Siwa Oasis

The remote Siwa Oasis is a little visited gem sited in Egypt’s Western Desert between the great Libyan sand sea and the Qattara depression. Home to some of Egypt’s most magnificent desert scenery, spectacular salt flats, crumbling mudbrick towns, a sprinkling of antiquities, and vast swathes of palm trees, Siwa Oasis is reached following an unremarkable nine-hour drive from Cairo. The oasis has its own language, culture, and traditions and was renowned throughout the ancient world for its oracle of Zeus-Amun. A minimum three-night stay is required to enable you to combine exploring the oasis with time to enjoy some rest and relaxation at the exceptional ‘no news, no shoes’ style Adrere Amellal Ecolodge.

Sites of cultural interest within the oasis include the ruined mudbrick citadels of Aghurmi and Shali, both of which sit on pinnacles of rock overlooking an expansive plain of palm trees, and the inhospitable yellow sand sea of the desert beyond. The ancient city of Siwa was originally located at Aghurmi, where the remains of the two principal temples of the oasis – the well-preserved Temple of the Oracle and the ruinous Temple of Umm Ubaydah – still stand. Nearby is Ayn Al-Gubah, the ‘Spring of the Sun’, mentioned by Herodotus as being one of the wonders of the land of the Ammonians (Siwans). Siwa’s current capital, known as ‘Shali’, was founded in the 11th century. Its crumbling mudbrick fortress is surrounded by walls and overlooks the ancient necropolis of Jabal Al-Mawta (Hill of the Dead). This rock is honeycombed with burials dating back to the 26th dynasty and includes the finely decorated tomb of Si-Amun.

Aside from the tens of thousands of towering palm trees that comprise the oasis, the seemingly endless sand sea is foremost among Siwa’s natural attractions, which extends in all directions as far as the eye can see. A 4WD desert safari will take you deep into the dunes on a desert adventure to experience the breathtaking scenery reminiscent of the landscapes seen in the film: ‘The English Patient’. Along the way, you will be able to swim in one or more of the picturesque natural springs and sandboard and enjoy watching the sun slowly set over the desert while eating dates and drinking sweet tea. Another unforgettable experience not to be missed is a visit to Siwa’s salt lakes. Here, you will be able to float effortlessly in the waters of the hyper-saline lakes that sand out from the rest of the Siwan landscape with their striking shades of blue and white.