Discover the allure of Egypt's deserts, from the mystical White Desert to the historical Blue Desert. This concise guide offers adventure travelers insights into Egypt's diverse desert landscapes, cultural heritage, and geological wonders. Learn from experts about unique destinations like Whale Valley and the opportunities for adventure tourism in the Sahara, for an unforgettable exploration of Egypt's natural beauty.
Egypt Deserts is an ideal place for every adventure traveler to explore all the natural sites of the Egyptian Sahara. This article's main goal is to provide every traveler with all the information and facts about how to discover all the incredible deserts of Egypt. A group wrote this article about a talented and skilled group of tour operators, tour guides, and travel consultants who know every detail about the enchanting deserts of Egypt and the most entertaining activities to do.
Egypt is blessed in every shape and form, rich in the sense of the world, and filled with the most breathtaking natural attraction in existence, even in the desert, where the wild beauty can hypnotize all the senses and elevate the horizon to a whole new level of awareness. The Egyptian desert all over Egypt is filled with a hidden gem of divine allure since the time of creation.
The white desert in the Farafra Oasis is one of the most famous, captivating natural destinations in the western desert. The white desert is an enchanting rock formation made entirely of white sand, which resembles mushrooms, animals, and other very strange and realistic shapes. The entire area was once covered with pure seawater because some seashells were located in the halls of the rocks.
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Read MoreOne of the most recognized rocks in the white desert is "The Finger of God" or "Al Qubar" which is 20 m high and is shaped like a huge finger rising from the sandy heart of the western desert. To the northeast of it is the Aqabat, or the obstacles, because of the number of obstructions in front of anyone who tries to enter the white desert, and in the middle of it is a mountain called Twin Peaks.
The Black Desert, an extraordinary natural marvel located in Western Egypt, stretches over a span of approximately 30 kilometers. It is strategically positioned between the White Desert to the south and the Bahariya Oasis to the north, forming a unique landscape that captivates visitors with its stunning beauty. This remarkable desert owes its name and distinctive appearance to the presence of countless small volcanic rocks and stones, which scatter across its surface. These dark, volcanic remnants rest upon an orange-brown canvas, creating a visual spectacle that resembles a magnificent modern art painting, where nature's hand has skillfully blended colors and textures to produce a breathtaking view.
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Read MoreThe origins of the Black Desert's unique landscape can be traced back to ancient volcanic activity. Over millennia, eruptions spewed forth lava and ash, which, upon cooling, transformed into the small black rocks and pebbles that now dot the desert. This process has endowed the area with a surreal, otherworldly appearance, making it a subject of fascination and a photographer's paradise. The contrast between the dark volcanic stones and the lighter-colored sands produces a striking visual effect, akin to a natural mosaic crafted by the earth itself.
The Blue Desert is a remarkable and visually captivating area situated in the Sinai Desert, near the resort cities along the Red Sea. This unique desert gets its name from the striking blue hue that covers its rocks and structures, a vivid transformation brought about by a Belgian artist. The transformation involved the use of ten tons of paint, a generous gift from the United Nations, marking a creative and symbolic gesture to commemorate the historic peace accord signed between Egypt and Israel in 1979.
This artistic endeavor not only beautified the natural landscape but also infused it with a deep sense of historical significance. The choice of blue, a color often associated with peace, tranquility, and harmony, serves as a visual representation of the newfound peace between the two nations. The artist meticulously painted a vast number of rocks and constructions, turning the desert into an open-air gallery that attracts visitors from around the world.
The Western Desert is an ethereal dimension that is located west of the Nile up to the Libyan border and south to Sudan, contrasting with the Eastern Desert east of the Nile toward the Red Sea. It covers 680,650 square kilometers (262,800 sq mi), about two-thirds of Egypt's land area. Its highest elevation is 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the Gilf Kebir plateau, which is mostly rocky, with a sandy region called the Great Sand Sea bordering Libya. It is famous for having a string of oases that include Siwa, Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla, and Kharga.
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Read MoreWithin the western desert is the Great Sand Sea, which stretches 650 kilometers north-south and 300 kilometers east-west, displaying long sand ridges with varying mega dunes. The region hosts oases formed where the land meets aquifers. Unique landscapes like the Black Desert, White Desert, and the Gilf Kebir plateau showcase volcanic hills, chalk rock formations, and prehistoric sites. Additionally, it's home to the Giza Plateau, housing the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. The White Desert is a national park with chalk rock formations that serve as a refuge for diverse wildlife. It's a plateau characterized by rugged, brown terrain with scattered scrub, contrary to romanticized notions of dunes and oases. In prehistoric times, the Western Desert was a grassland, later transitioning to desert due to over-grazing and climate change. It hosted ancient Egyptian remains, and historical events such as Alexander the Great's visit to the Oracle of Ammon occurred here. Over time, it fell under various jurisdictions, including Rome, Byzantines, Arabs, and Turks. The area witnessed conflict during the 20th century as it became a battlefield in conflicts like the Senussi Campaign in World War I and the Western Desert Campaign in World War II. In modern times, Egypt encouraged settlements in the oases and conducted mineral surveys, notably for oil.
The Eastern Sahara, also known widely as the Arabian Desert, is an expansive and geographically significant region that stretches across the eastern flank of the Nile River, from the northern reaches of Egypt down to the southern parts of Eritrea, incorporating areas within Ethiopia and Sudan. This vast desert landscape is uniquely positioned between the Nile River and the Red Sea, covering a substantial part of Northeast Africa. The Eastern Desert is renowned for its rugged beauty, characterized by volcanic-rock mountains that trace the coastline of the Red Sea. These mountains, which were formed approximately three billion years ago, add a dramatic backdrop to the desert's otherwise stark expanse.
Encompassing an area of about 85,690 square miles, the Eastern Desert accounts for roughly 21% of Egypt's total surface area. Its terrain spans southeastward into northeastern Sudan and stretches from the verdant Nile River valley eastwards to the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea. This region is often referred to as the Red Sea Hills or the Arabian Desert, a name that reflects both its geographical orientation and its historical connections.
Wadi El Hitan, also known as Whale Valley, is one of the most extraordinary and scientifically significant locations in the world. It is located 150 km south of Cairo in the Faiyum Governorate of Egypt. This unique paleontological site is renowned for its well-preserved fossils of Archaeoceti, an extinct sub-order of whales, which have provided crucial insights into the evolution of these marine mammals. The discovery of hundreds of these fossils within the confines of Wadi El Hitan has dramatically enhanced our understanding of how whales transitioned from land-dwelling animals to the ocean giants we are familiar with today.
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Read MoreThe significance of Wadi El Hitan extends beyond the remarkable state of preservation of the whale fossils. The site is also home to an array of other ancient marine and terrestrial creatures, including crocodiles, sharks, and rays. The abundance and condition of these fossils have made it possible for scientists to fully reconstruct the ecological and environmental conditions of the time period in which these animals lived. This comprehensive fossil record is invaluable for understanding the evolutionary processes that have shaped life on Earth, offering a window into a past ecosystem that was vastly different from today's world.
The Watermelon Valley, situated in the New Valley Governorate of Egypt, presents a fascinating geological landscape that captivates both scientists and tourists alike. This unique region is characterized by its abundance of Chert nodules from the Drunka Formation, dating back to the Lower Eocene epoch. These nodules, reminiscent of watermelons due to their size and shape, range in diameter from 40 cm to an impressive 120 cm. They are not randomly scattered but are quasi-uniformly spaced about 2 to 3 meters apart within the plane of bedding, suggesting a remarkable geological process at play during their formation.
These spherical nodules boast a concentric internal structure, revealing layers of geological history and providing insights into the environmental conditions of the Eocene period. The spacing and arrangement of these nodules in the landscape are a subject of interest for geologists, who study their formation to understand the sedimentary processes and the paleoenvironmental conditions of the time. The nodules, except for the rare smaller ones that are less than 6 cm in diameter and are solid chert, are typically less than 85% silicified, indicating that they have undergone a complex process of mineralization and preservation.
The Sinai Desert Peninsula is part of Egypt and the only section of the country in Asia that serves as a land bridge between Africa and Asia, bordered by the Red Sea to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the north, which covers about 60,000 square kilometers with a population around 600,000, it's divided into South Sinai and North Sinai Governorates. Historically known as Arabia Petraea, the name "Sinai" comes from a divine mountain near Saint Catherine Monastery, which is known as the Biblical Mount Sinai that played a significant role in Abrahamic religions. Sinai has been part of Egypt since ancient times as a turquoise mine around 3100 BC. It has seen foreign occupations, notably by the Greco-Roman, Ottoman Empire, and later the United Kingdom. Geographically, Sinai's triangular shape links Africa and Asia via the Isthmus of Suez, containing the Suez Canal. It's bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea's Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba to the southwest and southeast respectively. Its eastern shore separates the Arabian and African plates.
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Read MoreThe region's notable attractions include Mount Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastery, and beach resorts like Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba. The area's tourism industry has grown through capitalizing on scenic spots, coral reefs, and religious structures. Due to its high altitudes, Sinai experiences cold temperatures in winter, with some areas dropping to -16 °C (- 3°F). Additionally, the region has had historical military significance, with cactus hedges forming defensive positions during World War I's Sinai and Palestine campaigns. Sinai's landscape is predominantly arid and mountainous, sparsely populated with major settlements like Arish, Sharm el-Sheikh, and El Tor. Agriculture, particularly cactus cultivation, has historical significance here, and dromedary herding is important despite concerns like Trypanosoma Evansi, a disease transmitted by various vectors.
The Nitrian Desert is a magnificent region found in northwestern Egypt, which is located between Cairo and Alexandria just west of the Nile Delta and has a history of Christian monasticism. During Late Antiquity, the Nitrian Desert hosted three significant monastic centers. Around 330 AD, Macarius the Egyptian created a monastic community in Wadi El Natrun (known as Scetis), deliberately far from arable land. Shortly after, in the 330s, Saint Amun established Nitria, merely 30 miles southeast of the immortal city of Alexandria, following the principles set by Saint Anthony.
Enjoy a tour to Wadi EL Natroun from Cairo and visit Baramus monastery, Saint Bishoy monastery, Abu Makar monastery, El Suryan monastery.
Read MoreAmun then established a second center, Kellia, deeper into the desert upon the suggestion of Saint Anthony. Kellia has undergone thorough scientific excavations, shedding light on its historical significance. Presently, only Scetis in Wadi El Natrun continues as an active monastic site that preserved its ancient heritage.
The Great Sand Sea is a celestial marvel filled with true epic treasures made by nature which is located at the northern edge of the Sahara Desert that covers more than 27,000 square miles. The Great Sand Sea is one of the best destinations for sandboarding in Egypt, offering a unique and exhilarating experience for adventure seekers. It is the second-largest sand-covered area in the world and features incredible sand dunes that stretch 85 miles in length. It's predominantly covered by sand dunes, stretching approximately 650 kilometers from north to south and 300 kilometers from east to west. This desert displays long sand ridges running mostly north-south, showcasing two major areas with different types of mega dunes. About 10% of the Egyptian Western Desert is veiled by the dunes of the Great Sand Sea.
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Read MoreIt is known that there are five types of sand dunes in the world, and Egypt's Great Sand Sea has four of them: star, whaleback, barchan, and straight or linear dunes. Each dune is formed by blowing winds and sands colliding together from different directions. The Great Sand Sea was first documented by Friedrich Gerhard Rohlfs, a European explorer, in 1865. It wasn't until 1924, with the maps created by Ahmed Hassanein, that Europeans recognized the full scale of the Great Sand Sea. This dessert is featured as one of the regions, called nomes, in the 2017 Ubisoft game "Assassin's Creed Origins".
Egypt's landscape is primarily shaped by its vast deserts which include the Western and Eastern Deserts and the Sinai Peninsula. This arid terrain brings scorching days, cooler nights, and scarce rainfall, profoundly affecting how people live, farm, and build. These deserts also hold ancient treasures, from archaeological sites to remnants of past civilizations, preserving Egypt's cultural heritage. The unique landscapes of the White Desert and others draw tourists seeking desert adventures and cultural immersion, boosting Egypt's tourism sector.
Egyptian Oases like Siwa and Kharga provide havens for settlement and farming in the midst of these harsh deserts, which plays a crucial role in sustaining life. Egypt's deserts aren't just barren land; they're rich in resources like oil, natural gas, and minerals found in the Western Desert and Sinai, boosting the country's economy.
The beauty of Egypt is infinite and everlasting, especially in the desert where the sight of the heavenly Sahara can truly hypnotize anyone who lays their sight on it. We offer the finest exploration and super Egypt Sahara adventure tours within the essence of all these majestic destinations where the fun and entertainment never stop.
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The Western Desert covers about 700,000 square kilometers and accounts for about two-thirds of Egypt's land area. It spans from the Mediterranean Sea south to the Sudanese border and from the Nile River Valley west to the Libyan border.
The names of the deserts in Egypt include the Western Desert, Eastern Desert, and Sinai Desert. Each one of the deserts possesses its own history and list of attractions, which are:
The Western Desert is the largest, encompassing almost half of Egypt, filled with vast golden dunes, oases like Siwa, and the iconic White Desert with its chalk rock formations.
Eastern Desert is Home to the majestic Red Sea mountains, ancient monasteries, and the breathtaking Wadi El Gemal National Park with its petroglyphs.
The Sinai Peninsula is a majestic desert peninsula that has a diverse terrain, including rugged mountains, turquoise coastlines, and the holy mountain of Jabal Musa, "Mount Sinia".
The Sahara desert has a variety of land that spans 11 countries which are Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia
The three deserts of Egypt include The Eastern Desert, The Sinai Desert, and The Western Desert. Within these deserts are a combination of natural, archaeological, and cultural wonders.
The Western and Eastern Deserts are often considered the "main" ones due to their size and historical significance.
The western desert is close to the magnificent outskirts of Cairo, which is home to the Giza plateau and the white desert. The eastern desert is home to many of the modern cities and the coastal resorts.
Egypt covers a significant portion of Egypt, which is around 85%, and is filled with the fertile Nile Valley and the Delta regions.
The western desert is home to the Giza pyramids plus the rest of the pyramids areas of Saqqara and Dahshur.
Hurghada, like most of the coastal resorts of the Red Sea, is found on the eastern desert coast.
The Four Desert Death Run in ancient Egypt is a concept of endurance and worship where certain people attempt to endure the extremely difficult terrain and scorching temperature of the Sinai, Eastern, and Western deserts.
The Eastern Desert occupies the eastern side, bordered by the Nile River to the west and the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez to the east, while the Western Desert is found west of the river Nile, up to the Libyan border, and south from the Mediterranean Sea to the border with Sudan.
The Sinai desert is a very religious landscape that played a vital role in the rise of all three Abrahamic religions. Saint Catherine Monastery in Sinai offers a chance to live the most thrilling and blessed Christmas holiday.
The desert in Egypt was called the "Red Land" by the ancient Egyptians because of the red-colored sands due to the reddish iron oxide found in the soil and the way the sunlight tinted the desert during sunrise and sunset.
The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.
If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.
Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.
The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.
You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.
You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.
Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.
The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.
There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.
Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.
Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.
The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.
The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.
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