Siwa Oasis For Budget Backpackers

Dariece Swift author's bio Goats On The Road

Siwa is more than an oasis in The Great Sand Sea, it is an oasis in the sea of modernity. One of the few places on Earth where the outside world has yet to completely corrupt and destroy. The blueprints have been made and the inevitable encroachment of our world onto theirs has begun.

Soon an airport will be built, hotels will erupt from the sand, and paved roads will replace the dirt paths throughout the oasis. But for now it remains nearly as it has for a thousand years. Donkeys still outnumber cars here and are seen hauling carts while loudly whining their complaints.

A fort, built 800 years ago from mud and salt, remains in the center of Siwa town. An ancient structure that may once have had the beauty and detail of Dejenne, a city of mud in Mali.

Hot and cold springs seem to be everywhere around the oasis and into the Great Sand Sea that surrounds it. A huge lake at the edge of town is rimmed on one edge by the great desert dunes, one of the largest and least explored regions of sand on our planet.

A beautiful palm grove sits in the center of the oasis with 300,000 palm trees and 70,000 olive trees all drawing sustenance from the 300 springs in the area. And amongst all this are some of the kindest people we have ever come across in our travels.

Egypt for budget backpackers
Mud Fort at Siwa Town with the oasis in the background
Egypt for budget backpackers
Nick walking through the fort at Siwa Town

Our days were mostly spent just exploring the area and getting to know the locals. We also spent a day out in The Great Sand Sea in a 4WD. The driver was very good at navigating the dunes at top speed.

A couple of times we thought we were going to flip but he kept control as we barrelled down the massive dunes. We also stopped and tried sandboarding down the dunes which proved nearly impossible to stand given the piece of plywood we were given for a board. When we finally gave up and decided to sit on it we flew down the dunes and usually tumbled at the bottom.

Egypt for budget backpackers
Us with our Canadian friends – Toni & Bernie – ready to go 4×4’ing in the Great Sand Sea
Egypt for budget backpackers
The amazing sand dunes of the Great Sand Sea, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
Nick trying out sand boarding at the Great Sand Sea
egypt for budget backpackers
Goats On The Road at the Great Sand Sea, Siwa Oasis, Egypt

Other days we just explored some of the beautiful hot and cold springs in the area. One was situated next to a gorgeous lake so we swam and then watched the sun set over a round of sheesha (Egyptian water pipe with apple flavored tobacco).

We rented bikes almost every day and couldn’t get very far without someone inviting us to their mud house for tea. Not once did we get the impression that they wanted anything more than our company. It was so refreshing to just be treated as people rather than walking dollar signs.

With our limited Arabic, and their limited English, we could only talk about where we were from and how our family was, but it was just enough to enjoy the tea and bid our farewells.

egypt for budget backpackers
making a fresh lunch at the oasis, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
Goats On The Road enjoying sunset at Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
Sunset over the Oasis, Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
sheesha pipe at sunset – Siwa Oasis, Egypt

The people of Egypt are so incredibly generous. They have so little and yet offer so much. Some of the people’s houses are literally just a mud cube with a few blankets, a kettle, and a couple of cups.

Yet they are so quick to offer you a cup of tea and have you into their homes. We have never felt so wanted in a foreign country. One man we met, Ahmed, even invited us to his place so he could make us a traditional Egyptian dinner.

He had only known us a few days, but was so excited to have us that he had been preparing for it all day. He made a delicious roast chicken with all the fixings, a potato veggie casserole, salad, rice and soup… AMAZING!

He was all smiles as he set the table and throughout the meal we talked about life in Siwa, how women are treated, what he wants in life, and even got into why he carries a condom in his pocket! Very surprising how similar a desert dinner party can be in comparison to one in Canada. It was one of our favorite travel experiences ever.

egypt for budget backpackers
Nick enjoying some tea and chats with the friendly local people of Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
Our new friend, Ahmed, cooking us dinner in his home. Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
the delicious meal Ahmed cooked for us. Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
Enjoying one of the many hot springs in the oasis – Siwa Oasis, Egypt
egypt for budget backpackers
Dariece enjoying a dip in the Cleopatra Hot Springs, Siwa Oasis, Egypt

Siwa really is an oasis. It’s everything we had imagined an oasis to be and so much more. We learned so much here about the Egyptian people and the Islamic faith.

Things are changing everywhere in these Arab countries and even way out in Siwa. But the people are always the same. They are friendly, kind and generous beyond comprehension. This is paradise, this is Siwa Oasis in Egypt.

EGYPT TRAVEL BLOGS

BUDGET BACKPACKING GUIDE TO EGYPT

 Like this Post? Pin it!

Siwa Oasis For Budget Backpackers


Dariece Swift author's bio Goats On The Road

Written by

Dariece Swift

Dariece is a co-founder of Goats On The Road, and an expert in saving money, finance management, building an online business and of course... travel. She loves meeting new people, trying new cuisines, and learning about the unique cultures of our world. She has over 12 years of experience helping others to realize their travel dreams and has worked in numerous jobs all over the world to help pay for travel.

Related Posts

A view of the sea, as well as buildings and mountains. A yacht parked on the beach.

15 Best Things To Do in Marmaris, Turkey

You might also be surprised to learn that there are a lot more things to do in Marmaris than simply lying on the beach. There’s nothing better than soaking up the summer sun, eating some delicious Turkish food, and exploring a new place. For me, Marmaris ticks all of those boxes and more besides. Turkey ...
View of Izmir Turley from the sea in the afternoon, with city lights, buildings, and highways.

15 Best Things To Do in Izmir, Turkey

There are plenty of things to do in Izmir, a city that’s packed with history, amazing food, fantastic scenery, and vibrant nightlife. There’s more to Turkey than just beach resorts; it’s home to a range of fantastic cities to explore, and one of my favorites is Izmir. As the third largest city in the country, ...
There are a lot of colorful hot air balloons above Cappadocia.

Where to Stay in Cappadocia (Best Areas and Places)

Jump To: Where To Stay in Cappadocia | Neighbourhoods & Areas | Tips | FAQs The entire area of Cappadocia is around 95 miles wide, so you’re going to need to plan your time and learn where to stay in Cappadocia to get the most out of your time. But don’t worry; I fixed my ...

Comments are closed.