After breakfast, begin a full day combining Siwa’s major cultural and natural attractions with a desert adventure.

Temple of the Oracle of Amun

Visit the famous Temple of the Oracle of Amun, one of Siwa’s most important historical sites and closely associated with the history of Alexander the Great.

Siwa Salt Lakes

Visit the famous salt lakes. Depending on local conditions, there may be an opportunity to swim and float in the highly saline water.

Cleopatra Spring

Visit Cleopatra Spring, also known as Cleopatra’s Bath. Time to relax and, if desired, enjoy a refreshing swim.

Lunch and short rest

Lunch in Siwa followed by a short rest before the desert adventure.

Great Sand Sea & Bir Wahed

In the afternoon, travel by 4x4 vehicles into the Great Sand Sea. Enjoy the spectacular Western Desert landscape and huge sand dunes, with Bir Wahed as the destination.

Desert activities:

• 4x4 dune driving
• Sandboarding
• Visit to Bir Wahed
• Relaxation at the natural spring
• Traditional tea in the desert
• Desert photography

Sunset in the Great Sand Sea With dinner in the Desert

Late afternoon, enjoy sunset over the dunes and excellent photography opportunities. After sunset, return by 4x4 vehicles to Siwa.

Solar Eclipse Briefing

Back at the hotel, receive a detailed briefing covering the meeting point, departure time, observation location, safety measures, eclipse glasses, photography guidance and the procedure during totality.

Overnight: Qasr El Salem Hotel – Siwa

Today we experience the extraordinary astronomical event of the total solar eclipse.

After an early breakfast, prepare for the most important moment of the journey. We travel to the selected observation location in the Siwa area. The location will be selected to provide as clear a view of the sky as possible and to allow guests to set up their photography equipment safely.

Expected eclipse schedule in Siwa:
• 11:22 – Beginning of the partial solar eclipse
• Approximately 12:42 – Beginning of totality
• Approximately 12:45 – Maximum eclipse
• Approximately 12:48 – End of totality
• 14:08 – End of the entire eclipse

Totality

The total phase in Siwa is expected to last approximately 5 minutes and 33 seconds. At maximum eclipse, the Sun will be very high in the sky, approximately 76° above the horizon. During totality, the sky will become noticeably darker, the Moon will completely cover the Sun, and the solar corona will become visible. This offers photographers an exceptional opportunity to capture the total solar eclipse over the landscape of Siwa Oasis.

After the Eclipse

Return to Siwa after the eclipse. Enjoy lunch/refreshments followed by a short rest at the hotel.

Visit the Historic Old Town & Shali Fortress

In the late afternoon, visit the historic old town of Shali and Shali Fortress. Shali is one of Siwa Oasis’s most important historic landmarks. The old settlement was built from traditional local Kershef, a mixture of mud and salt. We walk through the historic lanes and restored areas, seeing old houses and mosques. Higher areas of Shali also provide panoramic views over Siwa Oasis.

Photography in Shali:
• Panoramic photography
• Landscape photography
• Architectural photography
• Traditional mud-and-salt architecture
• Palm groves and Siwa Oasis

Evening

Return to the hotel, dinner together and time to share the extraordinary experience of the day.

Overnight: Qasr El Salem Hotel – Siwa.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel. Private transfer from Siwa back to Cairo through the Western Desert, with stops for refreshments and lunch along the way.

Arrival in Cairo in the afternoon or evening, depending on traffic and road conditions.

End of our special Siwa Oasis & Total Solar Eclipse 2027 journey.