Siwa & the Western Desert

Siwa sits in the west of Egypt, near one of those cursory colonial lines in the sand that marks the border with Libya. In antiquity, this magical desert oasis town was the location of the Oracle of Amon, a magnet for pilgrims, including none other than Alexander the Great, who consulted the oracle here before his invasion of Persia and modern-day Pakistan. The town itself still feels distinctly medieval in parts, with a population descended from ancient Berber tribespeople. While a Siwa holiday alone would be a very original take on Egypt, there’s more to appreciate here because between Siwa and the fertile floodplains of the Nile lies the extraordinary Western Desert, itself technically split into sub-deserts. The White Desert is home to a bizarre landscape of gigantic wind-eroded and bright white rock formations. Seen at sunset, the rocks reflect the changing colours in one of nature’s most spectacular light shows. Meanwhile, Baharyia, on the outskirts of the White Desert, is an archaeologist’s treasure trove. Next stop on any Siwa & the Western Desert holiday should be the Black Desert, another extraordinary natural spectacle where the desert is punctuated by soot-scoured volcanoes, and the desert floor glistens basalt black. Farafra, on the far side of the Black Desert, is an old oasis town where the local Bedouin still live in mud brick houses surrounded by oasis-fed olive groves and plantations of dates, figs and apricots.
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Siwa & the Western Desert Holidays

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Egypt testimonials

103 reviews
4.9 / 5
"This is the first trip we have ever taken where we have been looked after so comprehensively by everyone involved. It was so helpful to have all the information we needed accessible on an app, and wonderful not to have to worry about checking in for flights. We enjoyed great service at both the airports and hotels, which had great staff and fantastic food, and our guide David and driver Mohammed were excellent throughout and made our two-week trip really special."
J - UK
Published on 21st February 2026
"Our trip for 10 was a true bucket list holiday. The boat, a traditional dahabiya called Lazuli, was heavenly and exceeded our expectations. It was the most exquisite way to cruise down the Nile, with comfortable cabins, beautiful views, an amazing crew and delicious food - we dined like Pharaohs! We stopped to see many wondrous sites along the Nile, and our guide, Migo, was brilliant, offering just the right amount of information. The BBQ singing and dancing with the crew was a standout moment. Original Travel was amazing, and everyone involved was knowledgeable, helpful and adaptable when organising a trip for so many."
S - UK
Published on 20th February 2026
"It was fantastic! We felt very well looked after, which made the experience more relaxed. The whole trip was incredible – we kept thinking 'this is the best bit', but it was all excellent. Being on the Steam Ship Sudan was very special and so were all our stops, with fantastic guides, drivers and local contacts throughout."
D - UK
Published on 19th February 2026
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Who are Siwa & the Western Desert holidays best for?

Lovers of Egypt who want to experience a ‘deeper cut’ of this fascinating destination. Amateur (and professional) Egyptologist with a thirst for greater understanding of ancient Egypt. Adventurers looking to get way, way off the beaten path. Dedicated followers of Alexander the Great, who visited the oracle here the year after he was crowned pharaoh.


What can you only experience on Siwa & the Western Desert holidays?

Sitting pretty beyond the chessboard latticework of deserts and just 30 miles from the Libyan border, the desert jewel of Siwa is fed with fresh water from springs bubbling up from the Nubian aquifer. Siwa has been off limits of late, but is now back in play, and well worth a visit. So remote is Siwa that the population have managed to maintain their ancient language – Siwi – completely distinct from Arabic. Meanwhile, the Western Desert is an arid region that occupies the entire western half of Egypt. We strongly recommend waking up at dawn to explore to see the whole sunset light show again in reverse, before exploring for fossils and bizarre rock formations. Just don’t forget your sunglasses. The white rock formations in the White Desert are incredibly bright when the sun shines, which it does pretty much every day. Baharyia, the major town on the outskirts of the desert, is home to The Valley of the Golden Mummies, where some 250 Mummies from a cemetery that contained an astonishing 10,000 are on display. Also worth a wander around is the Temple of Bahariya with its beautifully decorated walls.

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