White Desert National Park

Egypt beyond the pyramids

Often overlooked is one of the country's most spectacular landscapes, White Desert National Park. Located 5 hours away from the bursting metropolis of Cairo lies this exceptional section of the Sahara. Formed by centuries of erosion and sandstorms, calcium rock formations crop up across the landscape like great abstract statues.

As you get further into the 300-sq-km national park, you'll notice that the surreal shapes start to take on familiar forms: mushrooms, rabbits, and camels. The most characteristic of these peculiar natural formations is the so-called "chicken and mushroom".

These chalky shapes seemingly change their colour depending on the time of the day, shifting from brilliant white to creamy, then reaching a golden brown.

Many people opt to spend a night camping in the desert to also enjoy the night sky.

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