Explore the Highlights of Siwa Oasis from Cairo in 5 Days
Highlights
Cairo, El Alamein, Siwa Oasis
historical, camping, Hot Springs
Private Tour
5 Days
Easy
English
Description
Sign up for a heritage tour and learn about the history of Egypt by visiting the highlights of Siwa Oasis. See the famous Oracle Temple, Cleopatra's Spring, Salt Lake of Fatnas, and the Mountain of the Dead, and learn about the battle of El Alamein at the El Alamein Museum. Go to the hot and cold springs at Bir Waheed, and enjoy Bedouin camping in the famous camping site of Al Nyhaya.
Itinerary
-
Day 1- Visit El Alamein Museum
- Meet your guide and in Cairo, and drive to El Alamein (driving distance: 259 km). It takes 3 hours driving, and on the way, stop for a coffee break. (We advise you to take a lunch box.)
- Visit the El Alamein Museum, which gives good information about the battle of El Alamein. About 1 mile west of the British memorial on the north side of the road is located, for anyone interested in the war Memorabilia, the tombs of the Italians and Germans, and Commonwealth War Graves.
- Drive to Siwa through Marsa Matrouh.
Overnight in Siwa hotel.
(Meals: lunch, dinner) -
Day 2- Discover Siwa Attractions
- Head out to visit the following places:
- The Oracle Temple: It is a spectacular temple, The temple of Amun, built during the twenty-sixth Dynasty. The temple and its oracle flourished in Greek and Roman times. It was built on the top of mountains. The ruins of the temple can be reached by climbing a well-marked path up the side of the rock. According to a legend, the temple was built in honour of Ham, the son of Noah, by Danaus Egyptian. Another legend relates the foundation of the temple to the Greek god Dionysus, while lost in the western desert. Dionysus was perishing of thirst when a ram appeared and guided him to the spring of Agroumi. In gratitude, Dionysus erected this temple. Oracle, Manifestations of God, were highly revered in the ancient world, which was able to see into the future. They were consulted regularly before important decisions were made. It is believed that Alexander the Great wished to consult the Siwan oracle to seek confirmation that he was the son of Zeus. The Greek god of gods, when he and his entourage arrived, a manifestation of the oracle was paraded through the city accompanied by eighty priests. After he visited the oracle, whenever his image appeared on the coin, Alexander was shown with the horns of the ram, the symbol of Amun, the god of gods in Egypt.
- Cleopatra's Spring- The springs of Siwa are famous throughout the western desert. The spring of the Sun or Cleopatra's bath has been mentioned by travellers to Siwa since the days of Herodotus. Legend maintains that Cleopatra swam here when she visited Siwa Oasis. Also, see Cleopatra's Bath.
- The fortress at Shali- Built on a hill inside a protective wall originally breached by a single gate, the maze of mud-brick buildings that comprises the fortress served the people of the oasis for nearly 8 centuries. The inhabitants had to live in narrow quarters, sharing their animals, which were herded into the fortress each evening. The huge chunks of salt so prevalent in Siwa oasis were used in the construction of the fortress, as they helped to strengthen the wall. Rain has unfortunately proved to be more destructive to the fortress than any human invaders.
- Abdo Restaurant- When it comes to food, Abdu’s Restaurant is recommended not only for its dining menu but for its breakfast menu as well. Located at Siwa Market Square, the restaurant is easy to find. Besides its highly praised food, friendly service, and cosy atmosphere. Abdo’s is also a place to catch an interesting conversation with some of the locals.
- Salt lake of Fatnas- Fatnas is a small island in Birket Siwa. You can reach it by walk or by bike. It is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the sunset. You will get a spectacular view of the lake with Gebel Bayda and Hamra forming the backdrop to the west.
- Return to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight at the hotel in Siwa Ghaliet
(Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Head out to visit the following places:
-
Day 3- Explore Siwa Oasis
- Have a free morning, and in the afternoon, go to the Great Sand Sea by Jeep 4x4. Visit the hot and cold springs at Bir Waheed.
- Engage in sandboarding -The best sand dunes for sandboarding in Egypt are here in the Great Sand Sea.
- Later, we enjoy some traditional Bedouin Tea by sunset dinner.
- Enjoy Camping on one of the most beautiful camping sites. Al Nyhaya has five high-quality lotus bell tents placed within the protective outer walls of the camp. They are equipped with comfortable mattresses, mosquito nets, and a double layer to keep the heat out in summer and the cold out in winter! The Bell tents are sitting on a rocket bell floor heating platform, which we can heat by a wood fire that will cause the tent's floor to warm up on cold winter nights! (Each tent can accommodate up to a max of 3 persons comfortably, but 1 or 2 persons in the tent are possible too.) Besides the bell tents, we also have plenty of Bedouin tents to spend the nights in the traditional local style. There is no better opportunity to watch stars than a crystal clear summer sky and a cool night with the least light and minimal noise that Siwa desert offers.
Overnight in camping
(Meals: Breakfast-lunch-dinner) -
Day 4- Have Fun at the Salty Lake and the Sweet Lake
- Have breakfast, and drive to the salty lake. The salty water takes you above the water and makes you float. You don't need to be a good swimmer. Take care when you go swimming and don't let the water reach your eyes as it can be really painful.
- Choose the crystal lake, and there are many of them. But keep looking for the purest one when you see the bottom. Take a bottle of mineral water to shower with after swimming in the lake. The salt lakes have similar hyper-salinity properties to those of Jordan’s Dead Sea. This also means that the lakes hold great healing properties, much stronger than regular seawater. In all cases, you will make for a wonderful swim!
- Proceed to Abu Shrouf sweet water spring at 11:00 a.m. This is highly recommended after swimming in a salty lake.
- Go to the Gebel Al Dakrur, just a few miles south of Shali, which is visible from all points in the oasis and its triple peaks serve as a good landmark when travelling east or west. The view from the summit of this mountain is outstanding. There are three doctors at Dakrur famous for their sand cures treatment of rheumatism and arthritis. A sand bath is taken during the hottest month of the year (July to September). Patients from as far away as Sweden and Germany make the journey to Siwa oasis for the cures. They stay at one of the clinics at the base of the mountain. Early morning, workers dig shallow graves in the sand along the slopes to allow the sun to heat the area. At midday, when the sun is the most intense, the patient lies in the hollow and is covered with additional hot sand. Less sand is piled in the area around the heart. Then the patient is removed to a nearby tent, wrapped in hot blankets, and asked to drink herbal teas and chicken soup. The treatment continues for five to seven days, during which time the patient is forbidden to bathe or drink anything cold.
- Visit Gebel Al Mawata. Mountain of the Dead is a conical mountain a little over a kilometre to the north of Shali. Tombs from the twenty-sixth dynasty, Ptolemaic, and the Roman periods are cut into the side of the mountain. There are four tombs worth seeing at Gebel Al-Mawta.
- See the Tomb of Niperpathot. The tomb of Niperpathot is a large tomb and one of the oldest tombs in the oasis. Almost certainly from the twenty-sixth dynasty. It has a court with 3 tombs on the mountain. Niperpathot was the Prophet of Osiris and scribe of the dive documents.
- Head to the Tomb of the Crocodile. Excavated in 1941 and consists of three rooms and decorations of Osiris, Hathor, and Crocodile Sobek. Enjoy a free evening after dinner for shopping in Siwa Oasis.
Overnight the hotel.
(Meals: Breakfast-lunch-dinner) -
Day 5- Departure
- Have breakfast and drive to Cairo, passing by Marsa Matrouh, "North Coast of Egypt.”
Meal: Breakfast
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
What To Bring
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
-
For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
Adult | |
---|---|
11 to 15 | /person |
7 to 10 | /person |
4 to 6 | /person |
2 to 3 | /person |
1 to 1 | /person |
Child | |
1 to 4 | /person |
Infant | |
1 to 4 | /person |
This is a private tour |