The edge of the Great Sand Sea
From Siwa into the dunes by four-wheel drive, a board down a slope, and dusk at a spring.
- Where
- Siwa Oasis
- Proposed length
- Half day to sunset
- Nerve
- Nerve: Bold
The story
The Great Sand Sea is a field of dunes of about 72,000 km² reaching from Egypt into Libya (Wikipedia). Siwa sits on its northern edge, far west of the Nile (Wikipedia).
Dune driving is a skill, not a ride. Our judgement: the driver matters more than the vehicle.
Our judgement: Dune bashing is sold everywhere. From Siwa it is the edge of one of the largest dune fields on Earth, read by the people who live beside it.
What happens
- Leave Siwa with a local driver who reads the dunes.
- Crest the first ridges and see the sand sea open to the horizon.
- Try sandboarding down a slope you choose.
- End at a spring or a high dune as the light goes.
A proposed shape, not a fixed programme. The host sets the order on the day.
What it asks of you
- Nerve: CuriousAnyone who is curious. You sit, watch, try and ask.
- Nerve: BoldPhysically demanding or unnerving: steep, tight, deep, hot or remote.This experience
- Nerve: QualifiedA certificate is required before you start. We ask for it, and so will the operator.
A strong stomach on the dunes and tolerance of heat. The ride is rough; tell us of back or neck trouble.
What we confirm before you go
- A licensed local driver and a vehicle in sound condition
- That the route lies within the areas the UK government's travel advice excepts: Siwa and the Marsa Matruh–Siwa road are named; the open desert beyond is not
- Any desert permit needed for the route
- Water, shade and a safe return time
Where it fits
More in sand and thread
Ask about it
Tell us your dates and where you will be. We confirm the host, the timing and the terms before anything is booked.
Your Egypt, your pace
Request a quote
Tell us your dates and party size. A quote will confirm the itinerary, total price, inclusions and cancellation terms before you decide.
Sending a request does not make a booking or reserve availability.
Sources and review
Reviewed on by Deluxe Trips Egypt. Facts are attributed to their sources; where we give a judgement, we say so. This page names no host, school, boat or workshop.
Photo: Roland Unger, CC BY-SA 3.0
