Travel Guide

Place to Visit: Dakhla

Mud-Brick Ghost-Towns

Western Desert, Egypt

Located south Dakhla is an ancient oasis inhabited as far back as Pharaonic times. Famous for the crumbling yet still-inhabited mud-brick town of al Qasr, travellers are amazed by the lushness of the oases’ fields of fruit and palms.

Great Reasons To Visit

  • Head out into the desert to explore by camel or 4WD, spending the night camping if at all possible
  • Wander al Qasr for a look at what desert cities once looked like
  • Explore the old village of Balat and the nearby necropolis of Qila al Dibba

Background

The unforgiving desert is tapped by a series of deep wells which since Pharaonic times have brought life to the wilderness of Farafra. Several settlements are scattered around the oasis including Mut, its capital, whilst the groves of apricots, citrus fruits, olives and date-palms are pleasing to the eye on arrival after miles of featureless desert. Today Dakhla is renowned for its friendly people, basketry and for being a great place from where to explore on a 4WD or camel safari.

Relaxing

In the evening chill out in one of the area’s hot springs with a cold beer or wander around the old town of Mut, then enjoy a shay with the locals in one of the tea houses.

Dakhla

The ancient, crumbling town of al Qasr dates back to Ottoman times and beyond and provides a great look into the past; several of its houses are still inhabited. There are hot springs at Mut 3 and Bir el-Gebel, a mini wildlife-haven at what are locally called the Fish Ponds, whilst the old village of Balat and the necropolis at Qila al Dibba make for an interesting visit.

Balat

Old village

Western Desert, Egypt

Lying some 35km east of Mut in Dakhla oasis lies Balat, the Palace, an ancient settlement dating back to Pharaonic times, and one which had strong trading links with the Kushite peoples of the souther...

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Farafra - Al Qasr

Barefoot explorer

Western Desert, Egypt

Still home to several hundred people the crumbling mudbrick houses of Al Qasr some 20km north of Mut in Dakhla oasis are the last remains of what was a typical desert town during Ottoman times. Built ...

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Qila al Dibba

No Image

Western Desert, Egypt

Qila al Dibba is thought to be the necropolis of the ancient settlement of Balat. It has 5 mastaba tombs, stepped like Djoser’s pyramid at Saqqara, one of which stands 10 metres high. They are believe...

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