Bahariya Oasis Egypt: Things to Do, Hot Springs and Where to Stay
Local insight by Eyad Elzaghandi
4 min read
Bahariya Oasis is a green depression of palm groves, springs and mud-brick villages about 370 km southwest of Cairo, and the gateway to the Black and White Desert. The main town is Bawiti. Highlights are the hot and cold springs, English Mountain at sunset, the Golden Mummies museum and the palm gardens. Most travelers spend at least one night here on a 2 to 3-day desert trip.
- Main townBawiti
- From Cairo370 km, 4 to 4.5 hours
- Known forSprings, dates, Golden Mummies
- Time needed1 to 2 nights
- Gateway toBlack and White Desert
- Best monthsOctober to April
In this guide
About Bahariya: our home oasis
Our team was born in Bahariya, so let us introduce it as we know it. The oasis sits in a long valley surrounded by dark hills, with more than a hundred springs feeding date palms, olive trees and small vegetable gardens. Life is slow: men drink tea outside the mosques, kids ride donkeys to the fields, and every family has a favourite spring.
Bahariya was an important stop on ancient caravan routes, and in 1996 a donkey stumbling into a hole led archaeologists to the Valley of the Golden Mummies, one of the largest Greco-Roman cemeteries found in Egypt.
Best things to do in Bahariya Oasis
- Soak in a hot spring: some springs come out of the ground warm, perfect after a long drive.
- Sunset at English Mountain: a small hill with a British lookout from the First World War and a wide view over the oasis.
- See the Golden Mummies: a small museum in Bawiti shows some of the gilded mummies.
- Walk the palm groves: shady gardens of dates, olives and apricots.
- El Hez village: a quiet village with springs on the way to the White Desert.
- Pyramid Mountain and the lake: beautiful at sunset.
Hot springs and cold springs
Bahariya is famous for its springs. Some are warm and slightly sulfurous, others are cool and fresh. Many are simple concrete pools in the gardens, used by locals, so swim in a T-shirt and shorts out of respect. Our guides know which springs are clean and quiet at each time of day.
Where to stay
Bahariya has simple hotels, eco-lodges built from local stone and mud brick, and small family guesthouses. Do not expect luxury resorts: expect warm hospitality, home-cooked food and quiet nights. On our 3-day White Desert and Bahariya tour we include a comfortable hotel night with breakfast.
Bahariya and the White Desert
From Bawiti, the Black Desert begins about 50 km south, followed by Crystal Mountain and the White Desert National Park. That is why almost every White Desert trip has lunch or a night in Bahariya. Read how to get from Cairo to Bahariya and the White Desert.
How long to stay
One night lets you see the oasis and the desert. Two nights let you slow down, enjoy the springs and sleep one night in the desert and one in a hotel. If you are going further, Bahariya is also a stop on our Siwa and White Desert tour and the Western Desert oases tour to Luxor.
Bahariya Oasis: the short version
Bahariya Oasis is more than a lunch stop: it is a living oasis of springs, palms and warm people. Spend at least one night in Bahariya Oasis and you will understand why we call it home.
Bahariya Oasis FAQ
Where is Bahariya Oasis?
About 370 km southwest of Cairo in the Western Desert. The main town is Bawiti.
How long is the drive from Cairo to Bahariya?
About 4 to 4.5 hours by car.
What is Bahariya Oasis famous for?
Its hot springs, date palms, the Golden Mummies and being the gateway to the Black and White Desert.
Is Bahariya worth visiting?
Yes, especially as part of a White Desert trip. One night gives you the springs, the sunset and local life.
Can I swim in the springs?
Yes. Many springs are open to visitors. Wear a T-shirt and shorts out of respect for local customs.
Eyad was born in Bahariya Oasis and works as a licensed tour guide in the Western Desert. With the Egypt Desert Trips team of local guides and drivers, he hosts travelers in the Black Desert, the White Desert, Siwa and Fayoum. Meet the team.
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