Siwa Oasis

Siwa lies about 300 km south of the Mediterranean town of Marsa Matruh and roughly 50 km from the Libyan border, in a depression below sea level. Its population is largely Amazigh (Berber), speaking their own Siwi language, and the oasis was linked to the rest of Egypt by an asphalt road only in the 1980s. More than 300,000 date palms and olive trees are fed by around 200 freshwater springs.

In 331 BC Alexander the Great crossed the desert to consult the Oracle of Amun here, emerging, by tradition, as the son of Zeus-Amun. The ruins of the oracle temple still stand on the rock of Aghurmi. Siwa town itself is built around Shali, a 13th-century fortress of kershef, a mix of salt, mud and rock, which partly dissolved during rare heavy rains in 1926.

Siwa is not a place for ticking off monuments. It is about cycling between palm gardens, floating in salt pools, sitting by hot springs and watching the sun set over the lake from Fatnas Island. It is a long journey, so it works best on itineraries of two weeks or more.

Top things to see in Siwa Oasis

Shali fortress

The ruined kershef citadel in the centre of town was home to Siwans for centuries until the 1926 rains. Climb to the top at sunset for views over the palms, the minaret of the old mosque and the salt lakes.

Temple of the Oracle of Amun, Aghurmi

Perched on a rock outcrop about 4 km from town, this 6th-century BC temple is where Alexander the Great consulted the oracle. The view from the top over palm groves and lakes is superb.

Mountain of the Dead (Gebel al-Mawta)

A small hill honeycombed with rock tombs from the Late Period and Ptolemaic era. The Tomb of Si-Amun has well-preserved painted scenes; access to some tombs depends on the guardian.

Cleopatra's Spring

A stone-lined natural spring pool, also called Ain Juba, popular for a swim. Women usually swim covered; ask locally about the current custom.

Salt lakes and salt pools

Siwa's salt mines have created turquoise pools so salty you float effortlessly. Rinse off with fresh water afterwards and avoid getting the water in your eyes.

Fatnas Island

A palm-fringed spot on the edge of Lake Siwa, the classic place to watch sunset with a glass of mint tea.

The Great Sand Sea

South of the oasis, enormous dunes stretch towards Libya. 4WD excursions include sandboarding, cold springs such as Bir Wahed and a hot spring in the dunes; your operator arranges the required permits.

Unforgettable experiences

• A 4WD dune safari into the Great Sand Sea, with sandboarding and a hot spring at sunset
• Floating in a turquoise salt pool
• Cycling between palm gardens, springs and the Oracle Temple
• Dinner by candlelight at an eco-lodge built in traditional kershef
• Buying Siwan olive oil, dates and embroidered silver jewellery

When to visit Siwa Oasis

October to April is best, with warm days of about 20–30°C. Desert nights in December and January can approach freezing. From May to September temperatures regularly exceed 40°C. Siwa's annual Siyaha festival is traditionally held around the October full moon on Gebel Dakrour, a gathering marked by communal meals; dates vary.

How long to spend in Siwa Oasis

Three nights is the minimum to justify the long journey: one day for Shali, the Oracle and the Mountain of the Dead, one for the Great Sand Sea, and a third for springs and salt pools. Combine it with Alexandria and El Alamein on the way there.

Getting there

Siwa is about 8–10 hours by road from Cairo, usually broken in Alexandria or Marsa Matruh, then 300 km south through the desert. Flights are not a reliable option. Travel advice for Egypt's Western Desert can differ from the rest of the country, so check Smartraveller before booking.

Specialist tips

• Check Smartraveller for the latest advice on the Western Desert before booking
• Dress conservatively: long sleeves and long trousers or skirts for everyone
• Ask permission before photographing people, especially women
• Bring cash; ATMs are limited and cards are not widely accepted
• Pack warm layers for desert evenings in winter