The Libyan Desert in Egypt

The Libyan Desert in Egypt is the desert that captures the imaginations of those who wish to travel Egypt. The Western Desert is roughly the size of Texas...

Libyan Desert AKA Western Desert

Are you wondering what to see during your Egypt vacation? By now you have already considered the Pyramids and the Sphinx as well as Islamic Cairo. You certainly couldn’t enjoy an Egyptian vacation without seeing the Nile River Valley or Red Sea Coast! Now consider another important landmark in the African continent, and another important part of Egypt’s history: the western Sahara Desert in Egypt (or Libyan Desert).

The Libyan Sahara Desert in Egypt measures 700,000 square kilometers of land and is located to the west of the Nile River in Egypt as well as Libya. It is a popular destination for tourists, especially in Upper Egypt, where the Sahara Desert approaches the Nile. Around this area you can see a flood plain just a few kilometers wide.

Geography

The size of the Libyan Sahara Desert is comparable to the state of Texas and accounts for nearly two-thirds of all of Egypt's land. This desert spans an area from the Mediterranean Sea southwards to the border of Sudan. The desert has the Jilf al Kabir Plateau, which has an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters.

It is also full of many ridges and basins throughout its area. Water around the region comes from the Nile or by local groundwater, as well as the Great Sand Sea which lies within the desert's plain, spanning from the Siwa Oasis to Jilf al Kabir. The Siwa Oasis is a famous location, as it was visited by Herodotus and Alexander the Great. Though the oasis is isolated from the rest of Egypt it has always managed to sustained life from ancient times and till today. Siwa Oasis tours are the most popular Sahara Desert tours.

Libyan Desert Tours

What can you expect from a Libyan Sahara Desert tour? Most run for about an entire week, including weekends, and encompass a tour of the Libyan Desert in Egypt, along with other popular Egypt sites, like Cairo and Alexandria.

Expect to see several oases on the tour, since they all form a topographic chain of basins. You will probably see the Bahariya Oasis, the Siwa Oasis, Arag, Bahrein, Sitra, Nawemisa Oasis and the Farafra Oasis. And, of course, the White Desert and the Black Desert.

Egyptian Desert Tours may travel in a variety of ways, including by microbus, donkey-drawn carriage or trekking. Naturally, these tours stop for all the amenities and refreshments that you would need traveling the legendary Libyan Sahara Desert. Being inside the immense Western Desert, is one of the most vivid experiences you will ever have.

Egypt Tours and Travel

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14 Days: Desert Tour of Egypt
Tranquil and holding such secrets and mysteries, the Desert Tour of Egypt allows you to discover what this natural wonder means to you.


10 Days: Egypt Oasis Tour
The 10 Days: Egypt Oasis Tour is a relaxing yet completely surreal adventure for anyone who enjoys culture, nature, and history.


6 Days: Sahara Desert Expedition
For a slightly different point of view, the 6 Days: Sahara Desert Expedition offers a great vantage point for the curious soul.