Egypt's White Desert is a place like no other, where surreal landscapes and ancient formations create a truly unforgettable experience.
The white desert in Egypt is a must-see region due to its stunning views, unique landscapes and unbelievable formations. It will be a memorable visit that anyone wishes to do again. You can visit it anytime, all the year. This is a place that cannot be found anywhere in the world.
White Desert in Egypt – Sahara El Beyda
Location of The White Desert in Egypt
The white desert is Located in the Al Farafra depression, within the Sahara area, in the western desert of Egypt, It is near Cairo, only about four or five years from Cairo, along the black desert. This depression covers an area of 380 square miles, creating the second-largest depression in Egypt.
The white desert in Egypt covers over 2.8 million square kilometres and contains five thriving oases, Siwa, Dakhla, Farafra, Kharga and Bahariya.
Why It’s Called the White Desert
The chalk and limestone layer that covers a portion of the desert gave rise to the name. There is nowhere else in the world like the white desert, making it a really unique location. Because of the strange contrast between the white rock formations and the golden desert sand, it appears to be white.
How to Reach White Desert in Egypt from Cairo
Cairo is only four or five hours away from the White Desert. You can take a local bus or make arrangements for transportation with a driver. The usual plan is to have your hotel picked up early in the morning, spend the night in the oasis (which isn’t quite as romantic as it sounds like), and leave early the following morning for the desert.
the White Desert in Egypt.
The Geological Origins of Egypt’s White Desert
The white desert’s landscape is formed from limestone and chalk rocks. These layers of chalk date back to the Cretaceous period, from 66 to 145 million years ago. these rocks and layers were deposited by ancient seas. It’s believed that Millions of years ago this desert was the bottom of an ocean and the white chalk rocks were the remains of creatures and microorganisms that were living there but the wind turned it to be as if it is a surface of a mysterious planet. All are surprised with the little black pebbles found everywhere. Scientists think that these pebbles are corals from an ancient sea.
The Unique Wonders of Egypt’s White Desert
The white desert in Egypt is famous for its unique chalk rock formations, shaped by wind and sand over millions of years. Explorers and adventurers have been fascinated by the magical and impressive atmosphere created by the vast desert landscape and its distinctive formations for centuries. A bizarre contrast is made up by the combination between the rock formation which has a white color and the yellow desert sand.
The unique and impressive Crystal Mountain in the white desert adds another wonder to the white desert. You cannot stop watching it, especially during the sunshine. The White Rock is one of the white desert’s most amazing formations, balancing on a pole, composed of limestone and formed for thousands of years.
The White Desert National Park(2002)
the sunrise in the white desert in Egypt.
The White Desert Protected Area
It’s a national park in Egypt which first established in 2002. The white desert national park covers 300 km2. The highest point is at El Qess Abu Said at 1,158 ft above sea level and the lowest point is at Wadi Hennis at 105 ft. The park is the refuge for various animals, including the endangered rhino and Dorcas gazelles, red and fennec foxes, Barbary sheep, and sand cats.
Before entering the national park, you will be in Al Bahariya oasis. At the beginning of 21st century, tombs with mummies were found there and these mummies were covered with a layer of gold. The surrounding area became known as the Valley of Golden Kings.
