| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65 | 49 | 0.20 |
| Feb | 68 | 50 | 0.20 |
| Mar | 73 | 54 | 0.10 |
| Apr | 82 | 59 | 0.10 |
| May | 89 | 64 | 0.00 |
| Jun | 93 | 70 | 0.00 |
| Jul | 93 | 72 | 0.00 |
| Aug | 92 | 72 | 0.00 |
| Sep | 90 | 69 | 0.00 |
| Oct | 85 | 65 | 0.00 |
| Nov | 75 | 58 | 0.10 |
| Dec | 67 | 51 | 0.20 |
The colors on the rock were vivid and rich, as if the figures had been painted yesterday. We'd trekked thousands of miles to reach the middle of nowhere, and found ourselves in the heart of a civilization long past.
We have travelled for days over the desert in 4X4 vehicles to arrive here. We've brought everything with us: water, food, fuel, supplies, GPS locator and our indispensable guide. We seek out primitive paintings in caves and on rock, as well as the tools, axes, beads and bones of a people who inhabited this area 18,000 years ago. The occasional piece of WWII military debris, untouched in this harsh but stunning desert environment, makes our quest all the more intriguing.
People once thrived here when a branch of the Nile supplied life-sustaining water, and each stop brings new hope of uncovering a pottery shard or some other clue to a culture long departed. This region once pulsed with life; a lake, now vanished, once reflected the crisp blue desert sky. Now it's an uninhabitable expanse of pure white sand punctuated with mushroom-shaped chalk formations and rife with archeological mysteries. Uninhabitable, but not inaccessible, not to us.
Diaa Shawki Michael has explored the Egyptian desert for 25 years, guiding nearly 50 overland expeditions into the White Desert. He has also guided the Egyptian military in search and rescue operations in the desert.
Meet your expert guide and expedition team members. Rest in Cairo at the Four Seasons.
Venture south to Dakhla Oasis, where you walk the ancient streets of El Qasr and soak in a natural hot spring. Tonight, prepare with your expedition team for overland desert driving, while staff fuels the vehicles and reserve tanks. The next morning, head south, stopping at a prehistoric archaeological site. You move daily, sleeping in Egyptian-style tents, your group entirely self-sufficient.
Drive overland to the "8 Bells" site on the plateau, then to a volcanic crater. Pass through the old smuggler's track en route to Paul and Peter Mountain. The next day, drive toward Uwienat, the highest mountain in the Western desert. Near the Egypt-Sudan border, study the 18,000-year-old rock paintings at Kurkur Talh.
Depart early to further explore the area's ancient rock art, then drive toward the Great Sand Sea and camp at a 12,000-year-old site near the Egypt-Libya border. Both Wadi Sura (appropriately known as "Picture Valley") and Wadi Furag feature cave paintings of human and animal figures, as well as a lake that long ago disappeared from the landscape.
Explore this unusual setting, including the Shawa Caves, a fossilized dune, and the spectacularly beautiful sugar loaf sand dunes and chalk formations. Every day in the desert is unique, bringing new cultural discoveries and scenic wonders.
Explore the White Desert and its unique rock formation on camel back.
Stop in Baharia before continuing to Cairo for a relaxing overnight at the Four Seasons and a splendid farewell dinner.
Transfer to the airport for flights home.
