Dunya Escapes & Alice Girard present:
House of Tarfa: Desert Poetry
Yoga retreat
From 1st to 8th of March 2025 (8 days, 7 nights)
1750 €
Alice Girard & Dunya Escapes present:
Embark on an immersive journey through Egypt’s western desert, where the timeless beauty of the Western Desert and the rich traditions of Bedouin life await you. Let the ancient sands of the desert and the whispers of Bedouin lore guide you to new depths of being.
This interlude transcends mere travel, merging a rich cultural expedition with a transformative yoga retreat.
Join us on this sacred journey, where the Desert’s diverse landscapes reveal the poetry within, as you pause, surrender, and embrace the transformative power of this unique retreat.
- Yoga retreat with the international Yoga teacher Alice Girard
- Immersive escape in the Egyptian Sahara
- 8 days/7 nights in 2 locations (desert camp & eco lodge)
- Open to all levels (beginners included) and mixed (men/women)
- Language : EN/FR/AR
the program
the program
the program
What to expect
This retreat is a sacred journey within, where daily yoga flows seamlessly integrate into your experience. Each day, practice under the vast desert sky, embracing the tranquility and stillness, guiding you to surrender and reveal the poetry within.
For three days and nights, traverse striking desert landscapes, guided by Bedouin wisdom and hospitality. Discover their ancient culture while camping under the stars, connecting deeply with the nature that has shaped their way of life for centuries.
After this desert expedition, retreat to the tranquil oasis of Dakhla. At Al Tarfa Eco Lodge, history and nature create a sanctuary of peace and luxury. Explore lush palm groves and ancient villages, deepening your connection to the earth and your inner self.
- Western Desert expedition (800km from Cairo Oasis to Dakhla oasis)
- Crossing the White Desert
- Journey through the Egyptian Oases
- Desert camping & stargazing
- Daily yoga & meditation practices
- Retreat at Al Tarfa Eco Lodge
Day to day
Day 1 - Arrival in Cairo, night in a hotel in Cairo
- Arrival in Cairo
- Private transfer from the airport to the hotel (hotel5* or boutique hotel)
- Dinner and early night in the hotel to be prepared for the early departure the morning after
Day 2 - departure from Cairo to Bahariya oasis, camp in the white desert
[GROUNDING AND ACCEPTANCE]
- Early departure by minibus from Cairo (7 /8 am)
- Drive to Bahariya Oasis (4 hours drive, 320 km regular road)
- Lunch at Bahariya Oasis in Tzila lodge and start of the desert expedition (1pm)
- Visiting Black desert, crystal mountains (180 km off road)
- Arrival at white desert and 1st night camp in Agabat area
- Opening circle & meditation
- Free time
- Bonfire, Dinner and night
Day 3 - From White desert to Qaraween sand dunes
[OBSERVATION AND DISCOVERY]
- Sunrise & Breakfast
- Free time & morning yoga practice
- Taking down the camp
- Visiting Aqabat Mountain and Qaraween Sand dunes
- Lunch
- Arriving at Qaraween and 2nd night camp set up
- Free time & yoga practice (soft evening flow & meditation)
- Sunset, dinner and night at New white desert
Day 4 - From Qaraween to Djara cave to white mountains
[CHALLENGE AND DISSOLVING FEARS]
- Sunrise over the desert & Breakfast at the camp
- Morning Yoga & meditation
- Taking down the camp
- Drive towards Asyut off roadf to visit one of the most beautiful cave of the world: Djara cave: a group of caves located more than 50 meters deep in the ground in the heart Desert
- Lunch in Djara cave
- Drive south towards Dakhla and 3rd night camp set up in the area of Shawshaw (white mountains up to Dakhla)
- Sunset silent walk & meditation
- Evening and night at the camp
Day 5 - From white mountains to Al Tarfa ecolodge
[LETTING GO AND REJUVENATION]
- Free time at sunrise (meditation, silent walk..)
- Breakfast and taking down the camp
- Drive south to Dakhla Oasis
- Arrival & set up at Al Tarfa Eco Lodge (around 12 pm)
- Gentle yoga flow and guided meditation in the shala
- Evening and dinner at the lodge
Day 6 - Discovery of Dakhla oasis
[CHALLENGE AND TRUST]
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Morning yoga workshop (inversions)
- Cultural activities in Dakhla (Visit of Alqasr village with an Egyptologist originally from the oasis)
- Stroll in the oasis, meeting with the inhabitants, discover the traditions and crafts of the Oasis
- End of the day and meals at a farmer’s lodge
- (Possibility to go in a hot spring, or/and do a meditation or yoga class at the farmer’s lodge)
- Night at Al Tarfa lodge
Day 7 - Retreat day at Al Tarfa lodge
[SURRENDER AND LOVE]
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Morning yoga workshop (heart opening)
- Full day at the lodge before taking the road back to Cairo the next morning
- Private lunch arranged amid the palm groves (Organic and fresh, from the lodge’s farm).
- Free afternoon (Guided tour in the sanctuary, swimming pool, walks, meditation, yoga…)
- Dinner and last night by the bonfire
Day 8 - Departure from Dakhla to Cairo
[CLOSURE AND GRATITUDE]
- Early breakfast at the lodge
- Departure to Cairo by minibus (7/8 hours drive, 800 km)
- Arrival in Cairo in late afternoon
Accomodations
The Camp
Camping in the White Desert is a unique way to experience the stunning beauty of this natural marvel. As you set up camp for the night, you’ll be surrounded by the surreal landscape of crystal-white rocks and sand formations. With no light pollution from nearby cities, you’ll gaze up at a sky full of stars that seem to go on forever.
A team of experienced bedouins from the oases will ensure your security, your confort, and share their rich culture and traditions.
You will be transported in Toyota 4X4, and sleeping in individual tents.
About the camp
- Individual tents equipped with sleeping bags, duvet and blankets
- All camping equipments & first aid kit
- Toyota 4 X 4 (off roads), 4 people per car
- Van / Mini bus (regular roads)
- A large tent for the meals or that serve as a resting area.
- Traditional and local meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) prepared by the bedouins from the oases.
- Bonfire night
Accomodations
The eco lodge of Al Tarfa
Besides offering quality lodging services, Al Tarfa was to set a model for sustainable tourism development in the Egyptian oases. By building the lodge, one of the main objectives was achieved: to revive the oasis’ classical building style and establish a base for further archaeological and geographical research. Each environment consists of three main elements: the People and their activities, forming the social and economic structure; the culture represented by architecture and antiquity, and the ecology that embraces all of that. Al Tarfa contributes to all three.
Aiming to revive the oasis’ building methods, the architecture of Al Tarfa was largely inspired from the surrounding villages.
Built with local natural materials and using primitive techniques the twenty individually designed, furnished and decorated suites and rooms are unique. Each room is complemented with artistic and comfortable Saharan architecture, with modern-classic furniture with a luxury flavor.
In this fashion, each room has its own character, with original ceilings, lamps and carpets custom-made for Al Tarfa.
About the lodge
- 20 individually designed, furnished and decorated suites and rooms
- 1 yoga shala made of mud bricks and palm trees
- Outdoor pool and terraces with panoramic view over the immense greenery, the distinctive rugged mountains and infinite deserts
- One main restaurant (Qasr Al Mansura)
- An outdoor fire place
- Gardens
- Meals prepared by Al Tarfa’s local chefs using only fresh vegetables, organically produced from the lodge’s farm
Your yoga teacher
Alice
The gentleness and poetry of Alice Girard’s flows will guide your journey in the Egyptian desert.
Alice is a yoga teacher based in Paris.
Alice embark on this adventure with you to create what she describes as “a multi-sensory odyssey that intertwines movement, mindfulness, and the exploration of the world”.
She will invite you to step into a realm of softness and poetry, where every moment is an opportunity to explore yourself, connect with others, and embrace the world around you.
Her own method “The Softness of Flexibility” is based on gentleness and kindness, listening to others and oneself, and the pursuit of physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Your guide
Laura
Laura, the founder of Dunya, will be with you on this expedition.
Her knowledge and love for the western desert, along with her close relationship with the local team, make her your go-to person whom you can rely on completely. She will be delighted to share her stories with you and facilitate interactions with the local teams by assisting with translation. And just between us, this trip is very special to her, meticulously designed from beginning to end, promising a unique desert adventure unlike any other!
ready to escape ?
ready to escape ?
ready to escape ?
Practical
informations
Good to know
- Language : English / French / Arabic
- A mixed (women/men) stay accessible to all
- Accomodation : Camp in the desert & Eco lodge
- Capacity : from 6 to 12 people
Included
- Airport transfers (Arrival and departure)
- All other transfers during the stay
- 1 night in Cairo (Hotel 5* or equivalent)
- 3 nights camp in the desert
- 3 nights in the eco lodge of Al Tarfa
- All meals throughout the stay
- Water and hot drinks
- Entrance tickets to cultural sites
- All yoga practices and others activities
- Local bedouins team
- Dunya Escape representative
- Yoga material provided
Not included
- International flights
- Individual travel insurance
- Egyptian entry visa
[Dunya assists and guides you on these last points] - Internet card (between €10 and €30)
- Paid drinks (alcohol and soda)
- Local Tips
House of Tarfa: Desert poetry
Price per person:
1750 €
If this escape inspires you to explore more of Egypt, Dunya can assist you in organizing an extension before or after your experience in the Egyptian Sahara. Egypt offers a multitude of beautiful places to discover, such as Cairo & the Pyramids, the Red Sea, Nile cruises, Luxor, Aswan, Fayoum, and many more. For more information, contact the Dunya team at the following address: info@dunya-escapes.com.
