Falk Barron

Byline: Tom Fielding "finds a much more mystical Egypt that is nonetheless waiting to be found"

A vast expanse of sand stretched out before me, the fine soft grains covered in abstract monoliths of all shapes and sizes. For a moment, I felt as although I had been transported onto the film set of a "Star Wars" movie. All I necessary now was my son's light saber and you could contact me Luke Skywalker.

The rock-strewn landscape glittered like gold in the midday sun, the harsh rays bouncing off the twisted structures. Eager to get a birds eye view of Egypt's mystical White Desert we left the 4X4 behind us and headed off to climb 1 of the larger rocks. With no wind to speak of, and ravaging temperatures someplace in the mid 40's it was an intense endevour, but worth it for the mesmerising views.

The chalk sculptures, which rise up majestically from the sand have been formed by the fierce desert winds - an art gallery that comes courtesy of the organic planet. If you look closely, the gnarled shapes have a specific "lifelike" quality about them – as even though faces have been very carefully etched into the rocks by a human hand.

As the sun started to set on the wealthy desert landscape we had been invited to camp out in a conventional Bedouin tent, which is customarily divided into two sections by a woven curtain identified as a ma'nad. Inviting as it was, I decided to roll up a single of my three comfortable mattresses and devote the evening pitched out on a rocky outcrop under the stars. I was eager to savour the knowledge in its entirety, from dusk to dawn. The sun melted away into the ether casting hues of violet and pink across the huge rocks, the moonlight throwing strange shadows over the rugged terrain and lulling me into a peaceful slumber.

Arid and deserted, the white desert contrasts sharply with the bustling streets of Cairo and its nearby treasures. Only a couple of days prior to I had been treated to the delights of ancient Egypt with a tour of the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The tourist zones, as you would count on, are populated by truckloads of eager globetrotters, all coming to marvel at the country's famous monuments. But, in spite of giving into the want to cross off all the should do pit stops, I was in search of the less nicely-travelled corners of the country. There's also sound financial reasoning in obtaining off the beaten track, as the costs tend to dr