Siwa Oasis private tour from Cairo: Desert safari and oasis stays

A couple of nights in the desert and oasis without arranging the route, the camps or the guide yourself

A three-day private tour departing Cairo for Siwa Oasis in Egypt's Western Desert, with a 4x4 safari through the Great Sand Sea, dune bashing and sandboarding, a night at a hot spring camp in the desert, and a second night in an oasis lodge. The tour includes air-conditioned transport from Cairo, a live guide, all camp and lodge stays, and visits to the Temple of Amun, Shali Castle ruins, salt lakes and Cleopatra's Pool. A guide in English, German, French or Italian travels with your group. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Siwa desert safari and hot spring camp

• Arrive at Siwa Oasis
• 4x4 desert safari to Great Sand Sea
• Enjoy dune bashing and sandboarding
• Watch sunset with Siwan tea and snacks
• Swim at natural cold lake
• Visit hot spring water source
• Dinner at hot spring desert camp
• Star gazing and meditation
• Overnight at desert camp

Day 2: Siwa city tour and cultural sites

• Visit Shali Castle ruins and Old Mosque
• Explore mountain tombs from ancient periods
• Tour Temple of the Oracle of Amun
• Swim and relax at Siwa salt lake
• Swim at Cleopatra’s pool hot spring
• Watch sunset at Fitnas Island with juice
• Ride paddle-boat at Fitnas Island
• Learn about Siwan culture at Siwan house
• Overnight at Panta & Dream Hotel

Day 3: Siwa city walk and return to Cairo

• Walking city tour of Siwa
• Drive back to Cairo with rest stops

The experience

You leave Cairo in an air-conditioned vehicle and arrive at Siwa to begin a 4x4 desert safari into the Great Sand Sea. The day centers on dune bashing and sandboarding across the sand, a swim in a natural cold-water lake at the heart of the desert, and a soak in the hot spring water that rises from 1,000 meters below. As the sun sets, you settle into the hot spring camp for dinner, star gazing and a night under the desert sky.

The second day is a city tour of Siwa itself. You walk through the 13th-century mud-brick fortress of Shali, its labyrinth of buildings originally four or five stories high, then climb to the top for views across the oasis. The Temple of Amun, built in the 6th century BC and where Alexander the Great is said to have been declared son of Amun, stands in the ruins of Aghurmi village. You visit the salt lake (so mineral-rich that swimmers float without effort), and Cleopatra's Pool, a stone basin fed by hot spring water where the Egyptian queen herself is said to have bathed. The day ends on Fitnas Island, nicknamed Fantasy Island for its setting among palms and lush greenery, where you watch the sunset with fresh juice and the option to ride a paddle-boat across the salty Birket Siwa. You spend the night in an oasis lodge.

On the third day, a walking tour of Siwa town precedes the drive back to Cairo, a journey of around eight hours with stops at rest houses along the way. A guide in English, German, French or Italian accompanies the group throughout. The tour is private, so the pace and stops are yours alone.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport from Cairo.
• 4x4 desert safari vehicle for dune bashing and sandboarding.
• two nights' accommodation (one at a hot spring desert camp, one at an oasis lodge).
• all meals at the camps and lodge.
• visits to the Temple of Amun, Shali Castle, the salt lake, Cleopatra's Pool and Fitnas Island.
• a live guide in your chosen language.
• pickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel.

Options for this experience

7 options

2-day private tour (English)21:00, 22:00 and 23:00One night at Panta Lodge hotel; Salt Lake and desert safari at sunset with a professional Siwan guide. Duration: 2 days. Includes 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner. Modern air-conditioned car and 4x4 desert vehicle. Hot spring visit and shopping time. Route: Cairo, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

3-day shared tour (English)05:30, 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00One night at Panta Lodge; Salt Lake and desert safari at sunset with a professional Siwan guide. Duration: 3 days. Includes 3 breakfasts and 2 lunches and 2 dinners. Hot spring visit and shopping time. Modern air-conditioned car and 4x4 desert vehicle. Route: Cairo, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

3-day private tour (English)05:30, 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00One night at Panta Lodge; Salt Lake and desert safari at sunset with a professional Siwan guide. Duration: 3 days. Includes 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners. Modern air-conditioned car or 4x4 desert vehicle. Night hot spring visit and shopping time. Route: Cairo, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

See 4 more options

1-day trip to Siwa from Cairo (English)7 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 23:00Day-use hotel room, Salt Lake, 4x4 desert safari and city tour with a professional Siwan guide. Duration: 1 day. Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Private car from Cairo, returning to Cairo at night. Route: Cairo, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

3-day private tour (German)7 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 23:00One night at Panta Lodge; Salt Lake and desert safari at sunset with a professional Siwan guide. Duration: 3 days. Includes 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners. Modern air-conditioned car and 4x4 desert vehicle. Hot spring visit and shopping time. Route: Cairo, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

3-day private tour (French)7 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 23:00One night at Panta Lodge; Salt Lake and desert safari at sunset with a professional Siwan guide. Duration: 3 days. Includes 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners. Modern air-conditioned car and 4x4 desert vehicle. Hot spring visit and shopping time. Route: Cairo, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

3-day private tour (Italian)7 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 23:00One night at Panta Lodge; Salt Lake and desert safari at sunset with a professional Siwan guide. Duration: 3 days. Includes 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners. Modern air-conditioned car and 4x4 desert vehicle. Hot spring visit and shopping time. Route: Cairo, Siwa, Cairo. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day, 7 start times, from US$ 317.47 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: 05:30, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian and ArabicOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 to 49 years) · Senior (50 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

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

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by sahara tour

Is this one for you?Book the three-day private option if you have the time and want the full desert-and-oasis experience without building the itinerary yourself. The two-day version covers the highlights if you're short on time. A sharing tour in English is available if you're comfortable joining other travelers and want to reduce the cost.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, French, German and Italian, with 7 departure times. In Arabic, at 05:30, 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Temple of Amun and why does it matter to Siwa?

The Temple of Amun is a 6th-century BC shrine in the ruins of Aghurmi village, built on an earlier temple and dedicated to the god Amun. It was a powerful symbol of Siwa's wealth and is believed to be the place where Alexander the Great was declared son of Amun, making it central to the oasis's ancient history and power.

Can I swim in the salt lake, and what makes it different from a regular lake?

Yes, Siwa salt lake is swimmable and the high salt content makes you float automatically without effort. Many visitors go for recreation or medical treatment, as the salt water is said to help with natural healing for eyes, skin and sinuses.

What happens on the first night? Where do I sleep?

You sleep at a hot spring camp in the heart of the desert after dinner and star gazing. The camp sits near the natural hot spring water, so you're surrounded by the desert landscape throughout the night.

How long is the drive back to Cairo on day three?

The drive back to Cairo takes around eight hours and includes stops at rest houses along the way, so you're not traveling without breaks.

What is sandboarding, and do I need experience to try it?

Sandboarding is sliding down sand dunes on a board, similar to snowboarding but on sand. The tour includes it as part of the Great Sand Sea safari. The operator notes the tour suits active travelers of all fitness levels, so no prior experience is required.