Exploring Siwa in Egypt

Siwa is not a particularly large town, but this archetypal oasis deep in Berber country is utterly delightful and has a few surprises in store: not many visitors expect to see an ancient Oracle temple that was visited by the legendary Alexander the Great! It’s an easy town to get around – some people choose to hire a bike locally and explore in their own time and at their own pace, however taking a chauffeur-driven tour will allow you to see more, and at a quicker pace, than travelling on bike. It can’t be denied though that the real pleasure in visiting Siwa is in putting some time aside to do nothing more than climb up the deserted mud-brick ruins of Shali, or relax and stroll through the verdant date plantations (which are claimed to produce the best dates in Egypt) and small farms that surround the centre of town.