A big thank you to everyone who took the time to leave us a review! It was great meeting every one of our amazing guests and desert lovers, from all over the world – Abdu Shaban, Joanne Clayton
April 2025: A journey I’ll never forget; Three days in the desert with this incredible team felt like stepping into another world — not only because of the breathtaking landscapes, but because the entire team was kind, patient, and deeply professional & made it all so special.
From the moment we began, I felt supported, and warmly welcomed — like I was among friends I had known forever. Their attention to detail, their joyful energy, and the way they brought the desert to life was beyond what I could have hoped for 💗🙌💗. The traditional food was fresh, full of love — one of the true highlights of the journey! Thank you dear Abdu, Saied & Khaled for turning this adventure into something unforgettable. You are not just organizers — you’re a tribe, and I’m so grateful I got to be part of it. My Desert Tribe – forever in my heart – Fatema – Egypt
February 2025: What a find and definitely we will return. As we were looking for a simple stay in the desert, it match and exceeded our expectations. The food was delicious and natural. Amenities are clean and comfortable. We also booked a tour at the camping , so it perfectly fitted our stay.
Our thanks to the whole team. My advice to guests, ask and tell your preferences, Joanne was very helpful and resourceful with our requests. Thanks for the koshari dinner at the end. – Oleksii – Netherlands
January 2025: We stayed with Joanne and Abdou with our two children and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you for the warm welcome, the wonderful food and the great accommodation. We felt completely comfortable. We also booked a 3 day desert tour with them and it was unique! Also, thanks to Said! We can only recommend everyone not to miss this experience! I’m sure we’ll be back sometime! – Julia – Belguim
December 2024: Exceptional experience with Al Haiz Oasis! It’s my choice in Baharyia Oasis. The place has beautiful energy, the accommodation is great & food is amazing – Marwa Moussa – Egypt
December 2024: Amazing people & amazing service. Can’t wait to return. – Kai Rikken – Estonia
December 2024: A very scenic and relaxing eco desert lodge, warm and friendly service with amazing food and trips in many points where the guides had a good knowledge and understanding. Would definitely recommend this to family and friends – S. Kamel – Egypt/Canada
December 2024: We had a wonderful overnight stay in the desert! Impeccable communication with Joanne before the stay, excellent food whether on the Oasis or in the desert, super friendly guides, breathtaking landscapes THANK YOU!! – Fabian Verkenne – France
December 2024: I attest to what everyone before me has said. Great people, hospitality, food, housing, nature, landscapes. Everything. Looking forward to next time. – Neda K – Sweden
December 2024: AMAZING!!!! You must take this trip. Thank you Saied, Mohammed and Mahmoud you are amazing guys! – Heleni Chrysogelou – Greece
December 2024: A lifetime experience! I will definitely do it again and soon! Thank you Abdu for being so generous!!! Maria Markouizou – Greece
November 2024: Truely one of the best places in the world. True serenity, amazing food and the people. It’s a place where you disconnect and create unforgettable memories ❤️ – Nayrouz Mohammed Aly – Egypt
November 2024: It was a great experience visiting the desert. – Katerina Moustaka – Greece
October 2024: An experience of a lifetime, 3 days in the desert absolutely amazing! Abdu was a great guide, knew the desert like the back of his hand. Fantastic food and wild driving!! Highly recommend 😍 – Sara Scopsi
August 2024: Had a great time, awesome team, great food, excellent experience. – Mina Ryad – Absolute Egypt Tours
March 2024: This is our gate to the Western Egyptian desert. Abdu, Saied, Joanne and their staff are people who live the desert, preserve a real sense of hospitality, and can share the way to enjoy a so fascinating but raw environment. So let yourself be guided by them, leaving behind your habits, concerns, and biases. Don’t ask them for a detailed travel program but make a wish: it will be fulfilled. After the trip you’ll be aware of having new Egyptian friends, so you’ll be back one, two, three, four times… – Michele Marchi – Italy
February 2024: A magical dream of a stay, I really can not rate highly enough. Joanne, Abdul and everyone there made us feel so SO welcome. If you want an oasis retreat like you imagine it to be – this is the place. If you want the most delicious healthy food, generous hospitality, a comfortable retreat, an insight into true Bedouin culture and landscapes not of this world – this is the place.
We arrived with one of our companions down with food poisoning and they nursed him back to health with the most tasty food freshly grown on site, beautiful surroundings, long chats by the fire and a kindness like little else. Healing for the soul as much as the stomach! The term paradise is overused but it really is a piece of heaven. Honestly felt like we could have stayed forever.
We weren’t the usual kind of guests being a couple of weirdo artists out on a mission but they were incredibly open and accommodating to our requests. Going above and beyond any expectations I could have had asked for. Allowing us to take our time at various spots and take in the vast expanses of desert that is breath-taking in it’s variety. Always moving at the gentle pace we wanted to.
At the retreat every morning we were treated to a delicious breakfast then taken off across the dunes to various locations, beautiful local music playing over the car speakers while seeing a landscape that was dreamlike and primordial. From alien-looking rock formations to what looked like endless horizon to artifacts that probably hadn’t seen human hands in centuries – we found an ancient Roman wine jug on our first day (we aren’t the British museum so left it where it belongs.) We’d stop with the most delicious picnic prepared, returning in the late evening to relax and wander round the lush green surroundings around the retreat, then settle down by the fire.
The hospitality and warmth in which were treated was something else, along with a lot of shared humour. We were treated like royalty and never made to feel anything other than welcome. Getting an opportunity to join in excursions when we wanted to or rest back at the retreat at our leisure (I personally loved the contrast of our short shopping trip to the nearby bustling village)
We did one overnight camp in the white desert where we got stuck in a sandstorm and what an adventure. Not only did we experience the bizarre and beautiful landscape but we were met with warmth of the fellow Bedouins on the way there, hunkering down in the cozy camp. When the storm cleared we saw a desert fox that we fed leftover macaroni over the bright starry night-sky. A memory I will always treasure, but to be honest the whole stay was like that.
Away from the chaos of Cairo both the retreat and the journeys out into the desert are a type of tranquillity and generosity that I really can’t put into words. From the retreat itself to the desert to scarabs out of nowhere…it was truly truly mystical and magical.
I can’t thank all of them enough, I hope this place stays forever, I would say a once in a lifetime experience but I do hope we make it back to Egypt one day just to visit here again. If we do we would extend our stay here for weeks, months, years. Its just a shame Google reviews stop at 5 stars. Nothing but love and gratitude to them all. – Rory & Oliver – Scotland
January 2024: Al Haiz Eco-Lodge and Abdool Hospitality provided an exceptional New Year’s event experience. The eco-lodge’s picturesque surroundings added to the festive ambiance, and Abdool Hospitality’s attention to detail was evident in every aspect. The event seamlessly combined entertainment, delicious cuisine, and a welcoming atmosphere, making it a memorable celebration. The staff’s professionalism and commitment to guest satisfaction were commendable, ensuring a delightful experience. Highly recommend for those seeking a unique and enjoyable way to ring in the New Year. – Ahmed Ghanem, Egypt
January 2024: It was a very special new year, Abdool was so welcoming and everything was so organized and hospitable, food was delicious, I liked that they thought of all the details, toilets were clean. – Dina Shouman, Egypt
January 2024: I had the great pleasure of staying at Al Haiz after 107 km hike with camels through the White Desert recently. It was the perfect end to an excellent week and our group sunk into the relaxed atmosphere very quickly. Abdu, Joanne and their team are perfect hosts and plied us with fine food in a relaxed atmosphere. We parted as the best of friends and `I look forward to returning. I really did not want to leave. Thank you. – Toby Savage, England
January 2024: Enjoyed a fantastic experience with this cozy company, offering a great overall adventure in the desert and beyond hospitality. The only room for improvement is the desert toilet; enhancing them would make the stay even more enjoyable. – Moon Hamed, Egypt
January 2024: A tranquil place with peaceful vibes. We went on a professionally arranged tours and visited various areas. The New Year celebration in the desert with wonderful stargazing was the cherry on top of the whole experience. Thanks to Abdoul and the amazing team. – Alaa El Sherif, Egypt
January 2024: Lovely staff, they are caring to make us happy all the trip. – Mazen Abdelaziz, Egypt
January 2024: Al Haiz Eco-Lodge and Abdool Hospitality provided an exceptional New Year’s event experience. The Eco-Lodge’s picturesque surroundings added to the festive ambiance, and Abdool hospitality’s attention to detail was evident in every aspect. The event seamlessly combined entertainment, delicious cuisine, and welcoming atmosphere, making it a memorable celebration. The staff’s professionalism and commitment to guest satisfaction were commendable, ensuring a delightful experience. Highly recommended for those seeking a unique and enjoyable way to ring in the New Year. – Ahmed Ghanem, Egypt
January 2024: Genuine and warm hospitality, Abdu, Joanne, Saied have become true friends to come and visit whenever I can! The Oasis is a true refuge of peace and tranquility where beauty of the desert blends with the excellence of hospitality. Green spaces, quiet corners combined with a unique culinary experience. Joanne amazed us with fresh, local ingredients combined with skill and creativity resulting in authentic and delicious flavors! I can’t wait to return to this corner of paradise. Super recommended!! – Barbara Milton, Milan Italy
January 2024: The place is amazing with great hospitality, crew and magnificent scenes all around it. Abdu (Abdel Fatah) made our vacation lovely experience with his friendly and generous way. Will have to go back again 😊 – Amr Amr, Egypt
December 2023: A lovely retreat in a traditional setting. What makes this place exceptional is that once you stepped through the gates, you are not just a customer, you become a friend. Joanne & Abdu make you feel at home and look after you very well. Recommended to all of those in search of a genuine and off the beaten track experience. – Eugen Miller, Romania
December 2023: Absolutely incredible experience. Welcoming. Food was amazing. We did the desert camping and I don’t have words to describe how amazing it was. – L Mitchell
November 2023: The Al Haiz Lodge is one of these places that you cannot wait to recommend to others since it is such a great experience to stay there. Together with my brother & sisters & little nephew I enjoyed one week surrounded by beautiful nature, amazingly kind and generous people & cozy place to stay. It’s a perfect place for children too. – Hanna Schultz, Netherlands
October 2023: One of the best hotels in the world 😍 – Mahmoud Tallat, Egypt
October 2023: It is a wonderful place and the service is excellent and they really deserve 5 stars – Abdo Saad, Egypt
July 2023: I had my desert retreat trip organized by Abdu Shaban and his experienced team and after a “once in a lifetime trip in the desert” we reached Al Haiz Lodge for our rest and restoration for a few days. Totally suggesting it for its hospitality, tranquillity, beauty, wonderful food and amazing people. You will feel like home, enjoy your time there and have a lot of laugh. Sukran for everything. – Gaia Dimitriou, Greece
May 2023: Peaceful place, every corner is very special, made with love. Very interesting safari in the White Desert and a tour around Baharya Oasis. Abdu is exceptionally friendly person, and makes your stay in oasis and desert unforgettable! – Flora Vafea
April 2023: This trip is a MUST DO in Egypt. Abdu and his crew were so hospitable. Starting with the food, Bedouin history, sand boarding, crazy dune rides, crazy views, everything was perfect! He took us to a very secluded part where there weren’t other campers and we were able to have complete privacy. If we had more time we would have stayed for longer.
Abdu surprised us with some delicious dates from his farm after the trip (since we kept saying how tasty they were) He really went above and beyond to connect us with his contacts for the rest of our time in Egypt. He is a kind sole and hope you choose him! – Shayari Chatterjee, Canada.
April 2023: Desert Safari…an exoplanet experience. Thanks Abdu, who happens to know A to Z of the desert. Inspire of paucity of time, he had arranged our tour in an exemplary manner & covered White Desert, Black Desert, volcanoes, Crystal Mountain, caves, hot spring, Roman Winery, beautiful village of Rees, & terrific adventure on Aguabat, Caraween sand dunes.
At night campfire, Abdu & his crew made our desert stay very joyful & happy with traditional Bedouin songs and dancing. We were amazed by their hospitality & prompt service in desert camp as well as at peaceful Al Haiz Oasis Ecolodge.
I highly recommend to go thru’ Abdu, for adventurous desert safari/tour. – Sharmilla-Shama Shah, Pune, India.
February 2023: We had the time of our lives. I took my two elder kids (3 and 5) for a few days to Al Haiz Oasis. We saw camels, bathes in hot springs, saw a Roman Winery and just played in the sand for hours. For oe night we spent in The White Desert and it was simply outstanding, breathtaking and amazing. Abdu and Joanne and the whole team went out of their way to make it the best trip for the kids and I. They helped me with the kids, played with them, explained everything. They accommodated us with the food and tried to come up with something the kids would eat.
Adbu took us to an absolute amazing trip through the desert to Fayoum. We visited the Whale Museum, swam in the Magic Lake, and visited the village of Tunis. I just can’t wait to come back and show this place to the rest of the family. Even with small kids, this trip is feasible and worth the drive from Cairo; which by the way went smooth too. – Taucherblog, Austria.
November 2022: Joanne & Abdu are seriously THE most incredible hosts & friends! Joanne helped us arrange the most epic 3 night safari with Al Haiz Oasis – a trip of a lifetime with the best desert driver, guide, and chefs. Arriving back to the Ecolodge to a beautiful, serene space with a hot shower, cozy beds, more delicious traditional food was the perfect way to end our time in the area. Dream stay – Thank you Joanne, Abdu & Khaled. – Shellie & Brian, Comox, Canada
May 2022: We were so happy with Abdu’s place, the house was very comfortable and Joanne provided us even a small excursion in the black desert on our way from Bawiti to the place. Thanks for the great experience and information about Bahariya. We wish to stay next time longer – Sergii, Kyiv, Ukraine
May 2022: A wonderful experience, we have been treat like a kings me and my friends. Don’t miss this opportunity if you are in Egypt ! – Jordi, Paris, France
March 2022: I have the huge privilege of posting the first review of this beautiful place. Abdu, Joanne, through Airbnb and the whole team do their best to make our stay enjoyable and authentic. A warm and friendly welcome. One of the best on all my trips. The food is exquisite and an intro to a new world. Really do not hesitate to add the breakfast and dinner that you will share around the campfire. A real treat! A comfortable home with everything you need to feel good. Lots of space and charm in a quiet environment. Meaningful exchanges and laughing every day. A sublime view of the black desert. This place is a bubble where time is suspended and we can recharge our batteries. It’s not just an airbnb, it’s a real life experience for everyone who’d stop here. – Foued, Nuits-Saint-Georges, France
