Siwa Oasis and Marsa Matrouh 7-Day Tour

After breakfast, you leave Marsa Matrouh and travel inland across the Western Desert towards Siwa oasis. The landscape changes gradually, from the Mediterranean coast to open desert and low salt-encrusted ground. Our driver makes suitable rest stops during the journey, and your guide explains how Siwa’s springs and underground water support its palm groves and farms.

After arriving in Siwa, you settle in and take a gentle afternoon walk through the old town. The main visit is The Fortress at Shali, built from local kershef, a mixture of salt, mud and stone. Its weathered walls rise above the oasis and give you wide views over palm trees and the surrounding desert. The climb is uneven in places, so comfortable shoes are useful. The evening is free for a quiet meal and rest before the following day’s historic visits.

Your guide takes you first to the temple of the Oracle at Aghurmi, one of Siwa’s most important ancient sites. The temple is associated with the oracle of Amun and the visit gives you a clear sense of why this isolated oasis mattered to travellers and rulers in antiquity. Your guide puts the remaining walls and surrounding settlement into context while you explore at an unhurried pace.

Next, you visit Gebel Al Mawta, the Mountain of the Dead. Its limestone slopes contain decorated tombs from different periods, with painted details that reveal how local burial customs developed over time. Afterward, the route continues to Cleopatra’s Bath, a natural stone pool fed by a spring. You can watch the clear water flow through the pool and, if conditions and local guidance permit, take a swim. Bring modest swimwear, a towel and sun protection.

Today you make an adventure trip by 4x4 into the desert beyond Siwa. The route reaches the Great Sand Sea, where broad dunes replace the oasis palms and the vehicle crosses changing tracks between the sand ridges. The journey is active rather than rushed, with stops for photographs, short walks and time to appreciate the silence of the open desert. Your driver handles the sandy sections, while your guide explains how the route is planned and where to stop safely.

Later, the group reaches the camping area and helps settle into the evening’s simple desert arrangement. As daylight fades, the dunes change colour and the temperature drops, so a light jacket is useful even after a warm day. Dinner is prepared at camp, followed by time around the fire and a night beneath the desert sky. Facilities are basic, and the exact camp setup can vary with the location and conditions. Keep only overnight essentials accessible in a small bag.

Morning begins at camp with breakfast and time to pack before the 4x4 returns across the desert tracks to Siwa. The drive back gives you a different view of the landscape in daylight, with pauses when the route allows. On arrival, you can freshen up and enjoy a slower afternoon after the previous day’s drive through the dunes.

The rest of the day is flexible. You may walk through the palm groves, browse local shops for dates and olive products, or sit beside one of Siwa’s freshwater pools. Our team can explain the practical arrangements for the next day’s road transfer and help you choose a comfortable pace. This free time also allows travellers with children or limited mobility to rest rather than add another demanding excursion. Dinner is at leisure, followed by your final night in the oasis.

After breakfast, you leave Siwa for the return journey towards the Mediterranean coast. The road passes back through the open desert, so the transfer takes several hours and includes a suitable break. Once you reach Marsa Matrouh, the scenery changes quickly: pale sand, clear coastal water and low rocky stretches replace the inland landscape.

The afternoon is set aside for Exploring the Azure Marvel of Marsa Matrouh. You can walk along the shore, spend time by the sea and take photographs from the accessible viewpoints. Sea conditions and swimming suitability can change, so follow your guide’s advice and stay within the areas considered safe on the day. Bring sandals, sun protection and a change of clothes. After the coastal visit, you return to your accommodation for a relaxed final evening before the drive back to Cairo.

After breakfast, our driver begins the road transfer from Marsa Matrouh to Cairo. The journey follows the coastal and desert roads before rejoining the main route into the capital. Your guide confirms the day’s timing with you and plans a rest stop during the drive, which is useful after several days of sightseeing and desert travel.

On arrival in Cairo, you are transferred to the airport or to your next accommodation, depending on your travel plans. Allow enough time for check-in, security and any onward connection, especially if your departure is scheduled soon after the road transfer. Our team helps with luggage and makes sure you know the drop-off arrangements before saying goodbye. The seven-day programme ends in Cairo, with the route covering the north coast, Siwa’s historic sites, a desert camp and the beaches of Marsa Matrouh.