Egyptian [Western] desert closed for travellers?

[Thimba]

Hi all,

According to a press release from the German Foreign Department, Egypt has closed western and southern deserts for traveling. This includes Western Desert, Black Desert and White Desert:

Auswärtiges Amt: Ägypten sperrt Wüstengebiete für Reisen

Travellers are rushed through Egypt with police escorts in just a few days. No fun anymore…

Cheers from Khartoum,

Gee

[ursula]

Safaris to return to White Desert next week but remain suspended in southern areas: ETAA official - Daily News Egypt

[ursula]

just coming back from a trip to the Eastern Desert,
no Tourist Police escort - just one military officer.
Unfortunately we did not get the permission to visit Gebel Elba


Ursula

[andrasz]

That's some good news, at least in part. Where did you manage to go ?

[ursula]

from Aswan we went SE to the northern part of the Gebel Elba Park, Shalatin, and then to Wadi Gimal Park.
Some pictures on https://www.flickr.com/photos/72664388@N00/
Unfortunately we did not visit the interesting sites of Winkler and Co…
Ursula

[eurasiaoverland]

Wow, magnificent photos Ursula, thanks for sharing. These are the kinds of images which make me want to go to the Sahara.

Were you able to get to the Tenere / Djado recently?

Thanks

EO

[Habari]

Amazing photos Ursula!
Did you take the road that goes from Aswan to Berenice?
Cheers.

[ursula]

hello EO
since the rebellion I did not go back to these great places!
It is too risky.
Ursula

[ursula]

hello Habari
from Aswan we followed this road and left it near Sheikh Shazly
following pistes to the south east.
Great landscapes!
Ursula

[Habari]

Indeed Ursula!

Cheers!

[BasZ]

Good news people!

The Egyptian army is now allowing people into the white and black deserts again. I don't know about the Western Desert / Great Sand Sea / Gilf Kbir. It is still wise to go with a bedouin guide as there are many smugglers, of which some armed.

I live in Egypt and can supply more info if needed.

Happy camping!

[Dombybike]

Originally Posted by BasZ

Good news people!

The Egyptian army is now allowing people into the white and black deserts again. I don't know about the Western Desert / Great Sand Sea / Gilf Kbir. It is still wise to go with a bedouin guide as there are many smugglers, of which some armed.

I live in Egypt and can supply more info if needed.

Happy camping!

Hey Basz,
thanks a lot for this information!
I will be in Eqypt around november/december this year and I will go from north to south by bicycle.
In the last week i got some quite differing information from other travelers concerning the white and black deserts...some say it is possible, some say it's not...

What do you think? Will they let me in with a bike? Are there military escorts? Will they let me camp in the wild? Do you think it is too dangerous?

Every bit of information will be really helpful to me
Thanks a lot!
Dominik

[BasZ]

Hi Dominik,

I suggest you get in touch with Peter Wirth, he is the owner of the Baharia hot springs hotel (they really do have hot springs!). He has been living there for a very long time and knows all the bedouins and police/military. He organises motorcycle trips into the white and black desert, so he will be able to answer all your questions.

His phone is +201227369493
His email is info1@whitedeserttours.com or whitedesert@link.net

Camping in the desert is always wild, it is one big camping ground

[Dombybike]

Great, thanks for the contact information! This is really helpful
Which nationality is Peter?

[ursula]

hallo Dominik
er ist Deutscher, seine Frau Japanerin.
Alles Gute wünscht dir
Ursula