A beautiful green lake sits among this ocean of yellow sand, but Siwa has more than just breathtaking sceneries; it carries a culture of its own; local habitants of Siwa speak their language, which is more like the language spoken by the Berber (desert people from further west), than the Egyptian Arabic spoken in the rest of Egypt.
Where is Siwa Oasis located?
Located approximately 350 miles from Cairo, east of the Libyan border, Siwa Oasis is one of Egypt’s best western desert oases, with thousands of palm trees and gorgeous hot springs. Until the 1980s, when a highway was finally connected to the coastal town of Marsa Matruh, it was completely isolated from the rest of the country. Technologies such as television and phones were introduced relatively recently, and the internet only within the past few years.
There is an increasing number of hotels ranging from budget hostels to a 5-star eco-lodge in the oasis. The tourist trade is now firmly rooted in the local economy, but this has not affected the core of life in Siwa. To this day, Siwa is still a very conservative community, and visitors are recommended to respect their local cultural values.
Alcohol is banned, and local women are rarely seen outside their houses; it is very welcoming to visitors, and the slow pace of the Siwan life is incredibly intoxicating. Until 1926 the entire oasis population lived in a 13th-century mud-brick fortress at the center of town known as Shali, but a heavy 3-day rainstorm destroyed it.
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Places to Visit While in Siwa Oasis
1- The Shali
Shali is now a tourist attraction, where visitors climb up the melted mound of mud and salt that is the traditional Siwa construction material so they can get a glimpse of the view of dates and olives groves that stretches out for miles in each direction of the Siwa Oasis.
2- Cleopatra’s Spring|Cleopatra’s Bath|Cleopatra’s pool
Also known as Cleopatra’s Bath or Cleopatra’s pool, Cleopatra’s Spring is a natural spring water stone pool where locals and tourists enjoy the benefits of a spring bath in Siwa. Being one of the best natural pools, many locals in the area bathe and visit the pool frequently; it’s important to remember and respect the local customs, and female tourists are advised to wear appropriate swimming attire to avoid unnecessary attention.
3- The Salt Lakes
One of the most beautiful sceneries in Siwa, the Salt Lakes, is not to be missed. With clean and transparently green waters, the Salt Lakes attract people to Siwa all year round; with the health benefit of its high salt concentration, floating and swimming in the Salt Lakes of Siwa is something you cannot miss.
4- The Temple of the Oracle
In antiquity, Siwa was famous for the Temple of the Oracle, which dates from the 6th century BC and was renowned throughout the Mediterranean. Alexander the Great came here to ask about his fate and whether or not he was the son of Zeus, as his mother had told him. After consulting the oracle, Alexander requested that his generals bury him in Siwa once he passed. The ruins of the temple of the Oracle are still open to visitors to this day.
5- Mountain of the Dead
Also near the center of Siwa, the Mountain of the Dead is a rocky hill covered in more than 1500 tombs thaTimetes back to the late pharaonic Time. Some of the tombs from the Greco-Roman Period are decorated with beautiful and ornate funerary drawings.
6- Fantasy Island
Another spectacular place is Fantasy Island, located on the edge of the oasis on the shore of Lake Siwa, about 6 kilometers from the town center. Hot spring is a famous attraction of this beautiful place, where you can swim and enjoy the benefits of the healing waters and cafés and restaurants. Views over the lake at sunset are spectacular.
7- The Great Sand Sea
Siwa oasis sits on the doorstep of the Great Sand Sea, with beautiful scenery of sands that forms mountains along with an endless desert view. Tours are available with local drivers and are recommended as the idea is a must-see; Desert safaris in 4×4 will take visitors out for day trips, overnight, or on more extended expeditions to visit the beautiful springs and rock formations within these vast and magnificent sites.
8- Siwa House Museum
The Siwa House Museum is great if you love art and history. With actual artifacts of the ancient Siwa population, the museum closely looks at ancient Siwa traditions and local customs. Many of the items in the exhibition show the rules of Siwa’s wedding, known to last for seven days, where the bride wears a particular outfit which you can see at the Siwa House Museum.
9- Shiva Oasis
Siwa is truly culturally unique, relaxing, and stunningly beautiful. The journey from Cairo takes about 8 hours by car and longer by overnight buses that run daily from Cairo, but it is well worth the effort once you are there.
Best Time to go to Siwa Oasis
The weather in Siwa is almost always pleasing, unlike Luxor and Aswan, and the sun never fails to shine. However, there are sometimes of the year in which it can be better to come in than others. It is advisable to visit Siwa in the cooler months, from October to April, as summer temperatures can be pretty hot.
[ Read more about the climate in Egypt ]
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