# Egypt's White Desert: An Alien Landscape Beyond the Pyramids > Discover Egypt's White Desert: bizarre rock formations, landscapes that look like another planet and real adventure far beyond the pyramids. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/bila-pustelia-yehyptu-inoplanetnyi-landshaft-za-mezhamy-piramid/ - Language: en - Published: 2024-08-04 - Categories: Hiking, Culture, Historic Sites, Mountains, Egypt, Canyons --- Egypt is best known for the Great Pyramid of Giza and its lavish resorts along both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Yet one of the country's most striking landscapes often slips under the radar: White Desert National Park. This vast reserve in the Farafra depression, in western Egypt, is a treasure trove of wonders. Travelers who venture across these strange lands often feel as though they are visiting another planet, even though they are only a five-hour drive from Cairo. Trips into Egypt's Western Desert are becoming increasingly popular with locals and tourists alike. Activities range from dune bashing and sandboarding to mountain biking and kayaking in the nearby Bahariya Oasis. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-37-1-2024.jpg) "The White Desert is so unlike anywhere else on the planet," said Ziad Omran, co-founder of the adventure travel company Destination 31. "Once people try adventure travel there, they come back again with their friends, so they can experience it for themselves too." ## The Black Desert The journey to the White Desert usually begins with a stop in a completely contrasting landscape: the Black Desert. This desert stands out for its many distinctive mountain ridges. Each one is coated in a layer of black stone hurled from volcanoes millions of years ago, and that is exactly what gave the sandy terrain its colorful name. Climb to one of the peaks and it becomes clear that there is no sign of life anywhere in the area, apart from a single road stretching off into the distance. That road, however, is not the one that leads to the White Desert. To reach the national park, you have to deflate the tires of a Land Cruiser 4x4 and race across the desert dunes at dizzying angles. Weaving and plunging down the rolling dunes is a thrilling experience, one that eventually gives way to the instantly breathtaking sight of the White Desert. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-37-2-2024.jpg) Within seconds of arriving, questions about its mysterious origins begin to surface, as its eerie beauty serves as a stark reminder that our planet is subject to powerful climatic shifts. It is almost impossible to believe that this was once a sea or an ocean, and the only evidence left behind is a collection of limestone rocks, fossilized and polished by sand and wind over vast stretches of time. These chalky, abstract shapes seem to change color throughout the day, shifting from bright white to cream and then reaching a golden brown. ## When Darkness Falls Nestled among the massive rock formations in the Agabat Valley is a soft sandy hill, perfectly suited for sandboarding. Trickier to carve and slower than gliding down a snowy mountain, sandboarding still delivers a real rush, but there are no ski lifts in the desert, and hauling yourself up the steep sandy hill is exhausting. As the sun goes down, the desert reminds everyone that this is a land of extremes, and every hour after sunset calls for another layer or two to stay warm. Once camp is set up, local Bedouins prepare an authentic, traditional dinner over an open fire for the visitors. The exotic aroma of the feast often draws in one of the White Desert's rare residents: the fennec, also known as the sand fox. These charmingly harmless creatures are hard to spot, appearing like shadowy silhouettes in the distance. They often edge closer to the camps, having grown used to relying on the visitors' leftovers as part of their diet. ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-37-3-2024.jpg) Thanks to the depth of the landscape and the complete absence of light pollution in every direction, the stars blaze and streak across the night sky. This astonishing setting is arguably one of the finest places on the planet to watch the Milky Way in all its glory. When the moon rises, its bright light bounces off the rocky surfaces, casting a bluish glow that illuminates the national park and invites nighttime strolls through its otherworldly terrain. Night explorers should take care and bring a flashlight, since it is easy to get lost or trip over the uneven, alien topography. ## An Exhilarating Route ![](/storage/image/prev/august-article-image-37-4-2024.jpg) In the morning, the rising sun wakes even the deepest sleeper. Before packing up camp, it is worth taking a walk to one of the park's treasures, known for its shape as the Chicken and Mushroom. After leaving the park, most travelers head off for a little over an hour to the Bahariya Oasis. A popular attraction in this area is climbing to the top of English Mountain, named for the ruins of a British outpost from the First World War that crown its highest point. Reaching the summit rewards you with a stunning 360-degree panorama of the entire oasis, including lush groves of delicious date palms and olive trees. It also offers a challenging route for mountain biking enthusiasts. The descent along winding trails strewn with sharp rocks and sandy patches is not for the faint of heart, but it gives experienced riders a genuinely exhilarating ride. The foot of the mountain leads to the pristine and untouched Bahariya Salt Lake. Remarkably, there is no development anywhere around its shores, which makes the calm, healing lake a perfect spot for kayakers to soak up a magnificent sunset. "My favorite part of the trip was kayaking with the golden rays reflecting off the water. It was a moment of pure delight," shared Nourine Fadel, one of the travelers on a recent Destination 31 trip. All of these sights and activities can fit into a two- or three-day trip. The longer you stay, the more time you have to explore the surroundings, as the region is full of landmarks worth your attention. It may take years, even decades, before travel to the surface of the Moon becomes possible. Even so, for those who cannot wait for that moment, White Desert National Park may be the next best thing for living out lunar camping fantasies.