DailynewsegyptDailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt July 7, 2025
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Egypt, Poland discuss cooperation in agriculture, food industries
    Egypt, Poland discuss cooperation in agriculture, food industries
    July 6, 2025
    Egypt allocates EGP 1.5bn to accelerate automotive industry in FY2025
    Egypt allocates EGP 1.5bn to accelerate automotive industry in FY2025
    July 6, 2025
    CBE hosts regional training on stress testing for COMESA central banks
    CBE hosts regional training on stress testing for COMESA central banks
    July 6, 2025
    Egypt accelerates coastal protection projects amid rising climate threats
    Egypt accelerates coastal protection projects amid rising climate threats
    July 6, 2025
    Kouchouk urges greater BRICS role in tackling global debt crisis
    Kouchouk urges greater BRICS role in tackling global debt crisis
    July 6, 2025
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Deadly Israeli airstrikes pound Gaza as Doha talks raise hopes for ceasefire
    Deadly Israeli airstrikes pound Gaza as Doha talks raise hopes for ceasefire
    July 6, 2025
    Egypt's PM calls Israeli war on Gaza 'most dangerous crisis' at BRICS summit
    Egypt’s PM calls Israeli war on Gaza ‘most dangerous crisis’ at BRICS summit
    July 6, 2025
    Egyptian, Saudi foreign ministers discuss Gaza, Iran in phone call
    Egyptian, Saudi foreign ministers discuss Gaza, Iran in phone call
    July 6, 2025
    Venezuela vows to uphold sovereignty on 214th independence anniversary
    Venezuela vows to uphold sovereignty on 214th independence anniversary
    July 6, 2025
    Gaza ceasefire hopes rise amid intensifying Israeli strikes, mounting death toll
    Gaza ceasefire hopes rise amid intensifying Israeli strikes, mounting death toll
    July 6, 2025
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    From Al Mashroa X to The Seven Dogs: Karim Abdel Aziz charts new era for Egyptian film
    From Al Mashroa X to The Seven Dogs: Karim Abdel Aziz charts new era for Egyptian film
    July 1, 2025
    Rania Yehia
    When Egypt strikes chord in Rome: Rania Yehia and symphony of cultural diplomacy
    June 18, 2025
    Culture remains enduring constant at heart of resistance: Mohamed Salmawy
    Culture remains enduring constant at heart of resistance: Mohamed Salmawy
    June 11, 2025
    Iwan Stella
    Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson
    June 10, 2025
    Jamal Soliman
    Art must be sincere to create lasting impact: Jamal Soliman
    May 7, 2025
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Font ResizerAa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Search
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Follow US
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Business > Tourism > Sculpted in the Sun: Bahariya’s Black and White Deserts
Tourism

Sculpted in the Sun: Bahariya’s Black and White Deserts

Joel Gulhane
Last updated: June 4, 2014 4:58 pm
Joel Gulhane
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Our mini-bus pulled into the driveway of the Shams City lodge and hotel in the Bahariya Oasis and having left Cairo early the same morning it took us a moment to adjust to our surroundings. The rounded roofs of the rooms were surrounded by tall palm trees and as we gazed around and unloaded our bags, the owner of the lodge Ahmed Abd El Rahim greeted us with a smile.

He led us into the cool dining hall and explained the trip to us: the Black Desert, Crystal Mountain, the White Desert and a night under the stars.

After eating a modest lunch of cheese, bread and beans and a short time allowed to play ping-pong and lie on the grass we piled into two 4-wheel drive vehicles and set off on the road towards the desert.

Desert scenery is often repetitive and dull, however in the Bahariya Oasis there is actually a variety of desert. The first stop was the Black Desert, a landscape that is covered in a layer of seemingly charred rock. The tracks of the cars left yellow lines slicing through the dark stone, and we were able to look into the dry black valley set against the clear blue sky.

Next stop was the Crystal Mountain, which filled my mind with images of shining diamonds glinting in the sun, and I wasn’t far off. Arguably the rock formations did not catch the sun in the way my mind had envisaged but it was impressive to see the whole hill covered in various different types of crystalline rocks of varying size, shape and colour.

The final stop on the tour, where we would set up camp for the night, was the White Desert. We saw the brilliant white structures from a way off and as we approached we saw just how impressive the natural rock formations truly are. Having been underwater some millions of years ago it was amazing to see how Mother Nature had sculpted the landscape since the water dried up. Our drivers weaved between the monolithic formations pointing out those that had taken recognisable forms, including a dog, the Ancient Egyptian god Horus and the Pièce de résistance, the chicken and the tree (although there were some who argued it looked more like a sheep).

Our drivers decided to set up camp under the distant gaze of the Rabbit and we climbed high onto one of the rocks to watch the beautiful sun set. We descended quickly where we lay back and waited for the stars to appear one by one until the whole sky was blanketed with the sparkling diamonds.

Speak to a travel agent and arrange a trip tailored to you. I would recommend the Bahariya Oasis for a short weekend trip but there is the possibility to stay longer in this tranquil little corner of Egypt.

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

Photo By Joel Gulhane
Photo By Joel Gulhane

 

To follow Daily News Egypt on WhatsApp press here

To follow Daily News Egypt on Telegram press here

Abu Deraa trial postponed again
Egypt, Namibia agree to strengthen ties, boost cooperation
135 doctors referred to investigations over past month for absence during work
Free zones  to be announced at Investment Conference September: Minister
Egypt, Jordan, Palestine assert need for comprehensive peace in Middle East
TAGGED:Daily News EgyptDNEEgyptNewstourism
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
ByJoel Gulhane
Joel Gulhane is a journalist with an interest in Egyptian and regional politics. Follow him on Twitter @jgulhane

You Might Also Like

Egypt host BRIDGE roundtable to connect private sector with UK funding
Business

Egypt host BRIDGE roundtable to connect private sector with UK funding

October 19, 2024
Opinion

Editor’s letter: Unsustainable return of Mubarak’s state

August 29, 2013

Investor and state interests in conflict over government land-use proposal

October 21, 2012
SPIEF2024: BRICS+ cooperation key to food security amid geopolitical tensions, says Egypt's Planning Minister
BusinessEgypt

SPIEF: BRICS+ cooperation key to food security amid geopolitical tensions, says Egypt’s Planning Minister

June 7, 2024
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • home
  • Advertise with us
  • Developers
  • Subscribe with us
  • careers
  • Terms of service
  • Get In Touch
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?