Explore the enchanting Dakhla Oasis in Egypt's western desert, a hidden gem boasting ancient monuments, vibrant Bedouin culture, and stunning natural scenery. Discover historical villages, soak in healing hot springs, and experience the tranquility of this magical destination.
| Overview | |
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| Location | New Valley, Egypt |
| Area Total | 2,000 km2 |
| History | Back to the 6th Dynasty |
| Capital | Ain Basil (Balat) |
| Climate | Hot Springs and a Desert Climate |
Dakhla Oasis is a marvelous attraction offering a glimpse into the heavenly natural attraction of Egypt. The goal of this article is to offer every traveler all the facts and information about Dakhla Oasis. This article was written by a team of very skilled tour operators, tour guides, and travel consultants who know all about the details of Dakhla Oasis.
Considered by many to be the gem of the western desert, the Dakhla Oasis is one of Egypt's magical destinations as it holds remarkable monuments, amazing natural scenery, and beautiful ancient Egyptian artifacts & handcrafts that showcase the genuine beauty of the ancient Egyptian Bedouin culture.
Dakhla Oasis is in the new valley state, about 350 km (220 mi) from the Nile River. It measures 80 km (50 mi) from the east to the west and 25 km (16 mi) from the north to the south. It is situated inside a depression and lies between Farafra and Kharga.
The entire area is 2,000 km² and holds many hot springs. There are about 16 villages, and the most important one is the village of Mut. The oasis is known as the Labyrinth because of the various narrow alleys and secret passages.
The history of Dakhla oasis dates back to the 6th dynasty, around 2550 BC when the oasis was located in the center of an important caravan trading route that linked Dakhla to the Kharga and Farafra and to the Nile valley in the west and Libya to the west.
Unlike most of the other oases in the western desert, Dakhla was agriculturally cultivated and rich with a number of springs like "Bir Talata" and "Bir El Gabal" that offer warm water and a magical relaxing atmosphere.
Explore the Egypt Oasis, paradisiacal spots of pristine beauty that defy the very notion of wonder. Learn more now!
Read MoreDespite Dakhla being located far from centers of papyrus production, The oasis contains about five hundred tablets of clay with a stylus inscribed with hieratic language in the governor's palace at Ayn Asil (Balat) in the Dakhla Oasis filled with the record name lists, accounts, inventories, and close to fifty letters.
The village of Mut is the largest and most important location within the oasis. The name Mut was derived from the ancient Egyptian goddess Mut, who was the goddess of balance and the wife of the famous god Amun of Thebes.
In the southeast of Mut is a badly preserved Roman settlement called Mut El-Kharab. The most attractive site in the village is the spa of Bir Talata, which is located two km away from the center of the town; the water is rich in sulfur and iron, which are used to naturally cure various illnesses.
In the north of Mut village is a necropolis of Al-Muzwaqa, which consists of around 300 rock-hewn tombs; the most famous tombs are the tombs of Petosiris and Petubastis from the 1st and 2nd centuries, which contain all the traditional components of the ancient Egyptian tombs, the decorations, wall paintings and drawings that show funerary processions and offerings to the deceased, and the ancient Egyptian gods watching the deceased entering the afterlife.
About 20 km north of Mut is the village of Al-Qasr, which holds a number of majestic ancient monuments. In the center of villages lies the 21-meter high minaret of Sheik Nasr El-Din mosque, dating to the Ayyubid period in the 11th and 12th centuries.
The narrow lanes of the village have very enchanting and ancient Islamic houses with doors decorated with acacia wood, which holds the name of the owner or the constructor of the house being carved.
North of Mut, just near the necropolis, is Deir El-Hagar, known as the stone monastery, which dates from the first century to the time of King Nero in the middle of the 1st century AD and is dedicated to the Holy Theban Triad, the gods Mut, Amun Re, and Khonsu.
It was heavily renovated and enlarged in the Roman period. It is surrounded by massive mud-brick walls 16m long and 7 m wide with a small hypostyle hall with four pillars, two columns portico, and a sanctuary at the end of the complex.
40 km east of Mut is the village of Bashindi, which features a necropolis dating the Roman period and contains paintings showcasing perfect pharaonic style and Islamic mausoleum from the 11th and 12th centuries. The Village of Bashindi holds many mud-brick houses that are enchantingly decorated and colorfully ornamented, which makes it a very popular place for travelers to explore.
The village holds a necropolis dating back to the Roman period. The Mausoleum of Bashindi was constructed by placing a large mud-brick structure with a dome over the Roman necropolis, which has some magically decorated tombs like Kitines, which were painted in the Pharaonic style.
The village of Balat, which is located northeast of Bashindi, is known for its historical and architectural importance dating back between 2289 BC and 2152 BC. It is famous for being an important historical and architectural attraction as the village is famous for being the site of two of the most famous archeological sites in Egypt's Western Desert: the Qila El Dabba Necropolis and Ain Asil, the capital of the Oases in the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt. The village dates back to the time of Egypt old kingdom.
A collection of amazing treasures of copper items, terracotta pottery, and copper jewelry, which can be found on display in the Kharga Archeological Museum, were excavated from the Mastaba tomb of Khentika, the ruler of the oases during the ruling period of King Pepi I plus the mortuary chamber was decorated with enchantingly bright colors and drawings.
There are several marvelous hotels located in the beautiful oasis of Dakhla, which include the ideal Shanda Lodge Desert Resort made for families, providing the most comfortable collection of amenities and activities across the several pools, kids' clubs, and a variety of restaurants. Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary Lodge & Spa is a marvelous eco-lodge made for people who desire to experience the beauty of the desert in the most magical way by simply enjoying the stunning views, private pools, and a variety of spa treatments.
For all budget travelers, everyone can enjoy the incredible and budget-friendly Mebarez Hotel where everyone can enjoy the most ideal collection of accommodations and a variety of amenities, including a pool, a restaurant, and a spa for the best prices. The three-star desert lodge is an epic option for budget-minded travelers who desire to enjoy comfortable accommodations and a variety of amenities, including a pool, a restaurant, and a spa. The three-star Bedouin hotel camp is an astonishing place to relax and experience the beautiful traditional lifestyle where everyone can enjoy a number of very amazing activities like desert safaris and camel rides.
The Egyptian western desert is a sand ocean filled with the wonder of magic that will change the way anyone looks at life. Explore the majestic destination of this incredible country and witness the definition of true glory through one of our Egypt Western Desert tours & packages.
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There are many ways to get to Dakhla Oasis but the best way car or a bus from Cairo or Luxor.
The Dakhla Oasis is filled with a number of marvelous freshwater springs which are known to be the most famous tourist attractions among tourists due to their wonderful warm water and relaxing atmosphere. The magical attractions found in Dakhla Oasis include:
The Village of Mut.
The Village of Al Qasr.
Deir El Hagar.
The Village of Bashindi.
The Village of Balat.
The Necropolis of Al Muzwaqa.
Dakhla Oasis means in Arabic inner oasis which is one of the seven oases of Egypt's Western Desert
The Oasis Project (DOP) is a study of an Egyptian oasis to determine its cultural and parallel environmental evolution which assembles in the oasis each winter between October and April.
Everyone will get to explore the majesty of the 2nd Roman temple of Deir El Haggar for hours and the mysterious Greco-roman El Mukawwas Tombs that reveal some of the best facts from all the decorations. Everyone will dive into the rich world of Qasr Dakhla, where everyone will enjoy the finest remains of temples, markets, and houses. The allure of the natural desert will be discovered through the phenomenal white and black desert, magic spring, and all the striking villages found across the oasis.
Dakhla Oasis has a population of around 75,000 and a diverse community of Egyptians, Nubians, and Berber people, with the main town of Mut being the largest settlement.
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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