Bahariya Oasis & Black White Desert: Is a Day Tour Really Worth It?

Thinking about ditching the city for a day and seeing something completely unlike anything you’ve seen before? You might have stumbled across tours to the Bahariya Oasis and the Black and White Deserts. Basically, these places are visual feasts located a good distance away from Cairo, promising a landscape shift that’s difficult to believe until you witness it. What you should know is that I recently went on one of these trips, and it’s almost too much to fit into a single review. It’s also a mixed bag. You get some absolutely stunning scenery but you might have a grueling travel schedule. Very, very few trips manage that balancing act properly. The goal here is, to tell you what to expect so you’re able to judge for yourself if the Bahariya Oasis and surrounding deserts deserve a slot on your Egyptian itinerary.

First Impressions: The Oasis Beckons

Alright, so the drive. Expect several hours on the road. A really large number of tours kick off in the early morning to use up most of the daylight, and in fact to miss the brutal heat in the middle of the day, getting you back to Cairo at a somewhat decent hour. Anyway, as you approach Bahariya, the landscape changes; basically, this sandy nothingness starts to turn greener. You also start to see the occasional palm tree sticking up against the horizon. To be honest it’s a bizarre, somewhat welcoming sight. Now, Bahariya Oasis isn’t just about the desert landscapes that await. People actually reside there. So, you’ll spot traditional mud-brick houses, little gardens, and, more often than not, children waving hello. You may even stop in the town to grab some supplies, or in my instance to pick up our local guide. So you can get the impression that there’s preparation before you dive head-first into the desert itself. So, it’s a small breather before the proper adventure begins.

The Black Desert: A Volcanic Relic

After the oasis, next stop the Black Desert. A good number of people expect that you instantly end up in the White Desert. It’s not that you do, as it serves as a kind of introduction to the geologic oddities around Bahariya. Basically, you get the impression that the Black Desert obtained its name from a layer of volcanic debris blanketing the ground, giving everything this darkened appearance. Also, expect small black hills and mounds dotting the skyline – these are remains from old volcanic activity. So, they are very ancient. So you can, with the help of a guide, usually hike up one of these formations. Very often you get pretty extensive views of the seemingly endless desert spreading out. While not technically stunning, it’s an interesting location, giving a stark contrast to the upcoming White Desert. Very much it’s a prelude, preparing you for the greater spectacle to come.

White Desert: A Masterpiece of Nature

Alright, the star of the show – the White Desert. A short drive from the Black Desert is the White Desert. The moment that you arrive it’s difficult not to feel as if you’re on a completely different planet. Basically, the landscape shifts into these alien formations made of chalk rock. What happens is that centuries of wind and sand erosion have sculpted the rocks into, just, unbelievable shapes that almost look like something man-made. So it is quite strange, but beautiful. You know there’s “mushroom” rocks, balancing structures, and weird pointy hills which really provide outstanding photo opportunities. Now what tour guides usually do, they often have a practiced understanding of all the prime spots to take the ideal photo. In fact they know how to position you so the background looks like the best background. As I was saying, one of the great pleasures really is roaming around and personally discovering your own unique angles, and formations. It’s pretty wonderful and cool to feel like an explorer on another world. As a matter of fact if there’s one reason to justify the long journey from Cairo, it could be this.

What About the Food and Comfort?

Don’t expect fancy restaurant-level cuisine out in the desert. Actually, you’ll usually get served fairly traditional Egyptian meals that, admittedly, taste way better when eaten out in the open. We can, in a way, be frank and talk about logistics. So you can realistically expect that tour operators often carry all of the food, utensils, and supplies needed for making the meal. First, they can assemble it then and there at some shady spot or maybe at a pre-set camp. Many of them feature grilled meats, salads, and local bread – satisfying after hours of exploration. Basically about the comfort thing – the desert is not exactly famous for the amenities it offers. You can take what I said literally. Now in case you’re going on a day tour, then very often it’s just a case of short stops to be able to stretch your legs. As I was saying, trips lasting multiple days could arrange for more permanent camping places offering bedding and bathroom facilities. Obviously make proper enquiries before setting off to prevent surprises.

Is it Possible to Stay Overnight in the White Desert?

You will usually hear about the magic of the White Desert underneath a night sky. You can absolutely arrange for tours which include camping overnight. Now picture that the sun has dropped, the stars begin to come out, and the white rock formations almost adopt this ghostly luminescence. Very much you might feel it’s well worth the extra effort. Tour companies arrange the whole shebang for camping. Then there’s tents, mattresses, blankets, and always campfires for preparing food, for good old socializing and for keeping creatures away. First of all you might think about the temperatures, so it is key, really, to carry warm clothing since desert nights are apt to get pretty cool. Next thing to do is lie there on a blanket while enjoying the absolute silence, dotted by this unbelievable ceiling of stars; is that worth it? Absolutely.

Things that Often Go Wrong (and How to Mitigate Them)

Very often, when dealing with travel, things aren’t guaranteed to run smoothly. Expect transportation delays. Now roads around the oases aren’t always in perfect shape. Actually what I mean is bumpy rides which are very, very often standard. Ensure your tour operator offers reasonably comfortable transport. Then there are the crowds. To put it simply, the White Desert has grown very popular among tourists. You may want to try scheduling a trip during off-peak seasons so the quiet charm can be better preserved. Another factor would be communication obstacles. In short, local guides don’t often have great fluency in languages besides Arabic. Request a guide with decent language abilities to properly know about the location.

The Practical Stuff: What to Bring

Planning appropriately goes a really long way in making sure that a desert tour becomes fulfilling. First thing that many forget is the sun protection factor, and to basically overdo it. I’m referring to bringing hats, shades, and generous quantities of sunblock – this is essential. So many recommend carrying layers of clothing that prepare you for both excessive daytime heat, but also for the colder night temperatures in case you are planning on camping. Actually you will kick yourself if you forgot to bring a camera. Basically charge every one of your devices fully. And finally a power bank is going to be really great to possess since options for charging them are, most times, rather non-existent. Also be sensible by carrying sufficient quantities of water. Finally you may pack all the essential medicine together. The desert’s fairly removed from contemporary healthcare.

Bahariya Oasis and Black White Desert Day Tour: The Verdict

Taking a day tour to the Bahariya Oasis and the Black and White Deserts is, obviously, a considerable endeavor, given the time spent traveling. Yet the unparalleled landscapes definitely pay you back for the time, effort, and the possible discomfort. Should you go? So the final verdict is the tour can very often become memorable if you’re somebody with an appetite for distinct natural beauty and you have no trouble putting up with extended drives and modest facilities. Arrange it correctly, take the important stuff and you have the ingredients for an amazing excursion far from Cairo.

Frequently Asked Questions