Package
Package
Package
Attraction
Attraction
Attraction
Attraction
Attraction
AttractionTestimonials
Our Clients Reviews
See what our happy travelers say about us
Overview
Siwa Oasis
Siwa Oasis is the most remote, most distinctive, and most celebrated of Egypt’s major oases, located approximately 560 km west of Alexandria near the Libyan border in the northwestern corner of the Western Desert. Surrounded by the Great Sand Sea — one of the largest sand dune fields in the world — and accessible until the 1980s only by long desert tracks, Siwa has maintained a cultural identity unlike any other Egyptian community: the Siwan people speak their own Berber language (Siwi), maintain distinct customs and social traditions, and preserve a material culture of kershef (salt-rock) architecture, silver jewelry, and woven textiles that is not found elsewhere in Egypt.
Siwa Oasis is most famous historically as the location of the Oracle of Amun — the ancient Greek temple whose oracle was consulted by Pharaoh Nectanebo I, the Persian king Cambyses, and most famously by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, when the Macedonian conqueror made his legendary desert crossing to receive divine confirmation of his status as son of Amun and legitimate ruler of Egypt. The Temple of the Oracle (Aghurmi) still partially survives on a rocky outcrop above the modern oasis.
Beyond the oracle temple, Siwa offers salt lakes for floating and swimming, the spectacular Great Sand Sea for 4WD dune driving and sandboarding, natural freshwater and hot springs, the dissolving medieval fortress of Shali, pharaonic tombs on the Gebel al-Mawta (‘Mountain of the Dead’), and a quality of isolation and cultural distinctiveness that makes it unlike any other destination in Egypt.
Photo Gallery
Interesting Facts
Alexander the Great crossed the desert to consult Siwa's Oracle of Amun in 331 BCE — the oracle reportedly confirmed his divine parentage as son of Amun, an event he used to legitimize his rule over Egypt
The Siwan people speak Siwi — a Berber language entirely distinct from Arabic — making Siwa one of the last linguistic islands of pre-Arab North African culture in Egypt
Siwa is surrounded by the Great Sand Sea — one of the world's largest dune fields, covering approximately 72,000 square kilometers of continuous sand dunes reaching heights of over 100 meters
The Gebel al-Mawta ('Mountain of the Dead') tomb complex near Siwa town contains 26th Dynasty pharaonic tombs painted with religious scenes — discovered to contain Siwan residents sheltering during WWII North African Campaign bombing
Siwa's traditional kershef architecture — buildings made from salt-rock, mud, and palm wood — is found nowhere else in Egypt; the material gives Siwa its distinctive amber-colored settlement character
History & Significance
Siwa Oasis has been inhabited since at least the 10th millennium BCE and was known to the ancient Egyptians as Sekht-am (‘Palm Land’). The Oracle of Amun at Aghurmi became a celebrated consultation site from at least the 7th century BCE onward, drawing visitors from across the ancient Mediterranean. The oracle reportedly predicted the future accurately enough to attract the Persian king Cambyses — who sent an army to capture it in 525 BCE, the army being swallowed by a sandstorm in the desert.
Alexander the Great’s visit to the oracle in January 331 BCE is one of the most discussed events of his life. After his conquest of Egypt, Alexander made the arduous desert crossing from Paraetonium (modern Mersa Matruh) to Siwa specifically to consult the oracle — a journey of approximately eight days. The oracle reportedly addressed him as ‘son of Amun,’ confirming his divine parentage and his right to rule Egypt. The precise content of the oracle’s response was never publicly revealed by Alexander.
Siwa maintained its isolation through the Arab conquest, the Ottoman period, and into the modern era. The oasis was not formally incorporated into the Egyptian administrative system until the late 19th century, and its population resisted outside authority with periodic rebellions. The paved road connecting Siwa to Mersa Matruh on the Mediterranean coast was completed in the 1980s, ending centuries of effective isolation.
What to See
Temple of the Oracle (Aghurmi)
The partially surviving 26th Dynasty temple where Alexander the Great consulted the oracle in 331 BCE — on a rocky outcrop with views across the full oasis depression.
Great Sand Sea
One of the world's largest continuous sand dune fields — accessible by 4WD from Siwa for dune driving, sandboarding, and camping among dunes reaching over 100 meters.
Salt Lakes
Highly saline lakes scattered across the oasis depression — the extreme buoyancy makes effortless floating possible; Fatnas Island lake is the most visited for its palm-grove setting.
Shali Fortress
The dissolving medieval kershef citadel at Siwa's center — glowing gold at sunset and offering panoramic views across the oasis from its partially accessible summit.
Gebel al-Mawta Tombs
A hill of rock-cut 26th Dynasty tombs with painted scenes — used as bomb shelters by Siwan residents during WWII, the tombs retain original painted decoration in several chambers.
Where Is Siwa and How to Get There
Siwa lies deep in Egypt's Western Desert, about 50 km from the Libyan border and some 300 km south-west of Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast. From Cairo it is about 750 km, a full day of nine to ten hours by road via Alexandria or El Alamein and Marsa Matrouh; there are no regular public flights. Most visitors come on a Siwa tour with private transport, or combine it with the Bahariya Oasis and the White Desert on a longer desert safari. Allow at least three nights in Siwa to make the long journey worthwhile.
What to See in Siwa
- Shali Fortress: the old town of mud brick and salt rock (kershef) built in the 13th century, abandoned after heavy rains in 1926 and partly restored. Climb it at sunset for the view over the palm groves.
- The Oracle of Amun at Aghurmi: the hilltop temple where, in 331 BC, Alexander the Great came to consult the oracle and was hailed as the son of Amun.
- Gebel al-Mawta, the Mountain of the Dead: a hill honeycombed with rock tombs of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, some still painted, like the tomb of Si-Amun.
- Cleopatra's Spring: a natural stone pool of clear spring water, a favourite place for a swim.
- The salt lakes: turquoise pools so salty that you float effortlessly.
- The Great Sand Sea: golden dunes on the edge of the oasis, reached by 4x4, with sandboarding, a hot spring at Bir Wahed and a desert camp under the stars.
- Fatnas Island: a palm-shaded spot on the salt lake, the classic place to watch the sunset.
Siwan Life and Culture
Siwa is home to an Amazigh (Berber) community with its own language, Siwi, and traditions found nowhere else in Egypt. The oasis is famous for its dates and olives, its silver jewellery and embroidered clothing, and its mud-brick architecture. Life is quiet and conservative: dress modestly, ask before photographing people (Siwan women should not be photographed), and expect no alcohol in public. Bicycles and donkey carts are still the best way to get around the village. See the oasis on the map of Egypt and in its ancient setting on the map of ancient Egypt.
When to Visit Siwa
The best time is October to April, when days are warm and sunny and nights in the desert are cool to cold. Summer is very hot. The date harvest comes in autumn, when the oasis is at its most beautiful, and the Siwans hold their traditional reconciliation festival at Gebel Dakrour around the full moon of October.
Siwa Oasis: Common Questions
How far is Siwa from Cairo?
About 750 km, a nine-to-ten-hour drive via Marsa Matrouh.
How many days do I need in Siwa?
At least three nights: one day for the town, the Oracle and the Mountain of the Dead, one for the springs and salt lakes, and one for the Great Sand Sea.
Is Siwa safe to visit?
Yes, Siwa is a calm, friendly town; desert trips should always be made with a licensed operator, who arranges any permits needed.
Can you swim in Siwa?
Yes, in natural springs such as Cleopatra's Spring and in the salt lakes, where you float.
What is Siwa famous for?
Its dates and olives, the Oracle of Amun visited by Alexander the Great, Shali Fortress, its salt lakes and its unique Amazigh culture.
Siwa Oasis Tours
Siwa is a multi-day trip from Cairo, so our Siwa Oasis tours are packages: some combine it with Alexandria on the way, others with the White and Black Deserts. Compare them below.
These packages visit this site as part of the itinerary.
8-Day Cairo, Siwa and White & Black Desert Adventure
Set out on an absolutely epic 8-day egypt desert safari designed for travelers who refuse to settle for the ordinary. This ultimate...
Start From
$1390 per person
6-Day Cairo, Alexandria and Siwa Oasis Adventure
Experience the ultimate "Top Class" 6-day odyssey that captures the diverse soul of Egypt. This expedition takes you from the...
Start From
$1075 per person
10-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise & Siwa Oasis Adventure
Embark on a "Top Class" 10-day expedition that spans the full spectrum of Egypt’s beauty, from the monumental icons of...
Start From
$1925 per person
Day tours & Nile cruises visiting Siwa Oasis
More to see in the Western Desert
