Travel advisory · EgyptSiwa Oasis is in or near an area where governments advise against all travel: Western Desert.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

50 km strip along the Libyan border · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand
Gaza Strip · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand
Libyan border (no set depth) · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, France, Italy
North Sinai Governorate · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, Ireland, New Zealand, UK
Sudan border (no set depth) · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain, France, Italy
Western Desert · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK, US
Ismailia Governorate (east of Suez Canal) · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, UK
Northern South Sinai Governorate (beyond St Catherine-Nuweiba road) · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK

Also named by one government: 20 km strip along the Libyan border (UK), Egyptian border areas (military zones) (US), Egyptian-Israeli border area (Germany), Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula (US), Port Said Governorate (east of Suez Canal) (Canada), Rafah border zone (Spain), Suez Governorate (east of Suez Canal) (Canada), Bahariya-Siwa road (UK), Bir Tawil Trapezoid (UK), Desert west of Marsa Matrouh, Faiyum and Abu Simbel (France), Gebel Al Uweynat to Gilf El Kebir region (Italy), Hala'ib Triangle (UK), Non-tourist desert areas (Italy), Rafah border crossing (Ireland), Southern Sinai Peninsula (Germany)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Exercise increased caution (regional advisories)	Jul 15, 2025	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	Besondere Vorsicht walten lassen (keine Gesamtwarnung) (regional advisories)	Oct 13, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Exercise increased caution elsewhere in Egypt (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs)	High degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Increased vigilance for the rest of the country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Siwa Oasis

An oasis in Egypt's Western Desert, known for the ruins of the Amun oracle, its hot springs and the fortress town of Shali.

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Siwa is an oasis town in Egypt's Western Desert, about 560 km (350 mi) from Cairo and 50 km east of the Egypt-Libya border. The oasis lies between the Qattara Depression and the Great Sand Sea, roughly 80 km long and 20 km wide. It sits in a depression about 19 m (62 ft) below sea level and has around 200 natural springs, along with two large salt lakes.

Visitors come for the ruins of the ancient oracle of Amun, the rock-cut tombs of Gebel al-Mawta, the mud-brick fortress of Shali and Cleopatra's Bath, a spring near the town. About 25,000 people live here, mostly Siwi Berbers who speak Siwi and Arabic. Temperatures can pass 40 °C (104 °F) as early as March, when the Khamsin wind brings extreme heat. The drive from Cairo is long, so allow several days for the trip.

Siwa Oasis in five

Read the UK Western Desert advice firstThe UK advises against all but essential travel in the Western Desert but lists the oasis town of Siwa and the Marsa Matruh to Siwa road as exceptions. Read the current wording before booking and again before you leave the coast.UK travel advice
Reach Siwa by the Marsa Matruh road, not BahariyaThe UK says the road between Al Bawiti (Bahariya) and Siwa is closed, with military checkpoints. Route through Marsa Matruh instead, and expect checks along the way.
Keep dune drives with a qualified guide and a permitThe UK advises against all travel within 20 km of the Libyan border. For any off-road trip, use a qualified guide and ask them to handle the Ministry of Interior permit, rather than going alone.Siwa safety rules
Pack for cold winter nights and very hot summer daysDaytime highs in July and August are very hot, and winter nights can be cold in the desert. Plan walks and cycling early and late, and bring layers for evenings from December to February.
Download maps and carry cash before you goThe UK advice notes limited phone reception in parts of the Western Desert. Download offline maps, carry cash for small costs and tell your hotel your plans before a desert outing.

Things to do in Siwa Oasis

See all attractions in Siwa Oasis

Historic site · Siwa OasisShali Fortress

aerial photography of town in the middle of the desert

Historic site · Siwa OasisCleopatra Spring

Sight · Siwa OasisAbu Shuruf

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Siwa OasisPut the places you like in Siwa Oasis on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Getting there: By road from Marsa Matruh, the way most travelers arrive
From Alexandria: A long road day via the coast and Marsa Matruh
Getting around: Walk or cycle in town; guided 4WD for the dunes
Best base: In or near the old town, close to the palm groves
Time needed: 2–4 days after the long drive

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryClear1 rainy dayHigh18°Low9°Cold nights
FebruaryClear0 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Cool, cold nights
MarchClear1 rainy dayHigh24°Low13°Mild, clear
AprilClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low17°Warm, windy
MayClear0 rainy daysHigh34°Low21°Hot
JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh37°Low24°Very hot
JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh38°Low25°Hottest
AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh38°Low25°Hottest
SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh35°Low23°Hot, dry
OctoberClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Warm, clear
NovemberClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Mild, clear
DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh19°Low11°Cool, cold nights

Average daily high and low in Siwa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Siwa Oasis

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 21°
Humidity: 46%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 3%

Siwa Oasis

02:55 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+2

Today30°20°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed30°18°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 30°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu25°19°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri24°17°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat23°16°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun23°15°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 11:37 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 55.96 EGP

Amount

Converted to

EGP · Egyptian Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Great Sand Sea dunesa half-day outing by guided 4WDDune drives and sunset stops; use a qualified guide, never go alone.
Springs and salt lakesa short ride within the oasisCleopatra's Spring and the salt lakes are an easy bike-and-swim day.
Marsa Matruh coasta long road trip northThe Mediterranean coast on the way back toward Alexandria.Read the guide

Before you go to Siwa Oasis

Oasis hotels and eco-lodgesCheck cooling and water for summerCheck availability

Dune and spring trips with a guideAsk who handles any permitCompare day trips

eSIM for SiwaDownload maps before the desert roadRead the guide

Insurance for desert travelCheck evacuation and 4WD coverRead the guide

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Rules for Siwa Oasis, checked

The UK lists the oasis town of Siwa and the Marsa Matruh to Siwa road as exceptions to its advice against all but essential travel in the Western Desert.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
The road between Al Bawiti and Siwa is closed with military checkpoints; the UK advises against all but essential travel on it.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source
For off-road travel, use a qualified guide and get a permit from the Ministry of Interior.Checked Oct 6, 2026 · Source

Plan around Siwa Oasis

Alexandria travel guide

The Mediterranean city on the usual route west

Read the guide Cairo travel guide

Pyramids and museums before or after the desert

Read the guide Egypt visa and entry

What to sort out before a long desert drive

Read the guide Best time to visit Egypt

Months, heat and seasons across the country

Read the guide Long road transfers

How to plan road links and transfers before you go

Read the guide Travel insurance

Check desert, 4WD and evacuation cover

Read the guide All of Egypt

Cairo, the Nile and the Red Sea in one plan

Read the guide

Siwa Oasis FAQ

Is Siwa Oasis safe to visit?

The UK advice lists the town of Siwa and the Marsa Matruh to Siwa road as exceptions to its Western Desert warning, but advises against all travel within 20 km of the Libyan border and says the Bahariya road is closed. Read the current advice.

How do you get to Siwa?

By road through Marsa Matruh, which is the exception the UK lists. From Alexandria it is a long road day, so plan an overnight on the coast or leave early, and avoid the closed Bahariya road.

How many days do you need in Siwa?

Two to four days after the long drive: one for the town and the old fortress, one for the springs and salt lakes, and one for a guided dune outing. A single night is hardly worth the travel.

When is the best time to visit Siwa?

March to April and October to November have mild days. July and August are very hot, and winter nights can be cold, so pack layers. Check the forecast before a desert outing, whatever the month.

Do you need a permit for Siwa?

The UK says off-road travel needs a qualified guide and a Ministry of Interior permit. Siwa town is excepted from its Western Desert warning, but ask your operator what applies to your route.