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Explore the enchanting Farafra Oasis in Egypt's western desert, a hidden gem boasting stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and historical significance. Discover the White Desert's surreal landscapes, ancient Bedouin architecture, and diverse ecosystem on your next adventure.
| Overview | |
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| Location | Western Desert, Egypt |
| Geographical Size | 980 km² |
| Climate | Hot desert climate |
| Population | Over 20,000 people |
| Ecolife | Diverse species, gazelles |
Farafra Oasis is a magical hidden gem filled with the most natural attractions in Egypt. The main purpose of this article is to offer every traveler all the facts and information about Farafra Oasis. This article was written by a group of very skilled team of tour operators, tour guides, and travel consultants who know all the details about Farafra Oasis.
Within the endless lands of the western desert of Egypt lies a miraculous phenomenon: the Farafra Oasis is one of the purest examples of natural beauty. It has acted as a habitat for some of the most hypnotic natural attractions in Egypt.
The oasis is incredibly beautiful as it has complete quartes of extraordinary architecture filled with incredible colorful drawings featuring the culture of the ancient Bedouin.
Farafra oasis is famed for its geographic location and geological formation, it is located in the western desert between Dakhla Oasis and Bahariya Oases inside the border of the new valley governorate. It is a 980 km2 (380 sq mi) geological depression, which is 170 km away from the Bahariya Oasis, 627 km away from Cairo, and 370 km southeast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Farafra Oasis is known for its hot desert climate, which is characterized by hot temperatures and very little rainfall. Where the average annual temperature in Farafra Oasis is around 23.9°C (75°F). The hottest months are July and August, with average temperatures of around 33°C (91°F).
The coldest months are December and January, with average temperatures of around 14°C (57°F). The climate offers the atmosphere to live the most ideal and memorable vacation across some of the most hypnotic locations and attractions across the oases of Egypt.
Farafra has a population of more than 20 thousand people. The capital and the most important town in the Farafra Oasis is the city of Qaser Farafra. The oasis is filled with endangered Rhim gazelle and rare Dorcas gazelle, as well as Barbary sheep; Rüppell's, red and fennec foxes; jackals; and the sand cat.
The Oasis has become an irrigated grove of date palms together with citrus, olive, apricot, and carob trees and is a cool haven amid the arid landscape. In Farafra Oasis, Badrs Museum's main goal is to shed light on Farafroni's history, culture, and traditions.
The history of Farafra Oasis dated back to prehistoric times, it was mentioned many times in the ancient texts during the 21st century BC in the reign of the 10th dynasty. The Farafra was referred to as "Ana Akhet" which means "The Land of the Cow" as the cow represented the symbol of fertility in the image of the goddess Hathor.
It was known as the city of conquest & invasion due to its remoteness, Ramses (1279-1213 BC) imported stones from the Farafra oasis and used them in constructing his various temples in Luxor. The site was also the interest of the Romans as many grains were cultivated in its lands, there are also some ruins of some roman temples, tombs, and palaces.
The oasis was also the center for the Copts who escaped the aggressive roman rule. After the Arab conquest in 641 AD, The Farafra oasis flourished due to the trade of the dated and olives plus cloth, tea, and others between it and the Nile River. Throughout the modern era of the 19th and 20th centuries as the oasis served as a worship site until today.
The white desert of the Farafra Oasis is one of the most famous, popular, and interestingly enchanting locations in the western desert. It has a surface area of around three thousand kilometers and is located 5 km north of the town of Qsar El Farafra, which is part of the park in the Farafra Oasis and is found in the New Valley Governorate of Egypt. It is basically a bizarre rock formation that resembles animals, mushrooms, and other strange shapes.
Some believe that the white desert is the ultimate proof of All Might's creative power. The entire area was once covered with seawater as some seashells are located in the halls of the rocks. One of the most well-known rocks is "The Finger of God" or "Al Qubar", which is a 20 m high rock that resembles a huge finger rising from the sandy heart of the western desert.
Read about the best places for Egypt Safaris in our guide to the top 20 safari destinations. Discover Egypt’s wild landscapes now!
Read MoreEl Qess Abu Said is the highest part of Farafra Oasis; 353 m above sea level and the lowest part is at Wadi Hennis which is 32 m. In the northeast of the white desert is the Aqabat or the obstacles as it is full of obstructions to whoever tries to enter. In the middle of the white desert is the infamous mountain of Twin Peaks.
Farafra Oasis is a very important geological formation and geographical location, and it enjoys having a number of natural water wells. The area is filled with more than 100 wells spread all over Farafra, which are used in the aggregation of the cultivated land in the oasis.
Some of the wells in Farafra have become a favorite tourist destination; Bir Sitta is called well number 6, Bir Sab'a is a well called number 7, and Bir Athnain wa shrine is the good number 22, which is known to be the most important well in the Farafra Oasis.
Due to the warm temperature and the slight percentage of sulfur in the water wells in Farafra, it is ideal to enjoy some swimming and relaxing time. Within the Farafra Oasis is a huge lake that is well known as Abu Nus, located 15 kilometers to the north of the Farafra Oasis.
Farafra Oasis is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, historical heritage, and cultural richness, which can be seen through the marvelous Bade Museum, which is able to shed light on the ancient Egyptian traditions and customs that date back centuries where everyone can enjoy the most amazing accessible and enriching experience. It is located about 3 kilometers east of Farafra town and was founded by Mr. Badr Abdel-Moghni who is a native artist of the Oasis, the museum showcases his remarkable sculptures, oil paintings, and watercolors depicting local life.
The museum is able to showcase the crafts and pastimes of the people of Farafra Oasis through artifacts that resemble a giant sandcastle, providing an immersive experience and presenting a collection of local objects alongside Badr's distinctive figures carved from local sandstone. Visitors can gain valuable insights into the oasis's life and culture through both the artworks and Badr's wealth of information.
Qasr El-Farafra is an enchanting ancient Roman granary situated in the El-Farafra Oasis of Egypt; it traces its origins back to the Roman period, spanning the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. The mystical ruins of this fortress offer a captivating exploration that features numerous forts strategically positioned to safeguard the camel caravan route connecting the oases and the Nile Valley.
It was constructed during the Roman era, which underwent expansion in the Middle Ages, with walls towering over 10 meters in height. It holds 125 rooms crafted from mud and rock bricks, and the structure serves various purposes, including economic, residential, and administrative functions. The fortress's decline commenced in the 1950s, triggered by the impact of heavy rainfall on its ancient structure.
Farafra offers a variety of accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences, from luxurious hotels to traditional Bedouin camps. Here are some of the most popular choices:
Around the ethereal Oasis are several camps found in the heart of the desert where everyone can witness some of the most incredible sights that were crafted by the heavenly forces of nature which include White Desert Camp that offers the chance to sleep under the stars in the heart of the White Desert and the Crystal Mountain Camp which offers stunning views of the magical surrounding landscape.
There is no place in the world that can match the magical beauty of this oasis, so if you ever find yourself in Egypt, don't miss the chance to explore such an incredible place by booking one of our Egypt Sahara Adventure Tours.
Also, seize your chance to be a witness to all the historical attractions in the beautiful cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan, which have a wide variety of overland tours and Nile River Cruises.
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The White desert has a white, cream color and has massive chalk rock formations which have been created due to the outcome of occasional sandstorms in the area.
The White Desert is one of the safest places to visit in Egypt where every traveler will get to witness the heavenly natural attractions.
The White Desert contains large chalk rocks and very special sand formations resulting from sandstorms in the area. The combination of the white sand with the sunshine makes the White Desert such a magical place, besides being a very safe place where there are no dangerous animals.
White Desert Protected Area is a national park in Egypt located in the Farafra depression, 45 km north of the town of Qsar El Farafra, and 570 km southwest of Cairo
Farafra Oasis is around 170 kilometers away from Bahaerya Oasis and 627 kilometers away from Cairo.
The distance from the miraculous city of Cairo to the magical city of Farafra is about 576 Km, which is known to take about 6 hours and 35 minutes to get there by vehicle.
The majestic city of Farafra is filled with a number of magnificent wonders that represent the true allure of the Sahara. Everyone on this amazing adventure will get to cast their eyes on The marvelous White Desert an otherworldly landscape made up of chalk formations that the wind has eroded over millions of years. The Black Desert is a miraculous volcanic desert that is home to several craters and lava flows. Crystal Mountain is made up of crystals that sparkle in the sun. The hot springs contain a number of hot springs in Farafra, which are a great place to relax and soak in the mineral-rich water that is totally worth the time. The Qasr Al Farafra is home to several traditional mudbrick houses where everyone can enjoy every single second.
The current population of Farafra Oasis is estimated to be around 20,000 people.
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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