38 Best Sights in Western Desert Oases, Egypt

This temple is one of only a handful of surviving Persian monuments in Egypt. It was built during the reign of the emperor Darius I (510–490 BC) on the site of an earlier temple dedicated to Amun. Later rulers surrounded the temple with a series of stone enclosures, and built an avenue of sphinxes. The reliefs are in good shape, and you can still see the garish colors on the bas-reliefs. Unfortunately, attempts by conservationists to protect the temple from rising groundwater have accelerated its destruction. The temple was closed at writing, but expected to reopen soon.

If you've seen the tombs of Saqqara or Luxor, this one is likely to disappoint; the few reliefs are in very poor condition, and you will need a car (preferably a guide) to find the tomb. Still, if you have come all the way to the oasis, it is usually included on guided tours.

Only one tomb in Bashindi's ancient cemetery is still intact, despite being occupied by soldiers and villagers for many years. Pharaonic reliefs show scenes of mummification and the deceased Roman-era official in front of the gods. Ask in the village for the caretaker who can open the tomb.

These 26th-Dynasty tombs are proof that in ancient Egypt if you had enough wealth you could buy eternity. The wealthy merchant and his son, who appear to have made their fortunes in the wine trade, are interred in tombs with all the hallmarks of royal burials. The style is charming and informal, and the colors are vivid. The Tomb of Zed Amun Ef Ankh has the unique feature of painted papyrus columns, an element normally found only in temples. The grander tomb of his son, Bannentiu, elaborately depicts scenes from the Book of the Dead including the solar barque traveling to the underworld.

The descent to the tombs is difficult because of the steep, narrow stairs.

While there is no admission fee, staff at the village's spartan tour center will record your nationality and offer you a free tour. Should you accept, a village custodian will lead you through the labyrinth of alleys, unlock doors, and point out sites of interest—though he may not speak much English. Tip him as you see fit.

The Tourist Friends Association organizes free guided tours of the city's sights, including visits to local carpet-making, pottery, and date processing factories.

This house serves as a museum of Siwan domestic life, with a good collection of pottery, tools, jewelry, and clothing used until very recently in the houses of the oasis.

The magical scenery of the White Desert in the northern portion of the Farafra depression enchants travelers and stirs the imagination. The desert here appears dusted in a layer of snow with a forest of chalk monoliths rising from the ground, their wind-sculpted forms resembling mushrooms, camels, birds, whales, and elephants. The outcroppings are all that is left of an ancient seafloor, its thick layer of calcified deposits scoured and shaped by the elements.

The desert extends from the west of the oasis, where a forest of inselbergs (chalk monoliths) rise up from the ground, across the highway to the so-called "Old" and "New" White Desert, where safari operators prefer to camp. The surreal landscape is best viewed at sunset when the monoliths turn shades of orange, pink, and violet in the dimming light. The show continues into the night as the entire desert shimmers in the pale light of the moon, its chalk columns rising above a snowy field.

For this reason, many travelers enjoy camping in the White Desert, which was declared a national park in 2002. Tours can be arranged easily in Cairo, Qasr al-Farafra, or Bawiti—the latter offering the best prices. If you do it on your own, you'll need to get permission from the police in either Farafra or Bahariya. All visitors must pay $5 park entry fee and £E10 to camp overnight.

Much of the White Desert is accessible by car or motorcycle, though a four-wheel-drive vehicle is required to reach the more remote sections. Be sure to bring food, fuel, sleeping bags, and water, and then just pick a spot. Supplies, including warm camel-hair blankets, are available in Bawiti or Qasr al-Farafra.