El Gara Oasis

DURATION: whole day.

Located around 150 km east of Siwa, we find one of the smallest oases of Egypt; El Gara. Due to its remote location, mobile network was only introduced in 2024, making a visit to this isolated oasis a true step back in time.

THE TRIP

According to local customs, visitors first have to visit the local town hall, to meet the local sheikh (tribe leader) and collect the keys for the old city fortress. Enjoy a cup of tea while curious children arrive to sell traditional handicrafts, usually made by their mothers. 

Continue with the visit to the desert fortress, which just as in Siwa, is also called Shali.  Once a thriving home for the whole community, the fortress remained inhabited until the last families left in the 1970s. Visit the grave of the famous Sufi leader Sidi Yaga, beautifully decorated with ostrich eggs. After visiting the ‘Giant Mushroom’ and the ‘Crying Mountain’ a delicious lunch is prepared for you under the palm trees in one of the local gardens. In the meantime, you can take a plunge in one of the fresh natural water springs, still dating from the time of the Romans. The last stop will be at the famous pyramid-shaped warm water wells. Water comes out to the surface from around 1000 mts of depth, almost at boiling temperatures. Enjoy this natural spa in a local garden where the natural water is perfect to relax and enjoy.  

As you return to Siwa, stop to enjoy the sunset with a typical cup of Lybian tea. Unwind with a swim in the hot spring camp’s thermal waters, where a freshly prepared traditional dinner will be waiting you. End your day in a natural setting, perhaps with the chance to join a local Siwan party.

INCLUDED: Lunch & Dinner