Siwa is a remote oasis deep in the Sahara desert, and lies 8 hours away from Alexandria and 10 hours from Cairo. Is it worth the detour, a badly-slept night on a bus to get there, and the time spent? The short answer is yes, Siwa is unmissable! It is located 50km east from the Libyan border, and home for just 30000 people. However, your time here shall not be wasted.
The importance of the oasis city of Siwa comes from ancient times, and settlers started populating this area since at least the 10th millennium BC. It had a strategic importance during the Egyptian Civilisation, and Alexander the Great came here seeking proclamation as pharaoh of Egypt.
From the great sand dunes of the desert to the dozens of hot springs, your days here will most certainly be fulfilled with amazing sites and activities.
We arrived on a night bus from Alexandria, spent a total of three days in the city, and left again on another night bus to Cairo.
Day 1: Desert tour
After arriving at Siwa early morning, we went to the hotel (Dream Lodge Siwa) to rest a bit before starting the day. Since we had a room already available and our host arranged for a desert tour that afternoon, we slept until lunch time.
The tour included rallying in the dunes in a 4×4, a visit to the desert hot springs (swimming is allowed), sandboarding, and ended with tea and biscuits at sunset (total duration: ±3 hours).
Day 2: Salt lakes, Cleopatra Spring, Temple of Amun, Gebel Al-Mawta, Citadel
We hired a tuktuk driver who took us to the salt lakes outside the city. Most are not natural but instead created by salt extraction in the area, and became an attraction due to their bright blue colours and white borders. Tuktuks drive very slow, so expect a 20min ride to get there.
Not far from these lakes lies Cleopatra Spring, a fountain of fresh water turned into a large, round pool. Around the spring are various cafes and souvenir shops. Siwa is very conservative but it’s not forbidden to swim here, even if you’re a female (just beware of male harassment).
The temple of Amun (Temple of the Oracle) is where Alexander the Great went to be proclaimed pharaoh of Egypt. The place is mostly in ruins but has an immense historical meaning.
Expect to spend ±3,5 hours visiting theses sites. We headed back to the hotel and dismissed the tuktuk driver.
- Tuktuk driver (includes waiting time at sites): 150EGP
- Temple of the Oracle: 50EGP
Near our hotel was Gebel al-Mawta, a small mountain where you can see some tombs of Greek landlords with a mix of Egyptian and Greco-Roman features. You can also enjoy a spectacular view over Siwa and the Temple of the Oracle. We ended the day exploring the centre and Shali Fortress (the citadel).
- Gebel Al-Mawta: 50EGP
Day 3: Citadel and the city centre
As we were amazed by the citadel, we woke up early and came back for a sunrise shot. After spending some time at Shali citadel, we went for another stroll at the city centre. We had lunch at the inevitable Abou restaurant (just ask on the street, everyone should know the location).
That day, we went to Cairo with West & Delta Bus. The bus departs at 8:00pm and takes 10-11 hours to reach the capital. Expect some delays at the military checkpoints.
You can read more on the city of Cairo by clicking on this link.
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