# Farafra Oasis Farafra Oasis, in the Western Desert, lies in a depression surrounded by the White Desert, the Black Desert and the Great Sand Sea. For travellers approaching the White Desert from the south or driving the oasis loop between Cairo and Luxor. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/egypt/farafra/ ## The largest, the least populated Farafra is Egypt's second-largest inhabited depression, about 200 km from north to south and 90 km from east to west including satellite oases such as Abu Minqar. It is also the least populated of the Western Desert oases. The Egyptian tourist board presents it as a starting point for exploring the Western Desert; the main reason to come is the White Desert, on its doorstep. The small town of Qasr el-Farafra can be seen in a morning: - **The qasr**, the old mud-brick fortress crumbling on a ridge south of town. It dates from medieval times and probably served as a fortified warehouse: a roughly square enclosure with a single gate, alleys, storerooms and a cistern 15 metres deep. - **The museum of Badr Abd el-Moghni**, a local artist born in 1958, who shows his sculpture and paintings in a mud-brick building. - **The gardens**, planted with palm, citrus, apricot, carob and olive trees. - **Ain Bisai**, about ten kilometres away, a Roman site with fortifications and tombs. At the end of the day, the Bir Sitta hot spring, "Well No. 6", offers a soak at about 40 °C in sulphurous water. The tourist board suggests going at sunset or after dark. ## The White Desert from its doorstep Farafra is the oasis closest to the great formations of the White Desert. The park is explored by 4x4 (four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle) along several marked tracks that leave the Bahariya-Farafra road. The longest makes a loop of about 65 km east of the road; within its first two kilometres it passes the rocks of el-Qayem, "the tents", and el-Ghurab, "the mushrooms". Another track, west of the road, leads to el-Babein, "the two gates". Further north, the golden sand dunes of the Agabat Valley are made for jumping and sliding. North-west of Farafra, Wadi el-Obeiyid and the "Hidden Valley" hold traces of Stone Age farming from before 5000 BC and a cave with rock carvings. Entry is only with official permission, an escort and a robust off-road vehicle; the operator has to arrange it in advance. ## Permits and limits Tourists entering the Farafra, Bahariya, White Desert and Black Desert areas must apply for permits in advance and use an official guide. A recognised agency or guide is strongly recommended, with plenty of water, food and means of communication. Your ministry's advice for Farafra appears in the "Travel advice" table on this page. Beyond this triangle, towards the Libyan border, the desert is formally advised against. The great expeditions to Gilf el-Kebir, in the country's south-western corner, require military permission and fall outside this framework. ## Farafra on the oasis loop Farafra is the hinge of the road that links Cairo to Luxor through the oases. It is 627 km from Cairo via Bahariya, 170 km of that between Bahariya and Farafra; the bus takes about 5 hours from Cairo to Bawiti, then 3 hours to Farafra. To the south, the modern road runs about 300 km to Mut, Dakhla's main town: it swings west around the high ground that the old 200 km caravan route crossed in four days. Sabaro advises making these two separate legs, each in daylight, by car with driver: driving at night outside towns should be ruled out, and petrol stations are few. For the night, the town has a few simple hotels; the mud-brick Badawiya offers two-level chalets and a pool, and organises desert trips. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need a guide? Yes: a permit applied for in advance and an official guide are required for Farafra and the White Desert; a recognised agency or guide is strongly recommended. ### How far is it from Cairo? 627 km by road, via Bahariya. The bus takes about 5 hours to Bahariya, then 3 hours to Farafra. ### Farafra or Bahariya for the White Desert? Farafra is closer to the formations; Bahariya is closer to Cairo and allows a two-day round trip. Those continuing to Dakhla and Luxor go through Farafra. ### What is there to do in Farafra? The White Desert and Crystal Mountain, the Agabat dunes, the old fortress and the oasis gardens, then a soak in the Bir Sitta hot spring at sunset.