The desert and Siwa Oasis

In brief

The Egyptian desert can be discovered in two ways: the White and Black Deserts, a few hours from Cairo, for a night of camping, and the more remote Siwa oasis, for several days out of time. Here are the benchmarks to choose and prepare the trip well.

• White and Black Deserts: chalk formations, volcanic hills, a night under the stars
• Siwa: Berber culture, palm groves, salt lakes, Shali fortress, Cleopatra's spring
• Length: 4 days for Siwa, 6 days to combine Siwa and the deserts
• Best season: October to April, with cool or even cold nights
• Always with a guide, a driver and a licensed operator, never off track

White Desert or Siwa: which one should you choose?

Choose the White Desert if you want a short, spectacular experience: a day's drive from Cairo, unreal chalk formations at sunset and a night of camping, all in two or three days. Choose Siwa if you want a real immersion: an isolated oasis with its Berber culture, springs and salt lakes, which needs at least four days.

With six days, there is no need to choose: our Siwa, White Desert and Black Desert tour strings together the camp, a stop in Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean and then the oasis. It is the most complete option for those who have already seen the Nile valley or want a more secret Egypt.

• White Desert: 2 to 3 days, camping, spectacular landscapes
• Siwa: 4 days minimum, cultural immersion, springs and salt lakes
• Both: 6 days with a stop in Marsa Matrouh

What is there to see in the White and Black Deserts?

A few hours' drive from Cairo, the landscape flips. The White Desert unfurls its wind-sculpted chalk formations, the Black Desert its dark volcanic hills.

• The chalk mushrooms of the White Desert, unreal at sunset.
• Golden dunes and hot springs along the way.
• Bivouac under the stars, far from any light.

What is there to do in the Siwa oasis?

Near the Libyan border, Siwa lives apart, with its Berber culture, palm groves and salt lakes where you float effortlessly.

• The mud fortress of Shali, at the heart of the oasis.
• Cleopatra's Spring, for a swim in crystal-clear water.
• The salt lakes and their almost unreal turquoise water.
• Sunset from Dakrour mountain.

How do you get to Siwa, and is it safe?

Siwa is reached by road from Cairo, with a stop in Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast that splits the journey into two comfortable days. The oasis lies in the Western Desert: official advisories ask you to travel there with a licensed operator on a declared route, and never off track. Our full breakdown by country is in our Egypt safety guide.

• Road: Cairo, a stop in Marsa Matrouh, then Siwa
• A licensed operator and a declared route are essential in practice
• Never leave authorised tracks: landmine risk off the marked routes

Which activities can you do in the desert?

The desert isn't just scenery: you'll find both thrills and moments of pure calm.

• 4x4 safari among the dunes.
• Sandboarding down the sand slopes.
• A night in camp and dinner around the fire.
• Stargazing, among the finest in the country.

How should you prepare a desert trip?

The desert takes a little preparation: a few precautions make the experience unforgettable rather than gruelling.

• The best season runs from October to April; avoid the summer heat.
• Nights are cool, even cold: bring something warm.
• An experienced guide and driver are essential.
• We adapt the length: from 4 days for Siwa to 6 days with the deserts.