3-Day Siwa Oasis Tour: Desert, Salt Lakes & Temples

Three days crossing the Great Sand Sea, floating in salt lakes, and walking ruins 2,000 years old

A 3-day guided tour from Cairo to Siwa Oasis combines desert safari, ancient temples, salt-water swimming and overnight stays in the oasis and desert camp. The route includes a 5-hour drive to Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean, then 3 more hours into Siwa, with dune bashing in the Great Sand Sea, visits to the Temple of the Oracle of Amun and the Mountain of the Dead cemetery, and time in traditional Siwan houses. Hotel pickup from Cairo or Giza is included. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and three other languages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Siwa and Desert Safari

• Drive from Cairo to Marsa Matruh
• Lunch in Marsa Matruh
• Drive to Siwa with rest stops
• 4x4 Desert Safari in Great Sand Sea
• Enjoy natural oasis in desert
• Visit hot spring water source
• Dinner at Siwan camp
• Star gazing and meditation

Day 2: Explore Siwa Oasis Highlights

• Breakfast at hotel
• Hike Mountain of the Dead
• Visit Temple of the Oracle of Amun
• Swim in salt lakes and shower
• Swim in Cleopatra's Pool with juice
• Visit Darker Mountain
• Watch sunset at Fitnas Island
• Visit Siwan House cultural tour
• Visit Old Shali fortress

Day 3: Market Visit and Return to Cairo

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit city market for local products
• Drive back to Cairo with rest stops

The experience

The journey starts with a 5-hour drive from Cairo to Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast, with a rest stop halfway. After lunch overlooking the water, you continue another 3 hours into the desert toward Siwa. By evening you're in a 4x4 heading into the Great Sand Sea: one of the world's largest expanses of sand dunes. The vehicle climbs and drops through the dunes as the sun sets, and you stop for Siwan tea and snacks while watching the light fade across the desert. That night you sleep at a hot spring camp in the heart of the sand sea, where water rises from 1,000 meters below. After dinner there's star-gazing and meditation under the open sky.

Day two is the cultural core. You start at 9am hiking to the Mountain of the Dead, a 7th-century BC cemetery carved into rock. The guide walks you through the Temple of the Oracle of Amun, a 2,000-year-old temple where ancient Egyptians came to seek answers. Then comes the swimming: you float in the salt lakes of Siwa, mineral-rich water that holds you up without effort, and rinse off with fresh water provided. You visit Fitnas Island at sunset for the view and fresh juice, with the option to paddle-boat across the water. The afternoon includes a stop at a traditional Siwan house (a mudbrick structure built the way locals have built for generations), and the Old Shali fortress. You sleep at a lodge in town.

The final morning takes you to the Siwa market to buy dates, olive oil and local handicrafts before the 9-hour drive back to Cairo, with two rest stops along the way. The whole trip is all-inclusive: transport from your hotel in Cairo or Giza, all meals, entry to sites, and the guide who explains the history and culture at each stop.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cairo or Giza.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner across the three days).
• entry to the Temple of the Oracle of Amun, Mountain of the Dead, Fitnas Island and Old Shali fortress.
• 4x4 desert safari in the Great Sand Sea with dune bashing and sand boarding.
• overnight stays at a hot spring camp in the desert and a lodge in Siwa.
• swimming in the salt lakes with fresh water provided.
• Siwan tea, snacks and fresh juice at designated stops.
• a live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or three other languages.
• and return transport with rest stops on the drive back to Cairo.

Options for this experience

3 options

Group tour in English, shared with othersUp to 30 per booking · 04:00, 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00Accommodation: two nights in an ecolodge. Activities: safari by Land Cruiser, all entry fees, city tour, hot spring camp. Duration: three days exploring Siwa Oasis. Meals: three breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, plus drinks. Air-conditioned car with pickup from your home location. Professional tour guide. Route: Cairo, Marsa Matrouh, Siwa Oasis, Cairo. Pickup is included.

Tour for a private group in any languageUp to 15 per booking · Guide in 7 languages · 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00Accommodation: two nights in an ecolodge. Private tour: safari tour, all entry fees, city tour, hot spring camp. Duration: three days experiencing Siwa. Meals: three breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, plus drinks. Air-conditioned car with pickup from your home location. Professional tour guide. Route: Cairo, Marsa Matrouh, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

VIP tour, available in all languagesUp to 15 per booking · Guide in 7 languages · 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00Accommodation: two nights in an ecolodge, VIP room. Private tour: safari tour by Land Cruiser, all entry fees, city tour, sunrise watching, hot spring camp. Duration: three days experiencing Siwa. Meals: three breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, with drinks. Modern air-conditioned car with pickup from your home location. Professional tour guide. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 04:00, 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00

AgesAdult (20 to 45 years) · Senior (46 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 19 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Luxury Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Choose the private or VIP option if you want flexibility in timing and smaller group size. The shared group tour works if you're comfortable with a larger group and prefer a fixed schedule. All three options follow the same 3-day route and include the same sites and activities. The difference is who you travel with and how much control you have over the day's pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, at 04:00, 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00. In Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Russian, at 05:00, 05:30 and 06:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 19 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Temple of the Oracle of Amun and why does it matter?

The Temple of the Oracle of Amun is a 2,000-year-old temple in Siwa where ancient Egyptians traveled to seek guidance and prophecy. Your guide explains its history and significance as part of the second day's itinerary.

Can I really float in the salt lakes of Siwa?

Yes. The salt lakes are mineral-rich enough that you float without effort, similar to the Dead Sea. The tour provides fresh water to rinse off afterward, and swimming is included on day two.

How long is the drive from Cairo to Siwa?

The drive is roughly 8 hours total: 5 hours to Marsa Matrouh on the coast with a rest stop, then 3 more hours into Siwa, with another stop at a rest house. You arrive in the evening of day one.

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

You ride in a 4x4 vehicle through the dunes, doing dune bashing and sand boarding as the sun sets. The stop includes Siwan tea, snacks, and time to watch the light fade across the sand before heading to the hot spring camp for dinner and star-gazing.

Is hotel pickup from Cairo included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Cairo or Giza is included in the tour price, and the return journey ends at your hotel after the 9-hour drive back on day three.