Shali fortress
Built of salt and mud brick on a rock outcrop
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour 4 Days Siwa Oasis Safari
Four days by road from Cairo to Siwa: the old fortress, the Oracle temple, the salt lakes and a 4x4 run to the dunes of the Great Sand Sea.
- Duration
- 4 days / 3 nights
- Route
- Cairo, Marsa Matrouh, Siwa, Cairo
- Transport
- Private vehicle, 4x4 for the dunes
- Sleeping
- 3 nights in a hotel in Siwa
From, per person$5106 or more travellers · 3-star hotels
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
Why travellers choose this trip
Siwa is far from everything. Wikipedia lists it 560 km from Cairo and 50 km from the Libyan border. The road runs along the Mediterranean highway through El Alamein and Marsa Matrouh and then south on a paved road, so day 1 is mostly driving.
The reward is two full days in the oasis. It sits in a depression about 19 m below sea level, close to the Libyan border and the eastern edge of the Great Sand Sea. We spend them on the old town, the temple, the springs and the dunes, and we sleep in Siwa every night.
This trip suits travellers who accept a long drive to reach a place with a different pace and a different culture. It is not for anyone with a tight schedule: the first and last days are largely spent in the car.
Aghurmi
The ruins and the Temple of the Oracle of Amun
Cleopatra's Bath
A natural spring
Gebel al-Mawta
A Roman-era necropolis with rock-cut tombs
Siwa's salt lakes
In the oasis
Great Sand Sea
A 4x4 drive over the dunes
Places on this trip: Siwa
Your route
1Cairo1 night
2Marsa Matrouh
3Siwa3 nights
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Day 1 · Siwa OasisCairo to Siwa
Pick-up. Your driver collects you from your Cairo hotel early and drives north-west to the coast road, past El Alamein to Marsa Matrouh. Bottled water is in the vehicle. The last stretch turns south from Marsa Matrouh for about 300 km to Siwa on a paved road, with checkpoints on the way. Keep your passport in reach. The UK government makes an exception to its Western Desert warning for Siwa and the Marsa Matruh to Siwa road, and Canada advises a high degree of caution on that road. Check your own government's advice before you book. Permits and timings are arranged by us and confirmed when you book.
Afternoon. Lunch is included and taken at Marsa Matrouh.
Evening. You reach Siwa in the evening, check in to your hotel and have dinner in the town, which is included.
- Pick-upPrivate transfer to your hotel
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsLunch, Dinner
Overnight in Siwa - 2
Day 2 · Siwa OasisOld Siwa, the Oracle and the spring
Morning. After breakfast at the hotel your local desert guide takes you to Shali, the ruined fortress town. It was built of salt and mud brick and palm logs, and was damaged by rain in 1926. One mosque there has been repaired and is still in use. Your guide shows you where the old houses stood and how the town was built up the rock. Entrance is included.
Afternoon. Lunch is included. After it you drive to Aghurmi, where fragments of the Temple of the Oracle of Amun remain, with some inscriptions from the 4th century BCE. Entrance is included. The day ends at Cleopatra's Bath, a natural spring. Your guide tells you on the day whether swimming is possible.
Evening. Dinner is included, and you sleep in Siwa.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight in Siwa - 3
Day 3 · Siwa OasisGebel al-Mawta, salt lakes and dunes
Morning. On day 3 you leave the village by 4x4 with your driver and guide. First stop is Gebel al-Mawta, the Roman-era necropolis, with its rock-cut tombs. Entrance is included. Then you drive out to the salt lakes, which are fed by agricultural drainage water.
Afternoon. Lunch is included. In the afternoon the 4x4 goes into the dunes on the edge of the Great Sand Sea. The sea covers about 72,000 km2 and Siwa lies in its eastern part. Your driver chooses the route according to the sand, and you watch the sunset from the top of a dune. We turn back before dark.
Evening. Dinner is included, and you sleep in your hotel in Siwa.
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight in Siwa - 4
Day 4 · CairoSiwa to Cairo
Return. After breakfast at the hotel you drive back north to Marsa Matrouh and then along the coast and the desert highway to Cairo. Expect most of the day on the road, with stops for lunch, which is included, and for fuel. Bottled water is in the vehicle. The drop-off is at your Cairo hotel or the airport. Do not book a flight for the same night.
- Drop-offPrivate transfer to the airport or station
- GuideYour private guide
- TransportPrivate air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance feesIncluded for the sites of the day
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
Trip ends in Cairo
How much does this 4-day trip cost?
| Per person, by group size | 3-star hotels | 4-star hotels | 5-star hotels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single traveller | $815 | $960 | $1,250 |
| Sharing a double room 2 travellers | $640 | $750 | $975 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $560 | $660 | $860 |
| 6 or more travellers | $510 | $600 | $780 |
In US dollars, per person, for a private trip. The price in your written quote, made for your dates and group, is the one that counts. International flights are not included. Choose a hotel level in the booking box to see the total for your group.
Where you’ll stay
Siwa · 3 nights
Hotel with breakfast.
Trip ends in Cairo · 1 night
Hotel with breakfast.
What’s included
Included
- Private vehicle with driver for the road legs
- 4x4 and driver for the desert day in Siwa
- Local desert guide in Siwa
- 3 nights in a hotel in Siwa with breakfast
- Lunch and dinner as listed
- Bottled water
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Cairo
- Entrance to Shali, Aghurmi and Gebel al-Mawta, as listed in the itinerary
Not included
- International flights and Egypt visa
- Drinks other than water
- Optional extras
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Booking policies
Important information
- International flights, the Egypt visa, extra-ticket tombs, optional tours, drinks and tips are not included.
- Programs can start on any day. We may change a time, route or hotel for reasons we cannot control, and offer you the closest alternative.
- You need a valid passport and the right visa for your nationality. Apply on the official Egyptian eVisa portal.
- Tell us about any health, mobility or diet need before you book, so that we can plan around it.
Payment and deposit
- Prices are in US dollars and the price in your written quote is the one that counts.
- The deposit is 30 percent of the total price (50 percent for trips that start from 18 December to 5 January).
- The balance is due 15 days before arrival. If you book later than that, the full amount confirms the booking.
- Payment instructions come with your written quote.
Cancellation and refund
Send every cancellation by email so that we can confirm it in writing. The charge is a percentage of the tour price, and anything you paid above it is refunded.
| Days before arrival | Normal dates | 18 Dec to 5 Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Until 61 days | 20% | 35% |
| 60 to 31 days | 35% | 50% |
| 30 to 15 days | 50% | 75% |
| 14 to 1 days, or no-show | 100% | 100% |
A bank and payment fee of 6 percent is deducted from every refund. Full rules: terms and policies.
Children
- Children under 3 travel free.
- Children from 3 to 11.99 years pay 50 percent of the tour price.
- From 12 years, travellers pay the adult price.
Please give the age of every child at the time of travel when you ask for a quote.
Travel tips
Good to know before you go
Best time
October to April is the comfortable season. The Christmas and New Year weeks (18 December to 5 January) sell out first.
Visa
Many passports get an e-Visa online or a visa on arrival in Cairo. Check yours before you fly.
What to pack
Light layers, a hat, sunscreen and closed shoes. Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches.
Money & tipping
Cards work in hotels; carry small notes for tips. Tipping is expected but not included.
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
A Fantastic Tour of Egypt
“The entire trip was seamlessly executed.”
Best tour guide!!
“He made our trip to the pyramids and Alexandria fun and memorable.”
Amazing 2 week trip
“My friends and I spent two weeks in Egypt and he was with us every step of the way.”
FAQ
Questions about this trip
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our team will answer.
Is a permit needed to visit Siwa?
The UK government makes an exception to its Western Desert warning for Siwa and the Marsa Matruh to Siwa road, and Canada advises a high degree of caution on that road. We arrange any permit and confirm the details when you book.
Why do you go through Marsa Matrouh and not through Bahariya?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all but essential travel on the road between Bahariya and Siwa. We use the paved northern road.
How hot is Siwa?
It has a hot desert climate. Temperatures can pass 40 degrees C as early as March, and the record is 48.2 degrees C. We advise travelling outside summer, and we confirm dates when you book.
Is 4 days enough?
You get two full days in the oasis. Anyone who wants more time there, or the White Desert as well, should look at the 5-day or the 8-day trip.
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