These photographs document a trekking and 4×4 journey through the Western Desert of Egypt.

Starting at Bahariya Oasis we travelled through the Sahara Suda (Black Desert) and Sahara Beida (White Desert) ending up near Farafra.

As a compliment to these images I produced a second, more abstract series of photographs entitled “Sahara Sands” from the same trip.

This is one of the Editors’s Picks for 2013

By Quintin Lake  March 25, 2013

Dune above camp near Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Bedouin Tea, served extra sweet

Early morning sunlight illuminates a sand dune, Western Desert

Landcruisers descend into a wadi in the Sahara Suda (Black Desert), Egypt

Sahara Suda (Black Desert) the moment after sunset

Our bedouin guide, Mahmood contemplating the White Desert

Trekking above a sand dune in the White Desert, Egypt

Mahmood collecting fire wood in the White Desert

Mahmood guides us across the White Desert

Sam McConnell prepares for a night under the stars, White Desert

Sand ripples at the edge of the Sahara Beida (White Desert)

4X4 tracks at camp in the Western Desert

Khaled ties camping equipment to the top of the Landcruiser

Monoliths (inselbergs) of the White Desert at sunset

Landcruiser stuck in the sand in the Western Desert

Sam McConnell walks amongst the chalk rock formations of the White Desert

Moments before sunset at El-Khiyam “The Tents”, White Desert

4X4 Camp amongst El-Khiyam “The Tents”, White Desert

Mahmood & Khaled rest after trekking amongst The Tents, White Desert

Sunset abovet El-Khiyam “The Tents”, Sahara Beida (White Desert)

Khaled, deep in thought with a glass of sweet tea. Western Desert

Wind sculpted chalk waves and sand in the White Desert

Moonlit Camp in the White Desert

Chalk sculptures catch the setting sunlight in the White Desert

Sunset above the the chalk rock formations of the White Desert near Farafra

Aish el-Ghorab “The Mushrooms”, chalk sculptures, White Desert, Egypt (Maybe it is called Esh al Ghourab: The nest of the owl?)

The Mushrooms, chalk sculptures, White Desert

Sunset in the White Desert, Egypt

The journey was undertaken with desert explorer Sam McConnell who runs highly recommended adventure travel expeditions to the region in collaboration with Abou Anis of Sub Sinai, off-road driver Khaled, and the bedouin of Bahariya Oasis

Signed limited edition prints of this series are available at £195 each (60x40cm). To purchase please contact me. Larger sizes also available

Edit: I’m delighted that this post is featured in Freshly Pressed.

Check out “Glimpses Of Iran” which was Freshly Pressed last year.

Edit 2! I’m even more chuffed this post has been featured in Editors’ Picks of the Year: The Best of WordPress.com in 2013 thanks guys!

Edit 3! If you enjoyed this have a look at Wadi Rum Journey which was the follow up to this project