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The Oasis
The word "oasis" is
often used to describe a place at which one can forget the everyday worries,
ease and renew himself spiritually. Exactly these are the oases of Egypt:
Unspoiled refuges from the modern world, civilization nests in the midst of a
dramatic desert landscape. Surrounded by sand and sky the oases offer a feeling
of the timelessness, which has become rare in the 20th century. Man and nature
have cohabited here since the Stone Age, but the stars, rock formations and sand
dunes cannot follow with our calendars.
The word "oasis" comes from the Egyptian (or the Coptic word ouahe) and the
Egyptian oases are still the most varied of the world. If you seek adventures
and tension, you can discover the majestic desert by cross-country vehicle or
camel, you can spend a night under the starry sky and you can take a morning
bath in the hot sources.
Let your personal oasis arise by the nightly sky and the silent surroundings -
an inner peace which you can take back at home.
We organize individually according to your wishes every desert excursion.
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Oasis Kharga
Once was the
station before last on the famous "street of the forty days", the notorious
slave trade route between North Africa and the tropical south. Kharga is today
the greatest of the oases of the new Valley. In the capital live approximately
60.000 people under this about 1.000 Nubians who were transferred here after the
construction of the Nasser Dam.
The Hibis temple is located in the centre of the town, which was once set up in
the oasis as a settlement of Persians and Ptolemies. The temple from the 6th
century BCE belongs to the few Persian monuments in Egypt and is preserved well.
Falcons and gigantic wall reliefs, which represent Darius at the welcoming of
the Egyptian gods, decorate the outer walls of the temple. The ancient
Necropolis of Bagawat is located ten kilometers away with 263 clay brick chapels
of which some show Coptic mural paintings. Among them are the peace chapel with
representations of Adam and Eva and the ark of Noah and the exodus chapel, with
representations of the following of the Jews under the leadership of Moses, by
pharaonic troops. In the oasis, pharaonic temples are the Al-Ghuwaytah temple
from 522 BCE and the Amenebis temple.
The thermal springs in the villages of Bulaq and Nasser are famous because of
their temperatures, which can rich 43 centigrade. The water seems healing
particularly for rheumatism and allergies. The oasis of Bari, with the second
biggest village Khargas, is further south. An unfinished project of the
architect Hassan Fathy is in the traditional Nubian architectural style stands
shortly before. The native population refused to retract because of the
proximity of the houses to grave buildings. To the antiquities belongs here the
temple of Dusch, which takes its name from the ancient Sudanese capital. Kursch
was taking care of the commercial relations with Egypt. At present,
archaeologists are digging up the ancient city of Kysis to which the temple
belonged. A fine network indicates that Kysis was left when the underground
water sources dried up. When that happened is still unclear.
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Oasis Dakhla
Oasis Dakhla
consist of 14 villages. The northern horizon of the oasis is marked out from a
wall of rosy stone. Gardens with fruit-trees and fields full rice and peanuts
defy the sand dunes, between Kharga and Farafara, an area of indescribable
natural beauty.
In the capital Mut named after the ancient goddess of the triad of Thebes is the
he museum of local history and culture, a traditional house with a cunning
wooden combination lock. Clay figures show different aspects of local culture
and family life. Al-Kasr, about 35 km from Mut was originally a Roman settlement
and became in the middle Ages capital of the oasis. The old town is one single
labyrinth from narrow lanes, lined by mud houses with fine carved wood
ornaments. The mosque is also remarkable from the Ayoubiden time. From the roof
of the Madras from the tenth century, you have an enchanting view of the
surroundings. On the way back to Mut, you can have a picnic at the Bir Al Gabal,
one salt lake surrounded by palms.
From Mut day trips can be made to AI-Muzawaka Gräber from the 1st century and
to El Hagar, a temple which originally was dedicated to the triad of Thebes and
later newly built by the Romans After the temple visit you can take a bath in
the nearby situated hot sulfur sources. You can go also to the Roman graves in
Baschendi and do not miss a visit of the carpet-weaving mill, where carpets are
woven with everyday scenes from the oasis life. At present, archaeologists are
digging up dozens of Mastaba from the sixth dynasty in the nearby-situated
village of Balaat, which was important trade post with the old Nubians.
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The Oasis Farafra
The oasis Farafra known in the pharaonic times as Ta-iht or land of the cow consists of one village and is the most isolated of all the western desert oases. The residents are known for their strict compliance with the traditions and their faith. It is so said the villagers would have forgotten once the time. They sent a rider to Dakhla so they could do the Friday prayer on time. The oldest part of the village is at the foot of a hill next to palm gardens surrounded by walls. The sulfur sources of Bir Setta are a little further and you can take a bath in Mi-fid Teich. The houses are colored like in the other oases whitewashed blue (to the protection from the evil view). Many are painted in addition with landscapes, animals and ceramics, the work of the native artist Badr. You can admire his works in his house. Another native, well known as “Mr. Socks”, sells lovely hand-knitted camel hair jumpers. __________________________________________________________________________
The Oasis Bahariya
lays in a reduction
of about 2.000 square meters, and is surrounded by black hills of iron-bearing
quartz and dolerite. The most villages and cultivated lands can be seen from the
top of the 50 meters high Gebel al Mi'ysrah. In the oasis Bahariya can one also
see the solid sand dunes, which threaten to entwine some of the older
settlements. Numerous wild animals, primarily birds, live here. Among other
things dates, olives, apricots, rice and maize, are cultivated, though the
acreage covers only a small part of the oasis. The largest village of the oasis
is called Bawiti. The picturesque hill quarter of the village looks at juicy
palm gardens, which are getting water from the Ain al Beschmo, a source that was
hit into the stone in Roman time and produces 30 degrees hot water. The
neighboring village of al-Qasr was set up on a temple of the 26th dynasty. You
can see painted graves from the same epoch nearby. Baharyia is noted for its
mineral and sulfur sources, among them Bir Mathar and Bir al Ghaba. You can make
day trips to the desert and spend the evenings relaxed in the café, smoking a
Schischa and listening to genuine Bedouin music. You have the choice either keep
driving across a new road to Siwa or drive to Farafra through the white desert.
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The White Desert
The stars speak of
the insignificance of man in the eternity of time, the desert of his
insignificance here and now. No visitor of the western desert should miss
visiting the white desert. Who does comes from Bahariya, will drive through the
black desert. There are some Roman ruins nearby, among them a church with Coptic
inscriptions. A chain of impressive and photogenic sand dunes separates Bahariya
and Farafra. The white desert, starts shortly after the Sillimpass, a unique
weathered landscape with surreal rock formations that impresses particularly at
sunrise or sunset. In moonless evenings, one can admire the milk way from the
campfire while shooting stars are lighting the sky. Excursions can be arranged
here by camel or cross-country vehicle, including warm meal. The unforgotten
experience and the impressive elements of this unique desert with its stony
sculptures, which have arisen in the course of the time, will stay with you long
time after this tour. The white desert is a must for every desert fan.
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On REQUEST
The oasis Siwa, or the oasis Fayoum – on request we would like to organize tours of several days with very experienced desert leaders.
