Siwa Oasis, a beautiful lake, nestled in the ocean of yellow sand. The breathtaking sceneries of Siwa Oasis are just the beginning, but has much more to offer. Siwa carries a whole diverse and amazing culture with it. Inhabitants of Siwa speak their own language, other than the Egyptian Arabic that is spoken in the rest of Egypt. Siwa Oasis is a heaven. It knows well how to serve its visitors with its best. It is a perfect place to spend a vacation or some quality time to get rejuvenated and refreshed.
So, let’s know more about Siwa Oasis so that this hidden gem of Egypt can be explored well…
LOCATION OF SIWA OASIS
Siwa Oasis is about 350 miles from Cairo, east of the border of Libya. It is one of the most amazing Egyptian western desert oasis having gorgeous hot springs and more than thousands of palm trees. However, till the 1980s this desert was completely isolated as during the 1980s it got connected to a coastal town of Mersa Matruh with a highway. And recently the technology was introduced in this desert such as televisions, mobile phones, and internet connectivity. It is just a recent development in Siwa Oasis.
However, with the development of this amazing desert of Siwa Oasis, tourist trade is becoming popular and eventually, the tourist trade has become a firm root of Siwa’s economy. However, this has not affected the life and culture of locals. Till now, locals of this desert uphold their cultural values and are conservative for it, hence it is recommended to visitors to respect their cultural values and act accordingly.
Alcohol is prohibited in Siwa and women are rarely seen outside their homes. The most interesting part is that till the year 1926, locals in this desert used to live in a 13th-century mud-brick fortress at the center of town, called Shali but it was destroyed by a heavy rainfall of 3 days, despite that, it remains a beautiful place in Siwa.
BEST TIME TO VISIT SIWA OASIS
The weather in Siwa Oasis remains pleasant throughout the year and the sun never cannot shine in this desert. But if you are particular about the best time to visit Siwa, then it is advisable to visit here in cooler months, i.e. from October to April as summers in the desert can be boiling.
DRESSING OF WOMEN IN SIWA OASIS
The dressing of women in Siwa Oasis is something that is associated with the cultural values and ethics of this place and hence it should be abided by its visitors, too. In Siwa, women should keep their arms and legs covered. Women swimming at any of the public springs can expect a little extra attention. And if you want to avoid that extra attention, then swimming in the desert’s hot spring is recommended.
Also Read, Oymyakon: The Coldest City in the World
PLACES TO VISIT IN SIWA OASIS
The whole Siwa Oasis is incredibly beautiful and offers some amazing places that should be visited by tourists in Siwa. So, let’s list out some amazing places to visit in Siwa.
Cleopatra’s Spring-
Cleopatra’s spring is an amazing place to pay a visit to Siwa Oasis. It is also called Cleopatra’s pool or Cleopatra’s Bath and is on its way to the Oracle temple. It is a natural spring water stone pool where a lot of locals and tourists flock together to enjoy the spring bath. However, there is no such evidence or study available of its connection to Queen Cleopatra VIII, however, the beauty of the place does justice to its acclaimed name.
Mountain of the Dead-
Another amazing place to pay a visit to Siwa Oasis is a Mountain of the dead. It is near the center of Siwa and is rocky a rocky hill covered in about 1500 tombs. These tombs date back to the late pharaonic period. Even some of these tombs from the Greco-Roman period are decorated with ornate funerary drawings. These tombs are locked but can be opened up by the guards with the payment of the tip.
The Great Sand Sea-
How can one miss The Great Sand Sea while being in Siwa Oasis? Siwa sits on the doorstep of the Great Sand Sea, stunning scenery of sand forming mountains along with the endless view of deserts. Desert safaris are easily available here for tourists so that they can get a magnificent glimpse of the desert. And this should not be missed as it is a must-do activity in Siwa.
Fatnas Islands-
Another amazing and spectacular place to pay a visit to in Siwa is Fatnas islands. These are about 6 kilometers from the center of the town on the edge of Lake Siwa. The famous attraction of this beautiful place is its hot spring where anybody can enjoy, swim, and have fun in the healing waters and as well as in nearby cafes and restaurants. And yes! Don’t miss the cinematic views of the sunset over the lake.
The Shali-
Shali is now an amazing tourist attraction in Siwa Oasis. Here visitors can climb up the melted mound of mud and salt that is the traditional constructing material of Siwa. It is kept there so that the visitors can get a glimpse of the view of olives and dates groves that stretch out for miles in each direction of the Siwa Oasis.
