Siwa Oasis: Oracle Temple, Salt Lakes and How to Get There

Siwa Oasis is a desert oasis in Egypt's Western Desert, about 560 km west-south-west of Cairo, known for the Temple of the Oracle of Amun that Alexander the Great visited, the mud-brick fortress of Shali, salt lakes and freshwater springs among thousands of date palms. Most tours spend three nights there, driving in via the Mediterranean coast and Marsa Matruh.

Key Takeaways

• Siwa lies in a depression below sea level, reaching about 19 meters below sea level by one source and averaging about 20 meters by another.
• Alexander the Great visited the oracle of Amun at Siwa during his winter in Egypt in 332–331 BC; sources differ on whether it was 332 or 331.
• Shali, the old town fortress, was built in the 13th century from kershef, a mix of salt, rock and clay.
• Siwa town and the Marsa Matruh–Siwa road are exceptions to the UK government's warning against all but essential travel in the Western Desert; the Bahariya–Siwa road is not.
• The US State Department advises against travel to the Western Desert unless with a professionally licensed tour company.

Where Siwa Is and How to Get There

Siwa sits close to the Libyan border, south-west of the Mediterranean port of Marsa Matruh. Britannica puts it 560 km west-south-west of Cairo; other sources say about 600 km. The usual route is by road along the north coast to Marsa Matruh, about 300 km from Siwa according to Aramco World, then south through the desert to the oasis. On the way, many trips stop at El Alamein on the coast, as on the Siwa Oasis and Al Alamein tour from Alexandria. From Cairo, see the 4-day Siwa and Al Alamein tour from Cairo or the longer 7-day Cairo and Siwa safari.

What to See in Siwa

The Temple of the Oracle of Amun

The oracle temple stands on a rock among the ruins of Aghurmi. Its oracle of the god Amun was famous in antiquity, and Alexander the Great made the journey across the desert to consult it during his stay in Egypt in 332–331 BC.

Shali fortress

Shali is the old fortified town in the center of Siwa, built in the 13th century to protect the inhabitants. It is made of kershef, a building material of salt, rock and clay. Parts of the fortress have been restored in recent years.

Gebel al-Mawta, the Mountain of the Dead

A small hill near the town is honeycombed with rock-cut tombs. The cemetery was already in use in Egypt's 26th Dynasty and continued through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods; some tombs keep their painted walls.

Springs and salt lakes

Siwa has freshwater springs for swimming, such as Cleopatra's Spring, and salt lakes so salty that swimmers float on the surface. Fatnas, a palm-covered spot on the edge of a salt lake, is the classic place to watch the sunset with Bedouin tea.

The Great Sand Sea

Beyond the oasis start the dunes of the Great Sand Sea. A 4x4 dune drive with a swim in the cold spring of Bir Wahid is part of most Siwa stays. Our desert safari guide compares this with other desert trips.

A Typical 4-Day Siwa Trip

Day	Plan
Day 1	Drive west along the coast with a stop at El Alamein, lunch in Marsa Matruh, then south to Siwa; evening walk in the old town
Day 2	Oracle Temple of Amun, the Mountain of the Dead, a swim at Cleopatra's Spring, sunset at Fatnas
Day 3	Salt lake swim, Siwa crafts, then a 4x4 safari into the Great Sand Sea with a stop at a desert spring
Day 4	Drive back to Alexandria or Cairo

This follows the itinerary of the 4-day tours from Alexandria and Cairo. For a desert-focused version, see the Siwa Oasis adventure.

Safety and Travel Advice

Siwa is in the Western Desert, where official advice is cautious. The UK government advises against all but essential travel west of the Nile Valley and Delta, but lists exceptions that include the coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh, the Marsa Matruh–Siwa road and the oasis town of Siwa. It still advises against all but essential travel on the road between Bahariya and Siwa, and against all travel within 20 km of the Libyan border. The US State Department advises against travel to the Western Desert unless with a professionally licensed tour company. Traveling with a licensed operator on the Matruh road is the standard way to visit.

Practical Tips

• Allow at least three nights: the drive takes most of a day each way.
• Dress modestly. Siwa is a conservative community; cover shoulders and knees in town.
• Bring cash and a warm layer for desert evenings in winter.
• Carry your passport for the road journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I visit Siwa as a day trip?

No. The distance from Cairo or Alexandria makes an overnight stay necessary.

When is the best time to visit?

The cooler months are the most comfortable for the desert trips; summer days are very hot.

Can I swim in the salt lakes?

Yes. The water is so salty that you float easily; rinse off afterwards with fresh water.