Sights

Nature-not man-is the area’s real attraction. Several local operators organize trips to nearby sights, and they will find you shortly upon arrival. Bir al-Matthar, a cold spring, lies 6km southeast of Bawiti. The slightly sulphurous water pours out of a viaduct into a small shaded cement pool. Taxis to this popular place cost LE10 round-trip. The “road” (really a desert track; drivers beware) to Bir al-Matthar continues southeast through the desert to Bir al-Ghaba, 15km from Bawiti, with both a hot and cold spring in another sumptuous oasis landscape. Both men and women can swim in this deserted spot; taxi LE25 round-trip. A steamy spring, 2.5km out of the town center, is within walking distance. On a slightly bizarre and unusual note, a large natural pyramid, surrounded and topped by dunes, lies within the range of local tour operators about 9km away.

Archeological sites of some interest cluster around Bawiti and Al-Qasr, the older city adjacent to Bawiti in the west. The Tomb of Bannentiu, on the eastern outskirts of Bawiti, was discovered by Ahmed “Oasis” Fakhry and dates from the 26th dynasty. Its central and burial chambers are decorated with fairly well-preserved painted reliefs, including murals of the journeys of the sun and moon. The tomb is currently closed for restoration and preservation work; ask locally about when it will be reopened. Fakhry, the bodacious oasis man, has discovered a many-chambered ibis burial, 500m south of Bawiti, where sacred ibises, falcons, and quails were interred in jars.

This tomb also dates from late pharaonic times, and was used into the Roman era. The burial chamber cannot be visited, but little was left behind to see anyway. Al-Qasr itself, the ancient capital of Bahariya, hides scanty Roman remains among its mud brick dwellings. Ancient walls and the watery geological fault Bir Bishmo also make interesting side trips. All the hotel managers run tours of the area. For LE10-15 a head, you should be able to visit all the nearby springs, sights, and viewpoints. Through the tourist office you can hire a taxi for the day for about LE40; LE50 will get a group to the oasis of Al-Heiz and back.