Siwa Oasis 2 Days from Cairo: Salt Lakes & Desert Safari

Taste authentic Siwan cuisine and explore hidden local gems with native guides

A two-day private tour from Cairo to Siwa Oasis with English or Arabic-speaking guide, hotel pickup and dinner included. You swim in salt lakes, visit Shali fortress and the Oracle temple, explore pharaonic tombs, and spend an evening sandboarding and dining in a desert camp. The guide is Siwan, so the stops go beyond the standard route to show local customs and hidden corners of the oasis.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Salt lakes and desert safari

• Visit Old town of Siwa (Shali fortress)
• Swim in the salt lakes
• Enjoy desert safari and sandboarding
• Visit fossils area and hot spring
• Watch sunset and have dinner in desert camp

Day 2: Siwa cultural and natural sights

• Visit Siwan traditional museum
• Visit pharaonic and Greek Roman tombs
• Visit Oracle temple (Temple of Amun)
• Visit Dakrour Mountain
• Relax and enjoy sunset at Fatnas island

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Cairo or Giza location in a private air-conditioned car. On the first day you reach Shali fortress, the old town of Siwa and a UNESCO heritage site, then move into the salt lakes for swimming. The water's buoyancy makes floating effortless. The afternoon shifts to the Great Sand Sea for a safari: sandboarding down dunes, fossil hunting, a soak in the hot spring, and a cold lake for contrast. Dinner happens at a desert camp as the sun sets, and you sleep at an ecolodge hotel in Siwa.

Day two covers the sights most visitors miss. You visit the Siwan traditional museum to understand local life, then the pharaonic and Greek-Roman tombs carved into rock. The Oracle temple (also called the temple of Alexander the great) sits next, followed by Dakrour Mountain. The day ends on Fatnas island at sunset. Because your guide is from Siwa, the stops include the customs and food of the place, not just the monuments.

Pickup is available from Alexandria or Marsa Matrouh if you're coming from the coast. Dinner is included. Bring extra money for drinks and any meals not covered by the package. The pace suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned pickup from Cairo, Giza, Alexandria or Marsa Matrouh.
• English or Arabic-speaking Siwan guide.
• entry to Shali fortress, salt lakes, Oracle temple, Siwan museum and pharaonic tombs.
• desert safari with sandboarding and hot spring.
• dinner at the desert camp.
• one night at an ecolodge hotel in Siwa.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:30 and 06:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 to 90 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Windows of Siwa

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a guide who is Siwan and can show you the oasis beyond the main sites: the local food, the customs, the corners that don't appear in standard itineraries. The private car and fixed schedule mean the two days hold together without you managing transport or timing between stops.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

77 verified traveler reviews

5 ★75

4 ★0

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

What is Shali fortress and why does the tour start there?

Shali fortress is the old town of Siwa, a UNESCO heritage site built from salt blocks and mud brick. The tour begins there to ground you in Siwan history and architecture before moving to the natural attractions.

Can I swim in the salt lakes, and what should I bring?

Yes, swimming in the salt lakes is the first full-day activity. The high salt content makes you float naturally. Bring a swimsuit, towel and water shoes or sandals for the rocky entry. The tour does not provide these.

What happens during the desert safari in the Great Sand Sea?

The safari includes sandboarding down dunes, exploring a fossils area, soaking in a natural hot spring, swimming in a cold lake, watching the sunset and eating dinner at a desert camp before returning to your hotel.

Can I book pickup from Alexandria or Marsa Matrouh instead of Cairo?

Yes, the operator offers pickup from both Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh. Confirm your preferred location when booking.