dakhla oasis

Dakhla Oasis is located 220 miles from the Nile and lies between the oases of Kharga and Farafra. It is part of the Western Desert, which covers two-thirds of the land area of the country. Today, it is one of the most remarkable oases in Egypt with magnificent monuments, breathtaking natural scenery, and a unique collection of local handcrafted souvenirs being sold around the 16 villages of Dakhla Oasis.

The ancient village of Al Qasr has numerous medieval structures including well preserved old residences and public buildings, along with the minaret of Sheikh Nasr El-Din which dates back to the 11th century. The Deir El Hagar (the Stone Monastery) built in the 1’st century AD is one of the most historic sites of Dakhla Oasis. The Villages of Bashandi and Balat are famous for their architecture. The Necropolis of Al Muzawaqa - which means wonderfully decorated tombs in Arabic - was discovered in 1908 during an excavation mission in the Western Desert, and consists of hundreds of tombs, most of which still need to be studied. The tombs of Petosiris and Petubastis are famous for their finely preserved wall-paintings. In 2018, the fossilized remains of a large dinosaur were discovered right outside Dakhla Oasis.

From roaming around the forgotten neighborhoods of the Ottoman period to seeing pharaonic monuments that once invited life; indulging in the luxurious Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary lodge to walking along the natural untouched vegetation of the oasis, exploring local cuisine and stargazing from the top of a sand dune – there is so much to explore in Dakhla Oasis.