In the Egyptian Western Desert there are many oasis, we selected the most important ones here.

Bahariya

Set in a depression covering over 2,000 sq.km., Bahariya Oasis is surrounded by black hills made of ferruginous quartzite and dolorite. Most of the villages and cultivated land can be seen from the top of the 50-meter-high Jebel al-Mi'ysrah. The view also shows how the surrounding massive dunes threaten to engulf some of the older settlements. 

The Oasis was a major agricultural center during the Pharaonic era and has been famous for its wine as far back as the Middle Kingdom. During the fourth century, the absence of Roman rule and violent tribes in the area caused a decline as some of the oasis was reclaimed by the mighty desert sand.

Wildlife is plentiful especially birds such as wheatears; crops (which only cover a small percentage of the total area) include dates, olives, apricots, rice and corn.

There are a number of springs in the area, some very hot such as Bir ar-Ramla but probably the most impressive is Bir al-Ghaba about 10 miles north east of Bawiti. There is also Bir al-Mattar, a cold spring which poors into a concrete pool. Near the Oasis lay the Black and White deserts, though traveling to the White desert is impractical from the oasis.

The Black Desert was formed through wind erosion as the nearby volcanic mountains spewed their lava over the desert floor.

Finally, there are the ruins of a 17th Dynasty temple and settlement and nearby tombs where birds were buried.

Dakhla:

The Dakhla Oasis lies to the northwest of Kharga and about 310 km to the southeast of Farafra. This oasis consists of 14 settlements and has a population of about 70,000. Dakhla is the farthest oasis out of Cairo and is considered one of Egypt's most beautiful oases.

Farafra:

Known as Ta-iht (or the Land of the Cow in pharaonic times) is a single village. The most isolated of the New Valley Oases it is renowned for its strong traditions and piety.  According to folklore, the villagers once lost track of time and had to send a rider to Dakhla so they could hold the Friday prayers on the right day. The oldest part of the village on a hillside, is next to peaceful walled palm groves; a short ride away there are hot sulphur springs at Bir Setta and swimming at the El-Mufid Lake.

Mostly inhabited by Bedouins, the small mud-brick houses all have wooden doorways with medieval peg locks. As in other oases, many of Farafra's houses are painted blue (to ward off the Evil Eye) but here some are also decorated with landscapes, birds and animals, the handiwork of the local artist Badr. A combination of house, museum and studio exhibiting his paintings and ceramics is situated in a garden full of sculptures made from objects found in the surrounding desert.

Another local artist, known as Mr. Socks, sells beautiful hand-knitted camel-hair sweaters, socks and scarves. Day trips by jeep and camel trecks from here to the White Desert, Bahariya, Dakhla and Siwa can be arranged through Saad's Restaurant.

Kharga:

Kharga used to be the before last stop on The Forty Days Road, the infamous slave-trade route between North Africa and the tropical south. Today it is the biggest New Valley oasis, and its modern city houses 60,000 people including 1,000 Nubians who moved here after the creation of lake Nasser. Outside the main center stands the Temple of Hibis, built on the site of an 18th dynasty settlement of Saites, Persians and Ptolemies. One of the few Persian monuments in Egypt, the 6th century BC temple, is well-preserved with painted vultures and huge reliefs of Darius greeting Egyptian gods on the outer walls.

Ten kilometers away, the Necropolis of al-Bagawat contains 263 mud-brick chapels with Coptic murals including the Chapel of Peace with images of Adam and Eve, the Ark on its dome and the Chapel of the Exodus with frescoes of pharaonic troops pursuing the Jews led by Moses out of Egypt. Pharaonic monuments include the al-Hhuwaytah Temple which dates from 522 BC and the Temple of Amenebis.

The thermal springs at Bulaq and Nasser villages to the south are famous for water temperatures of up to 43 C and reputed to be suitable for the treatment of rheumatism and allergies. Camping facilities are available near both villages. Further south is Baris Oasis, the second largest settlement in Kharga. Houses designed in traditional Nubian style by Hassan Fathy remain uninhabited; local people refused to live in them because of their similarity to tombs, and building stopped in the late 1960s. Ancient monuments include the Temple of Dush, dedicated to Isis and Serapis.

The name Kharga derives from Kush, the ancient Sudanese capital, which traded with Egypt along the Nile. Archeologists are still unearthing the ancient city of Kysis. An elaborate system of clay pipes and abandoned Christian churches suggest that Kysis was abandoned when its underground springs dried up, but the exact date remains a mystery.

Siwa:

The area is famous for its dates and olives and is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Egpt. Olive oil from 70,000 olive trees of the area is still made by crushing the olives with stones. The dates are gathered by Zaggala (stick bearers), who must remain celibate until the age of forty, and the area boasts some 300,000 date trees.

Theoasis is located on the old date caravan route, yet until recently it received few visitors and retained much of its heritage. In fact, until the battles, which took place around the oasis in World War II, it was hardly governed by Egypt and remained mostly a Berber (Zenatiya) community for the prior thirteen centuries. Siwans continue to have their own culture and customs and they speak Siwi, a Berber language, rather than Arabic. Interestingly, each October a three-day festival takes place, during which Siwans must settle all of their past year's disputes. 

The area is also famous for its sapproximately 1,000 springs. The water is sweet and is said to have medical properties.

Though relaxing and certainly now a part of the tourist community in Egypt, Siwa is still very traditional, and visitors should keep this in mind when traveling to the area. Girls of the area are often married at the age of 14, and afterward wear completely covering clothing and are allowed only little communication with the world outside their immediate family. Many women still wear traditional costumes and silver jewelry like those displayed in The Traditional Siwan House museum in the town center. The area is also well known for its crafts, particularly woven cloth, which is unique in Egypt.