14 Best Things to Do in Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Siwa sits closer to the Libyan border than to Cairo, and that distance shapes everything about it. What I found there is a cluster of palm and olive groves fed by a hundred natural springs, a mud brick fortress, and a pace of life that has barely registered the twenty first century. It is Egypt’s remote and gentle corner, a long way from the crowds of the Nile Valley, and reaching it takes real effort. This is what made the journey worth it.
1. Climb the Shali Fortress
The old town of Shali rises out of the desert in a single hulk of mud brick, built by the Berber people who settled here. Much of it collapsed over time, but you can still climb through the ruined chambers to the top at sunset. The view over the palms, the springs, and the endless sand is one of the reasons I came.
2. Soak in Cleopatra’s Spring
Right in the center of town, a stone lined pool sits close to the Street of the Springs. Legend ties it to Cleopatra, though the truth is lost to time. The water is warm and mineral rich, and it is a lovely place to swim after a long drive. Go early in the morning for it to yourself.
3. Float in the Great Sand Sea
To the west of Siwa, the dunes of the Great Sand Sea roll on for hundreds of miles into Libya. A four by four tour will carry you out to the highest dunes, and the descent is pure joy. We stopped at the top as the light went orange and the silent landscape stretched forever.
4. Cycle to the Springs
Siwa’s water is everywhere, and the springs ring the town. My favorite trick was to rent a bicycle, pick a spring by name, and pedal out across the flat land between the groves. Each one has a different character, a different temperature, and each was closer to empty than I expected.
5. Tour the Salt Lakes
A short drive from town, the salt lakes sit glittering and white against the desert. The water is impossibly buoyant, so you float without trying, and the mineral crust around the shore grows in strange crystalline shapes. Come for the float and stay for the way the light bounces off the salt.
6. See the Temple of the Oracle
In the hills above the town stands the ruined temple where, according to legend, Alexander the Great consulted the oracle in 331 BC. The stone walls still carry traces of the inscriptions, and the setting above the oasis is atmospheric. It is the closest Siwa comes to a conventional tourist sight.
7. Visit the Mountain of the Dead
Just outside town, a necropolis carved into the rock holds tombs with faded wall paintings of gods and figures. A local guide can show you the best ones and explain what the scenes mean. It is quiet, eerie, and endlessly fascinating.
8. Watch a Pottery in Khamisa
One of Siwa’s trademark crafts is its pottery, shaped from local clay by hand and fired in open kilns. Watching a potter spin a jar on the ground driven wheel, as has been done here for generations, is a glimpse of a craft that has not changed. Buy a piece to take home.
9. Shop the Friday Souq
Once a week the town holds a market where Siwi farmers trade dates, olives, cheese, and handwoven carpets. It is a working market more than a souvenir shop, and the best part is just watching the trade and the greetings. Go with small notes and a willingness to haggle politely.
10. Taste Siwi Dates and Olives
Siwa’s dates are famous across Egypt, and its olives are pressed into a local oil that appears on every table. I ate a bowl of fresh dates one noon and could not stop, they were so sweet and soft. Buy a bag for the road and you will be glad you did.
11. Sleep Under the Stars in the Desert
The clearest skies I have seen anywhere were over the dunes outside Siwa. A camping trip into the sand sea, with a fire, tea, and no lights for a hundred miles, is the single most memorable night of my travels. Wrap up warm, because the desert turns cold the moment the sun is gone.
12. Practical Tips for Visiting Siwa
The drive from Marsa Matrouh takes around four hours across a flat desert road, and the bus is the budget option. Carry cash, because cards rarely work here, and keep your schedule loose, because Siwa operates on its own time. Dress modestly, drink plenty of water in the heat, and treat the local guide with respect.
