Exploring Western Desert in 14 Days

For 14 days you'll have a wonderful life time adventure discovering the wonders of the Egyptian Western desert, one of the most exquisite deserts in Africa. You will meet totally new wonders, sand dunes, forms of rocks and prehistoric showcaves even volcanic craters and several other natural and historic aspects that will make you more eager to see more along the trip. Either you are a lover of nature or you need some time to enjoy some inner peace in a serene atmosphere reading a book in the shade of mount Uweinat or would love to go for a desert adventure. No matter what you seek, you'll find it in this trip. Only you and the desert, an adventure for you.

Route & Program

Check bellow for details for further information contact us on :  ask@zarzora.com

Date: 15 to 30 April 2011

Great Sand Sea:

The Sand Sea is the pure sandy part of the Libyan Desert and extends from the south of Siwa almost 700km until it reaches the foots of the Gilf's Plateau. It is an area that is completely void of water and charms any traveller with magnificent expansive dunes.

The White Desert: The Dazzling white of the chalky calcic formations are the remains of a limestone massif from the Cretaceous era, shaped out into the strangest sculptures by the ever wailing sharp wind armed at all times with strongly effective sand particles. This unique desert has no parallel in the whole world.

Ammonite Scarp:

The arid desert ground south of Siwa, was found covered by millions of marine fossils known as Ammonites because of their shape that resembles the horns of ancient God Ammon. A reminder of a long ago retreated sea.

Regenfeld: In 1874 Friedrich Gerhard Rohlfs set out from Dakhla Oasis intending to reach Kufra. In February he was c. 100 km north of Abu Ballas (Pottery Hill) in the Western Desert. Accompanied by Karl Zittel and a surveyor called Jordans, Rohlfs and his colleagues experienced a down pouring of rain - a rare occurrence in the desert, seemingly only happening every twenty years. Rohlfs team restocked and watered their camels and left a cairn at the place he had named Regenfeld (Rainfield).Regenfeld has since been visited by scores of explorers andtourists. A message that Rohlf left in a bottle was removed by Ahmed Hassanein in 1923.

Uweinat: The distinctive mountain of Uweinat in the far southwest corner of the Egyptian Sahara also built the highest point of this desert. The elevated surface of these dark igneous rocks unites the grounds of three countries, Egypt, Sudan and Libya.

Abu Ballas: Pottery Hill known as Abu Ballas in Arabic used to be a reliable source for providing water to the oasis invaders or convoys heading to the oasis in the ancient times as when the early explorers visited the site, there were about 300 complete pots and amphorae at the depot, though most were broken or had man-made holes in them supporting the theory that this was the water cache referred to by the Dakhla natives, which they destroyed when pursuing the "black raiders" a few years before Rohlfs recorded the story in 1874. The existence of this depot one third of the way to Kufra led Almasy to speculate that there had to be another depot or well two thirds of the way, most probably the unknown Zarzora oasis. Unfortunately by now all the complete pots have been taken or broken, and all that remains at the site is a pile of broken shards at the foot of the hill.

Gilf Kebir: Is a plateau in the remote southwest corner of Egypt. Its name translates as "the Great Barrier". This 7770-square-kilometre limestone and sandstone plateau roughly the size of Switzerland rises 300m from the desert floor. It is known for its rugged beauty, remoteness, geological interest, and the dramatic cliff paintings and rock carvings which depict an era of abundant animal life and human habitation.

Mestikawy Cave: A newly discovered cave by Colonel El-

Mestikawy on the southwestern cliffs of the Gilf Kebir plateau. Showing rock drawings of wide diversity and overlooking dry remains of an ancient lake basin with prehistoric tools.

Wadi Hamra: The easternmost valley opens to the Gap about 60 kilometers to the north of Aqaba pass. Near its head it supports a healthy cluster of acacias, making it the greenest valley.

It received its name on account of the red sand filling its bed near the vegetation zone. Near its center section and close to its top, three rock art sites with engravings are possibly the oldest in the region.

Silica Glass: The so-called "Libyan Glass" in the area south of the sand sea, had been formed upon the impact of a meteorite, forming a unique glass phenomenon, The Silica Glass also known as Desert Emeralds as a piece of which was recently found to feature in a piece of Tutankamun's jewelry.

Price: € 1.500,00 per person

Minimum 6 participants - Please ask us Confirmation Deadline is 15 March 2011

Our Service

1-Professional  Desert Guide:

2-Transportations & Security:

A- Four-Wheel Drive Toyota Land cruiser newest model 4 people per Car, All seats are facing forward.

B- Full Navigation system GPS.

C- Advanced Map Navigation satellite images and routing

D- Satellite Phone onboard.

E- Emergency Helicopter Under call

F- VHF communication between cars.

G-Emergency Gas & Water container

H-First Aid Kit.

3-Centeral Tent:

A- Central tent 10X5meters resistance against cold&wind.

B- All necessary kitchen & dining utensils, cookery, drink ware etc.

C- Refrigerator, oven & fire grill.

D- Generator 220V (can be used for charging batteries etc).

E- Chairs and tables for dinning use.

4-Camp  Accommodation:

A- Spacious well ventilated dome tent (220cmX180cm) including mattresses per person. (High density foam mattress, 200cmX80cm and 6cm in thickness).

B- Tents are resistant against bad weather conditions.

5-Food  &Beverages:

A- Full board- breakfast, picnic lunch and hot dinner everyday during the tour.

B- Beverages (mineral water, tea, coffee, etc).

C- Sweets and savory snacks every day.

6-Vists & Excursions:

A- All permissions/tickets fees for all visits as per program.

Check our Gallery for more details on Zarzora Equipments & Camps

Price: € 1.500,00 per person

Minimum 6 participants - Please ask us.

Confirmation Deadline is 1 March 2010.

Price Exclude:

-   Entry visa.

-  Transfer from to Cairo international Airport.

-  Cairo Hotel 1st and 2nd Stay.

- Any entrance tickets (museums, temples, etc....) that’s not mentioned in progam.

- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone calls, etc...).

- International & domestic flights.

- Emergency Helicopter services fees.

- All Tips for guides, drivers, etc.

- Optional activities.

- Any items which is not included above

OPTIONAL: Transfer from/ to Airport + Cairo hotel double room two nights in 4**** on BB Basis € 250, 00 per person.

Single Supplements € 50, 00 per person.

Notes:

-Please note that we need colored copies of passports at least 30 days before the actual trip date.

-Please note that an officer from the army/tourist police is obligatory to accompanying the trip.

-Don’t forget to bring your personal sleeping bag, sun glasses, torches/LED Flashlights, sun block cream, heavy duty shoes, and a head cover sun protection.

-We don’t recommend joining this trip if you have any serious medical condition however please don’t forget to bring your own necessary medications if you’re on any.

-Zarzora’s leader is fully authorized to change the trip route in case of any emergency e.g., vehicle breakdown, sickness of any of the trip members, dramatic weather changes, etc....

Check our Gallery for more details on Zarzora Equipments & Camps