Siwa Oasis & the Temple of the Oracle
Wedged against the Libyan border in the far north-west of Egypt, Siwa Oasis is a world apart — 300 freshwater springs, 70,000 date palms, a Berber community that still speaks its own Siwi language, and the ruins of the Oracle Temple where Alexander the Great came in 331 BC to have his divinity confirmed. It sees a fraction of the visitors of Luxor or Aswan and rewards the effort of getting there w
The Oracle Temple & Shali Fortress
The Temple of Amun at Aghurmi, built in the 6th century BC, sits on a rocky outcrop above the oasis and still has legible hieroglyphic inscriptions in its inner sanctuary — the very chamber where Alexander received his famous prophecy. Entry costs LE 80 and the site is rarely crowded even in peak season; a local guide (ask at the Siwa town square) will bring the history alive for around LE 150 for two hours.
In the centre of Siwa town, the mud-brick ruins of the 13th-century Shali Fortress melt dramatically into the hill they were built on — a 1926 rainstorm dissolved much of the structure, giving it an organic, melting quality. Climb the remaining walls at sunset for a panorama over the palm groves and salt lakes turning pink in the evening light.
Salt Lakes, Sand Dunes & Hot Springs
Lake Siwa and the smaller Lake Zeitoun are hypersaline — saltier than the Dead Sea in places — and you float effortlessly on the surface. The lakes are free to access and best visited in the late afternoon when the light turns the water a deep turquoise-green against the white salt crust shoreline.
The Great Sand Sea begins at the eastern edge of the oasis; 4WD excursions to the dunes take about 40 minutes from town and typically include a stop at Cleopatra's Bath (Ain Guba), a natural freshwater spring pool where you can swim. Fatnas Island, a palm-covered spit jutting into Lake Siwa, has a simple café serving sweet tea and is one of the best sunset spots in Egypt.
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