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Siwa is a small town near the border in Egypt, far away from the capital Cairo. The well-known cities nearby are Matruh and Alexandria. If you leave from Alexandria, you need to take the night bus, and you can’t arrive until the next morning.
Despite the long distance, I personally recommend Siwa highly, especially for those who love shopping and handicrafts. The price-performance ratio here is a treasure.
For example, the same embroidery work will be several times more expensive on the island in Cairo’s embassy district. This is understandable given the lot rent, but as travelers, we always want to spend where it’s worth it, saving time.
There are many scenic spots in Siwa, most of which can be connected in series into a line. In addition to Shali Castle and Mountain of the Dead, which are located in the center of the town, Salt Lake, Cleopatra Spring, Amon Temple, Hot Springs and Sahara Desert are all in the suburbs and can be chartered to them.
If on a budget, you can choose a chug car driven by locals. There are various choices for chartered cars, ranging from simple tug cars to vans and off-road vehicles. It’s up to people to be abundant and frugal.
My chartered car price in September 2025 is for your reference: a tutu car is 400 Egyptian pounds and can seat four people. If there are exactly four people traveling together, it only costs 100 Egyptian pounds per person.
The local drivers I found wore traditional white robes, and the biggest advantage was that they didn’t rush guests. Usually the charter time includes about 8 hours.
The arrangement of the local driver is roughly as follows: pick up people at the hotel around 10 am, go to Salt Lake and Cleopatra Spring, and pass through relatively small scenic spots such as the site of Amon Temple on the way. Send the guests back to the hotel for rest around 12 noon.
Pick up the guests again at five or six o’clock in the evening, go to Shali Castle to watch the desert sunset, and light a bonfire in the desert camp in the evening and enjoy roast chicken dinner.
The above prices are for reference only, and the quotations of different drivers may vary. You can refer to my price to negotiate, but the most important thing is to find a reliable driver, otherwise the travel experience will be greatly reduced.
For friends who like to take photos, be sure to explain to the driver in advance that you need more time to take photos, so as to avoid being urged in the middle of the photo.
I stayed in Siwa for a few days. The town is not big, and the two scenic spots in the center of the town can be visited in half a day. The Undead Mountain is next to Sully Castle, and there is an entire shopping street on the road to Sully Castle.
Siwa was the best part of my travel experience in Egypt. Even in the scenic spots here, there is no frequent peddling, and no one will chase you for money. Everything is quiet and peaceful.
Some shops in the shopping street have clearly marked prices, while others don’t. It is recommended to visit more on the first day to learn about local specialties and approximate prices.
If you have plenty of time, you can go to the remote shops around, which are often more affordable.
Accommodation in Siwa can be near the hot springs in the suburbs, so that you can bathe and relax in the hotel every day; You can also choose to live in a small town, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Living near a hot spring, it is inconvenient to eat and drink, and it is far away from the town. Basically, it needs to be solved in a hotel, so it is necessary to choose a hotel with a better rating.
Living in a small town is more suitable for backpackers, and it is convenient to go anywhere. There are many chug car drivers on the road, so it is easier to charter a car or find a traveling companion. There are youth hostels in Siwa, but the bed price is slightly higher. If there are many people, it will be more cost-effective to choose a homestay.
I was staying at a homestay called Ada’s Home. The boss was very nice. He knew that we were leaving by car that night. After we checked out, he specifically told me that we could borrow his bathroom on the first floor to take a shower when we came back from going out.
It’s very hot in Siwa and sunny in the desert. It’s really surprising that the boss can be so careful and enthusiastic. What’s more, he informed after we checked out-he could have done otherwise and saved water and electricity, but he didn’t.
There are also disadvantages: there was a problem with Wi-Fi when I checked in, and there was no internet for two days. I didn’t expect the internet to be fine on the day I left!
This homestay is not far from both the minibus and Westbus stops, both within 500 meters on foot. If you arrive in Siwa by minibus, you only need to walk about 200 meters to get there. It’s also very close to Sally Castle, about six or seven minutes away.
The youth hostel in Siwa is closer to the center, and there are many shops selling flatbread nearby. Those who like fireworks can choose here.
1. Some drivers are not very punctual. Although my driver didn’t rush people, he arrived more than half an hour late that day, and the seat cushion was still wet.
The price of a desert charter usually does not include the cost of roast chicken. Roast chicken is usually charged per head, and I paid 150 Egyptian pounds at that time. Roast chicken is freshly baked in the Sahara Desert. If you have no allergies and other taboos, you can try it.
2. If you want to go to more scenic spots, it is recommended to ask the driver to come early in the afternoon. I originally wanted to go to a nearby lake to see the date palm forest that day. The driver agreed at first, but later he might think it was a little late and was afraid of missing the desert sunset, so he advised me not to go.
If the driver can come early in the afternoon, he can go to more places. Of course, the premise is that you are not afraid of the heat, because Siwa is really sunny during the day.
3. Many shops in Siwa are closed during the day, which is not because they have closed down. I guess it may be because the weather is too hot.
So if you want to buy souvenirs, don’t wait until the last day. If you leave in the morning or noon, the store you may want to buy is not open yet.
If the shop hasn’t opened in the afternoon, you can ask the locals who have opened the shop around. Once, I went to see a shop for several days and didn’t open it. After asking the next door, I learned that the shopkeeper had something to go out, and I didn’t come back until two days later.
Later, I added the owner’s WhatsApp and confirmed that he was indeed out of town, but was able to come back the next day. But we had to leave the next day, so the shopkeeper decisively asked his friend to help open the door.
If you really like something from a certain store, you can also try this method.
4. You can experience floating when you go to the Salt Lake, but there are no changing facilities around the Salt Lake. It is recommended to change your bathing suit at the hotel. Be sure to bring more fresh water. Not every driver will help bring water, and the salt lake is very salt and needs to be washed after soaking.
If there is a wound on the body, even if it is small, it is not recommended to go to the salt lake. Imagine what it’s like to sprinkle salt on a wound, let alone it’s a whole salt lake!
5. Salt Lake has many puddles of different sizes, as well as love-shaped lakes. On fine weather, the lake will be bluer. It is generally recommended to go at noon because the sunshine is good and it is easier to take good photos of the lake.
6. There are many fossils in the Sahara Desert, which can be viewed and played with, but it is not recommended to take them away.
We left Siwa by car that night, and soon after we drove, we met a checkpoint. Everyone had to get off the bus, including tourists, and all their suitcases were opened for inspection.
7. There are no large supermarkets in Siwa, only convenience stores, so some products are not clearly marked.
I was worried that Siwa was a tourist spot with high prices, so I bought a lot of food from the supermarket in Alexandria and brought it here. It was later discovered that a large 1.5-liter bottle of water in Siwa only sold for 10 Egyptian pounds.
When buying water locally, you can refer to this price. If you encounter something that is too expensive, change to another one.
8. There are several online celebrity restaurants in Siwa. I have been to one of them. The environment and atmosphere are really good, but there is a service fee. If the budget is tight, you can choose other local shops.
9. The buses leaving Siwa are mainly operated by Westbus, in addition to minibuses. The minibus is full of people. If there is too much luggage, it is not recommended to take it, because not only can you not squeeze it, but the luggage will be very tiring to put at your feet.
Westbus ticket outlets are usually closed in the morning and noon. I waited until after 4 o’clock in the afternoon on the day I bought the ticket before the conductor arrived late. It is recommended to buy the departure tickets in advance, because the tickets I bought that day are already over forty.
10. The starry sky in the Sahara is very beautiful at night. Each driver’s camp has a different location, so you can communicate with the driver in advance, hoping to take photos far away from the village and with less light pollution, so that the stars will be brighter.
