Visit The Desert Circuit
Located some 180 miles inland from the uninspiring coastal resort of Mersa Matruh, and isolated in every other direction by the impenetrable Sahara, the oasis of Siwa has remained untouched by the outside world until recently, and remains a unique outpost of Berber culture. With their own language and style of mud brick construction, they remained independent until coming under Egyptian authority in 1820. Siwa is perhaps best known for the Oracle of Amun, where Alexander sought confirmation that he was the son of Zeus. The Oracle’s response is unrecorded, but Alexander proceeded to conquer most of the known world, which perhaps gives an indication of what he was told! Today Siwa is a great base for exploring the surrounding oasis and for excursions into the Great Sand Sea.