Le EgyptThings to do in Siwa & Western Desert
The 21 best places to visit in Siwa & Western Desert, Egypt: landmarks, hidden gems, food, parks and more, with tips, hours and tickets.
🏛️ Historical Sites
Temple of the Oracle, Siwa
The hilltop temple where Alexander the Great came to consult the oracle of Amun.
The hilltop temple where Alexander the Great came to consult the oracle of Amun.
Bagawat Necropolis, Kharga
Hundreds of early Christian mud-brick chapels, some with painted domes, on the edge of Kharga Oasis.
Hundreds of early Christian mud-brick chapels, some with painted domes, on the edge of Kharga Oasis.
Temple of Hibis, Kharga
The best-preserved Persian-era temple in Egypt, standing in a palm grove in Kharga Oasis.
The best-preserved Persian-era temple in Egypt, standing in a palm grove in Kharga Oasis.
🍽️ Food & Cafés
Abdu's Restaurant, Siwa
A long-running, simple restaurant on Siwa's market square serving local dishes, pizza and dates.
A long-running, simple restaurant on Siwa's market square serving local dishes, pizza and dates.
💎 Hidden Gems
Siwa Oasis & Shali Fortress
A remote Berber oasis near the Libyan border with mud-brick ruins, salt lakes you can float in and palm groves.
A remote Berber oasis near the Libyan border with mud-brick ruins, salt lakes you can float in and palm groves.
White Desert
Surreal chalk formations shaped like mushrooms and animals, best seen on an overnight camping trip under the stars.
Surreal chalk formations shaped like mushrooms and animals, best seen on an overnight camping trip under the stars.
Cleopatra's Spring, Siwa
A natural spring-fed stone pool among the palms, with a café beside it.
A natural spring-fed stone pool among the palms, with a café beside it.
Black Desert
Golden sand scattered with black volcanic stones and cone hills, on the road from Bahariya to the White Desert.
Golden sand scattered with black volcanic stones and cone hills, on the road from Bahariya to the White Desert.
Crystal Mountain
A ridge of sparkling quartz crystals right next to the Bahariya–Farafra road.
A ridge of sparkling quartz crystals right next to the Bahariya–Farafra road.
Al-Qasr Old Town, Dakhla
A medieval mud-brick town of narrow covered alleys and carved wooden lintels, still partly lived in.
A medieval mud-brick town of narrow covered alleys and carved wooden lintels, still partly lived in.
Deir el-Hagar, Dakhla
A small Roman sandstone temple in the desert at the western end of Dakhla Oasis.
A small Roman sandstone temple in the desert at the western end of Dakhla Oasis.
Gebel al-Mawta (Mountain of the Dead)
A hill riddled with ancient rock-cut tombs on the edge of Siwa town, some still painted, with a view over the oasis.
A hill riddled with ancient rock-cut tombs on the edge of Siwa town, some still painted, with a view over the oasis.
Temple of Dush
A remote Roman fortress-temple at the southern tip of Kharga Oasis, rising from the sand.
A remote Roman fortress-temple at the southern tip of Kharga Oasis, rising from the sand.
Cave of Swimmers (Gilf Kebir)
Prehistoric rock paintings of swimming figures deep in the Gilf Kebir, made famous by The English Patient.
Prehistoric rock paintings of swimming figures deep in the Gilf Kebir, made famous by The English Patient.
Fatnas Island Sunset, Siwa
A palm-fringed spot on a salt lake where all of Siwa gathers for the sunset over the dunes.
A palm-fringed spot on a salt lake where all of Siwa gathers for the sunset over the dunes.
Bir Wahed Hot Spring
A warm spring pool and a cold lake hidden among the dunes of the Great Sand Sea outside Siwa, reached by 4x4.
A warm spring pool and a cold lake hidden among the dunes of the Great Sand Sea outside Siwa, reached by 4x4.
Siwa Salt Lakes
Turquoise pools in the salt mines where the water is so salty you float effortlessly.
Turquoise pools in the salt mines where the water is so salty you float effortlessly.
Tombs of al-Muzawwaka
Roman-era tombs in Dakhla Oasis with vivid paintings mixing Egyptian gods and Greco-Roman style.
Roman-era tombs in Dakhla Oasis with vivid paintings mixing Egyptian gods and Greco-Roman style.
Qasr al-Ghuweita
A hilltop fortress temple south of Kharga with sweeping views over the desert.
A hilltop fortress temple south of Kharga with sweeping views over the desert.
🏨 Hotels
Shali Lodge, Siwa
A small mud-brick lodge among palms in the centre of Siwa town.
A small mud-brick lodge among palms in the centre of Siwa town.
Adrère Amellal Ecolodge
A candle-lit desert ecolodge built from salt and mud, with no electricity, beside a salt lake.
A candle-lit desert ecolodge built from salt and mud, with no electricity, beside a salt lake.