Siwa

Siwa sits in a depression 300 kilometers from the nearest major city, surrounded by date palms, olive groves, and salt lakes. The Berber culture here predates the Arab conquest of Egypt by centuries, and the language, food, and architecture are distinct from anything else in the country. The Oracle Temple at Aghurmi was ancient even when Alexander the Great arrived in 331 BC to seek confirmation that he was the son of Amun. What the oracle told him was never recorded. The old city of Shali is a dramatic ruin of mud brick and salt rising from the center of the modern town, abandoned after three days of rain dissolved much of its structure in 1926. The salt lakes at the edge of the oasis are shallow enough to float in without effort. Getting to Siwa takes commitment. Most programs spend at least two nights.