Siwa Oasis, Egypt is hands down one of the most underrated destinations in the country. To non-Egyptians, it’s most probably considered a hidden gem – after all, it’s a paradise hidden in the heart of the western desert. Even though it’s only 50 km away from the western border of Egypt, it’s definitely worth the long drive.

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About Siwa Oasis, Egypt

Siwa, a wonderful oasis in the Egyptian Western Desert covered in lush greenery, was formerly known in ancient Egyptian as “Sekht-am, which means ‘palm land’. The name perfectly represents the palm trees that the oasis is famous for – it’s also best known for olive trees and crystal clear salt lakes.

The oasis is home to Siwan Berbers, also known as Amazigh, who still have their language preserved – they also speak Arabic. Aside from its interesting culture and impeccable nature, Siwa also holds grand historic importance as it boasts ancient remains that date back to the times of Alexander the Great.

Things to Do in Siwa Oasis

Even though you can squeeze your itinerary into a 3-night trip, there’s plenty to see in Siwa. Check out the various sites and activities you can enjoy below.

The Temple of the Oracle

Amun, the god of air, was the first ancient Egyptian god who was believed to have created himself as well as the rest of the Great Ennead, the main nine deities in Egyptian mythology. He then merged with Ra, the god of the sun, to become Amun-Ra.

The Temple of the Oracle, also known as the Temple of Amun, grew in importance around 2,000 years B.C. Amun means “the hidden one” and he got the name as he used to hide in a cape to visit the world of the dead. He went there to learn about the future and the unknown, then went back to his priests on the eastern bank of the Nile to tell them all about what he saw and heard. The temple, sitting on the corner of the ancient village of Aghurmi, was where Alexander the Great first headed to ask the oracle – some people believe he went to find out whether or not he was going to rule the world. However, the Macedonian leader walked into the temple alone and no one knows what happened in there.

Tickets:

• Price for Egyptians: EGP 5
• Price for foreigners: EGP 50

Shali Fortress

The ancient fortress, made of ‘kershef’ (a material consisting of salt and clay), was built in the 13th Century to protect the Siwans from outsider attacks. It first had a single gate, called Bab Anshal, which means the ‘gate of the city’, and a mosque was also built on the northern side of the city and is still used to this day. A century later, another gate was built on the southern side and it was called Bab Athrat, meaning the ‘new gate’. Afterwards, a women-only gate was built for the ladies to be able to go out to run errands for their homes without having to pass by the main gate where the tribes’ leaders met or the second gate where the young men usually gathered.

The ruins of the Shali fortress were newly-restored. Even if it sounds too historical for non-history buffs, it’s still a place you can’t miss. The maze-like ruins make a super cool spot for photography and for watching the sunset.

Mountain of the Dead

The Mountain of the Dead is a small hill that’s home to tombs dating back to the 26th dynasty; Ptolemaic and Roman times. The tombs were discovered during World War II and the Siwans took shelter there when the German, British, and Italian were fighting in the area.

There are four tombs that are most famous for their importance and beauty; Si Amun, Mesu Isis, Niperbathot, and the Crocodile tomb. Unfortunately, during the war, foreign troops cut off parts of the tombs’ walls to take them back home.

Tickets:

• Price for Egyptians: EGP 5
• Price for foreigners: EGP 50

Dakrour Mountain

An annual celebration of reconciliation, which is also known as Feast of Seyahet, is held there. The celebration usually takes place during the full moon days of the month of October, when Siwans would all get together for a feast that is prepared from scratch at the foot of the mountain. Thousands of people come together to celebrate the end of the harvesting season, renew friendships, and set disputes aside. This celebration dates back to more than 160 years ago after the war between the eastern and western Siwans had come to an end.

The Siwa House Museum

The museum is an exact replica of the Siwan kershef houses, boasting a variety of their traditional objects and showcasing some interesting aspects of the culture. There, you can check out things like silver jewelry, wedding gowns, and traditional living spaces.

Here are some interesting fun facts I learned at the Siwa House Musuem:

• They don’t eat in small plates; they all gather around and eat from one big plate.
• They love wearing silver jewelry.
• Brides get to wear 45 bridal dresses over the course of their 3-day weddings.
• Women of a groom’s family would go to the bride’s house and do a small role play with the women of her family. The role play includes a fight over who’d win the bride and ends with the groom’s family members’ victory as they carry the bride all the way to her bedroom in her new home.

Tickets:

• Price for Egyptians: EGP 10
• Price for foreigners: EGP 50

The Great Sand Sea

This is probably Siwa’s main highlight for me. The best off-road desert excursion I’ve ever done was in the iconic Great Sand Sea. A day well-spent in the desert would ultimately cover an epic off-road experience in 4×4 cars, driving up and down the iconic sand dunes. The trip would also include sandboarding (which is super fun if you haven’t tried it), swimming in a secluded lake and Bir Wahid (find below), marveling at the most beautiful sunset, and an impeccable Bedouin dinner.

Fun fact: The people of Siwa have an interesting cooking technique called “Abou Mardam”. The traditional dish/cooking method is basically slow cooking the food under the sand.

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Salt Lakes

Did you know we had those Instagram-famous super blue salt lakes in Egypt? Yes, you can find some of the most picturesque salt lakes in the salt mines in Siwa Oasis. It’s a must-visit when in Siwa and it’s like hitting two birds with a stone; the salt has healing properties and the lakes are good for the gram.

Useful tips for visiting the salt lakes in Siwa:

• The lakes aren’t located in a single spot. Bear in mind that they’re located in salt mines and there are people working there. So, one day, you might find a salt lake, and a few days later, you might not find it. You’ll have to drive to the salt mines and roam around till you find your perfect spot. You’d be lucky if you stumble upon a local worker there who’d be able to guide you to a nice spot.
• Avoid shaving or any cuts prior to swimming in the salt lakes.
• Do not stay in the water for more than 15 minutes or the salt will start irritating your skin.
• Bring along one of those small water gallons to wash the salt off your body after swimming as there are no showers there.

• Wear your swimsuit beforehand – there’s nowhere to change.
• Bring a towel.
• Keep a pair of flip flops, your towel, water, and belongings right next to the spot you’ll be getting in from (and getting out from). The ground and the lakes’ edges are super sharp that you won’t be able to step on them.
• Do not jump and don’t try to dive. Aside from the fact that you won’t be able to resist floating as the water salinity is incredibly high, it’ll BURN! So, try not to get the water anywhere near your face.

Cleopatra’s Spring

Siwa Oasis is also famous for springs and the most famous of them is Cleopatra’s Spring, also known as Cleopatra’s bath. You might think to yourself that the site is associated to Queen Cleopatra; however, she never really visited Siwa. No one knows where the spring got it’s name.

In spite of its popularity amongst locals and tourists, the spring isn’t really the best option for swimming. It’s, however, surrounded by a couple of cafés and shops where you can make a stop and sip on one of their famed mocktails – I had the basil mango juice and it was quite refreshing.

Bir Wahid

This hot spring is in the heart of the desert – you can go there on your off-road safari. The smell might not seem very inviting, but don’t worry; that’s just the sulfur’s odor. I’d recommend you try to make it there as early as possible to avoid crowds; it’s a pretty small pool.

Fantasy Island

Fantasy Island, also known as Fatnas Island, is a beautiful peninsula covered in palm trees and surrounded by the salt lake of Birket Siwa. It’s hands down one of the best locations to enjoy Siwa’s famous sunsets as you sip on hot tea or fresh juice.

It’s too bad I missed this one on my last visit when our bus got stuck in the mud on our way there). Travel mishaps happen though and they happen for a reason – it was too cloudy at the time so we were probably missing the sunset anyway. Definitely not missing this on my next visit to Siwa though!

Hotels in Siwa Oasis

I stayed at Taghaghien Island Resort, which is an ecolodge famous for being surrounded by natural salt lakes – the scenery was the main reason I stayed there. However, there are several other really good hotels such as Albabenshal Lodge, Siwa Shali Resort, Siwa Paradise, and Taziry Ecolodge. Check out the hottest deals below and book your rooms.

Booking.com

Looking for a lavish experience? Adrère Amellal is Siwa’s luxury ecolodge that celebrities from all around the world choose. The accommodation takes “ecolodge” to a whole new level though – expect a magical candlelit haven and zero electricity.

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Relevant Post:

• Taghaghien Island Resort: Popular Hotel in Siwa Reviewed

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The Best Time to Visit Siwa Oasis

The weather in Siwa is at its finest from November till March when it’s around 25 degrees in the morning. Desert weather is usually flaming hot in the morning and extremely cold in the evening; that’s why it’s best to visit during the winter months and avoid going in summer. If you could avoid weekend days (Friday and Saturday) as well, there will be much fewer crowds at touristy sites.

• During the full moon days in October is also a good time to visit if you want to witness the annual Feast of Seyahet.
• Opt for the summer months if you’re visiting for medical tourism purposes.

How to Go to Siwa?

So far, the heavenly Siwa Oasis is reachable by land. You can either drive or go via West Delta Bus – you can also rent a private minibus or van. If you’re driving from Cairo, your route will be as follows: Cairo – Alexandria desert road, then the Wadi El Natroun – Alamein road, then you’ll drive through the North Coast road till you reach Marsa Matrouh and from there, you’ll take the road into the desert.

My Siwa trip was the first-ever “Travel With Curls en Route” trip where some of my lovely followers and readers got to join me on this epic adventure. I collaborated with Baitportal to organize this trip and they handled all the bookings and logistics. You can book your trip via their mobile app or website too.

What to Expect?

• Siwa is an oasis in the middle of the desert – don’t forget that. This means that things like electricity and internet are luxuries. So, expect accommodations to be more of ecolodges where power and resources are being saved rather than wasted.
• Bear in mind that the Marsa Matrouh – Siwa road is not serviced and super bumpy. So, if you’ve never taken it before, don’t drive at night.
• Also, there’s no cell coverage throughout this entire road.
• Since Siwa is not a summer destination, and the North Coast is, don’t expect restaurants on the North Coast Road to be open.
• All the main sites and activities can be covered in a 3-night trip if you wake up early enough.
• The culture there is pretty laid-back – so, it’s not necessarily bad customer service. In other words, expect to beg for a can of coke or wait an hour or more for some fries.
• History and nature aside, you can also visit Siwa Oasis for medical tourism! Siwa’s hot sand is believed to be extremely therapeutic; people flock to the oasis for hot sand baths to cure diseases such as rheumatism and joint pain.
• Siwa is famous for its breathtaking sunsets to the extent it’s dubbed as “the oasis of sunset” in Arabic.

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What to Eat in Siwa?

The market, where the Shali Fortress is located and where you’ll go shopping, boasts a variety of restaurants such as Abdu Restaurant (tried and recommend it) and Siwa Shali Restaurants (4.5 rating on Google). Some hotels would also offer traditional dining for non-guests such as Taziry Ecolodge (4.6 rating on Google) and Albabenshal (tried and recommend it).

Need help planning your trip to Egypt? Click here to learn more about my travel planning services.

What to Buy From Siwa?

Aside from its mesmerizing nature, its heavenly sceneries, and rich culture, it’s also one of the best places to get lovely souvenirs. And if you know me, you’d know how much I LOVE collecting souvenirs and trinkets from all around the world.⁣⁣
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Here are the things that Siwa is best known for:⁣⁣

• Kilims: The traditional handwoven carpets/rugs can be found all over the market. The patterns and colors are just irresistible! You can also find cushions, bags, scarves, and things of that sort.⁣⁣
• Salt Lamps: The Instagram-famous salt lakes in Siwa are actually in salt mines. Natural salt is extracted and is used to make beautiful lamps that are claimed to clarify the air and boost your mood. ⁣⁣
• Olive oil: The best olive oil in Egypt can be found in Saint Catherine and Siwa. So, if this is one of your kitchen essentials, you need to get your hands on at least a bottle of virgin olive oil.⁣⁣
• Dates: Siwa is known for its landscapes covered in palm trees. That’s why dates are a Siwan specialty. The best ones to get are those that aren’t too dry or too soft. ⁣⁣
• Baskets: Palms are also used in making all sorts of pretty and useful baskets. If you’re a sucker for home decor, you can find plenty of beautiful options.⁣⁣

Siwa Oasis Packing List

If you’ve decided to travel to Siwa, I’ve got your back covered. I put together packing lists for him and her that are tailored for your Siwa trip. Click on the links below and download your FREE, printable packing list.

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Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

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This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.

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