocks in this mountain are not crystal, they are rather Barite which is a substance that is less hard than crystals.

The crystal mountain has an interesting story. The Egyptian government broke parts of this mountain to construct the road between the Bahareya Oasis and the Farafra oasis. This made the crystal rocks appear and it turned this area into a famous touristic site.

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The Dakhla Oasis - City Guide

The Dakhla Oasis

About El Dakhla Oasis

Having considerable amounts of underground water, El Dakhla was the capital of the Oasis region during the Pharaonic period. Today, El Dakhla is one of the most wonderful oases in Egypt with many remarkable monuments, natural scenery, and a large collection of Bedouin handicrafts being sold around the oasis.

The same as the rest of the Egyptian oasis located in the Western Desert of Egypt, the Dakhla Oases is situated inside a depression, which is bordered to the North with an impressive scrap and it is open towards its Eastern and Western edges.

The Depression of the Dakhla Oases lies to the Eastern edge of the Dakhla Depression and there are large sand dunes where the Great Sand Sea begins in the Western edge of the Depression of the Oasis.

The Dakhla Oasis was called the Southern Most Oasis of Egypt and it was located in the center of an important caravans trading rout that linked the Dakhla not only to the Kharga and the Farafra Oases but only to the Nile Valley in the West and as far to the East as Libya.

In contradiction to the other oases in Egypt, more than 50% of the lands of El Dakhla are actually cultivated. This is because the Dakhla Oasis is rich with a large number of water springs like that "Bir Talata", Well number three, "Bir El Gabal", the Well of the Mountain.

These fresh water springs have become among the most popular touristic attractions in the Dakhla Oasis because of their wonderful warm water and its relaxing atmosphere.

The village of Mut

Among the sixteen villages in the Dakhla Oasis, the Village of Mut is the largest and the most important, with more than 100,000 inhabitants living in village, which was transformed gradually into becoming more of a city other than a village today.

The name of the Village of Mut was derived from the ancient Egyptian goddess, Mut, the wife of the famous god Amun and the most important deity among the gods of Thebes.

The same as many oases of Egypt, like the Siwa Oasis, Mut has an old city which is situated on the highest point of the town and featured with its mud bricks walls and narrow lanes.

Located to the South East of Mut, there is "Mut El Kharab", or the ruined section of Mut, which is a badly preserved Roman settlement that was inhabited until the beginning of the 20th century.

The most important touristic attraction in the city of Mut is the spa of the Bir Talata, or Well number Two, located about two kilometers away from the center of the town.

The water of Bir Talata is rich with iron and sulfur which helps in curing many illnesses and they come from a depth that reaches 1000 meters from the underground.

An artificial lake is located three kilometers to the North of Bir Talata and it was formed with the drainage of the irrigation water to become one of the largest artificial lakes in the region

This lake was established to become a fish farm but the substances like pesticides and fertilizers that come from the cultivated land mad the Egyptian authorities abandon the whole project.

The village of Al Qasr

Situated 20 kilometers to the North of Mut, Al Qasr is among the most interesting villages in the Dakhla Oasis because it hosts a number of remarkable monuments.

The narrow lanes of Al Qasr have some of the ancient Islamic houses with doors decorated with acacia wood with the name of the owner or the constructor of the house being carved.

Occupying the center of the Village of Al Qasr, there is the minaret of Sheikh Nasr El Din Mosque. Dating to the Ayyubid period, during the 11th and the 12th centuries, nothing remains of this valuable monument except for its 21 meters height minaret.

Deir El Hagar

Deir El Hagar, or the Stone Monastery, lies to the North of the City of Mut near the historical necropolis of Al Muzwaqa and it is among the most important historical sites of El Dakhla Oasis.

This Temple was constructed during the ruling period of Nero in the middle of the 1st century AD and it was dedicated to the Holy Theban Triad, the gods Mut, Amun Re, and Khonsu.

Deir El Hagar was renovated afterwards, during the reigns of the Roman Emperors; Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian as they enlarged the complex and added many finely carved bass reliefs.

The Temple was visited by a number of travelers of the 19th century and some of them carved their names on its walls as a sign that they have been here.

Deir El Hagar, which was surrounded by large mud brick walls 16 meters long and 7 meters wide, has a two columns portico and a small hypostyle hall with four pillars and a sanctuary at the end of the complex.

The village of Bashindi

The Village of Bashindi is a quaint and finely preserved historical village situated 40 kilometers to the East of the city of Mut and it was inhabited during the 11th and the 12th centuries.

The Village of Bashindi is featured with its mud brick houses that are finely decorated and colorfully ornamented the fact that made it among the touristic attractions of El Dakhla Oasis.

There is an Islamic cemetery inside the Village of Bashindi and it is dominated by the impressive mausoleum of Sheikh Bashindi, the founder of the village, and there is also a necropolis dating back to the Roman ruling period.

The Mausoleum of Bashindi was constructed by placing a large mud brick structure with a dome over the Roman necropolis, which has some wonderfully decorated tombs like this of Kitines, painted in the Pharaonic style.

The village of Balat

The Village of Balat is located to the Northeast of Bashindi and its medieval district is of significant importance from the historical and architectural aspects,

The village of Balat is famous the most for hosting two of the most important archeological sites in the Western Desert; the Qila El Dabba Necropolis and Ain Asil, the capital of the Oases in the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt.

These both important historical sites were excavated and studied by the French Institute of Oriental Archeology with the collaboration of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.

In the Qila El Dabba Necropolis, archeologists were able to unearth some Mastaba style tombs constructed with mud bricks and which belonged to the rulers of the Oases and their families in the 6th dynasty.

Among the most impressive tombs is the Chapel of Khentikau- Pepi the ruler of the oasis during the reign of King Pepi II, in the period from 2246 till 2152 BC.

There is also the Mastaba tomb of Khentika, the ruler of the oases during the ruling period of King Pepi I in the period from the year 2289 till the year 2255 with the mortuary chamber being decorated with wonderful bright colors.

The excavation works that were carried out in 1986 revealed that the mortuary chambers had four tombs; one of them was reserved for the deceased, while the other three were for the members of his family.

Archeologists were able to find wonderful treasures inside these tombs that included copper items, terracotta pottery, and copper jewelry. These remarkable items are now put on display in the Kharga Archeological Museum.

The Necropolis of Al Muzwaqa

The Necropolis of Al Muzwaqa means, in the Arabic Language, the wonderfully decorated tombs and it is located to the North of Mut near the Temple of Deir El Hagar.

This important historical necropolis was discovered in 1908 by the American archeologist, Herbert Winlock during his excavation missions in the Western Desert of Egypt.

This necropolis consists of around 300 rock hewn tombs with most of them not yet unearthed or studied. The Necropolis of Muzwaqa is mostly famous for two tombs; the tomb of Petosiris and the tomb of Petubastis and both tombs have finely preserved wall paintings.

Dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries, the two tombs contain all the components of the traditional tombs of ancient Egypt. This includes offerings to the deceased, funerary procession, and the gods watching the deceased entering the afterlife.

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The Bahariya Oasis - City Guide

The Bahariya Oasis - City Guide

The Bahariya Oasis is the northernmost oasis of Egypt. This oasis has a particular historical significance as it was an important transit point for the Caravan tracks and the Nile Valley. This is besides being the theatre of great and important archeological finds in moderntimes.

The name of the Bahariya Oasis: 

The name Bahareya was most possibly derived from the word Bahr, which means the sea in the Arabic language. The word more specifically referred to the Mediterranean Sea and generally to the Northern lands of Egypt in ancient times. The pharos named the Bahareya Oasis "Desdes" while the romans named it "Parva" or the little oasis. 

The location and geographical significance

Bahareya is located 370 kilometers to the North of Cairo, which made it nearer to the capital of Egypt in comparison to other remote oasis like Siwa or Al Kharga. This is maybe why many Carians and tourists who visit Cairo prefer to travel to the Bahareya if they want to try the taste of the lifestyle in an Egyptian oasis. 

The Bahareya consists of a large depression in the desert that is 94 kilometers long and 40 kilometers wide. The oasis also contains a number of huge mountains like Gebel Ghurabi, Gebel Maghrafa, Gebel Dist, or Gebel El Englizi, or the English Mountain.

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The History of the Bahariya Oasis

The first human settlement in the Bahareya Oasis that is recorded in history was in the middle kingdom. Specifically starting from 18th dynasty the Bahareya Oasis started gaining commercial and political importance because of its location in the track of the trading caravans between the Nile Valley and tribes in Libya and the Western Desert. 

The most prosperous period in the ancient history of the Bahareya Oasis was during the reign of the 26th Dynasty Particularly during the rule of Amasi when the ancient city of Psobthis, which was located in the middle of the oasis, became the center of the trading routs of the Western Desert.

The importance of the Bahareya Oasis even increased in Greco-Roman period. This was because it was not only an important point in the trading routs, but also the oasis became a major producer of many goods like wine, olive oils, dates, and cereals. 

The fortress of Qaser Masuda is an obvious evident of the importance of the Bahareya Oasis in the Roman period and of their militarily and political control over this area.

The Bahareya Oasis Today:

The Bahareya Oasis hosts more than thirty thousand people who mostly live in the four main towns of the oasis: Bawiti, the capital and center point of the Bahareya Oasis, Al Qaser, the ancient village in the Bahareya Oasis, Mandisha, and Zabw. 

The area between Bawiti and Al Qaser contains a number of mountains that host many ancient necropolises like the Abis necropolis of Qarat Feragi and the Necropolis of Qarat Subi.

The Bahareya Oasis has many hot springs like Ain Bishmu which dates back to Roman times, Bir Al Nebaga which is located in Bawiti, and Bir Matar which is located further to the North. 

At the Northernmost point of the Bahareya Oasis, there is the small lake of Al Marun that is surrounded by places that have many rare birds for bird watching fans. 

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Monuments in Bahariya oasis

The valley of the golden Mummies:

In 1996, the famous Egyptian archeologist and the head of the supreme council of antiquities, Mr. Zahi Hawas and his team, discovered a magnificent huge necropolis that dates to the Roman era and it is located 6 kilometers to the Southwest of Bawiti, the largest city of the Bahareya Oasis.

The digging work started in 1999 and it showed that this necropolis was the most important burial site of the Romans in all the land of Egypt. This necropolis, in fact contains hundreds of tombs over a surface area of about 36 square kilometers. 

This astonishing discovery which news were spread all over the world in TV channels, newspapers, magazines, and over the internet, made Al Bahareya Oasis famous world wide and gave the oasis a new touristic dimension.

Tens of mummies were discovered in perfect preservation state in the valley of the golden mummies. Most of these mummies were mummified using the old method which is called cartonnage. This method consisted of covering the face of the mummy with mask made out of linen and plaster. This mask was then decorated with many colorful reliefs. The mouse and the eyes of the dead person were then painted on the mask to give a clearer image of his face.

The mummies of the Bahareya Oasis had the common Roman decoration of the Roman period that combined the traditional ancient Egyptian Pharonic shapes and colors with those of the Roman mythology. 

The valley of the golden mummies in the Bahareya Oasis is one of the most unique necropolises all around Egypt

The temple and chapels of Ain el Muftella:

The site of Ain el Muftella is located three kilometers west of the Al Qaser at the exit point of the track that links the Bahareya to the Siwa Oasis. 

This site contains four chapels that were discovered by Ahmed Fakhry, the Egyptian archeologist that holds the credits for most of the discoveries that took place in the Egyptian Western desert, in 1938-1939. 

The four chapels belong to the 26th dynasty, the last native dynasty to rule Egypt before the Persian conquest in 525 BC. These chapels belong to a temple complex built during the rule of Amasis, who was a pharaoh (570 BC - 526 BC) of the Twenty-sixth dynasty of Egypt, the successor of Apries at Sais and he was the last great ruler of Egypt before the Persian occupation of Egypt. 

The temple of Ain el Muftella belonged to the city of Psobthis which was located between the temple of Ain el Muftella and the present city of Al Qaser.

The first chapel, which is the largest among the four chapels, consists of two chambers that were decorated with beautiful reliefs which are well preserved until today. These reliefs contain images of the Pharo Amasis making an offerings to a series of gods that were highly venerated in the oasis of Egypt. 

The tombs of Zed-Amun-ef-Ankh and Bannentui at Qarat Qaser Salem

Qarat Qaser Salem is a small hill located inside the city of Bawiti and it contains two richly decorated tombs that date back to the 26th dynasty and were discovered by Ahmed Fakhry in 1938.

The first tomb belongs to Zed-Amun-ef-Ankh, a rich merchant and it contains a hypostyle burial chamber which is supported with four pillars. This room is surrounded by some other undecorated rooms that were used during the Roman period when the tomb was used again.

The other tomb belongs to the son of Zed-Amun-ef-Ankh, Bannentui, who was believed to be a priest and a prophet. The design of the tomb of Bannentui is similar to this of his father, except the fact that the burial chamber which connects the burial chamber with two other chambers contains four pillars not three. 

The two tombs contain rich decorations and ornaments with religious scenes connected to the mortuary rituals and many the offerings represented to the gods.

The Muzzawaqa Necropolis:

The Muzzawaqa, or the "richly decorated", Necropolis is located north of the city of Mut. It was discovered by the American archeologist, Herbert E Winlock in 1908. The Muzzawaqa Necropolis contains more than 300 rock hewn tombs. 

The most important tombs in the Muzzawaqa Necropolis belong to Petosiris and Petubastis who lived in the Bahareya Oasis in the first or the second century AD. The two tombs contain extensive painted decorations that are perfectly preserved.

The two tombs contain all the main themes of an ancient Egyptian tomb: offerings to the dead person, the procession of the funeral, and the dead person watched over by gods. However all of these scenes are painted in the Greco-Roman style.

The Bahareya Museum:

The Ethnographic Museum of Al Bahareya which was built in 2005 is located in the center of the city and it was established by Mohamed Eid, one of the oasis's local artists.

This museum hosts the terra-cotta sculptures and paintings of Mohamed Eid. There are also some objects representing the different life aspects in the Bahareya Oasis.

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