When speaking of Siwa the first thing that comes to mind is “Siwaaaa, nowaaaay, it’s 3 hours after Marsa Matrouh, I can go to Fayoum, Dakhla, Kharga, Bahariya, or Farafra instead, they are oases too, no?”. Hell no no no, yes it’s a 9 to 11 hours kick-a** ride but what you are going to see is well worth the effort, we are talking about the ultimate escape, a place that holds a special appeal where once you step a foot you’d be taken into a fairy-tale.

Walking the empty streets, collecting the freshest & sweetest dates from within reach palm trees eating them right away, feeling the scorching heat of the desert only to find yourself near a natural spring to freshen up, and wash away the heat the day, looking for some peace and quiet? Cannot handle “well not really” all the action happening in the center of town and want to disconnect from people, go somewhere to just relax, stare at clear skies, still lakes, or sand dunes, be in the middle of nowhere, where you can take a 15-20 ride to visit Siwa Lake, or float in Aghurmi salt lake, or go for dune-bashing in a 4 wheel drive.

Dune-Bashing & Sand-boarding in Siwa

GETTING THERE

The road is good, and well maintained except for the 50 to 60 KM after Marsa Matrouh -so it’s recommended to drive it by day. The ride is 9-10 up to 11 hours that could successfully be done either;

• By bus from Al-Torgoman, or Abdel Moneim Riad, or Almaza stations; leaving Cairo at 11:30 PM, arriving Siwa around 8 AM, and on the way back it leaves Siwa at 8 PM arriving to Cairo at 7 AM
• By bus to Marsa Matrouh, bus or train to Alexandria, then take another bus from the station or a shared taxi to Siwa
• By car to Marsa Matrouh -a layover in Sahel could be a practical option- then another 3 hours (305 KM) to Siwa
• Fly to Marsa Matrouh -not a regular flight, mainly operating in summer- then find a 3 hours bus to Siwa

Cycling my way to Lake Siwa,  Taghaghien Island, Talist Lodge, Taziry Ecolodge & Adrere Amellal

GETTING AROUND

• Donkey carts
• Bicycles: usually cost EGP 30 a day, and can be rented hourly as well. Make sure to check the bike before rental only to make sure that everything works well
• By taxi on demand: it really depends on your negotiation skills, but a 10 minutes ride will cost you around EGP 25

The Cold Lake Area

PEOPLE OF SIWA “SIWIS”

Siwis are ethnically Berber strongly related to North Africans, and Libyans as well, are friendly people who are used to welcoming tourists in Siwa. They speak Siwi as a first language which is derived from Berber, while Arabic comes second, and some who work in the tourism industry speak English as well.

Siwa’s Sand Dunes

WHERE TO STAY

It all depends on your budget, and the kind of experience you are looking forward to, if you’re looking for a retreat or a secluded area I’d say pick one of three ecological lodges; Talist which is beautiful, cozy, yet affordable, Taziry for a more luxurious, and less affordable experience, & Adrere Amellal where Prince Charles, & Robert DeNiro stayed so you can expect the level of luxury, and cost.

Hotels, lodges, campsites, and ecolodges; you’d find budget ones that could cost you around EGP 50 a night, while luxurious ones will start at USD$ 400-600.

Surrounded by Siwa’s Salt Lakes

WHAT TO SEE

Sand Dunes (a lot of them) at the Great Sand Sea

Mountain of the Dead -a.k.a Gabal Al-Mawta

Temple Of The Oracle -a.k.a Temple Of Amun

The Ruins Of Shali Fortress

Cleopatra’s Pool

Fitnas Island -didn’t impress me much though

Bir Wahed Cold & Hot Water Springs close to each other

Lake Siwa

Temple of the Oracle

What To Do

Cycling

This is the best way to get around Siwa, and explore it as well, while some roads are paved, some others are covered in sand, don’t fret, paddle a bit harder, and you’ll be on the right track.

Dune-Bashing

You cannot resist some dune-bashing on these magnificent sand dunes.

Sand-boarding

This is an activity that suits everybody, well those who can tolerate some sand in their face, eyes, and maybe mouth as well (LOL). You could enjoy it while standing -that’s the advanced part of it-, sitting -easy-, and the easiest of all is while lying on your tummy which is also an opportunity to have lots of sand in your face, eyes, and mouth.

Hot Sand Bathing at Dakrur Mountain

Only occurring in the scorching summer heat till mid September at Gabal Dakrur to heal those suffering from joint pain and rheumatism; this is when your body is buried in sand up to your neck 3 to 5 times, while the hot sand with curative characteristics does its magic.

Star Gazing

If you’ve star-gazed in Dahab, Siwa won’t be as magical but is still worth a shot.

Flamingo Watching

Yes, flamingo watching around Lake Siwa, you won’t see them in big numbers like in Kenya’s Lake Nakuru, however for me, it was so unpredictable to spot flamingos in an oasis.

Float In Anghurmi Salt Lake

It’s even more rewarding than floating in the Dead Sea, the only challenge would be to avoid the sharp salt edges before reaching the water-holes.

Swimming In Natural Water Springs

Some are hot, some are cold, and some have the right temperature to take a refreshing dip!

Cleopatra’s bath

WHAT TO BUY/EAT/DRINK

• Dates
• Olive Oil
• Olives Jam: which is sweet, and not an olives spread -which is savoury.. its taste isn’t for everyone though, my mum just hates it
• Olives
• Herbs
• Berber Tea served in the desert which is slightly different from Bedouin Tea
• Siwan embroideries: dresses, bags, wallets, purses, etc.
• Jewelry
• Dates juice <3

Dates smoothie

MUST PACK

Though Siwis are pretty accustomed to having tourists it’s advisable to dress moderately, especially for ladies -sleeveless tops and long shorts are acceptable as long as they are not too tight or revealing.

• Mosquito repellent: don’t say I didn’t warn you! You could use Aloe Vera Oil in case you dislike the smell of mosquito repellents like me
• Swim-suit: no bikinis for ladies especially when swimming in a public water spring it’s better to be dressed in a wetsuit in fact
• A hat
• Sunglasses
• Sun-block
• A pair of comfortable shoes

**All photos are taken by me

Related Post: 4 Ideas For A Long Weekend In Egypt

Have you ever been to Siwa? What was your favourite part of your trip? Is there a place that you recommend there? Let us know in the comments below..

About the Author

Passainte Assem

A former lawyer, travel junkie and adventurer from head to toe. Whether broke or out of vacation time, always on the lookout for the next destination. Keen to share her travel stories, planning tips and photographs to give you a real sense of place.