The gateway
Bahariya Oasis, gateway to the White Desert
Bahariya is the oasis about four hours southwest of Cairo where every White Desert trip changes from a highway car to a 4x4. Its main town, Bawiti, sits among palm groves and warm springs, with the Golden Mummies found here in 1996, the remains of a Roman-era wine-growing past, and hills where one of the largest dinosaurs ever found was dug up. Most travellers have lunch here; a night in a Bahariya hotel turns a two-day trip into a gentler three days.
In the oasis
What to see in Bahariya
- 1The Golden Mummies. Greco-Roman mummies with gilded masks from a vast cemetery found in 1996; a selection is shown in a small museum in Bawiti.
- 2English Mountain. A hill topped by a First World War lookout, with a view over the town and palm gardens.
- 3Gebel Dist and Gebel Maghrafa. Two pyramid-shaped hills on the oasis floor. The giant plant-eating dinosaur Paralititan was found nearby in 2000.
- 4The springs. Warm and hot springs among the palms, the best place to wash off the desert dust.
- 5Old Bawiti. Mud-brick lanes, palm gardens and the oasis market.
Overnight
Staying in Bahariya
Accommodation is simple: small eco-lodges and guesthouses built of local stone and mud brick, several with a spring or pool, and good home cooking. A night here works well before or after the desert camp on a three-day trip, or on the eve of the 2 August 2027 eclipse, when Bawiti gets about 6 minutes 17 seconds of totality.
From Cairo
Getting to Bahariya
About 370 km by a good desert highway from Giza, roughly four hours with a rest stop and police checkpoints. Our trips include the car from your Cairo hotel. Public buses run too, but a private car is far more practical, and you still need a licensed operator and permit to go on into the White Desert. See safety and permits.
Planning
How Bahariya fits a White Desert trip
On a two-day trip Bahariya is lunch and a short look around. On three days you can add the springs, English Mountain, Gebel Dist and a night in a lodge. See how many days to allow and Farafra or Bahariya as a base.
Asked often
Bahariya, answered
- How far is Bahariya Oasis from Cairo?
- About 370 km, roughly four hours by road from Giza.
- What is Bahariya known for?
- As the gateway to the Black and White Deserts, for the Golden Mummies found in 1996, its warm springs and palm groves, and the dinosaur Paralititan found at Gebel Dist.
- Is it worth staying a night in Bahariya?
- Yes on a three-day trip: it gives time for the springs and hills and makes the drive less rushed.
- Can I see the Golden Mummies?
- A small number are on show in a museum in Bawiti; ask us to add it to your trip.
- Is Bahariya safe?
- Yes. Government travel advice such as the UK's makes an exception for Bahariya, with a permit and official guide for the desert beyond.
