West Egypt

Al Wadi Al Gadid
Everyone with a serious interest in Egypt’s past and present should visit the El Wadi El Gedid museum. It features artwork and artefacts from the area and Egypt’s past.

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Farafra
lies north-west of Dakhla in a fertile triangular depression about midway between Dakhla and Bahariya; to the west is the inhospitable Great Sand Sea. Once known as Ta-iht, or “Land of the Cow,” Farafra has been a part of the Wadi el-Gedid, or “New Valley,” since 1958. Hathor, the cow-headed goddess of fertility and motherhood, is said to have been the inspiration for this name. This tranquil oasis in Farafra will come to an end at the greatest depression in the Libyan Desert, which is around 200 km in length and 90 km in width (at Qasr el-Farafra).

Gara Cave
The Egyptian Gara Cave was found by Gerhard Rolfes. It was used as a dwelling by our distant ancestors before the rise of civilisation. Surprised, he entered a peculiar gate in the heart of the plateau that had formerly served as the entrance to one of the subterranean cinemas dedicated to horror films. He claimed to have spotted hundreds of human inscriptions, indicating that some of the first people in the region had lived in this cave. Between Bahariya Oasis and Assiut in the Western Desert is a network of caverns known as the Gara Cave that are estimated to be about 20 thousand years old. Stalactites and stalagmites, a geological formation, fill the cave with cave paintings depicting prehistoric people engaged in hunting and other ritualised activities. Human paintings, cows, hunting equipment, arrowheads, spears, and stone daggers show that the cave region was not a lifeless desert but rather supported a thriving human community with all the amenities of modern civilization.

Qasr Al Labakha
Is a micro-oasis located 40 km north of Al Kharga in a desert landscape of desolation. The ruins of a four-story Roman fortress, two temples, and a vast necropolis where more than 500 mummies have been discovered are scattered among sandy swells and rocky shelves (you can still see human remains in the tombs).

Necropolis of Al Bagawat
It’s in Dakhala, This necropolis is one of the oldest and best-preserved Christian cemeteries in the world, despite its very meagre appearance from afar. Located approximately 1 kilometre north of the Temple of Hibis, it was constructed on the site of an ancient Egyptian necropolis and seems to include 263 mud-brick chapel tombs, the most of which date back to the 4th through the 6th century AD. The interiors and exteriors of several of these buildings are painted with vibrant murals depicting scenes from the Bible. Via the Greek graffiti on the squinches of the domes at the Chapel of Peace, images of the Apostles may be made out. The Old Testament tale of Moses bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt may be observed via graffiti from the 9th century in one of the oldest tombs, the Chapel of the Exodus. Chapel of the Grapes (Anaeed Al Ainab) gets its name from the depictions of grapevines that adorn its walls, and is part of a larger family tomb (No. 25) depicting Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.

The Pharaohs Relics
Furthermore, the museum has an assortment of artefacts from antiquity that are difficult to come by elsewhere. Objects from the pre-dynastic period, such as prehistoric tools and vessels (including the uncommon red-colored variation from the ancient kingdom), are on exhibit. The museum also has paintings illustrating ancient life in the oasis as well as portraits from local temples including the Hibis, Ndura, and Ghweita.

Greek and Roman Influences
The Roman conquerors were particularly interested in El Wadi El Gedid because of its fortified location along the Nile and frequently had garrisons there. As a result, the El Wadi El Gadid museum contains many objects from this era.
The museum houses jewellery and other ornaments made of precious stones during the Greco-Roman period, as well as masks and coffins. There are also numerous carved images, such as that of Amun, the dominant Egyptian deity at the time.

Islamic and Coptic artefacts
Both Muslims and Coptic Christians have lived in El Wadi El Gedid at some point. Coptic Christians fled to the region to avoid persecution by Roman invaders at the start of the Christian era in Egypt. During Egypt’s Islamic occupation, Muslims focused on the El Wadi El Gedid region and the South in general. As a result, the El Wadi El Gedid region is rich in historical objects representing both religions.
Coptic Christians left sacred items such as crosses (wooden, bronze, and copper types), colourful portraits of various saints, Jesus Christ himself, and his mother, Virgin Mary. There were also a number of obscure Coptic manuscripts discovered in the area.
Muslims, for their part, left behind one-of-a-kind lamps that were once hung in mosques. There were also inscriptions of Quranic verses on wood and paper, decorated pots and other vessels, and various weapons used at the time.

Rock Carvings
Prehistoric petroglyphs of camels, giraffes, and tribal symbols are carved into the strange rock formations 45 km towards Al Kharga, where two important caravan routes once met. The site has recently suffered from the attention of less-than-scrupulous visitors, who have all but destroyed the majority of these strange images with their own graffiti.

Temple of An Nadura
Located on a hill to the right of the main road heading north from Al Kharga town, has strategic panorama views of the area and was once used as a fortified lookout. It was constructed to protect the oasis during the reign of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138-61). The breathtaking views here are ideal for admiring the sunset.

Ain Umm Al Dabadib
This impressive fort is located about 20 km west of Qasr Al Labakha on a ridge that rises majestically from the desert plains. It has one of the most intricate underground aqueduct systems built by the Romans in this area. Trips here are considered serious desert excursions.

Qasr Al Ghueita
The massive outer walls of the garrison enclose a 25th-dynasty sandstone temple dedicated to the Theban triad Amun, Mut, and Khons. In later centuries, the fortress served as a village’s perimeter, with some houses still standing along the outer wall. A series of reliefs in the hypostyle hall depict Hapy, the pot-bellied Nile god, holding symbols of Upper Egypt’s nomes (provinces).
Despite the arid dusty landscape, this area, about 18 km south of Al Kharga, was once the centre of a fertile agricultural community renowned for its grapes and winemaking – the name means ‘Fortress of the Small Garden’. Settlement here dates back to the Middle Kingdom period, when it was known as Perousekh. Today, two strong forts from the later Roman period stand guard over the plains, most likely as garrison buildings for troops. An asphalted road leads 2 km from the main road to Baris to this imposing mud-brick fortress.

Qasr Ad Dush
About 13 km southeast of Baris, is an imposing Roman temple fortress built around AD 177 on the site of the ancient town of Kysis. A sandstone temple dedicated to Isis and Serapis was built next to the fortress in the first century. The gold decorations that once covered parts of the temple and earned it fame have long since vanished, but some decoration remains on the inner stone walls. Dush was a border town strategically located at the crossroads of five desert tracks and one of Egypt’s southern gateways. It could also have been used to guard the Darb Al Dush, an east-west path leading to the Nile Valley temples of Esna and Edfu.
As a result, it was well-built and heavily fortified, with four or five additional storeys hidden underground.

Deir Al Haggar
One of Dakhla’s most complete Roman monuments is this restored sandstone temple. It was dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khons, as well as Horus (who is depicted with a falcon’s head), and was constructed between the reigns of Nero (AD 54-68) and Domitian (AD 58-68). (AD 81–96). Some relief panels have been well preserved, but the majority are covered in bird poop. The temple is 7 km west of Al Qasr and 5 km from the turn-off.

Al Kharga Museum of Antiquities
This two-story museum, designed to resemble the architecture of the nearby Necropolis of Al Bagawat, is an old-school dusty trove of archaeological finds from the Al Kharga and Dakhla oases. The collection is small but interesting, with artefacts dating from prehistoric times to the Ottoman era, including tools, jewellery, textiles, and other objects that depict the region’s cultural history.

The Gilf Kebir
Is a stunning sandstone plateau 150 km north of Gebel Uweinat that rises 300 metres above the desert floor. The setting is as remote as it gets, with a rugged beauty that once drew the most ardent desert lovers; on the northern side, the plateau disappears into the sands of the Great Sand Sea.
There are some impressive rock carvings and paintings here. The stunning depictions of people swimming, known as the Cave of Swimmers, and abundant wildlife, including giraffes and hippopotamuses, are thought to be around 10,000 years old. The swimming scenes were an accurate representation of their surroundings prior to the climate change.

The Great Sand Sea
One of the world’s largest dune fields, straddles Egypt and Libya, stretching more than 800 km from its northern edge near the Mediterranean coast south to Gilf Kebir. It has some of the world’s largest recorded dunes, including one that is 140 km long, and covers a massive 72,000 km2 . Foreigners were not permitted at the time of writing.
Crescent, seif (sword), and barchan dunes abound here, challenging desert travellers and explorers for hundreds of years. The Persian king Cambyses is said to have lost an army here, and the British Long Range Desert Group spent months trying to find a way through the impenetrable sands to launch surprise attacks on the German army during WWII. Aerial surveys and expeditions have aided in the mapping of this vast area, but it remains one of the world’s least explored.

Gebel Uweinat
The mountain (Gebel Uweinat) is located on the border of Egypt, Sudan, and Libya. At 1934m, as its Arabic name implies, there are eight small springs within the mountain, despite its location in the most inhospitable part of the Western Desert. Ahmed Hassanein discovered the oasis again in 1923.
Thousands of petroglyphs on sandstone rocks, including depictions of humans that resemble modern Nilotic peoples, as well as lions, giraffes

Bahariya
The ancient city of Bahariya, also known as the “Northern Oasis,” is in a depression 100 (km) long and 40 (km) broad, and it is encircled on all sides by towering black escarpments.
Being just 365 km from Cairo, it is one of the more approachable oasis towns on the desert circuit. Forests of date palms cover most of the oasis floor, which is pocked with hundreds of cooling springs and hemmed in on all sides by rocky, sandy mesas.
The valley floor is dotted with various conical hills that were once islands in a large lake, and it is blanketed in lush forests of date palms, old springs, and wells. Being an agricultural hub, the oasis supplied the Nile Valley and even Rome with wine during the Pharaonic era. Long-term success was guaranteed by the city’s placement on the caravan routes connecting Libya and the Nile Valley. Bahariya has risen in popularity as a tourist destination in recent years because to its proximity to the White and Black Deserts and its stunning golden mummies.
El Bawiti, the most populous hamlet in Bahariya and the city’s administrative hub, is only one among several. A sister community of el-Bawiti, Qasr sits close by. 10 kilometres to the east are the small towns of Mandishah and el-Zabu. The little community of el-‘Aguz may be found between El Bawiti and Mandishah. Harrah, the farthest eastern settlement, is just a little distance east of Mandishah and el-Zabu. El Hayz (also spelled El-Hayez) is the most southern settlement, although its isolation, some fifty kilometres south of El Bawiti, means that it isn’t generally included in Bahariya.
An oasis in El-Hayez has yielded mummies and allowed for genetic research.
The Bedouin tribes from Libya and the north coast, as well as other residents from the Nile Valley, settled in the oasis thousands of years ago, leaving behind their ancestors, the Wahat (which means “of the oasis” in Arabic).
The majority of Bahariya’s Wat population are Muslims. A small number of mosques may be found in Bahariya. Communities in the oasis are heavily influenced by Islamic culture.
The Wat people place a high value on traditional music as well. Flute, drum, and simsimeyya (a harp-like instrument) are often performed at social events like weddings. New songs, as well as old ones performed in a traditional country way, are handed down from generation to generation. Residents of the oasis may now listen to songs from Egypt, the Middle East, and beyond.

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Gebel Dist
is a large peak fashioned like a pyramid, visible from much of the oasis. Dinosaur bones were unearthed there in the early 20th century, demonstrating that these creatures did not originate from North America as was previously believed. Paralititan stromeri fossils, from 2001, were found by University of Pennsylvania scientists.
The fact that this huge herbivore was found at the border of a tidal channel leads the experts to believe that Bahariya was once a swamp like the Florida Everglades in the United States, some 94 million years ago. Around a hundred metres distant lies Gebel Maghrafa (the Mountain of the Ladle).

Gebel Al Ingleez
The real reason to come here is for the spectacular panoramic views that extend across the oasis and into the desert beyond.

Bawiti
Is a modern settlement surrounded by historic landmarks. Indeed, Bawiti serves as Bahariya’s administrative centre. Now that the oasis is well-known thanks to the “Valley of the Golden Mummies” discovery, tourists and visitors are welcome to explore the area’s other historic sites.
A modest museum housed in what was formerly a warehouse may be found at the far rear of the Antiquities Department. It is home to five exceptionally preserved Greek and Roman mummies and a few other noteworthy artefacts from the Bahariya Oasis.

The Unique Aqueduct System In Bwaiti
In the alleys of Bawiti, you can still see the remnants of the old manafis aqueduct system. From Bawiti, you may reach the gardens and the Ain El-Hubaga spring by this three-kilometer-long system. The aqueducts and springs in the area likely supplied the town’s old civilisation with the water it needed for drinking and farming. It is believed that the Romans constructed the aqueducts, although they remained in operation into the twentieth century. Archaeologist Ahmed Fakhry suggests that the aqueducts predate the Romans and may even date back to the time of Dynasty XXVI.
Bannentiu, the son of Djedamun-ef-ankh, was buried in the second tomb. He was a very successful and rich businessman. The size and ornamentation of his tomb exceeded that of his father’s. There were three separate rooms off to the side of the main hall, and their pillars were square. The tomb has recently been repaired by the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who painted it in a range of vivid colours, including red and earth tones.
The entrance to the tomb is protected by Thoth and Horus. Plastered images of the deceased stand before a leopard-skinned priest. His retinue of deities includes Horus, Amun-Re, Wepwawet, Anubis, Khons, Nefertum Re-Horakhty, and others. The Romans also interred their dead in these graves. In the twentieth century, criminals entered into the tomb of Bannentiu and stole a few reliefs, causing damage to the tomb’s decorations. In the end, the police were able to track down the perpetrators and retrieve the stolen bricks. The Cairo Museum is a safe haven for the reliefs. There has been no start to restoration activities as of yet.

The Decorated Tombs
The homes in Ain El-Hubaga include a number of obvious ventilation shafts. Fakhry continued his excavations close to the north of here in 1938, when he found four beautifully adorned and well-preserved tombs from the reign of the Dynasty XXVI.
Others believe that the rich landowner Djedamun-ef-ankh possessed two graves. His mausoleum is enormous, with circular pillars, painted religious themes, and phoney doors all over the place. Scenes depict Djedamun-ef-ankh presenting his tomb to the gods. Goddes Nekhbet is shown in several of the ceiling murals. The tombs are located at the bottom of a very deep hole, and the only way to get there is by way of an iron ladder.

Valley of the Golden Mummies
The Breakthrough Aharia has blossomed into a global landmark during the last several decades. Bahariya’s prominence rose once the location’s Roman necropolis was uncovered. The Valley of the Golden Mummies got its name from all the gilded tombs that can be seen there. In 1999, the public was made aware of this finding for the very first time. This occurred three years after antiquities inspector Ashry Shaker first notified Dr. Zahi Hawass of the mummies’ discovery. Scholars in the field of archaeology put the age of this golden cemetery at about the year 2000. The find was made when a guard riding a donkey in search of artefacts stumbled into a chasm on the side of the road. A town called Bawiti was around 6 kilometres away.
As a result of their preliminary research, they found 108 mummies spread over four graves. The first tomb to be uncovered revealed glittering gold, which had not been exposed to sunshine in generations. Dr. Hawass estimates that there are more than 10,000 mummies in the graveyard.

Graves of Roman Bahariya family. In each of the several rooms, there were many tiers of seats. Curiously, the graves were found in their original form, suggesting that they were never targeted by grave thieves. The mummies were discovered in elaborately decorated and gilded tombs. Some mummies were embellished with jewellery and had gilded face masks. Coins, wine jars, amulets, and ceramics were only some of the many artefacts found in and around the mummies’ graves.
There were four distinct mummification techniques used to uncover the necropolis’s mummies. The first fashion was seen on the mummies that were unearthed with gold deity-inspired ornaments on their chests and gilded masks on their faces. Second, there were colourfully decorated cartonnage coffins. The third kind had mummies being buried in plain, anthropoid-shaped clay urns. Cloth-wrapped mummies, typical of New Kingdom graves, constituted the last type.

The tombs are remarkable due to the high volume of human remains they contain. There were families represented by men, women, and their children, as shown by the proximity of some of the remains. The architecture of each tomb was likewise unique. Each mummy was uniquely embellished from the others. The tombs have a varying number of chambers. There was a wide range in the size of the rooms.

Some of the first excavations looked like the catacombs of Kom el-Shugafa in Alexandria, which were used by the Greeks and Romans. The walls of a second tomb that had been unearthed included niches. These actions were performed in advance of funerals. Neither grave was embellished with any kind of decoration.

There are still opportunities to enjoy the hot springs and stroll into the white desert to witness some stunning landscapes. To put it simply, Bahariya is the place to be if you’re the exploratory kind.

Golden Mummies Museum
While Bahariya has 10,000 mummies, only ten are on show here because to space limitations. The painted faces show a departure from stylised Pharaonic mummy adornment and a move towards Fayoum portraiture, even if the themes are repetitive and the craftsmanship is substandard. These mummies herald the end of mummification since the embalmers’ work seems shoddy underneath the wrappings. The exhibit is representative of that mindset; it’s boring and lacklustre. Unfortunately, the museum lacks any kind of directional signs. Under the shadow of a low, cream-colored wall topped with guard towers, you’ll find a structure that appears like it was plucked straight out of a military bunker.

The Temple of Ain Al Muftella
has four chapels built during the 26th dynasty and is situated two kilometres northwest of Bawiti. The grave of 26th dynasty high priest Zed-Khonsu-ef-ankh was unearthed in a crypt at Bawiti and is presently off-limits to the public. Researchers have concluded that the chapels’ origins date back to the New Kingdom, that they were greatly enlarged during the Late Period, and that they were enlarged once again during the Greek and Roman eras. All of them have been repaired and given new wooden roofs to protect them from the weather.

Tomb of Zed Amun Ef Ankh
Zed Amun Ef Ankh’s rock-cut tomb is an interesting look back to ancient Bahariya. Zed Amun Ef Ankh was not a government official, yet his tomb was decorated lavishly with vivid murals that suggested power and riches. His profession, according to the investigators, was trading.

Oasis Heritage Museum
Mahmoud Eid’s Oasis Heritage Museum is located 3 kilometres east of town on the road to Cairo. Its creator, inspired by Badr’s Museum in Farafra, captures scenes from traditional village life in clay, including men hunting and women weaving. There is also a display of old Oasis dresses and jewellery.

Ain Gomma
Located 45 kilometres south of Bawiti, this spring is often considered to be among the region’s most picturesque. This little pool in the middle of the desert is filled with cool, clean water from a nearby spring, and it’s next to the hippest café in the oasis. It’s in close proximity to Al Hayz.

Bir Al Mattar
Bir Al Mattar, located 7 kilometres northeast of Bawiti, has a concrete pool fed by cold springs that fall into a bridge. Like with all of Bawiti’s springs, the mineral level is high enough to leave stains on fabric.
Bir Al Ramla
Sulphurous spring, 3 km north of town, is very hot (45°C) and suitable for soaking.
Qarat Al Hilwa
This ancient necropolis contains the 18th-dynasty Tomb of Amenhotep Huy. Overall, it’s a rather uninspiring site that will only appeal to the most ardent archaeology fans.
Qarat Qasr Salim
Among Bawiti’s dwellings is a tiny mound that was presumably built from garbage accumulated over many decades or perhaps centuries. Two rather intact tombs dating back to the 26th dynasty were used by the Romans as community burial grounds. These properties include brilliant wall murals that have been painstakingly conserved. Zed Amun Ef Ankh’s tomb was carved out of rock and has colourful murals that hint to the past occupant’s riches, providing a look into ancient Bahariya at the city’s heyday. Bannentiu, son of Zed Amun Ef Ankh, was buried not far away. Fine reliefs depicting Bannentiu with the deity Khons and the goddesses Isis and Nephthys decorate the walls of the four-columned burial chamber and inner shrine.

El Jaffara
Located approximately 7 kilometres south of Bawiti, on the Bahariya-Cairo route, is the mini-oasis of El Jaffara, which is known for its hot and cold springs and is thus visited throughout the year.
Al Hayz Water Education Center
The little oasis of Al Hayz may be found between Farafra and Bahariya, close to the Ain Gomma.
The Water Museum is a must-see, since it gives a comprehensive picture of Egypt’s water resources and challenges, the geology of the Western Desert, the traditional agriculture and architecture of the oasis, and the measures that must be taken to alleviate water shortages. The museum itself is a beautiful structure; it was constructed using sustainable materials like basalt and rammed earth.

Black Desert
Once the sands turn from beige to black 50 kilometres south of Bawiti, you have reached the beginning of the Black Desert. Erosion from the mountains has coated the peaks and plateaus in a coating of black powder and stones, creating a panorama that seems like something out of Hell. Tours leaving from Bahariya Oasis often include a stop in the Black Desert as part of a larger itinerary that also includes the White Desert. The region also has the pyramid-shaped peak Gebel Gala Siwa, which served as a watchtower for caravans travelling from Siwa, and the mountain Gebel Az Zuqaq, which is notable for the red, yellow, and orange streaks in its limestone foundation.There is a well-worn trail that leads to the peak of the mountain.
Walking to the far east, where the wildest wonderland of white hoodoos may be found, would be a lengthy voyage. The water level in Bir Regwa, a small spring located close to one of the park’s entrances, is often rather high.

Ghard Abu Muharrik And The Sand Volcano
The Ghard Abu Muharrik is often visited on safaris that go to El-Qaf and stretch 20 kilometres to the east (“Dune with an Engine”).
Somewhere in these wastes, a guide from Western Desert Safari in Bahariya has uncovered a “Sand Volcano,” where sand seemingly erupts from the ground through a crack in the earth.

Crystal Mountain
As you make your way into the Farafra depression from Bahariya Oasis, you’ll be treated to a series of breathtaking panoramas. Here, safaris pull over so that visitors may gawk at Crystal Mountain (Jebel al-Izaz), a shining quartz ridge with a human-high natural arch across the centre.
Agabat, often known as “Wonders,” is the breathtakingly difficult landscape that can be found beyond Twin Peaks. The location is known as Akabat by some residents because of the loose sand and powdered chalk that can easily trap automobiles despite the area’s visual feast of pale rock “sugar loaf” (“difficult”).

White Desert National Park
“The sun goes down over Egypt’s White Desert, which is part of the Western Sahara Desert.” The White Desert of Egypt is 45 km (28 miles) north of Farafra. “The desert is white and cream-colored, and it has huge chalk rock formations that were made by sandstorms in the area,” says Wikipedia. When you first see the White Desert’s 300-square-kilometer national park, you’ll feel like Alice in “Through the Looking Glass.” About 20 km northeast of Farafra, on the east side of the road, blinding-white chalk rock spires seem to grow out of the ground almost magically. Each frost-colored lollipop has been licked by the dry desert winds into a surreal landscape of familiar and strange shapes.
The best times to see these sculptural formations are at sunrise or sunset, when the orange-pink light of the sun shines on them, or at full moon, when the landscape looks like it belongs in the Arctic. The sand around it is full of quartz, small fossils, and different kinds of deep-black iron pyrites. Chalk towers called “inselbergs” rise from the desert floor into a beautiful white canyon on the west side of the Farafra-Bahariya highway, away from the wind-carved sculptures. They are linked by grand sand boulevards that look like the geologic Champs-Élysées. This is a great place to camp because it is shady and private, and it is just as beautiful as the east side of the road.
The Twin Peaks, which are two flat-topped mountains about 50 km to the north, are an important landmark for travelers. The view from the top of the symmetrical hills around it, which all look like giant ant hills, is amazing, which is why local tour companies love to take people there. Just past here, the road goes up a steep cliff called Naqb As Sillim, which means “Pass of the Stairs.” This is the main pass that goes into and out of the Farafra depression and marks the end of the White Desert.
A few kilometres later, the desert floor changes again. There are now quartz crystals all over the ground. When you look at the rock formations in this area, you’ll notice that most of them are made of crystal. The most well-known formation is Crystal Mountain, which is a big rock made up of only quartz. It is about 24 km north of Naqb As Sillim and right off the main road. The big hole in the middle makes it easy to find.

Siwa
Siwa oasis was populated in prehistoric times by people who came from civilizations further west, according to scientific research that began at the turn of the last century. Their lifestyle and culture had many similarities to those of Libya, North Africa, and the Nile valley.
As evidenced by numerous inscriptions discovered in temples and on tombs, the oasis has been referred to by a variety of names since antiquity, including during the Greek, Roman, and Middle Ages. From the name of the native Ti-Swa tribe, the more recent name Siwa was derived.
An important stop for trade caravans travelling from the Nile valley in the east to the Libyan Mediterranean harbours in the west across the desert was the ancient oasis of Siwa. Due to its significance, traders from southern oases and central Africa frequently visited.
Many kings sent delegates to Siwa to consult the Oracle of Amun, which contributed to the religious prosperity of the city.
The invasion of a Persian army under the command of Cambyses brought an end to the 26th Dynasty, though his 50,000-strong army would later vanish in a desert sandstorm, leaving no traces behind.
Alexander the Great’s visit in 331 BC is largely responsible for The Oracle of Amun’s fame. He chose to be buried in Siwa after consulting the oracle and claiming to be the son of Zeus Amun.
Siwa started to go into decline around the sixth century AD/ when many of the pagan temples in Siwa fell out of use thanks to the spread of Christianity. During this time, the Roman Empire fell and the region descended into anarchy, which culminated in the Arab invasion of Egypt in 640 AD.
At the height of Siwa’s glory, the change came quickly and the rewards for successful attackers could be very great. The Arabian army arrived to conquer Siwa in the eighth century. An ancient tribe of Amazigh people who had lived there under Roman rule were confronted by an Arabian army and given three options: join them, pay tribute, and live in peace, or defend their territory.
By requesting three days to make their decision, the cunning natives bought themselves some extra time. They collected all of their wealth over these three days (such as gold, jewelry, precious stones, and Pharaonic treasures). On the final day, they escaped westward carrying everything they could.
They cast spells so that their genie’s magical abilities would protect their most valuable possessions while they were away, hiding them from the Arabian soldiers and their heaviest treasures.
The Amazigh people departed in the form of a caravan in search of grass and water at a time when there was a drought affecting the nations of northwest Africa. Then, after traversing the Western Desert’s scorching sands, they arrived at Siwa, a stunning oasis with fields of apricot, olive, and palm trees that were all teeming with life. Siwa was the fulfilment of their dreams.
To increase their power and stake a claim on this rich land, the Amazigh people decided to settle here and sent word back to Algeria and Morocco in the west to invite their families to join them.
Ami Misalum, the first city, was established in the oasis’ lowlands. The Amazigh were now exposed to mosquitoes as well as attacks from hostile forces, though. They established this as their kingdom in 1103 AD after constructing a sturdy citadel on a hilltop to defend themselves and their distinctive culture.
Along with the safer location, new laws and regulations were put in place, enabling the tribal chiefs to rule Siwa as a sovereign state for hundreds of years. For instance, before the Zagala (‘strong youth’) guards would open the citadel’s doors, gardeners had to request permission from the chiefs in order to irrigate their lands throughout the night. However, the renowned Mohamed Ali contested Siwa’s independence in 1840. To demand tribute and the people of Siwa’s submission to his rule, he dispatched his Egyptian army there. To stop the Egyptian army from attacking, the Siwans dug a trench around the base of Shali; however, Ali fired rockets at the citadel, greatly damaging it.
He also gave the order to General Hussein Bek Ashamashurgi to summon 72 of the most powerful local chieftains to a meeting where they were immediately executed. As a result, the Siwans were made to submit.
The Siwans experienced many hardships as a result of the new Egyptian government system, including having to pay a one-piastre tax for each palm tree in the oasis. This persisted up until 1950, when a Bedouin businessman purchased all the dates in Siwa and settled all the state taxes owed on the trees.
The population of Siwa fluctuated from forty in the 12th century AD to about three thousand at the time of Mohammed Ali’s invasion in 1805, reflecting the city’s shifting fortunes. Siwa is still growing.

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Siwa Now
After a long drive through the barren landscape of the Western Desert, you won’t believe your eyes when you arrive in Siwa for the first time. There are mineral springs, salt lakes, and endless olive and palm groves. Siwa is the stuff that desert fantasies are made of. This fertile basin, located about 50 km from the Libyan border and brimming with more than 300,000 palm trees, 70,000 olive trees, and numerous fruit orchards, is surrounded by too-saline lakes. As a result, the area has become very appealing to various types of birds, such as falcons and quails. (Bird Watching)
Siwa Set between the shady groves, slouching mud-brick hamlets are linked by winding dirt lanes where trundling donkey carts are still as much a part of the street action. Crystal-clear springs are scattered throughout the oasis, providing a welcome respite from the scorching heat. The swells of the Great Sand Sea roll to the horizon on the outskirts of the oasis, providing irresistible fodder for desert exploration. Adventurers will enjoy a safari into the Great Sand Sea or quad biking in Egypt’s Western Desert. The ruins of the 13th-century Shali fortress dominate the centre of Siwa. The ruins, made of kerchief (salt rocks from the local salt lakes and mud), are prone to further disintegration after each rainfall. You can climb to the fortress’s peak for spectacular views of the oasis and its surroundings. Siwa’s geographical isolation aided in the preservation of a distinct society from mainstream Egyptian culture. Local traditions and Siwi, the local Amazigh language mixed with slang Egyptian language, still reign supreme today. Siwa casts a spell that is challenging to resist, making the long journey out here worthwhile.

Shali Fortress
The magnificent organic shapes of the mud-brick fortress remnants constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries dominate central Siwa. The maze of huddled structures, which were originally four or five storeys high and could accommodate hundreds of people, was constructed from kerchief (chunks of salt from the lake outside of town mixed with rock and plastered in local clay). A path ascends to the top for sweeping views over the crumbling remains and past the Old Mosque with its minaret in the shape of a chimney. Few outsiders were allowed inside the fortress for centuries, and even fewer made it out alive. However, three days of rain in 1926 did more damage than any invader had been able to do, and over the following decades, residents moved to newer, more luxurious homes with electricity and running water. Currently, only a small number of the nearby buildings are occupied or being used as storage. From the main square, a path ascends to the top for stunning views of the oasis. In the old town, a number of foreigners and Egyptians are remodelling homes, some of which are available for overnight stays.

Temple Of The Oracle
In the northwest corner of the Aghurmi village ruins is the 26th dynasty Temple of the Oracle. It was dedicated to Amun (also known as Zeus or Jupiter Ammon) and served as a potent symbol of the town’s wealth when it was constructed in the 6th century BC, most likely on top of an earlier temple. It is thought that in this temple Alexander the Great was officially recognised as the son of Amun.The temple’s foundation is the subject of numerous legends. One describes two priestesses who were exiled to the desert from Thebes. Both the Temple of the Oracle in Aghurmi and the Temple of Dodona in Greece were founded by the same person. It was regarded as one of the most powerful oracles in the ancient Mediterranean, and because of its influence, some kings sought out its counsel while others sent armies to destroy it. The buttressed temple was poorly restored in the 1970s, and treasure hunters have been at work here, but it is still a stirring location rich in history. It has breathtaking views of the Siwan oasis’ palm trees and is surrounded by the Aghurmi ruin complex.

Cleopatra’s Spring
The most well-known spring in Siwa can be reached by following the path past the Temple of Umm Ubayd and the Temple of the Oracle. The Egyptian queen is rumoured to have swum in the large stone pool where the crystal-clear water gurgles up during her visit to Siwa, which is a well-liked bathing location for both locals and visitors.

House of Siwa Museum
A fascinating collection of traditional clothing, jewellery, and crafts unique to the oasis can be found in this tiny museum. Just to look at the wedding gowns is worth the entrance fee. Northwest of the King Fuad Mosque is a block away.

Gebel Al Mawta
There are numerous rock tombs and wall paintings scattered throughout this small hill at the northernmost point of Siwa Town. The majority of the tombs in Gebel Al Mawta, which translates to “Mountain of the Dead,” date to the 26th dynasty, the Ptolemaic era, and the Roman era. The tombs, which are only a mile from the town centre, were used as shelters by the Siwan people when the Italians bombed the oasis in World War II. The most impressive artwork can be found in the Tomb of Si Amun, where richly coloured reliefs show the deceased man—who is believed to be a wealthy Greek landowner or merchant—making sacrifices and praying to Egyptian deities. The incomplete Tomb of Mesu-Isis, which features a lovely red and blue depiction of cobras above the entrance; the Tomb of Niperpathot; and the Tomb of the Crocodile, whose badly deteriorating wall paintings include a yellow crocodile symbolizing the god Sobek.
All of these tombs are noteworthy.

The Old Mosque
with its recognisable minaret in the shape of a chimney, is located directly above the entrance to the Fortress of Shali. A path connects the central square to the mosque’s doorway, which has recently undergone restoration. The recently restored mosque is still standing today and is both the oldest structure constructed in Shali and the oldest mosque ever constructed using kerchief, a compound made of mud and salt.

Fatnas Spring
On a small island in the salty Birket Siwa, accessible across a narrow causeway, is this reasonably remote pool. The pool, which is about 6 km from Siwa Town and surrounded by palm trees and lush vegetation, is known as “Fantasy Island” due to its dreamy setting. It’s a beautiful spot to view the setting sun.

Salt Lake
In recent years, Siwa became famous for its extra-salty water after salt extraction. Since Siwa is 560km from the capital, it remains relatively unexplored. Hypersalinity distinguishes the Siwan Lakes. Due to limited yearly rainfall and excessive evaporation, Siwa’s lakes have hypersalinity, over 95% salt. Salt lakes are soothing, and Siwa’s waters are no exception. Local and international medical tourists flock to Siwa. 2017 recognized Siwa as a global medical and environmental tourist destination. Siwa is beneficial to those with skin, eye, sinus, and rheumatism.
In Siwa, there are four primary salt lakes. Zeitoun, the largest, has 5760 acres. A body of water lines the eastern edge of Siwan in Zeitoun, providing a mesmerizing view. Local enterprises use Aghormy Lake, located between Zeitoun and Maraqi lakes in the northeast, for health tourism due to its healing and revitalising properties. Maraqi Lake, in western Siwa, is one of the largest lakes at 700 acres. Fatnas Lake has the highest salt concentration among all lakes. Siwa has many smaller lakes. Siwa has “special energy” in popular culture. People believe the salt on the ground expels negative energy and rejuvenates our bodies. Swimming in Siwan Lakes is safe because the salt content keeps you floating, preventing drowning. Water is extremely salty and can hurt and irritate your eyes; therefore, avoid getting it in your eyes. These hypersalinity lakes are unsuitable for fish and marine life. People wash off salt after bathing in a salt lake. These nitrogen-rich springs are medicinal. Sand baths are another Siwa therapeutic method. Siwa is distinct, pristine, and appears the same for millennia because it is far away and not as accessible as other Egyptian tourist spots. If you want to enchant your life and body, visit Siwa and soak in its turquoise-blue salty lakes, which are so salty they feel like snow.

The Great Sand Sea
The enormous expanse of dune fields between the Gilf Kebir and Siwa Oasis is known as the Great Sand Sea after its discoverer, Gerhard Rohlfs (Bahr er-Raml in Arabic). The Sand Sea spans 72,000 square kilometres, or about the size of Ireland, and averages 650 kilometres from north to south and 300 kilometres from east to west. About two-thirds of this is made up of parallel seif dunes, which can be up to 150 km long and up to 100 m high. These dunes are separated from one another by flat “corridors” that are just a few kilometres wide and are aligned from northwest to southeast depending on the direction of the wind. Although these seif dunes are constantly shifting, satellite imaging has revealed that they are supported by dependable whale-backed dunes. Where seif dunes have descended escarpments in other parts of the Sand Sea, they have reformed into crescent-shaped barchans. Even though it might seem like the Sand Sea is only home to shifting sands, there is a small amount of vegetation there that can be revived by a brief rainstorm. Explorers and scientists have long been enthralled by this spectacularly alien terrain; now, tourists are venturing there to behold its wonders. The following locations can be reached on deep-desert safaris, while you can experience Bir Wahed’s enormous dunes on a quick trip from Siwa Oasis.

Shiatta Oasis
This breathtaking salt lake is 50 km west of Siwa Town, and it borders the Great Sand Sea with palm trees. Migratory birds, including flamingos, frequently stop here for a rest, and gazelles can also be seen. An ancient boat that once made it all the way to Siwa Town is submerged seven metres below the lake’s surface.

Bir Wahed
The 15 km away freshwater lake at Bir Wahed on the edge of the Great Sand Sea is one of the most popular Siwa excursions. Once you’ve climbed a dune, you’ll reach a hot spring the size of a big jacuzzi where sulfuric water bubbles in a pool and runs off to water a garden. A strange experience is cooling off in the lake and then taking a hot spring bath while watching the sun set over the dunes. The mosquitoes that bite at dusk and the requirement for a permit to enter Bir Wahed are the thorns in this rose.

Abu Shuruof
A clean spring with healing properties, said by locals, is 27 kilometres east of Siwa Town and 7 kilometres east of Ain Qurayshat spring in the next palm thicket. The clear water here is deliciously cold, but the ambiance is somewhat marred by the nearby Hayat water-bottling plant’s sight and noise.
Az Zeitun
This abandoned mud-brick village, beaten by the sand and wind, sits alone on the sandy plain about 30 kilometres east of Siwa Town. Hundreds of Roman-era tombs have been discovered about 2 kilometres beyond Az Zeitun and are being excavated.

Ain Qurayshat
About 20 kilometres east of Siwa Town, has the oasis’s largest free-flowing spring. The causeway across salty Lake Zeitun, which has stunning views, is the best way to get to the spring.
Ain Al Arais
A cool, inviting waterhole with a grotto-like bottom just five minutes walk from the main market square, is the closest spring to central Siwa.

The City of the Romans
Located just north of Kharmisah, about 17 km northwest of Siwa Town, has about 100 tombs cut into the nearby hills and the ruins of a stone temple, among other places rumored to be Alexander the Great’s final resting place. Maraqi, once a poor village, is now home to chic villas owned by wealthy foreigners and Egyptians.

Fayoum
There are several ways to spell this city’s name in English, including Fiyum, El Faiym, and even Fayum. However, the city’s original name was Madnet El Faiym, which translates from Arabic to English as The City of Faiyum. The various spellings of the name may have referred to the city’s Oasis, but more often than not, the city itself is being described.
The current name, Al Fayoum, is adapted from the Coptic nomenclature ephiom/piom, which can be translated in English as the Sea or Lake; there is also a similar name in Egyptian, and these two refer to the nearby Lake Moeris. The name of an extinct species of ancient elephants, Phiomia, was also derived from the city name.The vast salty Lake Qarun comes into view less than two hours from Cairo, and the arid monotonous plains are replaced by a lush patchwork of farming plots, sunflowers swaying in the breeze, and tall date palms with water buffalo lounging in the shade beside them. Because of its location on one of Egypt’s largest canals, Al Fayoum has the hustle and bustle of any other urban Egyptian city. The city receives water from the Nile via a large number of artificially created capillary canals dug hundreds of years ago; it is because of these that the city is often referred to as an oasis. Because of the readily available water supply, the region is fertile and thus prosperous, with two reserve areas and parks, the Wadi Rayan National Park and the Lake Qarun Park. The City of Al Fayoum is also very appealing to archaeologists and Egyptian history buffs due to the presence of many ancient pharaohs’ palaces. A typical visit to Al Fayoum will include time spent in the village of Tunis, which is a settlement with a large collection of artworks. There’s also a lovely view of Lake Qarun’s beautiful shores. Fayoum is also a good starting point for excursions to the desert lakes of Wadi Rayyan and the prehistoric whale skeletons of Wadi Al Hittan.

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Qarun Lake
Lake Qarun is a popular weekend destination for Cairo residents looking to unwind, and the lake’s edge is lined with cafes and wedding pavilions. It’s not a large swimming hole, but the sight of a large lake on the outskirts of the desert is refreshing, and you can rent a rowing boat. The lake is now an important bird area, attracting thousands of migratory birds, including a large number of flamingos, during their winter migration south. Lake Qarun completely covered the area that is now known as Al Fayoum prior to the 12th-dynasty reigns of Sesostris III and his son Amenemhat III. In an early effort at land reclamation, both pharaohs dug a series of canals connecting Qarun to the Nile and drained much of the lake. Due to the diversion of the Nile to create more agricultural land over the last few centuries, the lake has regained some of its former grandeur, and it now stretches for 42 kilometres. However, because it is currently 45m below sea level, the water has suffered from increased salinity. Surprisingly, the wildlife has adapted, and the self-proclaimed “world’s most ancient lake” now supports a distinct ecosystem. There are numerous bird species to see here, especially in autumn, including a large colony of flamingos, grey herons, spoonbills, and many duck species.

Qasr Qarun
The ruins of ancient Dionysias, located at the western end of Lake Qarun, just east of the village of Qasr Qarun, were once the starting point for caravans to the Western Desert oasis of Bahariya. All that remains of the ancient settlement is Qasr Qarun, a Ptolemaic temple built in 4 BC and dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of Al Fayoum. The rooftop offers spectacular views.
The temple is made of yellow limestone blocks, but there are no inscriptions except over the entrance, where there is a winged sun, and on the roof, where there is a headless relief of Sobek on the left and a king on the right. The internal structure has been strengthened; if you’re feeling brave, explore the incredible maze of chambers, tunnels, and stairways. Take a torch or candles with you.

Wadi Al Hitan
This Unesco World Heritage Site is home to the world’s oldest prehistoric whale fossils. The more than 400 basilosaurus and dorodontus skeletons discovered here are around 40 million years old and show the clear evolution of land-based mammals into sea-going mammals, as they have vestigial front and back legs.
The sands are also littered with the carcasses of manatees and large bony fish, which appear out of place in the vast desert.
A small network of walking trails leads out from the central site complex to more than a dozen skeleton sites. Although it may not appear to be much, the desert setting is dramatic, and it’s a great day or overnight outing, usually combined with Wadi Rayyan.
Toilets, a wilderness campground, and the excellent Wadi Al Hittan Fossil & Climate Change Museum are all part of the site complex. With a series of information boards and fossil displays surrounding the crowning exhibit, an 18-metre long skeleton of a Basilosaurus Isis whale, the circular one-room museum does a good job of explaining the geological history and nature of the area.

Wadi Al Hitan Fossil Museum
This circular one-room museum’s fossil displays and information boards do an excellent job of explaining the geological history, nature, and role of climate change in this area. The exhibits are arranged around the museum’s main attraction, an 18-metre-long skeleton of a Basilosaurus Isis whale.

Wadi Rayan Protectorate
The ‘waterfalls’ in the Wadi Rayyan Protected Area are a popular weekend picnic destination for Cairo residents. The waterfalls are located about 20 kilometres from the reserve’s gate, on the left side of the road. A visitors centre, restrooms, and cafes are located along the lakefront. Big wooden rowboats take a one-hour trip out to the middle of the lake and then back up to the falls from here. The wider Wadi Rayyan area is teeming with wildlife, including white gazelles, Egyptian gazelles, sand foxes, and fennec foxes, as well as rare resident birds, migrant birds, and various eagles and falcons. It’s well worth delving deeper into this fascinating subject. Five kilometres past the lake turnoff is the rocky outcrop of Jabal Al Modawara, which is relatively easy to climb and a great place to spot eagles or falcons.

Karanis
The sprawling ruins of ancient Karanis are located 25 kilometres north of Medinat Al Fayoum, on the outskirts of the oasis depression, along the road to Cairo. This was once a mudbrick settlement with a population of thousands, founded by Ptolemy II’s mercenaries in the 3rd century BC. Apart from half-buried, crumbling walls scattered across the sand, little of the ancient city remains intact today, though Karanis is home to two well-preserved Graeco-Roman temples. The larger and more interesting temple, dedicated to two local crocodile gods, Pnepheros and Petesouchos, was built in the first century BC. A large square container stands in front of the east entrance, serving as a giant swimming pool for the holy crocs. Inside, crocodile mummies would have been stored in wall niches, and the gods’ ‘house’ was a block-like structure. Inscriptions from the reigns of Roman emperors Nero, Claudius, and Vespasian adorn the temple as well.
It’s a long walk to the north temple, and there’s much less structure here – but there’s an ancient pigeon tower off to the east, not unlike the ones that dot Al Fayoum today. A frescoed bathtub can be found in the ruined domestic area north of the temple. The on-site museum, located next to Lord Cromer’s former field house, houses an eclectic collection of artefacts from Fayoum sites spanning the Pharaonic, Graeco-Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras. A small open-air’museum’ of columns and stone statuary remnants rescued from Kiman Faris (ancient Crocodilopolis), which has been consumed by the modern city of Medinat Al Fayoum, is also located near the beginning of the ruins area. Because the site sign is only in Arabic and only labelled with its Arabic name, the best way to get here is by taxi. The driver (and anyone else in Fayoum) is also more likely to recognise the location by this name.

Medinet Madi
This ancient city is one of the most remote in Al Fayoum, but that adds to its allure, as you’re often alone out in the blowing sand that drifts over the stone sphinxes’ heads. Medinat Madi (Arabic for “City of the Past”) is known for its well-preserved Middle Kingdom temple, one of only a few in Egypt. It was built by Amenemhat III and Amenemhat IV and is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the cobra goddess Renenutet. Excavations in Italy in the early twentieth century uncovered an archive of Greek texts referring to the city as Narmouthis. They also discovered a separate crocodile-cult temple, where the beasts appear to have been bred in captivity – a cache of eggs, as well as bodies of the creatures in various stages of development, were discovered. They were frequently sacrificed while still quite young.

Pyramid of Hawara
The dilapidated second pyramid of Amenemhat III, built at a gentler angle than his first one, stands about 8 kilometres southeast of Medinat Al Fayoum, on the north side of the canal Bahr Yusuf, which connects Al Fayoum to the Nile (the towerlike Black Pyramid at Dahshur). This temple (300m by 250m) was described by Herodotus as a 3000 room labyrinth that surpassed even the Pyramids of Giza. Strabo claimed it had as many rooms as provinces. Despite the fact that the Pyramid of Hawara was originally covered in white limestone casing, only the mudbrick core remains today, and even the once-famous temple has been quarried. The interior of the pyramid, which is now closed to visitors, revealed several technological advances: corridors were blocked by a series of massive stone portcullises; the burial chamber is carved from a single piece of quartzite; and the chamber was sealed by an ingenious device that used sand to lower the roof block into place.

Meidum’s Pyramid
The ruin of the first true pyramid attempted by the ancient Egyptians is located about 30 kilometres northeast of Medinat Al Fayoum. It started as an eight-step structure, but the steps were later filled in and an outer casing was added to form the first pyramid shell. There were flaws in the design, and the pyramid’s own weight caused the sides to collapse sometime after completion (possibly as late as the last few centuries BC). Only the core remains today, but it is still an impressive sight.
Pharaoh Huni (2637-2613 BC) commissioned the pyramid, but his son Sneferu was in charge of its construction. Sneferu’s architects went on to construct Dahshur’s more successful Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid.
The guard will unlock the pyramid’s entrance, from which steps lead 75 metres down to the empty burial chamber. The large mastaba tombs of some of Sneferu’s family and officials, including his son Rahotep and wife Nofret, are located near the pyramid.

The Pyramid of El-Lahun
The ruins of this mudbrick pyramid, built by Pharaoh Sesostris II, are located about 10 kilometres southeast of Hawara (1880–1874 BC).
Look for its oddly lumpy shape, which is set on an existing rock outcropping for added stature. Except for the amazing solid-gold cobra that is now displayed in the Egyptian Museum’s jewellery room (Room 4) in Cairo, ancient tomb robbers stripped it of all its rock and treasures.

Magic Lake
The Magic Lake is one of Egypt’s most amazing lakes, offering stunning sunsets and people enjoy hiking, sandboarding, and swimming in it.

Mudawara Mountain (Jebel al-Mudawara), 90 m / 295 ft, is located west of Al Fayoum Lake. Although it is more of a rock formation than a true mountain, it has three distinct summits. Its layered appearance is beautiful, with a certain symmetry to the feature that draws your gaze.

Ghoroud Samuel, also known as the Samuel Dunes, is a section of land in the Egyptian Western Desert (part of the North African Sahara) that is mostly covered by sand dunes (Arabic: ghoroud) and is located between lakes and mountains. It has some of the most diverse fields of dune types close to Cairo and is suitable for off-roading clubs on a single day trip. This lovely sand dune area offers numerous opportunities for adventurers, cultural explorers, naturalists, spiritual seekers, and campers. Ghoroud Samuel is 45 kilometres south of Fayoum and averages 10 kilometres wide in an area entirely covered by dunes, with some infiltration by rocks and small plateaus.

The Abu Leifa Monastery is carved into the mountain in Fayoum; discover authentic desert adventure with Real Fayoum. According to the inscriptions, it was founded in 686 AD by St. Panoukhius. The monastery was in use from the 7th to the 9th centuries.
It served as a safe haven for Christians fleeing persecution. A similar series of small man-made caves can be seen on the cliff face of the upper portions of the Deir Abu Leifa member’s giant cross-bedded sandstone immediately behind the Qasr El Sagha temple. The monastery is very primitive; its entrance is cut into the mountain and consists of small caves carved into cliff sides that can be difficult to reach. This monastery is not inhabited, but it is the best example of how ancient monasteries appeared before they were developed into modern-looking structures.

Deir Azab
Discover an authentic desert adventure at Deir Azab.
Also known as the Virgin Mary’s Monastery, is located 6 kilometres south of Medinet El-Fayoum. It is regarded as one of the most important monasteries in Fayoum because it is the final resting place of Anba Abraam, the favourite bishop of Fayoum and Giza from 1882 to 1914. Peter, the bishop of Fayoum, constructed this monastery in the 12th century. Very little of the original 12th-century structure remains.
The monastery has five churches, but the two main ones are Abu Seifein, a modern church that houses the remains of the Fayoum Martyrs and other martyrs, and Al-Fayoum, a traditional church. Some of the original structure, which dates back to the 12th century, can still be found in the Virgin Mary Church.

Dimieh El Sebaa
Is a Greco-Roman city founded by Ptolemy II in the third century B.C. on the shores of Lake Moeris. It was like a frontier, inhabited for six centuries before being abandoned in the mid-third century. The ruins include two temples, houses, underground chambers, streets, 10-meter-high walls, a Roman cemetery 900 yards southwest of the city, and agricultural fields separated by long irrigation canals. Goods from the Fayoum were transported across the lake by boat to be unloaded at the docks of Demieh, stored, or carried up the Avenue of the Lions.
Soknopaiou Nesos, known as Dimeh-al-Siba, is located 8 kilometres south of Qasr-el-Sagha and is thought to have been built on the foundation of an ancient settlement during the Ptolemaic Period. Archaeologists Giovanni Battista Belzoni and Karl Lepsius were the first to describe the ruins of complex structures towering above the desert plain. The “Crocodile Island” complex spans 640 metres in length and 320 metres in width from north to south, with the main object, the Temple, located in the southern part of the “island” and surrounded by white brick walls. A road paved with limestone blocks runs from the southern entrance to the Temple compound, near the RAT complex, to Moeris Lake. The town’s mudbrick walls can be seen from a long distance away, and the site is littered with debris and potsherds.

Qasr el-Sagha Temple
Is a small, uninscribed temple located above the northern shore of Birket Qarun, in a now deserted and inhospitable area at the foot of the desert escarpment towards Gebel Qatrani. Scholars disagree about its date, but its design suggests it was built no later than the Middle Kingdom. It was built with limestone blocks of various sizes that fit tightly together without mortar and with oblique corner joints. The interior has seven small chambers or shrines, as well as an offering hall and a “blind room.” There are several prehistoric village sites on the flat plain to the south of the temple, and tombs containing evidence of ancient Egyptian cult practise were discovered.

QATRANI MOUNTAIN
Do you enjoy hiking? Fayoum has prepared a trail for you. A true desert adventure? Qatrani Mountain is a 350-meter-high sandstone peak that serves as a landmark for visitors and hikers in Fayoum.

WIDAN EL FARAS BASALT QUARRY
Is a large black basalt quarry located on the northern edge of Gebel Qatrani, near the two prominent buttes. It was once an Old Kingdom quarry and is now known as the source of basalt used in the construction of the Old Kingdom pyramid temples. The quarry’s western and eastern sections are separated by 0.5 km, and both have an excavated bench on top of and along the edge of the Gebel el-Qatrani escarpment. Hundreds of blocks of basalt that were extracted are still present in a storage area near the quarries and in the harbour area near the now almost dried-out Fayoum Lake. The quarries, storage area, and harbour are linked by an unusual piece of archaeology: a 12 km-long paved road.

WORLD’S OLDEST AVED ROAD
The world’s oldest paved road is the Qasr El Sagha temple road to the ancient basalt quarries of Widan El Faras, which is said to be Neolithic in age. It is constructed of dry-laid, unshaped pieces of whatever stone was available at the time and has a total length of 12 km, with the last ten kilometres following a nearly straight and mostly downward path. It is partially elevated above the desert due to relative wind erosion, estimated to be 3 cm per century.