Farafra Oasis and its hidden gems

CAIRO – 11 January 2018: Farafra Oasis is the starting point for many interesting tours to the White Desert, Black Desert, water wells and Crystal Mountain. Also, it is a gateway to precious places such as Farafra Palace, Qaser Abu Onkar, ruins of a Roman temple and some other ancient rock cut tombs.

Due to its small size and isolated location in southern Egypt, Farafra is only populated by 20,000 people. Most of its inhabitants originate from the Nile Valley and came to the Farafra Oasis to work as farmers, and they are famous for practicing their old traditions and customs.

Farafra’s secrets hide inside Egypt’s Western Desert, which is around 170 kilometers away from Bahaerya Oasis and 627 kilometers away from Cairo, 370 kilometers southwest of Marsa Matrouh and the Mediterranean Sea.


Water Wells

There are around 100 water wells spread all over the land of Farafra, which are used in aggregation of the cultivated land of the oasis.

Some of the wells are popular tourist sites, such as Bir Sitta, Bir Sab’a and Bir Ithnian, due to their warm water and low percentage of sulfur, which is very favorable for swimming and relaxation.


White Desert

It occupies a surface area of around 3,000 kilometers with 20-meter-high rock formations that can be seen from far away.


Whiet Desert in Al Farafra Oasis

Its western section holds ancient sites, such as Wadi Al-Ubayid, or the White Valley, which is the most visited place in Farafra Oasis.


Mushroom rock formations at the White Desert near Farafra, Egypt January , 2007 – Wikimedia / Daniel Csörföly

Black Desert and Crystal Mountain


Crystal Mountain rock formation in the White Desert in Al Farafra Oasis Oct 2,2005/- Wikimedia Daniel Csörföly

The Black Desert consists of mountains formed primarily of numerous volcanoes and small black stones. The most important landmark is Crystal Mountain, which is an important part of the beautiful landscape of the oasis.


Crystal rock with a rock hole, between Farafra and Bahriya depressions Feb.10,2005/ Wikimedia