Top Cairo to Alexandria Tours | Best Day Trips
Alexandria and Siwa Oasis Tour from Cairo
Description
Alexandria and Siwa Oasis tour from Cairo is a four-day route for travellers who want Mediterranean history, coastal views and the quieter landscapes of the Western Desert in one trip. We start in Alexandria, visiting ancient tombs, Roman remains, royal gardens and the modern Library of Alexandria. After an overnight stay, we continue through El Alamein to Siwa Oasis, with a private guide and organised road transport throughout.
In Alexandria, the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa lead below ground into a funerary complex shaped by Egyptian, Greek and Roman traditions. Nearby, Pompei Pillar is a single granite column left from the ancient Serapeum area. At the harbour, the Citadel of Sultan Qeitaby occupies the site associated with the ancient Pharos lighthouse. You can walk through the fortifications, look across the Mediterranean and hear how the city’s position influenced its long history.
The Library of Alexandria connects the city’s ancient past with its modern life. Its broad circular design and seafront setting make it part of the city rather than a monument viewed in isolation. Al Montazah Palace brings a change of scene, with landscaped grounds and views along the coast. The pace is active but manageable, leaving time to walk, listen to your guide and pause between visits.
- Explore Alexandria’s ancient catacombs, Pompei Pillar and harbour citadel
- Visit the Library of Alexandria and the grounds of Al Montazah Palace
- Stop at the El Alamein Tombs on the road to Siwa Oasis
- See the Fortress at Shali, the temple of the Oracle and Gebel Al Mawta
- Take a 4x4 adventure across the Great Sand Sea and visit Cleopatra's Bath
On the road to Siwa Oasis, we stop at the El Alamein Tombs. Your guide explains the area’s role in the Second World War and the memorials built for those who died there. It breaks up the long desert transfer while adding an important modern chapter to the route. The roads between destinations cover considerable distance, so this tour suits travellers who are comfortable spending several hours in a vehicle and want to visit more than one region in a single trip.
Siwa Oasis moves at a slower pace, with palm groves, salt lakes and low desert horizons around the town. The Fortress at Shali, built mainly from local salt-and-mud material, rises above the old settlement and gives you a clear view across the oasis. At the temple of the Oracle, your guide places the ruins in the story of Alexander the Great and the ancient oracle that made Siwa known across the Mediterranean world.
Gebel Al Mawta is a hillside cemetery with decorated rock-cut tombs and wide views over Siwa. Cleopatra's Bath is a natural stone pool fed by an underground spring. You can stop there, take photographs and see how water shapes life in the oasis. Conditions and access can vary, so our team fits the visit around the day’s route and local guidance instead of treating every stop as a fixed-length visit.
The desert excursion is the tour’s most adventurous section. A 4x4 takes you beyond the cultivated oasis towards the Great Sand Sea, where dunes replace palm groves and the landscape opens around you. We keep the trip at a practical pace, with stops for photographs and time to watch the changing light. This section suits travellers who are comfortable with an uneven ride and open desert conditions; it may be uncomfortable for anyone who needs smooth surfaces or frequent access to facilities.
We arrange the private transfers, accommodation and guiding so the route works as one connected trip rather than a set of separate bookings. Your guide explains the sites in context, helps with entry arrangements and keeps the sightseeing pace comfortable. Meals and entrance fees follow the selected booking arrangement, so check the inclusions shown with your departure details. Wear comfortable walking shoes, carry water during visits and keep a small overnight bag accessible during the longer desert transfer.
Included
4x4 desert excursion to the Great Sand Sea
Visit to Alexandria, El Alamein and Siwa Oasis as described
Overnight accommodation in Alexandria and Siwa Oasis according to the selected package
Private tour guide
Private air-conditioned vehicle for transfers and sightseeing
Pickup and drop-off in Cairo
Excluded
Any services not listed under inclusions
Entrance fees to the listed sights unless stated in your booking details
Tips for the guide and driver
Meals and drinks unless specified in the selected package
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Don't forget
Passport or a copy of your passport
Warm layer for cooler desert evenings
Light, breathable clothing and a sun hat
Reusable water bottle
Comfortable walking shoes
Small overnight bag for the Siwa transfer
Any personal medication you need
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Frequently Asked Questions
The 4-day Alexandria and Siwa Oasis tour from Cairo includes private transfers, a private tour guide, sightseeing in Alexandria and Siwa Oasis, an overnight stay in Alexandria, and a 4x4 excursion into the Great Sand Sea. The route includes the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, the Library of Alexandria, Pompei Pillar, the Citadel of Sultan Qeitaby, Al Montazah Palace, El Alamein Tombs, and Siwa’s main landmarks.
Entrance fees, meals, and accommodation details can vary by booking arrangement, so our team will confirm the exact inclusions before you travel.
This 4-day tour combines Alexandria, El Alamein, and Siwa Oasis at an active but practical pace, with one overnight in Alexandria and time for guided sightseeing in Siwa. You visit Alexandria first, continue through the El Alamein area, then spend time at the Fortress at Shali, the temple of the Oracle, Gebel Al Mawta, and Cleopatra’s Bath.
The Great Sand Sea 4x4 outing adds a desert adventure, so expect several hours on the road and regular walking between archaeological sites.
Pickup is arranged in Cairo, and the tour uses private road transfers between Cairo, Alexandria, El Alamein, Siwa Oasis, and the return route. Our team confirms the pickup location and travel details before the tour, while your private guide helps coordinate stops and sightseeing during the journey.
Because the drive to Siwa is long, the itinerary includes sightseeing and rest stops rather than treating the route as a single uninterrupted transfer.
Children can usually join this Alexandria and Siwa Oasis tour, but travellers with limited mobility should discuss their needs with our team before booking. The trip includes long road journeys, uneven desert ground, steps at some historic sites, and a 4x4 drive in the Great Sand Sea.
The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and the Fortress at Shali may be difficult for wheelchair users, and access at individual sites can vary. We can review the route and suggest practical adjustments where possible.
Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, and bring sun protection, a hat, personal medication, identification, and enough water for the day. Light layers work well for changing temperatures between Alexandria and the desert, while modest clothing is appropriate when visiting religious and local sites such as the temple of the Oracle.
For the Great Sand Sea 4x4 trip, sunglasses and a scarf can help with sun and blowing sand. If you plan to use the water at Cleopatra’s Bath, bring suitable swimwear and a towel.
You can request the 4-day Alexandria and Siwa Oasis tour through our booking team, who will confirm availability, traveller details, pickup information, and the current cancellation terms. We need the preferred travel date, number of travellers, Cairo pickup location, and any requirements affecting transport, mobility, or accommodation.
Cancellation and amendment conditions depend on the reservation arrangements and are explained before confirmation. No booking is final until our team has confirmed the details with you.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
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Your Itinerary
Our team collects you in Cairo for the drive to Alexandria, a Mediterranean city with Greek, Roman and modern Egyptian layers. After arrival, begin at Al Montazah Palace, where landscaped grounds and sea views provide a relaxed introduction to the city. Continue to the Library of Alexandria to see its striking modern architecture and learn about the library’s place in Alexandria’s cultural life.
After lunch, visit the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, an underground Roman-era burial complex cut into the rock. The route then continues to Pompei Pillar, a tall red-granite column from the Roman period, before reaching The Citadel of Sultan Qeitaby on the waterfront. The citadel occupies the site traditionally associated with the ancient Pharos lighthouse and gives you time to look across the Mediterranean.
We transfer you to your Alexandria accommodation in the evening. The day includes several walking sections, uneven surfaces at the catacombs and time for your guide to explain each site without rushing the order of visits.
After breakfast, leave the coast with your private guide and begin the long overland transfer towards Siwa Oasis. The first stop is the El Alamein Tombs, where the cemeteries and memorial grounds recall the North Africa campaigns of the Second World War. Your guide explains the setting and the history behind the site, while you have time to walk quietly through the grounds.
Continue west through the desert landscape, with a meal and rest stops arranged along the route as appropriate. This is a substantial travel day, so expect several hours on the road rather than a tightly packed sightseeing schedule. The scenery gradually changes as the coastal plain gives way to the isolated oasis region.
Arrive in Siwa later in the day and check in at your accommodation. The evening is free to rest, take a short walk nearby or speak with your guide about the following day’s plan. We keep the transfer practical and flexible, allowing for road conditions and the time needed at the memorial site.
Spend the morning exploring the old centre of Siwa Oasis with your private guide. Visit The Fortress at Shali, built from local salt and mud-brick materials. Its weathered lanes and elevated views show how the settlement was arranged before modern construction methods. Continue to The temple of the Oracle at Aghurmi, associated with the ancient oracle consulted by Alexander the Great, then visit Gebel Al Mawta, a hill containing decorated rock-cut tombs.
Later, travel to Cleopatra`s Bath, a natural stone pool fed by an underground spring. You can see how the spring forms part of daily life in the oasis, with time to pause before the desert drive. Conditions underfoot vary, so comfortable walking shoes are useful.
In the afternoon, make an adventure trip into The great sand sea by 4x4. The route crosses open dunes and desert tracks, giving you a very different view of Siwa beyond its cultivated palm groves. Return to the oasis after the excursion for dinner and an overnight stay.
After breakfast, check out and begin the return transfer from Siwa to Cairo. Your driver follows the same remote desert route back towards the capital, with planned opportunities to stop for refreshments and rest during the long journey. Keep water, sun protection and any essentials you need for the road in your day bag.
The transfer takes most of the day, so this final stage is designed as a departure day rather than another sightseeing circuit. You can use the journey to review photographs from the oasis, watch the landscape change from palms and open desert to the more settled areas near Cairo, and ask your guide about the places visited.
On arrival in Cairo, we provide drop-off at your requested location, concluding the 4-day tour package. If you are connecting to another service, share the timing with our team in advance so we can plan the final transfer sensibly around your onward arrangements.