Siwa Oasis 3-Day Safari and Camping Tour from Cairo

The long road from Cairo to Siwa

Siwa lies about 780 kilometres from Cairo, close to the Libyan border, and the drive is long, usually the whole of the first day. The road runs north-west to the Mediterranean coast and then turns south through desert to the oasis, so the journey is part of the adventure, with changing scenery from farmland to coastal plain to open sand.

A shared air-conditioned vehicle makes the day easier than a self-drive, with the driver and guide handling the route and rest stops. If you are searching for how to get to Siwa Oasis from Cairo, a tour with hotel pickup is a straightforward answer, as public transport is slow and infrequent. The start is very early, around 05:00.

El Alamein World War II Military Museum

The museum at El Alamein looks back on the desert campaign of the Second World War, in particular the battles fought here in 1942 that became a turning point in North Africa. It stands on the Mediterranean coast, and the area is also known for its war cemeteries.

Inside, displays show weapons, uniforms, maps and models, and outside there are tanks and guns in the courtyard. A stop takes around an hour and fits naturally into the long drive. Entry is included. Your guide gives context on the campaign and the people who fought here, and it is a good place to stretch your legs and have a drink before the final stretch of road to Siwa, which is the longest part of the day.

Siwa town, the Shali fortress and local culture

Siwa is a green oasis of date palms and olive groves in the middle of the desert, below sea level, with a Siwi-speaking community and a culture of its own, closer in many ways to North African traditions than to the Nile valley. The old town of Shali, built in the 13th century from kershef, a block of salt and clay, rises on a hill above the modern town.

Heavy rain in 1926 melted much of Shali, but the ruins are still striking at sunset. On the Siwa city tour you can explore the lanes, the market and the viewpoints, and see how traditions of craft and hospitality continue. Many visitors find Siwa one of the calmest and friendliest places in Egypt.

The Tomb of Si-Amun and the Mountain of the Dead

Just outside Siwa town rises Gebel al-Mawta, the Mountain of the Dead, a hill honeycombed with ancient rock-cut tombs. The best known is the Tomb of Si-Amun, with painted scenes from the Ptolemaic period that show how Egyptian and Greek ideas met in the oasis.

The paintings are colourful and surprisingly well preserved, and from the hilltop the view over Siwa's palms and salt lakes is wide. Your guide explains the history of the oasis, which was once a place of pilgrimage because of its famous ancient oracle. A visit takes around 45 minutes, and entry tickets are covered. The tombs are cool inside, and the painted scenes are best seen with your guide, who can point out details that are easy to miss in the dim light.

Springs, salt lakes, 4x4 safari and the desert night

Siwa is famous for its natural spring pools and salt lakes, where you can swim, float and cool down after the dunes. The water is clear and warm, and a swim in the oasis is one of the most popular parts of the trip.

On the second day, a 4x4 safari crosses the dunes at the edge of the Great Sand Sea, with sandboarding on the slopes, Bedouin tea, and a barbecue dinner after dune bashing. Depending on your option, you stay in a lodge or a desert camp. Bring a warm layer, as desert nights are cold, and sun protection for the day. The sky at night is exceptionally clear, so camp evenings are ideal for stargazing as well as for the fire and the food.