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Minamar Hotel
Bahariya Oasis Egypt
Minamar Hotel Complete Package 3
nights /4 Days
Farafra Sightseeing
Beautiful
gardens
Key-shaped wells
Traditional houses
Holy tomb
Farafra Oasis Map
Farafra Oasis Egypt's Western Desert
Farafra, known as Ta-iht or the Land of the Cow in pharaonic times, is a
single village. The most isolated of the New Valley Oases it is renowned
for its strong traditions and piety. According to folklore, the
villagers once lost track of time and had to send a rider to Dakhla so
they could hold the Friday prayers on the right day. The oldest part of
the village, on a hillside, is next to peaceful walled palm groves; a
short ride away there are hot sulphur springs at Bir Setta and swimming
at El-Mufid Lake.
Mostly inhabited by Bedouins, the small mud-brick houses all have wooden
doorways with medieval peg locks. As in other oases, many of Farafra's
houses are painted blue (to ward off the Evil Eye) but here some are
also decorated with landscapes, birds and animals, the handiwork of
local artist, Badr. A combination house, museum and studio exhibiting
his paintings and ceramics is situated in a garden full of sculptures
made from objects found in the surrounding desert. Another local, known
as Mr. Socks, sells beautiful hand-knitted camel-hair sweaters, socks
and scarves. Day trips by jeep and camel treks from here to the White
Desert,
FARAFRA:
The
isolated oasis
With only 4,000 inhabitants
and about 200 km to the first neighbour settlement, Farafra is among the
most isolated places in Egypt. It is part of the Western Desert circuit,
so it still gets many visitors. And the place has a number of
attractions, of which the adjacent White Desert is one of Egypt's most
famous nature sights.
The architecture of Farafra is the old
and ingenious one, where mud brick houses stand close together, with
narrow roads with roofs. Many of the houses have painted exteriors with
murals.
Many traditions live
on in Farafra — traditions that die when locals in towns like this move
into nondescript "modern" box houses. Dresses and shirts have beautiful
embroidery, but little is available for visitors with hard cash. Of
products for sale, olives and olive oil are of high quality here. In
addition, there is a rich output of vegetables and fruits, including
bananas, mangos and guavas.
Most
visitors to Farafra take at least one swim in the many hot springs in
town. Female visitors should respect local traditions, and bathe only in
the afternoons.
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Cairo
Bahariya Road
White Desert
Akabat Mountain
White Desert
White Desert
Camping
White Desert
White Desert
Crystal Mountain
Minamar Hotel
Package
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