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

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/49

Duration3d

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · AR +3

PickupAt your hotel

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 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.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets 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.