Duration: 40 Days
Grade 5: difficult
Walking Distance 700km
Route:
Cairo - Dakhla Oasis- Regenfeld- Great Sea of Sand- Ammonite Scarp- Bahrein Oasis- Areg Oasis- Siwa Oasis
Brief History
In 1873 Ismail Pasha, Khedive of Egypt, launched the first scientific expedition to the Libyan Desert. The German explorer, Gerhard Rolfs was the leader of the expedition. The aim was to establish the route between Dakhla oasis and to the Libyan Oasis of Kufra. The caravan carried a seventeen-day supply of water. However the expedition caravan appeared in Siwa oasis 36 days later. They did not loose their way, but they were forced to change route due to the fearsome dune. They marched parallel to its dunes which are 200meters.
Our aim is to follow the same track taken by this great and ambitious explorer.
Detailed Program
Day 1: Cairo - Dakhla
Meet in Cairo Hotel to take the private shuttle bus to Dakhla Oasis. Lunch is served in Baharyia. Check into the hotel in Dakhla
Day 2 - 28: Regenfeld – Bahrein Oasis - Siwa
Early rise, breakfast at the Hotel, load the vehicles, pick up the military officer, and finally head toward the great void of the desert. The camels caravan march across the desert heading west to Regenfeld; the spot where Gerhard Rolfs expedition was confronted by sheer walls of sand dunes and also where miraculously rain has fallen in which they could replenish their supply of precious water. We head northwest parallel to the line of dunes towards Ammonite Scarp and then to Bahrein Oasis. From Here we follow the track to Siwa.
Day 28 - 30 Siwa
Relax in Siwa for a day and then being transported to Cairo