Egypt - Western Desert in September

[ursula]

Egypt - Western Desert in September

One has to be a big optimist to plan an expedition to the Gilf Kebir in these days!
But finally everything worked out just fine

Paperstuff, permits, military officer and Tourist Police Escort – as usual, but trend to get more complicated than before .
Offices were often closed.

Life in Cairo seemed to be as before except some tanks more in the streets, sandbags on buildings and Restaurants were closed from 19.00 last Friday.
In the oasis I could not see or feel any difference except there was now enough fuel J

Soon some impressions on http://www.flickr.com/photos/72664388@N00/...........

Ursula

[Toyark]

Some magic photographs there Ursula- Thank you for sharing

[ursula]

thanks - they are from my last trips

as soon as I have unpacked my bags I will start to have a look at those from the last weeks

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by ursula

Egypt - Western Desert in September

One has to be a big optimist to plan an expedition to the Gilf Kebir in these days!
But finally everything worked out just fine

Paperstuff, permits, military officer and Tourist Police Escort – as usual, but trend to get more complicated than before .
Offices were often closed.

Life in Cairo seemed to be as before except some tanks more in the streets, sandbags on buildings and Restaurants were closed from 19.00 last Friday.
In the oasis I could not see or feel any difference except there was now enough fuel J

Hopefully the country will settle down to some kind of routine that works OK for the Egyptians; the current signs are that the political situation will be the status quo of just 2-3 years ago.

[ursula]

Tourist Police Escort

[ktm990]

Hello Ursula,

Beautiful picture of the desert.
Where are the most beautiful desert landscapes in all Sahara for you ?

[ursula]

Hi
I like very much landscapes with eroded sandstone formations with dunes – like the Tassilis of southern Algeria,
the periphery of Tibesti in Chad and Dohone in Libya, Kaouar / Niger and of course the Western Desert in Egypt
with the great Gilf Kebir!

[ursula]

hello
no news from travellers coming back from the Western Desert - Gilf Kebir - Uweinat recently?
Still quiet and possible to get the permissions?

[andrasz]

There is certainly nobody I know who went there recently. With the police escort and the associated exorbitant fees I'm not surprised...

All things going well we're off to the Tibesti in a few weeks.

[ramblurr]

What sorts of permits are required for travel in the Western Desert these days if you're sticking strictly to roads?

A few years ago you could hop on your bicycle in Cairo and ride the Western Oasis loop to Luxor without any special permits.

Is that no longer possible? What's this about military escorts?

[achim-in-jordan]

Hi Ramblurr,

I believe there is a misunderstanding here: If you want to do the oasis loop only, there are no special permits required. You can go from Cairo to Bahariya, on through the White Desert to Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga before reaching Luxor.

The tarmaced roads in the deep South(-West) of Egypt are often either military or need a permit (which is usually refused). Taking the road from Siwa to Bahariya requires a permit which you easily obtain if you either possess a sat-phone or follow other vehicles (mostly local tour operators) who do carry a sat-phone with them.

What is meant here, though, are expeditions off road to areas south of the 23 latitude.

Best,
Achim

[andrasz]

Slight correction:

The mandatory police escort applies to ALL off-road areas west of the Nile, including the formerly free-for all area east of the Oasis Road. South of 23N you need TWO police escort cars not one. (however all academic, as I believe now it is the military - who also add one deadweight officer to join the festivities - do not give any permits these days).

The Oasis Road is open to my knowledge, though on occasion the Baharia and Farafra checkpoints have demanded permits to allow passage.

[ursula]

hi
as far as I know (and this can change very quickly) you have no problems to do the planned route
if you stay on tarmac. You have to pay some road fee and they will ask you if you have a reservation
for a hotel in Dakhla, Kharga etc.

If you have one this would be very helpful
Ursula

[achim-in-jordan]

My experience at the end of 2012 was that nobody asked any questions about hotel reservations - and we stayed overnight in the White Desert anyway.

The only situation of a discussion at a checkpoint was on the turn from the Kharga - Baris road to the direct Luxor road where police wanted to impose an accompanying policeman / soldier. I politely refused saying that I was well equipped and didn't need one. And that was it ...

Best
Achim

[omar mansour]

hi all
you don't need any permits if you will do all or part of Cairo Luxor loop through the Oases and yes you can camp around no problems at all
the new is if you want to go to Siwa from any where (like Matrouh ,or of course bahariya oasis ) you will need a permit
the authorities said its temporary and it is to control the border areas with Libya
travel safe all