Siwa Oasis Travel Guide

Siwa Oasis Travel Guide

Siwa Oasis is distinct from every other place we see in Egypt, including an oasis with gardens, saltwater lakes, olive trees, and palm trees all surrounded by desert.

This sanctuary is totally cut off from the rest of the world. Marsa Matrouh, a beach city located 300 km (4 hours) north of Alexandria and 50 km from the Libyan border, is the closest city.

This secluded location sees few visitors, yet in my opinion, it is among Egypt’s greatest.

This article will explain how to go to Siwa via public transportation, where to stay, what to do, and how to independently arrange a two-day trip to Siwa.

Siwa Oasis: a little overview

Before the paved road linking Siwa Oasis with the Mediterranean shore was created in the 1980s, Siwa Oasis was long isolated. The only way to reach the outside world from the Oasis was via the taxing camel caravans.

One of the oldest Oasis in Egypt is the Siwa Oasis. Its ancestors were the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, whose names may be seen on a relief at the temple of Edfu, close to Luxor.

In Egypt, the Siwa population is a minority. They view themselves as a member of North Africa’s actual indigenous population. They identify as “Imazighen,” which is Arabic for “noble and free people.” Large indigenous Imazighen or Berber populations may still be found in North Africa, from the Atlantic coast to Egypt’s Siwa oasis.

How To Get Around Siwa oasis

Siwa is a little town, yet it has many interesting places to visit, such as the oracle, the large salt lake, and Fatnas Island.

Away from the Siwa centre, there are also several really fascinating hotels, campgrounds, or Mini-Resorts.

You may easily stroll it in Siwa’s town or city centre. If you wish to visit other locations but your destination is further away, it is simple to get in a tuk tuk for a maximum of 10-15 minutes.

Many individuals choose to set a fee with a tuk tuk for the entire day in order to travel to various locations. For an hour, you can also wait to be picked up at a location.

Because it is flat and there is no traffic, biking is a simple way to get around, especially in the winter. For a bike rental, plan on paying about 80LE each day.

What to do in the Siwa Oasis?

The Siwa Oasis’s lush palm palms, which serve as the city’s major draw, are among its outstanding features.

Additionally, while choosing the Oasis as a destination to visit, it is one of the commonly asked topics. For this reason, we include some of the things that may be done:

Siwa Lakes – Bathe in its natural sources of crystal clear waters.

The Siwa Oasis’s waters are distinguished by their ambient coldness and crystal clarity.

For those who are sweaty from nearby excursions or walks, it’s a fantastic solution. The Great Sand Sea’s waves extend to the horizon on the border of the Oasis, making exploration impossible to resist.

Siwa oasis Oracle Temple

One of Siwa’s most mysterious locations, it is thought by Egyptologists to have existed during the period when Amun priests first attained special status. It dates to the 6th century BC.

His historical significance was such that every prophecy he made came true; the oracle foretold the Persians’ impending threats and their conquest of Egypt.

One of the most significant traditions was the Persian King Cambyses II, who was dispatched to destroy the oracle but never came back.

Tourists can currently access, but only up to a certain chamber because the oracle itself is locked for security reasons.

Take a sand bath at Gebel Dakrur

A few kilometres southeast of Siwa, near Gebel Dakrur, there is also the option of “bathing in the sand,” which is quite hot for 20 minutes.

These baths are meant to relieve arthritis and rheumatism. There are even locations where you may receive this therapy for a few days while living like you’re at a spa.

Enjoy customs and traditions.

Being a town that has maintained its independence from other traditions has allowed it to serve as the centre of various cultures and traditions that are similar to those of Egypt.

Due to its isolation, the Siwa locality’s social structures differ greatly from those of other communities.

The local Berber culture is still alive today and worth seeing for a few days.

Siwa’s attraction is hard to resist because of the beauty of its landscapes and its territory. A few flint fountains discovered years ago demonstrate that the Oasis was populated during the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. The rest of Siwa’s tale remains a mystery.

Go cycling around

This is one of the activities that has attracted the most tourists since it enables them to take in a number of things at once.

Many of the itineraries involve departing from Siwa and travelling to the temples before stopping at an oasis to recuperate.

Shiatta Lake, Siwa Salt Lake

This amazing salt lake is situated near to the Great Sand Sea, 60 kilometres from Siwa, and is bordered by palm palms. Gazelles and several migrating birds may be spotted here.

Bilad Ar Rum

You may visit these ruins, which are about 17 km northwest of Siwa, and view more than 100 tombs cut into the hills’ rock as well as the remains of a stone temple. This is regarded as one of Alexander the Great’s potential resting locations.

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