Kharga Oasis — Darius's Hidden Secret
Decipher the secret decree of Darius I, concealed in ancient temples and forts of Kharga Oasis. Outwit a Persian conspiracy that shaped Egypt's fate—uncover the truth before it vanishes forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the 6th century BC, Persian king Darius I conquered Egypt and poured his royal decree into the grand Temple of Hibis at Kharga Oasis
Kharga Oasis — Darius's Hidden Secret
You are a desert-trained cryptographer, a modern-day seeker of forbidden knowledge, drawn to the ancient heart of Kharga Oasis.
In the 6th century BC, Persian king Darius
« This country is a gift of the Nile. »— Herodotus, Greek historian, 5th century BC
Egypt under Persian Yoke
After the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses II in 525 BC, Achaemenid Persia integrated the land of the pharaohs into its vast empire, forming the 27th Dynasty. Although the Persians were often depicted as destructive invaders by Greek sources, Egyptian inscriptions, particularly those at the Temple of Hibis, reveal a more nuanced picture. Darius I, in particular, sought to legitimize his rule by presenting himself as a pharaoh respectful of local traditions, funding the restoration of temples and the construction of canals, while maintaining strict military and administrative control over the region.
The Temple of Hibis, dedicated to Amun-Ra, Min, and Osiris, is the best-preserved temple from the Persian period in Egypt. Its walls are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting Darius I making offerings to Egyptian deities, in a style that combines traditional Egyptian art with subtle Persian innovations. This temple served not only as a religious center but also as a strategic point at the crossroads of caravan routes traversing the Western Desert, essential for trade and communication between the various provinces of the Achaemenid Empire.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Ancient Writings
Decode hieroglyphs and Persian inscriptions to reveal a hidden message.
Strategic Oasis
Explore a vital location for empires, a crossroads of desert trade routes.
Achaemenid Heritage
Dive into the influence of the Achaemenid Empire and its impact on ancient Egypt.
The desert reveals its deepest secrets.
In the shadow of pharaohs and Persian kings, a truth awaits discovery.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Uncover the secret plan of Darius I and etch your name into the history of the Kharga Oasis. A thrilling archaeological adventure awaits you under the Egyptian sun.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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