Bahariya is the closest oasis to Cairo in kilometers, but the most distant oasis in time. Bahariya Oasis, part of the highly populated Giza Governorate, has been slow to move into the modern world. Of course, for the traveler in search of the past it is a wonderful experience.

The depression is 94 kilometers long, 42 kilometers wide and 2000 square kilometers. There are plenty of hills and mountains in Bahariya Depression and they form the dominant feature of the oasis. Among the dominant mountains are Gebel Hafuf, Gebel al-Ghaba, Mountain of the Forest, Gebel Ghurabi, Mountain of the Crow; Gebel Dist, Mountain of the Pot. Despite the fact that Bahariya is the highest oasis in elevation, the water makes its way to the surface through natural fissures. Bahariya also has a number of ancient aqueduct systems. In the 1920's and the 1930's dozens of major fossils were discovered including Simoliophis rochebrunei, the largest and oldest snake known. Crops are plentiful in Bahariya. Orchards contain a variety of trees, including dates, lemon, olive, mango and guava.