If you’ve ever wanted to visit Siwa, winter is your sweet spot: clear blue skies, sweater weather mornings, warm sunny afternoons, and cool nights that make hot springs and desert dunes hit just right. Located near Egypt’s western border, this oasis with deep Amazing roots blends palm groves, salt lakes, and golden seas of sand with temples and mud-brick citadels. Below you’ll find what to do, where to soak, and a plug-and-play Galaxia Tours itinerary you can book today.

Cleopatra Spring

Slip into Siwa’s most famous pool, also known as Cleopatra’s Bath, a natural, ever-replenished spring ringed by cafés and palm shade. Come in late morning on winter days for crisp air and warm water contrast, then cycle or tuk-tuk to nearby spots like the Temple of the Oracle of Amun; The Oracle at Siwa is a small, haunting ruin on Aghurmi hill in Egypt’s Siwa Oasis which was once a shrine to Amun (later Zeus-Ammon). Travelers came across the desert to ask its priests for prophecies; most famously, Alexander the Great visited in 331 BCE seeking divine endorsement. Today you’ll find worn walls, tight chambers, and big desert views. It’s also a chance to visit the Gebel al-Mawta rock-cut tombs.This limestone hill just north of Shali in Siwa is packed with Late Pharaonic–Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs and vivid wall paintings. It’s a short, sandy climb with wide desert views with a few well-preserved chambers open to visitors on rotation. Go early or near sunset for softer light and cooler temps.

Winter Camping Siwa

Winter is prime time for desert overnights. Dune bashing into the Great Sand Sea, sandboarding, tea by a crackling fire, and a Milky Way that looks close enough to touch. Most camps set up windbreaks and thick Bedouin blankets; add a lightweight down jacket and a beanie for after dark chill. Ask Galaxia operators about natural hot-spring stops en route (just the thing you need after a night under the stars) and with Galaxia, you are also choosing conservation-minded guides who pack out everything they bring in for more sustainable travel choices. It’s a win-win situation.

Shali Fortress: Kershef Citadel with Sunset Views

Siwa is the epitome of an Egypt desert oasis: salt-crusted lakes, date and olive farms, and the photogenic ruins of Shali fortress. Shali Fortress is Siwa’s crumbled clay citadel, a fortress built of kershef (salt, clay, and palm wood). Built in the 1200s from kershif and melted by rare rains, the fortress is now a maze of restored lanes, doors, and lookout nooks above the oasis. If you get to the top near sunset, you’ll feast your eyes on dreamy wide views over palm groves and dunes.

Desert-Born Flavors and Authentic Feels

Siwa’s extreme oasis terroir (including soil and climate), its hot, dry days, cool nights, and the hint of salt in the soil, concentrates flavor in two local icons: dates and olive oil. Heritage dates like Siwi, Frehi, and Azzawi are caramel-sweet with a gentle molasses note; textures run semi-dry to soft-chewy (plump, fudgy centers that hold their shape). Make sure to stock up on some of those energy boosting snacks. Let’s not forget about Siwa’s extra-virgin olive oil; it tastes bright and fruity upfront with a clean, lightly bitter finish and a silky mouthfeel. Pressed from nature, this delicacy is great raw over salads and mezze or for quick pan finishes. Both are wildly popular: Siwan dates pack Ramadan gift boxes across Egypt and see growing boutique exports, while the oil has a major following among delis, home cooks, and farm-to-table chefs chasing traceable, low-acidity bottles. Not only are the flavors unmatched, but the homey sense at Siwa is also not to be missed; between village lanes and desert edges, you’ll find artisan workshops (woven baskets, salt-crystal lamps), family kitchens serving tagines and fresh feteer, and slow travel rhythms that make two days feel like a full reset. 

Galaxia Tours: Siwa Highlights Itinerary (from our Culture & Adventure program)

Of the many trips you can take with Galaxia, here’s a sneak peak of what you can do at Siwa when you hop on this journey that takes you through Egypt top to bottom.

Arriving at Siwa: Depart by road, and arrive amid palm groves and salt lakes. Check-in, have some authentic dinner, and rest.

Siwa Core: Visit the Temple of the Oracle of Amun, Gebel al-Mawta (Mountain of the Dead), and Cleopatra’s Spring. Afternoon desert safari into the Great Sand Sea with dunes, hidden springs, and a signature sunset stop.

Saying Goodbye: Explore Old Shali, the kershef citadel, then depart by road for Cairo.

Inclusions vary by package; Galaxia can add hot-spring soaks, cycling circuits, salt-lake photography stops, and a stargazing dinner, you name it. Ask for winter-optimized timing and a custom itinerary to anywhere you wish to visit in Egypt.

FAQs:

How many days do I need? Two nights hits the icons; three adds slow time by the springs and a deeper desert camp.

Can I swim in winter? Yes! Springs are warm compared to air; bring a robe for post-swim warmth.

Is camping family-friendly? Absolutely! Request shorter dune drives, extra blankets, and earlier dinners for kids.

Ready to go?

Reach out to Galaxia Tours with your preferred dates and leave the rest to them. From transfers to guides and desert camp, your Siwa dream vacay is one step away.