Siwa Safari Tour: Sandbording, hot springs and desert sunset

Sandbording down dunes, then watching stars from the desert dark

A Siwa Safari is a full-day 4x4 tour through Egypt's Western Desert, starting with dune drives and sandbording, passing hot springs and a cold lake, and ending with sunset tea and stargazing from a remote camp. The guide speaks English or Arabic. Pickup is included. A live guide leads the route and paces the stops. You ride in a 4x4 vehicle and choose when to sandbord, swim or photograph.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert safari with sandboarding and sunset

• Drive 4x4 through sand dunes
• Stop for photos at dunes
• Visit hot spring in desert
• See cold lake
• Explore fossils area
• Enjoy sandboarding on dunes
• Watch sunset with local tea
• Have local dinner in desert camp
• Stargaze under dark night sky

The experience

If you land in Siwa with an afternoon free or you're staying nearby and want to see the desert without arranging a car yourself, this tour handles the logistics. A driver picks you up and takes you into the dunes in a 4x4, stopping to look at fossils dating back 40 million years, a hot spring, and a cold lake. The route is built around the sandbording: you ride up the high dunes and slide down them, then drink local tea with mint and lemongrass while you watch the sun drop.

After sunset, the tour moves to a desert camp where you eat a local dinner. The night sky is the last stop. You watch it from a dark area far enough from city light that the stars are visible. Bottled water comes with you all day. The guide speaks English or Arabic and sets the pace at each stop.

What’s included

• In-person guide in English or Arabic.
• hotel or meeting-point pickup.
• 4x4 vehicle for the full route.
• sandbording equipment.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• local tea with mint and lemongrass.
• local dinner at the desert camp.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 14:30, the last at 17:30

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (3 to 80 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Windows of Siwa

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon or a day in Siwa and want to see the desert without renting a car or navigating on your own. The three-hour window fits between other plans. The 4x4 and guide mean you don't navigate the dunes or arrange meals separately.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

What's actually involved in the sandbording part of this tour?

Sandbording means sliding down the high sand dunes on a board. The tour includes the board and takes you to the dunes during the afternoon, before sunset. No experience is needed.

How much of the day is spent driving versus stopped at each site?

The tour is three hours total. Most of that time is spent in the 4x4 moving between stops (the fossils area, hot spring, cold lake, and dune fields) with breaks for sandbording, tea and photos at each location.

Is the local dinner included, or do I pay extra for it?

The local dinner at the desert camp is part of the tour. Bottled water and tea with snacks are included. Additional drinks are not.

Does this tour work if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Sandbording is optional. You can skip it and stay with the group at each stop instead.