Comments on: From Cairo to Alexandria – tourists trample the White Desert

By: cassandra vivian

cassandra vivian — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:31:12 +0000

I WROTE THE BOOK THE WESTERN DESERT OF EGYPT. THE WHITE DESERT IS NOT BAHARIYA OASIS. IT IS FARAFRA OASIS. TOUR COMPANIES FROM BAHARIA MAY TAKE YOU THERE BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ONES TO DETERMINE ITS LOCATION. GEOGRAPHY DETERMINES THE WHITE DESERT’S LOCATION. THE WHITE DESERT IS IN FARAFRA OASIS.
BAHARIYA DEPRESSION IS TOTALLY SURROUNDED BY ESCARPMENT. YOU MUST CLIMB OUT OF BAYARIYA OASIS VIA ITS SOUTHWESTERN ESCARPMENT TO GET TO FARAFRA. YOU MUST DESCENT A SECOND ESCARPMENT TO GET TO THE WHITE DESERT. THAT ESCARPMENT IS THE EASTERN LIMIT OF FARAFRA.
LOOK AT A MAP!

By: E

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:41:09 +0000

These images are indeed of the White Desert. However, the White Desert, in tourist lingo, is synonymous with the Bahariya Oasis, despite the fact that Farafra is closer to the White Desert. 99.9% of people arrive in Bahariya before continuing to the White Desert, and then to Farafra (not vice-versa). In any event, there are more restrictions in place than are listed here to prevent complete degradation of the area.

By: Tafline Laylin

Tafline Laylin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:13:33 +0000

Thanks again Cassandra. These images were taken from flickr. If they are not of Bahariya, they are wrongly categorized there.

By: cassandra vivian

cassandra vivian — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:44:29 +0000

The photos are not of Bahariya Oasis. They are of the White Desert in Farafra Oasis.

By: Aviva

Aviva — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:55:11 +0000

I loved the images that you used. Hopefully the article will inspire more travelers to Egypt to tread a bit more softly.