Crystal Mountain

Crystal Mountain Egypt: Where It Is and How to Visit

Crystal Mountain in Egypt is a low ridge of glittering crystals on the desert road between Bahariya Oasis and the White Desert. It is a short stop on almost every White Desert trip from Cairo, usually between the Black Desert and the Agabat valley.

• Where: beside the Bahariya–Farafra road, about 1 to 1.5 hours’ drive south of Bawiti.
• Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes.
• Entry: no ticket; it is part of desert tours.
• Best time: October to April, in the morning or late afternoon light.

Crystal Mountain (Gebel al-Izzaz, “Glass Mountain” in Arabic) is a small rocky hill rather than a real mountain. Its surface is covered with crystals that catch the sun and sparkle, and the ground around it is littered with crystal pieces. The best-known feature is a natural rock arch on the ridge, which makes a good frame for photos.

It is not a place to spend long, but it is one of the most memorable stops on the way into the White Desert, and a good place to stretch your legs after the drive from Bahariya.

At a glance

The crystals, mostly quartz, grew slowly inside the rock as mineral-rich water moved through it. Over a very long time, wind and blowing sand wore away the softer rock around them and left the harder crystal ridge exposed. The same forces carved the chalk shapes of the White Desert further south.

Because so many visitors have taken pieces over the years, there are fewer loose crystals than there once were. The area is part of the protected desert, so please look and photograph, but leave the crystals where they are.

• Location: on the main road south from Bahariya, after the Black Desert and before the Agabat valley and the White Desert National Park.
• Getting there: with a 4×4 tour from Bahariya or Cairo. There is no public transport to the site.
• Time: 20 to 30 minutes is enough to walk the ridge and see the arch.
• Shoes: wear closed shoes, as the crystal edges are sharp.
• Photos: the crystals shine best in low sun, in the morning or late afternoon.
• Combine with: the Black Desert, the Agabat valley and a night camping in the White Desert.

Yes, as part of a trip to the White Desert. It takes only half an hour, but the sparkling ridge and the rock arch are a highlight of the drive south from Bahariya. Read our guides to the White Desert, Bahariya Oasis and Farafra Oasis to plan the rest of the trip.