Itinerary
Early departure from your hotel in Luxor, direction the Oasis of Kharga 250 km away. We will leave the Nile Valley with its beautiful village landscapes then we will drive west to sink into the heart of the Desert. It is a getaway that takes you out of time enjoying the splendid desert landscapes, dotted with sand dunes with incredible natural formations. Just before joining the Oasis of Kharga, we will stop at the old Barès . These are two small oases: Dakhakhin and Gaga. A walk will allow you to prepare for immersion in the Oisian spirit. You will admire the traditional architectural style of their homes and you will meet the local population. You can also admire the desert that takes over these small oases through the sand dunes that surround them, the height of which varies between one and six meters. You will also walk through the new Barès , a model design, designed by Hassan Fathy, a world-famous Egyptian architect, inspired by traditional Oisian architecture.
Lunch in a local restaurant, then we will resume the path to the Oasis of Kharga through archaeological visits:
The temple of Qasr El-Zayan which was built during the reign of the Ptolemies and which was enlarged in Roman times. Dedicated to the god Amon Re of Hibis (namely Hibis is the pharaonic name of the Oasis of Kharga). This temple contains a sanctuary made of white limestone blocks with many mud brick side chambers.
The temple of Qasr Ghweita (which means in French: fortress of deep springs). Built in the 6th century BC and dedicated to the worship of the holy triad: Amon, Mut and Khonsou. It is erected at the top of a hill on the ancient remains of a Pharaonic colony.
We will take the road to the Oasis of Kharga. On arrival, we will discover this beautiful oasis to admire its traditional dwellings, its palm groves, its dovecotes, etc. and bathe in one of its many hot springs.
On the way to Ganah where to set up our bivouac! We will enjoy a more than sublime natural landscape and end the day with a superb sunset.
Barbecue dinner and night in bivouac.
Breakfast and departure for the discovery:
of the temple of Hibis which is the largest and best preserved of the ancient monuments of the Egyptian oases. It dates from the 6th century BC and dedicated to the god Amun.
of the Bagawat Necropolis which is one of the oldest Christian necropolises in the world. This necropolis is made up of 263 Byzantine-style mud-brick chapels, some of which retain very beautiful paintings of biblical scenes. In the middle of this necropolis there is a church built around the 4th century AD. This necropolis stands on an embankment about a kilometer from the temple of Hibis
A walk in the Kharga Oasis will lead you to a pottery workshop, traditional carpets and a government craft center where we attend the weaving of carpets and klims and the modeling of pottery.
Then you will enjoy a swim in a hot spring and lunch in a typical restaurant.
On the way to the Oasis of Dakhla at 180 km via:
Teneda , a beautiful place in the heart of the desert characterized by its magnificent natural sand dune formations. You can admire caves with rare prehistoric drawings of its kind, sketching giraffes, antelopes and many other Oisian fauna.
the mountain of the English which was a camp of English troops during the 2nd world war. You can admire the graffiti of soldiers as well as the remains of their tools such as topographic maps and many others.
We continue the path to Balat which is a traditional village with undeniable charm, characterized by its small narrow streets often covered with rather low ceilings intended to protect the village from possible incursions, which prevented enemies from accessing it. camel or horseback.
We will continue to Mut , this is the main center of the Oasis of Dakhla. It was originally a pharaonic colony, then it became a medieval city. the gates are closed in the evening to protect the local population from possible raids. A walk to admire the remains of the old city and a swim in a hot spring will end the visit.
We will take the road again towards the place of our bivouac. It is a dry wadi at the foot of the mountain in a mountainous cirque. Feet in the fine sand of the desert, you will enjoy a breathtaking spectacle with a sublime sunset on a sand dune which offers an exceptional panorama of the natural lake of Qalamoun
Barbecue dinner and night in bivouac
After breakfast, departure to visit:
Qalamoun village , an ancient village perched on the top of a hill with small climbing streets, houses with traditional doors, medieval mosques and the remains of an ancient fortress.
Al-Qasr which is a medieval city made of mud bricks, it is a veritable maze of narrow streets and secret passages. The architecture of the raw brick houses in these narrow streets and alleys, always cool despite the summer heat, is of great beauty. It is built at the foot of a limestone cliff and is dominated by a medieval mosque dating from the 13th century in the style of the Islamic Ayyubid dynasty. This mosque is characterized by its high minaret bristling with rough logs reminiscent of the minarets of sub-Saharan Africa
The ruins of Deir El-Haggar, an archaeological site that has remained under the sand for a long time, which explains its extraordinary state of conservation. You can admire his paintings dating from about 20 centuries ago, which are quite astonishing. On the other side of this complex of Roman temples, are conical hills which shelter numerous tombs, some of which have been excavated and others have unfortunately been looted.
Then swim in a hot spring and have lunch in a hot spring
In the middle of the afternoon, take the road to Luxor
