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EXPLORE THE DESERT WITH BEDOUIN SAFARI TOURS

Safari Tours around Siwa

BIR WAHED

A half-day trip to a bubbling hot spring, situated in a beautiful farm in the middle of the sand dunes, approximately 20 km from Siwa.

On the way, you can stop off to swim with the fish at a clear, freshwater lake and rest in the shade of a palm tree shelter.

On return to Siwa you can sit and watch the sunset from the highest dunes in the Great Sand Sea.

( Overnight camping and/or dinner at Bir Wahed optional. )

 

EL MARAQI

The western side of the Oasis. Drive past imposing mountains, including the White Mountain - Gabel Gafar - and a large salt lake, to visit the village of Maraqi with its beautiful plam and olive groves. Visit ancient Roman tombs and the Bedouin village at Bahiydeen where it is possible to see the local women weaving carpets using traditional looms.

This trip can be extended to then pass through the desert to take a dip in the cold lake before going on to bathe in the hot spring at Bir Wahed.

(Lunch providet if required. Overnight camping and/or dinner at Bir Wahed optional. )

 

AIN SCHIFFAR

The name means "Healing Spring" and the fresh waters here are renowned for their healing properties. Sited close to Dakrour Mountain, this half-day trip take you on the road that leads to the oldest part of Siwa, Aghurmi, driving past palm oand olive groves.

See sunset from the beautiful high sand dunes close to Dakrour.

 

ABU SHROUF

This village lies approximately 30 km from Siwa and has a large rectangular spring which is surrounded by date palms. Drive from Siwa across the causeway over the scenic salt lake of Birket Zeitun to visit the cold spring of Ain Qurayshat, you can take a bathe and eat lunch by the spring at Abu Shrouf, then drive to the ancient, and now abandoned, village of Al Zeitun. See here the remains of the houses and the huge olive press once used by the villagers.

Abu Shrouf lies on the main caravan route that was used by the Romans to transport dates and olives throughout the Empire. Roman tombs and the site large Roman emcampment can also be visited hon this trip.

( Lunch provided if required )

 

SHIATA

Taking the road from Siwa through Maraqi and Bahiydeen, you will drive a further 20 km west through the sand dunes, stopping at areas where fossils can be found, to the breathtakingly beautiful salt lake of Shiata. This is a place surrounded by palm trees where gazelles come to feed and migratory birds, such as flamingoes visit at certain times of the year. Bathe in the lake and eat lunch, before returning the 45 km to Siwa through the high dunes of the Great Sand Sea.

This trip can also include a visit to the cold lake and Bir Wahed before returning to Siwa.

( Overnight camping and/or dinner at Bir Wahed optional. )

 

Safari Tours Beyond Siwa

 

BAHARIYA, THE WHITE DESERT AND FARAFRA

Over 400 km south east of Siwa oasis of Bahariya. Travelling by jeep you go direct to Bahariya or camp overnight in the dunes on the way, enjoying a traditional Bedouin dinner. In Bahariya you have the option of eating lunch in a restaurant in the town, then visiting the hot spring of Bir al Ghaba that is situated approximately 17 km from the centre of Bahariya.

If you want to go further, the safari can be extended to the next oasis of Farafra, almost 200 km from Bahariya. You will camp on the way in the White Desert, a surreally captivating area of desert with spectacularly shaped white rock formations - a place not to be missed.

 

EL AREG, BAHREIN AND BAHARIYA

El Areg and Bahrein are situated just off the Siwa to Bahariya road. Areg offers magnificent high mountains and amazing formations of fossilized coral. You can also see tombs carved high into the rocks. Behrein lies in a depression and is visited by gazelles that come to graze the palm trees and other vegetation found here. Tombs containing human skulls and bones can be easily accessed to take photographs.

You have the option of one or two nights camping in the desert close to these areas before travelling on to Bahariya.

 

EL GA'RA AND TEBAGH-BAGH

With a poĝulation of less than 400, Ga'ra is the smallest inhabited oasis in the Western Desert. It is found 120 km east of Siwa and shares with Siwa its language, picturesque salt lakes and the ruins of its original fortress, or Shali. The people of Ga'ra extend a warm welcome to visitors and the arrival of a jeep bringing tourists is usually welcomed by the children of the oasis running out of their homes to greet you.

(Overnight camping in Ga'ra optional)

From Ga'ra, you can drive 100 km south east to Tebagh-bagh, an isolated area of palm grazed by gazelles, which lies in a depression, and surrounded by high mountains.

 

FOSSILIZED TREES

Drive approximately 65 km from Siwa through the Great Sand Sea to a remote area where the remains of fossilized trees are found.

This safari offers fantastic opportunities to take photographs of high sand dunes and stunning rock and fossil formations on the way.

The return to Siwa can take in a visit to the hot spring at Bir Wahed.

(Lunch provided if required. Overnight camping and/or dinner at Bir Wahed optional. )

 

RUSSIAN WELL

The Russian Well - Bir Russie is located 150 km from Siwa and can only be accessed by driving through the high dunes of the Great Sand Sea.

This is an incredibly beautiful trip with overnigh camping at the foot of the hug dunes that surround the well.

Two/three days safaris can take you on, through the desert, 80 km to Bahrein, then 40 km to El Areg before returning 90 km to Siwa via the village of Abu Shrouf to take a refreshing swim in the spring there.

Alternatively, you van travel from the Bir Russie through the desert to Ain Dela, then on to the White Desert and Bahariya or Farafra.

 

BEDUIN SAFARI - offers well-equipped and maintained jeeps that aredriven by experienced and knowledgeable drivers.

All blankets and camping equipment are provided on overnight tours.

Delicious Siwan meals are cooked on open fires in the dunes, followed by the drinking of traditional Bedouin tea.

For further information and prices on the above tours, or to discuss alternative itineraries to cater for your individual needs,

visit:

BEDUIN SAFARI TOURS AND HANDICRAFTS

 

 

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