- Duration3 Days / 2 Nights
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsPickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel (early morning)
- PriceFrom $365 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private Siwa Oasis tour from Cairo takes you to Egypt’s most remote and distinctive oasis, close to the Libyan border, with its own Amazigh (Berber) language, palm gardens, salt lakes and the edge of the Great Sand Sea. You travel with a private driver and guide, stay two nights in a simple, characterful eco-lodge and see the oasis at an easy pace.
Siwa is a long way from Cairo, about nine to ten hours by road via the Mediterranean coast at Marsa Matruh, so the first and last days are mainly travel. The full middle day covers the Temple of the Oracle where Alexander the Great was hailed as son of Amun, the old town of Shali, the tombs of the Mountain of the Dead and Cleopatra’s Spring, followed by a 4×4 safari into the dunes at sunset.
On the last morning you float in one of Siwa’s salt lakes before the drive home. Meals are included from dinner on day one to lunch on day three, and the programme can be extended with a desert camp night or a stop in Alexandria on the way.
Highlights
- Temple of the Oracle at Aghurmi, where Alexander the Great consulted Amun
- The mud-brick ruins of Shali fortress in the heart of Siwa town
- Painted tombs of Gabal al-Mawta, the Mountain of the Dead
- Swim in Cleopatra’s Spring and float in a turquoise salt lake
- 4×4 safari, sandboarding and sunset in the Great Sand Sea
- Two nights in a Siwa eco-lodge with breakfast and dinner
Itinerary
Day 1 – Cairo to Siwa
Early pickup in Cairo and a long drive west along the Mediterranean coast to Marsa Matruh, where you stop for lunch at your own cost and a view of the sea, then south across the desert to Siwa. Arrive in the late afternoon, check in at your eco-lodge, and enjoy dinner and a quiet evening under the stars.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Oracle Temple, Shali, Cleopatra’s Spring and the Great Sand Sea
After breakfast visit the Temple of the Oracle at Aghurmi and the ruined Temple of Amun at Umm Ubayda, then the painted tombs of Gabal al-Mawta and the mud-brick fortress of Shali. After lunch and a swim at Cleopatra’s Spring, a 4×4 takes you into the Great Sand Sea for dune driving, sandboarding and sunset at a desert spring.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Salt lakes and return to Cairo
After breakfast, float in the clear, very salty water of one of the salt-mine lakes outside town, then stop at the market for Siwan dates, olive oil and crafts. Lunch in Siwa, then begin the drive back to Cairo, arriving at your hotel late in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Good to know: The drive is around 9–10 hours each way with police checkpoints; carry your passport. Desert safaris need a permit and may be limited by the authorities at short notice. A bus or flight option to Siwa can be quoted on request.
What’s Included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver Cairo–Siwa–Cairo
- Private 4×4 with desert driver for the Great Sand Sea safari
- Private English-speaking guide
- 2 nights in a Siwa eco-lodge or hotel (twin or double room)
- 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners and bottled water
- Entrance fees and permits: Temple of the Oracle, Gabal al-Mawta, Great Sand Sea safari
Not included
- Lunch on day 1 at Marsa Matruh
- Drinks with meals
- Tips for the guide and drivers
- Personal expenses and shopping
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $1,170 |
| 2 travellers | $625 |
| 3–5 travellers | $465 |
| 6+ travellers | $365 |
Per person in USD, twin share. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the drive from Cairo to Siwa Oasis?
Around nine to ten hours each way, covering about 750 km on good roads via Alexandria’s desert road and Marsa Matruh. We stop for breaks and lunch on the coast. It is a long drive, so many travellers add a fourth day or break the journey with a night in Marsa Matruh or Alexandria.
Where will we stay?
You stay in a Siwa eco-lodge or small hotel built in the local kershef style of salt and mud, with simple, comfortable rooms and private bathrooms. Some lodges have no electricity in the rooms by design and use candles. Tell us if you prefer a conventional hotel and we will arrange it.
Can we swim in the salt lakes and springs?
Yes. Cleopatra’s Spring is a natural stone pool of warm spring water, and the salt lakes are so salty you float easily, like the Dead Sea. Bring swimwear, a towel, sandals and fresh water to rinse off. Local custom is conservative, so cover up when walking in town.
Is it possible to camp in the desert?
Yes. Many travellers swap one lodge night for a night at a desert camp in the Great Sand Sea, with dinner by the fire and stars overhead. Camping depends on desert permits and the weather. Ask us when booking and we will adjust the programme and price.
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Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
