Siwa Desert Tour 2026: Shali Fortress & Mountain of the Dead

Smooth out your travels with <Travel Oil>.

In Part 1, we shared information about the budget-friendly Siwa tour and introduced the

Salt Lake and Cleopatra's Spring.

If you haven't seen Part 1 yet, please check the link below first.

👉 [Go to Part 1]

In this Part 2, I'll be sharing our desert tour and reviews of various historical sites.

Those planning a trip to Siwa, take note!

1. Amon Temple

Al-Wahi Temple / Oracle Temple

Before starting our desert tour, the first place we visited was the Amon Temple.

This is a historic temple where, it's said, Alexander the Great visited in ancient times, received an oracle declaring him a "son of god," and was recognized as a pharaoh of Egypt.

The Amon Temple, which can be explored in a short time,

is a great place to climb the hill, admire the vast date palm fields,

or see the towering mosque.

💰Admission: Adults 120EGP

2. Desert Tour

Hayaat siwa hot spring

And so, the epic Siwa desert tour begins!

Leaving the outskirts of Siwa, we headed to the Sahara Desert dunes,

where you can try sandboarding.

💡Tip

It's recommended to take off your shoes and climb barefoot.

There's also a desert hot spring, but it has a lot of moss, so it's best to just dip your feet in.

As the sun began to set, our guide, Mohammed, personally prepared dinner for us.

We were served grilled chicken, rice, drinks, and even dessert fruit to finish.

*Drinks are paid for as part of the sandboarding fee.

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After dinner, we lit a bonfire and enjoyed a heartwarming chat while sipping

Bedouin tea under a sky full of stars!

It was truly a fantastic experience.

3. Shali Fortress

Our Day 2 itinerary kicked off at Shali Fortress.

This impressive fortress, built in the 13th century, is right in the heart of Siwa Oasis,

and the name "Shali" itself means "fortress" in the Berber language.

*Berber people: An ethnic group residing in North Africa, including Morocco, Libya, and Algeria.

Hundreds of residents once called this fortress home,

but a devastating flood in 1926 forced the inhabitants to relocate.

Today, it's a popular spot known for its surviving structures and incredible viewpoints.

From the top of the fortress, you can gaze out at the distant Mountain of the Dead,

and down below, you'll find charming souvenir shops perfect for browsing.

4. Mountain of the Dead

Tomb of Si Amun / Tomb of Mesu Isis

The Mountain of the Dead is a fascinating hill filled with ancient tombs.

There are numerous pit-like tombs here,

and some of them are accessible for internal viewing.

Normally, they are locked, but if you ask a staff member,

they'll gladly open them up for you, often with a brief explanation.

The vibrant murals inside the tombs are remarkably well-preserved,

making this a truly breathtaking site, comparable to more famous historical landmarks.

Just a heads-up, the interiors can be a bit cramped.

💰Admission : 120 EGP for adults

🪦Key Tombs : Tomb of Si Amun, Tomb of Mesu Isis

5. Conclusion

Our original plan was to catch the sunset at "Fatnas Island" for our final stop,

but we unfortunately had to skip it due to our return schedule to Cairo.

Nevertheless, our 2-night, 3-day budget-friendly tour of Siwa

was incredibly fulfilling and so much fun!

📋A Little TMI

I had a great chat with Mohamed in the desert, and he shared some insights.

He mentioned that some Chinese customers would often complain about the service or the weather after tours,

and often didn't settle their payments properly, causing him a lot of stress.

Because of this, he was really hoping for more Korean customers.

This tour was truly satisfying: affordable prices, a super friendly Mohamed, and flexible itinerary adjustments.

I highly recommend a Siwa tour with Mohamed!

🔗Purchase your Egypt Travel eSIM here

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