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Planning to visit Siwa Oasis without taking a tour from Cairo? This travel guide details exactly how to get from Cairo to Siwa Oasis easily and safely on your own.
In the northwest of Egypt, 20km from the border with Libya, sits Siwa Oasis. Surrounded by the dunes of the Sahara Desert, date palms, lakes and salt mines, this destination is becoming an increasingly popular addition to Egypt travel itineraries.
And deservedly so!
There are some incredible things to do in Siwa Oasis that are attracting all types of travellers to make the journey to this part of the country.
As with many of the other popular places in Egypt, there is a fair distance to cover to get here.
However unlike these other destinations, there isn’t an airport you can fly into, so you have to make the trip overland. Therefore, there’s no avoiding the 9-12 hour journey from Cairo which deters some people.
But don’t worry, we found the trip to be straightforward and definitely worth it to discover the incredible Siwa Oasis!
How to Get to Siwa Oasis from Cairo
There are two ways to get to Siwa independently that I would recommend, both with a similar cost.
The method you choose will come down to the time of day you prefer to travel and how strict your time frame in Egypt is.
The best options to get from Cairo to Siwa Oasis are:
- GoBus from Cairo to Marsa Matruh and then a microbus to Siwa Oasis.
- Direct Overnight bus
Option 1: GoBus and Microbus
This is the best way to get to Siwa if you want to travel during the day. It is also the cheaper option.
We chose this option as honestly, we’re not the biggest fans of overnight buses. I know they have their benefits but we just don’t sleep very well on them and avoid them when we can.
There are two steps to this journey.
The first is to take a bus from Cairo to Marsa Matruh. Here you can transfer to a local microbus to complete the remainder of the journey to Siwa.
Step 1: GoBus from Cairo to Marsa Matruh
The best way to get from Cairo to Marsa Matruh is with GoBus. We’ve used this company for a few journeys now, including this one, and always found their buses to be comfortable and reliable!
GoBus have two different types of buses that operate this 5 hour journey. These are the GoMini (minivan) and Super Go D (coach). I always find the coaches more spacious and comfortable and standing at 190cm tall, every bit of space matters for me!
You can purchase tickets online in advance or directly from the GoBus Tahrir office.
The buses depart from GoBus Tahrir Boarding Station which is located across a busy road opposite the GoBus Tahrir Office and Ramses Hilton Hotel.
Once you arrive at the station there will be a few buses lined up so just ask one of the ‘official-looking’ drivers which one is yours. The station is nothing fancy – basically a parking lot with some plastic chairs you can use if you buy a tea.
When you’ve found your bus, you can put your luggage underneath the coach and take your allocated seat. There will be a toilet break around halfway where you can also pick up a tea/coffee and snacks.
*Note: As a foreigner, expect to be asked for a 20EGP tip for loading your luggage into the storage hold. You don’t need to pay this but they will be quite pushy!
Step 2: Microbus from Marsa Matruh to Siwa
Conveniently, the GoBus station in Marsa Matruh is located on the same street as the microbus station in the east of the city. So once you’ve disembarked and got your luggage, the microbuses are just a short walk away.
On this street there are a couple of mini markets to grab some snacks and we found a toilet outside the West Delta Bus terminal.
Upon reaching the microbuses, ask around for Siwa and you’ll be directed to a minivan heading there. We were initially told that only a private taxi was available but we persisted and quickly found there were in fact shared microbuses. So be aware of that.
The microbuses leave when full. We were lucky that ours filled pretty quickly but how long you have to wait will depend on demand at the time. The price for this journey should be around 100EGP per person but if you have luggage you may be required to pay for an extra seat.
This drive from Marsa Matruh will take 3-4 hours along a straight plateau and honestly, the ride was much smoother than we’d heard! This area is militarised so there will be a few checkpoints along the way where you’ll need to present your passport and possibly open your luggage for inspection.
There is a toilet stop halfway where again you can pick up a drink and snacks.
Option 2: Direct Overnight Bus
There are a few reasons why an overnight bus is a good option for getting to Siwa.
Firstly, this is the only direct way to get to Siwa from Cairo without transferring in Marsa Matruh.
Secondly, travelling overnight is a great way to maximise your time in Egypt. There are lots of epic places to try and fit into an Egypt itinerary so saving a day of travel here and there can have a big impact.
Lastly, travelling overnight allows you to save the cost of a night’s accommodation. This is always a good option for budget travellers who are watching every penny.
There are two choices for travelling to Siwa overnight.
The first is by coach with West and Mid Delta Bus Company and the second is by Minivan with Siwa Bus.
West and Mid Delta
The most popular overnight option is to take the West and Mid Delta bus. This is a coach and departs from Torgoman Bus Station (also known as Cairo Gateway Bus Station) around 10pm every day.
The trip takes around 12 hours and tickets can be bought from West and Mid Delta’s office inside the station.
Siwa Bus
The alternative is a minivan run by Siwa Bus. This departs from Abd Al Moneim Riad Station at 10pm.
Siwa Bus’s office is located in Siwa itself so tickets for this trip have to be purchased online.
As it’s a minivan this journey is a slightly shorter 9 hours and scheduled to arrive into Siwa around 7am.
Return Journey
Unless Alexandria is also on your Egypt itinerary, returning to Cairo is the most logical next step after Siwa. From Cairo you can travel onward to your next destination.
To get back to Cairo from Siwa you can follow the steps in reverse.
If catching the microbus to Marsa Matruh, the best time is between 7-9am. This is when most locals travel and you’ll spend less time waiting for seats to fill. These depart from Siwa Minibus Station.
Alternatively, you can catch the morning West and Mid Delta bus that is travelling to Alexandria and get off in Marsa Matruh. This departs from Siwa Bus Station which is also where to buy your tickets.
From Marsa Matruh there are multiple GoBus departures to Cairo.
West and Mid Delta and Siwa Bus also have nightly buses returning to Cairo. West and Mid Delta tickets can be purchased at the bus station while you can buy tickets for the Siwa Bus minivan at their office in Siwa.
Cairo to Siwa Oasis Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fly to Siwa from Cairo?
There is not a direct Cairo to Siwa flight as the closest commercial airport is located in Marsa Matruh. Cairo to Marsa Matruh flights operate in the summer months but you still need to make the 4 hour overland journey after.
Does Siwa have an Airport?
Yes but no. Siwa only has a military airport with the closest airport for commercial flights being in Marsa Matruh.
Can you get to Siwa by train?
There is no direct Cairo to Siwa train. But you can take the train from Cairo to Marsa Matruh and transfer to a microbus to complete the journey. However, I don’t recommend this as this is a longer and more expensive journey than the direct overnight bus. Also, the train only runs overnight on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
How long does it take to get to Siwa from Cairo?
This depends on which mode of transport you take, but the journey will be somewhere between 9-12 hours including stops and checkpoints.
How far is Siwa from Cairo?
As the crow flies Siwa is around 560km from Cairo. However, the distance on the most direct road via Marsa Matruh is around 750km.
To Finish
The Siwa bus journey from Cairo may be a long one, but the trip is fairly straightforward when you have all the information.
And it’s definitely worth the effort to discover this gem of a destination!
I hope this helps plan your epic Egypt backpacking trip!
If you have any questions about this journey leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
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More Siwa Oasis Guides
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Thanks Sam, what a relief to obtain current information. Looking forward to a week in Siwa next month.
Hi Pierre, I’m glad you found it helpful. Hope you have an incredible trip to Siwa Oasis and enjoy all the unique things to do!