A 10-hour road trip might seem a rather hectic and exhausting thing to do, to be quite honest and completely truthful, it is!
Nevertheless, Siwa Oasis is worth of every minute of the exhaustion that one will go through to get there, the scene of palm, olive trees and water springs will top your breathtaking places list. It is quite the scenery.
Once you set your foot in Siwa Oasis, invitations to drink tea will bombard you, and saying no to tea is not an option.
Siwa is full of places and activities that one can do. Safari, swimming and visiting their lakes are just a small sample from the variety of things you can enjoy in the remote island.
Fatnas Island
Far from the crowded downtown of Siwa Oasis, roads are surrounded with Palm and Olive trees leading to the remote and quiet Island of “Fatnas”.
Means of transportation are not much, probably only a tricycle can take you there due to the steep and narrow roads. “Fatnas” is located four kilometers to the West of Siwa Oasis and is full of water springs.
In “Fatnas”, you can watch impressive scenery of the sunset on the salty lake, with the palms bending towards the lake.
The Island is full of authentic cafes where you can enjoy your tea with locals who would narrate the history of the Oasis fluently to you.
Amoun Temple
A 10-hour road trip to Siwa Oasis can be much nicer when you decide to spice it up with some history. Amoun Temple is where Alexander the Great got blessed and crowned in Egypt. Alexander chose this temple that is also known as “Temple of prophecies”.
An unconfirmed information shared by the locals suggests that Alexander asked a Greek fortuneteller in the temple whether he is going to rule Egypt or not, to which the fortuneteller answered that he is going to.
The temple is not really big, but you will need really strong knees to climb the rather steep stairs.
Cleopatra Spring
There are around 2000 water springs in Siwa Oasis. They are used in irrigation, drinking and therapy.
One of the most famous and significant springs in Siwa Oasis is “Cleopatra” spring. The surprising thing about this spring is that its water is cold in Summer and warm in Winter, it can reach up to 37 Celsius.
It is considered as the main source of water in Siwa. It is believed to be named “Cleopatra” because Queen Cleopatra visited and swam in it.
Night Life
Siwa is pretty captivating in the morning; it is warm , sunny and have various places that you can visit.
However, thousands of stars take over Siwa’s sky at night. You can go and enjoy Safari. Also, a 15-minute road trip by car will drive you to the middle of the desert, which is entirely safe, and you can lit up your bonfire and stay there the whole night.
Barbecue parties in the Middle of the desert are always an option as well, and no one will intrude your gatherings.
“Siwa Camp” also is where you can eat sun-cooked food; it is also known as “Mardoom”. The idea of it is to spice meat and chicken and leave them all day long in the sun. Not only is it one of the best meals offered in Siwa, but also one of the healthiest.
On your way back, don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs. Several shops sell handmade crafts at a very good price. Also, you can pass by the center and buy olives, dates and olive oil to stock for you home.
If you are still in doubt, always remember that people of Siwa are the kindest. Just pack your luggage and go; they will take the guidance and assistance from there.
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[…] I never fathomed that an environment so alien yet so stunning could exist on this Earth, let alone just five hours south-west of Cairo. This unique part of the Western Desert seems to be frequently neglected on travel itineraries but I’ve never understood why. Perhaps it’s too far off of the beaten track, far from the tourist resorts of the Red Sea? Or maybe people prefer the rolling dunes and historical spots of Siwa? […]