9 min read | Published: Jan 25, 2023 | Updated: Jan 25, 2023 | TRIPS IN EGYPT

Bahariya oasis is a living miracle filled with tremendous gems of natural beauty, culture, and history that remained legendary and majestic for thousands of years. This blessed oasis offers the most incredible chance to witness the many pieces of natural divine art displayed across the golden desert and have the most thrilling adventure.

Everyone will have the most magical quest leading across all the priceless and creating the most joyful and thrilling memories while gaining a magical sensation of tranquility and belonging. This mesmerizing piece of heaven is filled with a number of magical facts and sights of divine beauty, in this article, we will discover all the information concerning this celestial wonder.

Location & How to Get to the Bahariya Oasis

The incredible depression of the Bahariya oasis is a naturally rich gem found in Giza Governorate at the core of the western desert just 370 km away from Cairo. It covers an area of 2000 km² extending from northeast to southwest which has a width of 42 km and a length of 94 km. the natural oasis is surrounded by a number of springs and mountains.

History of Bahariya Oasis

The history of this astral wonder of Bahariya oasis dated to the new stone age, hundreds of thousands of years ago when people took this place as their settlement and works as hunter-gatherers. A number of settlements dating to the old kingdom (2700-2200 BC) were found plus rock inscriptions dating to the middle kingdom (2040 - 1782 BC). A number of tombs in the 18^th dynasty and 26^th dynasties were discovered that showcases that the oasis was very economically and culturally blessed.

The oasis was very prosperous in the Greco-Roman period (332 BCE - 642 CE). Located in Qasr el-Miqisba (Ain et-Tibniya) are the ruins of the great temple of Alexander the Great which he passed through during his journey from the oracle of Ammon at Siwa oasis. One of the most incredible collections of artifacts and monuments discovered is the valley of the golden mummies which has 34 tombs dating to the Greco-Roman period.

In the city of Al Harrah a roman era mummy was discovered which dates to 300 BC was. A number of 19 buildings and a carved church in the bedrock was found dating to the 5^th century AD in 2019 which possessed inscription in the Greek language. The Bahariya oasis is known to be the home of a great collection of fossils that dates back more than 95 million years ago.

The Weather At Bahariya & the Best Time to Visit the Oasis

The Bahariya oasis has a marvelous desert climate that possesses no rainfall possibility all year long. The average template of the oasis across the entire year is 21.4 °C. The best time to visit the oasis is between October to April.

Culture & People of Bahariya Oasis

The people of the oasis are known to be up to 40,000 who are the descendants of the ancient Egyptian tribes that once dominated western Egypt and eastern Libya, and the north coast plus other races that once existed in the Nile Valley. Most of the people in the oasis are Muslim and the social settings of the oasis feature incredible Islamic culture.

The oasis economy is based on the agriculture of mangos, dates, guavas, and olives, tourism, and iron ore mining. The music of the oasis people was totally magical that was played at weddings and social gatherings. They have their own traditional songs which are passed down among themselves from one generation to another.

Names of Bahariya Oasis

The Bahariya oasis used to have two names in ancient Egypt, the first one is "DSDS" which dates to the Middle Kingdom (2040 - 1782 BC) and was found written on the back of a scarab while the other was lost in history, was found in the New Kingdom (1570 - 1070 BC) within the temple of Luxor with connection to King Kamose who took the oasis as his war base against the Hyksos. wḥꜣt mḥt "The Northern Oasis" became the official name of the oasis during the New Kingdom which appeared on the local grave of Amenhotep and also the oasis name found written in the Edfu.

It was known in Latin in 45 AD as "Oasis Parva" which means the Small oasis. A number of Greek historians such as Strabo (63 BCE - 23 CE) referred to the oasis as the "Second oasis" and the historian Olympiodorus of Thebes during the 5^th century CE called it "The Third Oasis". During the Coptic era, it was known as "Iwah Ēmbemdje", "Oasis of Oxyrhynchus" and in the Islamic ages as the oasis of Bahnasa. It is now known as al-Wāḥāt al-Baḥriyya meaning "the Northern oasis” due to its location.

What to Explore in Bahariya Oasis

The Bahariya oasis is made of a number of villages such as the biggest one and the main administrative center El Bawiti. A few km away from all directions are a number of towns and villages such as the villages of Mandishah and el-Zabu 10 km in the east, el-'Aguz, Harrah, El Heiz, Managim, and more. The Bahariya oasis is home to a number of incredible attractions which include:

1. The Black Desert

The black desert is a magical wonder which was created just 30 km (19 mi) in western Egypt between the Bahariya oasis in the north and the White Desert in the south. It is known to be an area of Volcano mounds and lands filled with basalt sills which give it the color black. All the mounds vary in height, composition, size, and shape, the biggest one is about 100 meters (328 feet) high. The black color of the mound comes from iron quartzite while the reddish color is made of iron sandstone.

Located across the black desert are volcanic hills which were made in the eruption of dark volcanic dolerite which was made 180 million years ago in the Jurassic age which would explain the discovery of a number of fossils. The black desert was declared a natural reserve in 2010 after the discovery of a large dinosaur skeleton.

2. Qarat Qasr Salim

Qarat Qasr Salim is a small mound found within the houses of Bawiti and was constructed across centuries of debris. In this amazing attraction are two well-preserved tombs dating to the 26^th dynasty around (664 BC-525 BC) that were robbed during the Roman period.

The rock-cut tombs of Zed Amun Ef Ankh and the Tomb of Bannentiu belonged to a father and his son from a very rich family which have the most magical works of art and architecture showcasing the finest wall paintings of the god Khonsu and goddesses Nephthys and Isis.

3. Ain Gomma

One of the most beautiful springs in this magical oasis is Ain Gomma which is made of Cool crystal-clear water that comes from a small pool in the middle of the desert in front of a great café in Al Hayz town. It is found just 45 k south of the marvelous city of Bawiti where everyone can have the most amazing super safari.

4. Al Hayz Water Education Center

Al Hayz Water Education Center is a marvelous water museum showcasing very important facts about the water resources and problems of Egypt. It displays incredible facts about the geology of the Western Desert, the traditional agriculture, and the rich architecture of the oases. The museum is made in sustainable architecture which is made of rammed earth and basalt.

5. Gebel Dist

The golden Gebel dist of the black desert is a very peculiar attraction that comes in a pyramid-shaped mountain that is filled with many fossils such as dinosaur bones that were discovered in the early 20^th century which proved that dinosaurs lived in other places and not just North America. It is found in the northern part of the oasis which shed light on the Bahariya formation.

6. Gebel Al Ingleez

Gebel Al Ingleez is known as the black mountain that acted as a fortification and was used as a WWI lookout on its flat top location where a British officer named captain Williams watched over the many movements of the Libyan Senussi tribesmen. The view from the top of the oasis is truly magic, especially during every sunset when everyone can live the most epic super safari across its golden atmosphere.

7. El Jaffara

The amazing El Jaffara is found on the south of the Bahariya-Cairo which is about 7 km away from Bawiti village. It is famous for containing two natural water springs where one is hot and the other is cold. The entire area is found near the Eden garden.

8. Valley of the Golden Mummies Museum

In the Bahariya oasis, the biggest archaeological discoveries were made which became known as the Valley of the golden mummies. It is found 380 km west of the Pyramids. In 1994 a team of Egyptian archaeologists discovered 250 mummies that date about 2000 years were recovered but the total amount of mummies excavated was about 10,000 mummies.

They belonged to a number of high-ranking ancient Roman Egyptians who made were decorated with gold masks and these mummies were decorated with religious and daily life scenes which are able to shed light on a number of incredible facts. The mummies are found in a museum located in this golden oasis.

9. Temple of Ain Al Muftella

One of the most magnificent wonders is the epic temple of Ain Al Muftella. It is found 2 km in the northwest of Bawiti which dates to the 26^th dynasty where it was dedicated to the high priest Zed-Khonsu-ef-ankh. The temple was not dedicated to a single god or a goddess but to a number of deities Osiris, Thoth, Ptah, and other gods and goddesses. It is filled with a number of incredible archaeological wonders such as decorated chapels that were built in the New Kingdom and in the Greco-Roman period.

Where to Stay in Bahariya Oasis

There are a number of hotels located in the glorious Bahariya oasis which include Desert Safari Home, Safari Camp Bahariya oasis, Ahmed Safari Camp, Western Desert Hotel & Safari, Badry Sahara Camp, Aliyah Eco-Lodge, and more where everyone can enjoy themselves and live the most thrilling adventure across the natural and historical treasures of this magnificent attraction.

Conclusion

Bahariya oasis is a heavenly attraction that can be discovered through our magnificent Egypt desert adventure tours which will discover all the archaeological and natural of this hidden gem. All our Nile River cruises will provide everyone the chance to live the most relaxing trip across the Nile river and then head across the golden western desert which holds this blessed oasis in the most exciting super safari adventure.